Let's get this sorted then!

MillQueen

Signature looking good - very satisfying to see ❤️

That's frustrating trying to get the card activated. I can really understand the wanting to get it done, as it's hanging over you! £991.40 is magnificent. My payments have all been messed up with bank holiday too.

Dakota_Rose

That break away sounds fantastic! Super MSE too 😊.

I’ve loved the bank holiday off work but it has been a bit frustrating on the spreadsheet front as no DDs have come out as they usually would. Only on here could we admit such things 😂

Rhyddid2026

Well I think we can all guess what happened when my DDs didn't come out, I was sent messages from the bank that it was overdue, so I paid manually and cancelled the DD's……. Yes, of course, the DD's came out today so all 3 CC's had double payments. On the month when I said I wasn't making any big extra payments because I wanted money for motivation treats. £300 of that money (and money for my birthday) gone.

I knew it might happen, but I just couldn't risk them not being paid and getting charges or losing my 0% rate.

I really can't wait to cancel the NW credit cards, they have been an absolute nightmare with DD's and statements.

I'm trying to look on the bright side and be glad that that's more money off my debt totals, but also slightly annoyed that I can't now get my drains unblocked or celebrate my birthday. I will just have to count my meal with my sister a few weeks ago and my weekend away last weekend as early birthday celebrations. I do have a ticket to see a show on my actual birthday but I guess now I'll be driving and not eating or drinking.

It's £300 closer to clearing the credit cards though. I must try to look on the positive side.

Sigh.

Rhyddid2026

Sod it. I'm gonna redo my signature to make myself feel better.

Well look at that! My debt now begins with a 2 and a 3!

PennysIntoPounds

You were right you couldn't risk it so bravo for being responsible and now being much less in debt 🥂

I feel for you with the budget limits though. Do you think the drains will be okay until next payday? Late birthday celebrations can be had too, I always drag mine out like I'm the monarch 😁

Owt you can sell or cut corners on to get a travel and eating and drinking pot for birthday day? I believe in you

liselle

You should be able to get them refunded under the Bank’s Direct Debit scheme, if you explain what happened.

Rhyddid2026

@PennysIntoPounds The drains have been blocked for years, I do what I can myself when they get bad, but fancied getting them done properly and hopefully once and for all. They will certainly last another few months and likely years of me doing what I can.

Who knows, I might actually get paid for the work I did at the end of January and I can still spend some money on my birthday.

It's fine really @liselle I'll still have enough money to survive the month. It's all for the greater good. I can now say I've cleared 12k off my debts.

Before the great DDDebacle I bought wall planters for my strawberries (actually I think they might be some sort of strawberry hybrid) so I'll still have something pleasant to look at in my garden. I do also have a strawberry bed, but I like having them on the shed wall too as they're less likely to get eaten by chickens and more likely to get eaten by me.

PennysIntoPounds

Have a good night's kip dreaming happy thoughts of your lovely holiday, then tomorrow chase pay and get stuck into your vinted listings 🍻

Sun_Addict

The debt reduction is amazing in that timescale. Well done!

Glad you enjoyed your break away.

The ducklings are just too adorable 🥰

I love how you just roll your sleeves up and crack on with it.

Rhyddid2026

Ducklings have claws,who knew? I had to wear long sleeves to work this week.

They've lost about 90% of their fluff now and have real feathers. They just have odd patches of yellow fluff and yellow fluffy heads. They're almost full size!

In other news, now I'm coming out of crisis (financial/wellbeing/physical health) I'm thinking more about what I want my life to be like. I don't want to only see friends once a year so on the weekend I was talking about moving closer to the group I was on holiday with. The problem is I bought my current house in a very cheap location. I'd be increasing my mortgage if I moved, probably doubling the (currently ridiculously low) monthly payments. I also looked (online) at a house closer to family and one or two friends, which was similar to my house but needed modernising inside. It's in quite a rough area though.

I only have one friend within 20 miles or a 30minute drive. It wasn't such an issue when other friends didn't have children and I didn't have animals to look after, and when I was up for drinking til I was sick.

Whilst I'm not ruling out moving I'm trying to convince myself to try to make friends where I live. The people are lovely (people I pass at a distance when I walk the dogs or who serve me in the shop), but it's hard when you're old and work ridiculous hours and are a bit weird 🤣

People here tend to have always lived here and are spending time with school friends and family members who have always lived here. Also I'm kind of a hermit now. A tired poor hermit. With hobbies of playing with debt spreadsheets, sitting in silence, and napping 😆

So that's what I'm thinking about at the moment. It'll be a work in progress no doubt, and moving is still an option if I see something I love that I can afford. I might even leave the country in the next 2 years.