Busting this debt before 42

Chocolatefund

Financial brain dump # 5

Been a while since I've done a financial brain dump it seems. I had to look back through this diary to figure out which number I had gotten to, lol.

So my efforts earlier in the year to get some extra monies are starting to come together.

Logged into my eToro account to see that my £100 free share in Nvidia has given me an extra £16. Thats like 18% return in two months. Did good there by choosing Nvidia. There's total £316 in there that I'll be able to access in October.

My S@ntander bank switch has finally spat out it's switch bonus of £180. Yay! I've got £200 in the regular saver already, so I've added it in there plus and another £20 to take the total up to £400. I won't be taking this out till I get the Am@zon voucher which I should get by the end of October.

Topc@shback have submitted the missing claim for the S@ntander S&S ISA. I've still got a couple of months to go before I hear anything from this. £121 in that account for the moment. If that cashback works that would add an extra £75, but I'm still not convinced it will work. Got nothing to lose to wait.

Thats at least an extra £700 plus, not counting the ISA, that I can use somewhere in a couple of months.

Hmm...

Must. Resist. Urge. To. Buy. Ikea. Furniture.

Chocolatefund

Just over halfway through the month. Not been too bad spending wise so far.

Currenty £523 on the spending CC. Two birthdays totalling £70. Petrol £175. Bought myself a cheap £50 B&Q office chair to replace the little chair that was killing my back for so long, and got some speakers for my gaming setup for £32 as my ears are sick of headphones. Dont think I'll need to fill up the petrol tank again this month so that can offset the costs. The rest is food and eating out.

So that's £177 left till payday which is plenty as long as I don't need more petrol...not liking where the world is going at the moment with this. I have the sinking fund money should I need more, but Im going to challenge myself to stay a hermit for the next two weeks.

Had an amazing money saving win. The S@ntander ISA that I opened a few months ago has actually confirmed it's £75 cashback! Had to submit a missing cash back claim but it worked! It's now showing as pending. Can't believe that's actually happened haha.

I double checked the date on my eToro account and I can actually cash that out at the end of September.

Now I also no longer have the laptop loan, there's scope now for me to make a very big overpayment. I want to top up the emergency fund back up to 2k and get some more sinking fund up, so need to have a good think on how I want to divvy up the money come payday.

Rhyddid2026

Well done on the spends and the cashback.

I think my etoro date is 26th September. I'll probably just check every day til then on the off chance I miss counted 😆

Chocolatefund

@Rhyddid2026 I asked good old Google AI to work it out for me, haha. Mines on the 25th, but probably won't withdraw till the money shuffle day on the 1st.

Chocolatefund

Chilling with a nice hot chocolate after a productive Saturday. Managed to do a few DIY bits around the house that I was putting off for far too long. Quite satisfying.

Statement cc kicked in at £677. Nice. I’ll have the headroom to top up the emergency and sinking fund and send another £800 overpayment. The eToro funds i’ll take out next week. Payday next Wednesday.

Putting in the odd tenner here and there, my shiny fund is at £40. Hmm. Might ask my relatives for Ikea vouchers for my birthday in a couple of months. Reeeeaaally starting to crave some proper storage in my bedroom. I’m living out of one of those cheap fabric plastic pole thingys from Am@zon.

I’m spending far too much time on the Ikea website…

Chocolatefund

Payday has come and gone, thus the great monthly money has commenced.

Spending cc paid off.

£250 into the sinking fund, total now £400.

£130 into the emergency fund, total now £2000.

£300 into the SIPP and £50 into the Stocks ISA.

£10 into the shiny fund, total now £50.

£800 overpayment plus the £300 from eToro, takes a nice £1100 chunk out of the loan. Total outstanding balance is now £12,825. £244 in interest saved.

Super happy with the progress. If I can make another big overpayment next payday then ill be 50% paid off. Going to keep this in the back of my mind as a psychological boost.

Chocolatefund

For you @MillQueen. Very visually satisfying!

beanielou

Great progress.

Chocolatefund

Financial brain dump #6

Had some money saving wins over the last few days.

As Ive been away for work a lot more, my energy company has decided to reduce my direct debit by £9 a month down to £114. My water company has also decided to do the same thing by reducing my water direct debit by £2 bringing it down to £15 a month..

On this, I was spurred on to cancel my Netflix subscription. How DARE they increase thier subscription fee for the basic package by £2 a month. Paying £8 a month for adds? Disgusting.

So thats an extra £19 a month.

Opening the S@ntander regular saver and funding it has finnaly spat out its £45 Am@zon voucher, wohoo! Ive added it to my account and will have a think how to best to utilise it. There are a couple of car supplies Id still like to grab, but they are more of a want, not need. Will let that sit for a bit till I decide.

Since the Santander ISA spat out its cashback last month, I can withdraw the £120 thats in there and now I can withdraw the £400 thats in the saver now I have the Am@zon voucher. All the pre planning months ago has finally come to fruition

So. Do I cash them in now and make a second overpayment? Or should I wait till the next monthly money shuffling and combine it with a big overpayment for a more psychological sledge hammer to the loan? My head says cash them out now as it will probably save more interest.

Hmm.

beanielou

So I would do it now & save interest.