Let's get this sorted then!

doingitanyway

I love a standard light. 
Well done on the press-ups

Rhyddid2026

I just did my weekly finances and couldn't bare that the CC I'm focussing on was the same figure as last week, so I transferred the odd few pound and pence from every pot and account and managed to pay an extra £10 off. That feels better!

Rhyddid2026

This weekend I have been mostly doing the things I didn't do all week.
My oldest duck is on her way out. She's happy enough for now I think, still wanting to get out in the garden, still quacking at me for treats. I've never been able to touch her (or get within about 4ft of her) so I'm hoping she'll go in her sleep. She'll be so distressed if I have to take her to the vet. I've had her 5 years and she was full grown when I got her. She's white (Welsh Harlequin) but gets more male colouring in winter and stops laying til march when her colour changes again. She's beautiful. Although I can't get near her she's the most communicative of the bunch. I know the quack she gives when she's stressed and the quack she gives when they've run out of food in the run. She's taught the others to stand still or hide when there's red kites or buzzards above. I'll miss her a lot.
Apart from that I've started writing my lecture slides (second job next week). My washing machine stopped draining yesterday but I think I've sorted it for now. It's old and I bought it second hand but it's been very good to me, and coped with all the dog hair 😄
I need to find out how I go about increasing my pension contributions when I start my new role. I've had a look in all the obvious places on the work system. I might have to email HR.
I'm going to light the log burner and make a venison stew now, to use up more of the Christmas veg. I'm hoping venison doesn't flare up the arthritis like beef does.
I think that just about sums it all up!
Hope everyone had a lovely weekend.

doingitanyway

I hope the venison stew doesn't affect your arthritis...let us know

Rhyddid2026

doingitanyway said:

I hope the venison stew doesn't affect your arthritis...let us know

I think I'm ok DIA, my hands are a little achy but I used them a lot yesterday (including a long walk with a dog that pulls on the lead). I did also put a bit of beef stock in, just one blob for over 2 litres of stew, because that's all I had. So yes, I think I'll keep trying the venison swap. Even if it's just one meal a week to be on the safe side.

I've picked up a tummy bug (I have no idea how when I see so few people) so wfh today and taking it very easy.

Wanna_Bee_Free

Oh No, sorry to hear you are ill too. I hope your tummy bug goes away quickly, get lots of taking it very easy done today. xx

Rhyddid2026

Thanks @Wanna_Bee_Free I really love food so I'm miserable right now trying to give my tummy a 24h break. I'm wearing comfy leggings and an oversized hoody and I've been mostly horizontal to conserve energy. 

I've just increased the standing order for my loan overpayment to make myself feel better. I wasn't going to do it til next month but it's only a fiver increase. I now pay 225 instead of 205, so roughly 10% overpayment. Every little helps. 

Rhyddid2026

I've just had a thought.
When my pay increases at the end of Feb, instead of chucking a few hundred off that credit card I might put it in premium bonds. As long as I keep track of how much I put in that is 'CC repayment money' I can then withdraw it at the start of July to pay off the card before the 0% ends. At least that way if my car goes kaput from all the extra driving, or my ailing washing machine goes pop, I can still access that money. So it will be a temporary emergency fund until July, but a little harder to dip into than if it was in a pot, and a lot easier to access if I do have a bigger emergency than is covered by my emergency fund. I think that will give me the best of both worlds. 
Thanks to everyone on here that uses PBs in different ways and gave me the idea. 
I'll still be trying to pay off the odd few pound and pence when I can, I'll still be tracking it and colouring it in, and I'll still be making overpayments by DD,  but then make a bigger payment just before the deal ends and I have to do another BT. 
I guess the only downside is that my credit score won't rise as fast. it's 'very poor' at the moment because of the switches I did (and the huge debts obviously). 
I've got 5 or 6 weeks to decide.
Can anyone see any downsides I've not thought of?

PennysIntoPounds

None that I can see, and you can opt to reinvest any wins or have them sent to your bank account, so should you win you could either be building up extra in the PB EF, or you could bung winnings at debt whilst keeping EF intact.
Are you likely to need an improved credit score to apply for owt before July? Mine just went down due to opening a new bank account but temporary pain for long term gain!

Rhyddid2026

Thanks Pip, it's good to get a second opinion. I think getting into PBs for a bit will keep motivated too, because it's all new.
Ideally, a better score would give me better deals on a balance transfer card. I can get one now but I'd rather low or no fee. I haven't opened an account for at least 3 months so it should start going back up soon. And I'll be able to put my increased salary on the record in a couple of weeks too.