I am being upgraded from Mum to Nan - I need a plan!

I didn’t enjoy my meal last night, didn’t sleep well, not had a good day at work (all connected I think) and came home to find Laurel and Hardy’s cat fur everywhere.

It’s hard to get motivated some evenings after being out all day. I left home at 7.30 am and didn’t get home until nearly 8 tonight which is why I decided to spend my lunch break dealing with the Halifax and trying to put forward a polite and concise case. I have received an acknowledgement by e-mail they will contact me by phone within 48 hours. Included was a list of options if I am not happy including the Financial Ombudsman which I am reluctant to do. I thought the time was well spent. Fingers crossed for a favourable outcome.

I spent £3.48 on my way home on needs rather than wants. I have spent £8.77 / £150 (£250 if I revert to my SoA) from my grocery budget. Tomorrow starts the second week of my new month so am thrilled with this.

Will ditch Sainsbury’s this week for top-ups and stick with Aldi and pop in after work on Friday. I have started a list! This will:

Save money
Save buying umpteen duplicate items
Save on fuel
Save time on Saturday morning

A win-win-win-win

There is no way I am going to be able to keep up the pace with paying down my debt as I dipped into my savings to get rid of 2 BTs at the back end of last year. I think I knew back in December I had been caught in the balance transfer trap which brought on my flicker of a LBM but obviously I know this for sure now. I am going to have to consider very carefully how I move forward. I will make a plan for this once I’ve heard from the Halifax.

I realise this post sounds a bit negative compared to my previous ones but am feeling very tired, haven’t eaten yet, the fish tank still needs cleaning but more importantly the realisation of the financial mess I have got myself in and the 0% deals ending so soon together has finally hit home I think.

I hope after a better night’s sleep tonight I shall be all guns blazing again.

The good news:

I have two short weeks coming up. I have booked some time off either side of the bank holiday weekend.

Enthusiastic

I am so looking forward to being a Nan. I will have a grandson by the end of the year so trying to keep focussed.

I can recall when my daughter was much younger my dad said if he had known grandchildren were so much fun, he would have had them first! :rotfl:

Thanks Kitten

Haven't been on here for the last couple of days as I was home again after 8pm on both occasions and was exhausted. Again, I have been grateful for my meal plan. Lunch has been taken to work every day. I left work at 4pm today which meant I could get a bit ahead of myself.

I have been to Aldi with a list and then decided I needed petrol so drove to Sainsbury's to fill up and whilst there popped into the supermarket to get some bread for sandwiches next week and a couple of bits from the deli. Don't fancy cheese or salmon next week so at great expense bought some liver sausage which freezes very well. The cost drum roll ... 59p lol. Total food spend tonight was £19.24 and petrol was £30.

The good news:

The fish tank is gleaming. I can see in and the fish can see out!
My 'complaint' with the Halifax has been upheld! :jThe Complaints Manager was very understanding and said they were complying with their T&Cs and were not at fault but accepted I was not aware of the way the payments were allocated and that I would indeed lose 3 months of Halifax 1 deal. She asked me what I wanted her to do to rectify this, so I explained. She can only manually change the payments made to date to from Halifax 1 to 2 but said she would do another manual transfer in November and if the payments total the amount outstanding she will put a manual block on any interest up until 1 February 2019 to cover off Halifax 1. I feel very lucky and am very grateful. I did check this arrangement wouldn't affect my credit report and she confirmed no as I was making contractual payments but the money was moving between accounts so a win-win.

I now have a better idea of a plan. I am currently paying £350 to Barclaycard. On August 1 I will make a manual payment of a reduced amount of £269.15 to get rid of the balance on Barclaycard 1 and put the difference of £80.85 to Halifax 2. With the payments I am making to Halifax 2 that will be paid off in November and will then target Barclaycard 2 with minimum plus a bit more to Halifax 1. I am still going to need to balance transfer but at an improved reduced amount. Will consider this nearer the time.

The bad news:

I am going to defer sorting out my wardrobes and drawers until next weekend when I have a lot more time as I have some annual leave so I can have a bit of a rest this weekend.

Feeling a bit more upbeat about my financial situation this evening. I think it was getting me down more than I thought.

Kitten

Sorry, I forgot to say that I have the Complaints Manager's contact details. They text you in advance to let you know they are going to be calling you about your complaint. I have her name, number and PIN which if you enter when prompted takes you to her direct number. So pleased I took your advice and took on Enthusiastic's opinion too.

I also forgot to say my replacement remote control turned up today whilst I was out and has now been paired with my TV and works perfectly.

Progress has definitely been made this week.