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Hello Forumites! However well-intentioned, for the safety of other users we ask that you refrain from seeking or offering medical advice. This includes recommendations for medicines, procedures or over-the-counter remedies. Posts or threads found to be in breach of this rule will be removed.March Forward Into Spring 2026
Comments
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That's a lovely OAT 🥰
2 -
Amazing how doing a small something really lifts the spirits and makes you feel capable of more @Cheery_Daff, I always enjoy our short daft badminton sessions (basically a friendly rally in which most of the exercise is picking up the shuttlec*ck 😁), getting up and out is the hardest bit!
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6466032/an-in-between-phase/p1
'self-blame can be as egotistical as self-praise... any work worth doing is greater than we are... we must not overrate our importance to it, either for good or ill' Margaret Kennedy Lucy Carmichael3 -
Hi everyone, thanks for setting up the new spring thread @PennysIntoPounds ! 😊
My spring aims are mostly about getting my financial house in order. I've been putting off a massive OAT for over a year: actually figuring out what my financial safety net looks like if my industry shifts or my health changes.
My OATs for this week:
- Done: Finally got round to looking into my long-term job security. I stumbled across this free map thing by WeCovr that uses ONS data to show how likely your specific job is to be replaced by AI or automation. Fascinating but slightly terrifying to actually see the stats for my industry! map
- In Progress: The site had a quick calculator at the end to check how long your savings would actually last if your income suddenly stopped. It gave me a bit of a reality check, to be honest. Definitely made me realise I need to pull my finger out and look into some proper income protection. Has anyone here got any recommendations for decent providers?
- Still to do: Tackle Mount Washmore (the giant ironing pile I’ve been actively ignoring while doing the above). 🧺
Good luck with the house build, @PennysIntoPounds and have a great week everyone!
4 -
Ok, after being positive most of the weekend it's time for a mini rant.
I logged on to HMRC again, but couldn't see the stuff I was seeing on Wednesday. I realised that on Wednesday I could see the corporation tax stuff and the companies house stuff maybe. I tried to log in to companies house separately. It said there was no account using that email address. I checked that was the email address that companies house emails me at, it is.
I saw that it said they are starting to make everyone log in using the Gov.uk One Login, so tried to register for that. I managed to register on my laptop but it makes you verify your ID. Checked what I needed, found my drivers licence. It made me download an app on my phone to verify my ID. Downloaded the app begrudgingly (my phone is struggling enough as it is), only to find that when I try to use it it tells me I can't use the app at this time.
Why do they make things so difficult?!?!?!?!?!!?? I think I might just have a horlicks and go to bed.
Debts 04/01/25 01/04/26
Natwest2 £6,509.97 £4,200
NatWest CC £7,612.74 £6,325
Lloyds CC £6,112.60 £4,115
1st Direct CC £176.03 £9.11
CC total £20,411.34 £14,649.11
OD £1100 £0
Car loan £4,000 £3,600
1st Direct Loan £10,684.44 £7,000
Total £36,195.78 £25,249.11
EF £1,750.33
HF £150.763 -
I have tackled a really annoying job before it became a ridiculous OAT. I washed my jeans with a piece of paper in the pocket and had to get all the annoying bits out of the pocket before rewashing them. I went at it with the bread knife and sticky tape and have now moved the jeans into the laundry basket - woot woot! I also reformatted a really annoying email text using notepad on our home computer to get rid of all the lines as it had an extra line added. Plus there were some typos in it that were really annoying me each week (for 5 weeks now). I am so proud of myself it is ridiculous. Little things! I also refilled the ice cube tray which was a very OATY OAT as I have had drinks without ice cubes at least twice in the last few weeks and still not done it.
I have done nothing on sewing my friends bag, my really long standing one of several years but hey ho, some others are tackled and done.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6621582/ynab-robber-needs-help-to-execute-the-plan/p1
April NSD challenge 0/10
April AFD challenge 0/144 -
Such OATy OATs @Wanna_Bee_Free 😂 Well done you
Hi @vldmrs thanks for the good wishes. I would check the MSE main site for providers so you can compare what seems to best suit your situation
Oh @Rhyddid2026, you are not having a zen life phase atm are you! It will be sorted one way or another soon, keep trying. Is it worth calling HMRC? Try at 8am so there's not a long wait, if you can bear HMRC at 8am!
My OATs today-
Did three vinted listings
Painted my nails after ages of meaning to
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6466032/an-in-between-phase/p1
'self-blame can be as egotistical as self-praise... any work worth doing is greater than we are... we must not overrate our importance to it, either for good or ill' Margaret Kennedy Lucy Carmichael5 -
I fixed my shower scrunchie thing back together - it had completely unravelled and I'd been just grabbing it as a wayward handful for weeks, and finally got round to fixing it. Small but makes showering less annoying!
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I cannot bare HMRC at 8am, there's very little I can bare at 8am 😂 Also I'm driving between 7 and 10am tomorrow. I'll call them if I get really desperate.
Today I did an achievement rather than an OAT. I took my vntd parcel to the shop without printing the label first! I did it all at the shop! It helped that I was only posting 1 thing so couldn't get mixed up, and the young'un was working and she gives me confidence.
Debts 04/01/25 01/04/26
Natwest2 £6,509.97 £4,200
NatWest CC £7,612.74 £6,325
Lloyds CC £6,112.60 £4,115
1st Direct CC £176.03 £9.11
CC total £20,411.34 £14,649.11
OD £1100 £0
Car loan £4,000 £3,600
1st Direct Loan £10,684.44 £7,000
Total £36,195.78 £25,249.11
EF £1,750.33
HF £150.763 -
I have OAT’d 😊
Car insurance renewed! I will spare you the details of the frustrations of it … 😉
Physio rehab done on my shoulder - crumb of progress noticed 🤩
KK
As at 17.03.26:
- When bought house £315,995 mortgage debt and end date at start = October 2039 - now £219,071
- OPs to mortgage = £17,793 Estd. interest saved = £9,021 to date
c. 16 months reduction in term
Fixed rate 3.85% ends October 2030
Read 23 books of target 52 in 2026 as @ 28th March.
Produce tracker: £59 of £400 in 2026
Watch your thoughts, they become your words.
Watch your words, they become your actions.Watch your actions, they become your reality.5 -
@KajiKita I think I can imagine 😂
Debts 04/01/25 01/04/26
Natwest2 £6,509.97 £4,200
NatWest CC £7,612.74 £6,325
Lloyds CC £6,112.60 £4,115
1st Direct CC £176.03 £9.11
CC total £20,411.34 £14,649.11
OD £1100 £0
Car loan £4,000 £3,600
1st Direct Loan £10,684.44 £7,000
Total £36,195.78 £25,249.11
EF £1,750.33
HF £150.762
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