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

Mum2Nan · 12 May 2018 at 7:43PM

Thanks for the tips PurpleFairy. I will add the mustard and onions to the sandwiches in the morning (not frozen onions before) but agree about the tomato. I will Google and see what it suggests.

enthusiasticsaver · 12 May 2018 at 9:18PM

Mum2Nan wrote: »

It's a fragrant water you put into the iron to make your clothes that have already gone through the wash smell even fresher. On two separate occasions I must have thought I needed it. :eek: I know I definitely never had it when I moved in because I had nothing so at some point over the last 2 years or so I thought my life would be better off with it in it.

Lol. Remember that you haven't used it next time you are tempted to buy something like that. Surely clothes smell fresh anyway after being washed and conditioned?

Chrystal · 12 May 2018 at 10:05PM

I think the 'ironing water' is distilled, so if you live somewhere with lots of limescale it's the best way to stop your iron clogging up.

Mum2Nan · 13 May 2018 at 6:20PM

Chrystal is correct. I double checked the label and it says it's to reduce limescale.

2 pea & ham soups now made and are in the freezer. I added a portion of mashed potato to thicken it and give it some texture and then added 2 large teaspoons of mustard to give it a kick. I think I might have slightly overdone the mustard but it tastes lovely.

Sandwiches for this week are in the freezer. After checking what can be frozen, I have now made cheese and pickle and gammon & mustard.

2 gammon meals are also freezing.

I popped to the farm shop and bought some fresh vegetables and fruit. Cost was £5.79. I changed my meal plan for next Thursday as it seemed pointless buying salad only to have it sitting in the fridge until then so will have a quick meal of scrambled egg on toast or similar.

Lovely meal at mum & dads earlier.

Bad News
I have left the ground rent off my SoA. This costs £125 per year payable in 6 monthly instalments so now need to factor the additional £10.42 per month in. I hope that is the last of the payments now. I may offset some of this by cancelling Netflix next month :mad:

The fish tank has still not been cleaned :mad:

I will have to go food shopping Saturday as I will be out of milk by then and teabags are perilously low. I will make a list

Good News
I am organised with lunches and evening meals again this week so this will save me money

A small payment has hit my Quidco account so has increased to £100.40. This will go towards either Halifax 2 or Barclaycard 2

I still have half a tank of fuel

Mum2Nan · 13 May 2018 at 6:30PM

Forgot to say that I have also now converted £25 worth of Nectar points to replace the remote control. The additional £2.99 has been charged to my card that gets paid in full each month. I will try and absorb this into my grocery budget. If not, it will come out of my emergency fund.

Kitten868 · 14 May 2018 at 10:51AM

Seriously impressed with how quickly you're adapting to the mse lifestyle. You've really hit the ground running quickly and adapted lots of things. It's amazing how debt clearing turns to house clearing isn't it? I definitely feel my most able to deal with debts when the house is clutter free.
I'm so angry for you about the Halifax card balance! Even if you transferred your emergency fund over today or did a balance transfer it would take it off the wrong balance. I had the same problem with an MBNA once and I complained and they rectified it for me. Make a complaint on the website and their complaint team call you back. I think that's exactly the sort of thing the fca are trying to tackle. The people you call are useless at resolving this stuff.
Keep up the amazing work. Xxx

Mum2Nan · 14 May 2018 at 7:56PM

Thanks for stopping by Kitten and for the advice. There is no secure messaging facility I could see on the Halifax website so not sure how else to complain. No doubt it states somewhere in their T&Cs that this is how they allocate the payments so whilst it’s annoying they are probably not doing anything wrong. Agree about house decluttering and tidying whilst being in debt. Definitely connected I think.

Today spent £1 on a packet of batteries. I remembered to take some of the loose change in the penny pot so no money on the credit card.

Tonight, I have joined the MSE Credit Club. It seems meaningless as it shows I have an excellent score despite being nearly £23,800 in debt as it’s not using up to date figures, save for the mortgage.

Next Monday the BC D/D will go out reducing the debt figure down to £21,613.80 which is still a depressing amount. On the upside I will have paid back £7,315.34 since end of December when my LMB started flickering. Can’t wait until I see it under £20K.

Bad news:

Other than the amount of my debt there isn't any.

Good news:

There isn't any of that either!

enthusiasticsaver · 14 May 2018 at 8:23PM

Chrystal wrote: »

I think the 'ironing water' is distilled, so if you live somewhere with lots of limescale it's the best way to stop your iron clogging up.

Ah maybe. We live in soft water area so that is why I have never used it. We never have problem with limescale on kettle either.

Mum2Nan wrote: »

Thanks for stopping by Kitten and for the advice. There is no secure messaging facility I could see on the Halifax website so not sure how else to complain. No doubt it states somewhere in their T&Cs that this is how they allocate the payments so whilst it’s annoying they are probably not doing anything wrong. Agree about house decluttering and tidying whilst being in debt. Definitely connected I think.

Today spent £1 on a packet of batteries. I remembered to take some of the loose change in the penny pot so no money on the credit card.

Tonight, I have joined the MSE Credit Club. It seems meaningless as it shows I have an excellent score despite being nearly £23,800 in debt as it’s not using up to date figures, save for the mortgage.

Next Monday the BC D/D will go out reducing the debt figure down to £21,613.80 which is still a depressing amount. On the upside I will have paid back £7,315.34 since end of December when my LMB started flickering. Can’t wait until I see it under £20K.

Bad news:

Other than the amount of my debt there isn't any.

Good news:

There isn't any of that either!

I do wonder if it is worth ringing Halifax to ask if it is possible to move payments to the deal expiring this year.

You are doing brilliantly in getting the debt down by more than £7k in less than 6 months. If you keep this up you will be down to £15k or less by the end of the year and clear by end of next year which would tie in nicely with when you want to reduce hours.

I spent the day today with my 2 granddaughters and had some lovely baby snuggles from my 3 week old grand baby. I am sure you will love being a Nan.

Kitten868 · 15 May 2018 at 7:08AM

Halifax website bottom of the page 'help and guidance' then 'How to complain' then go down to 'email us using our secure online form'. It might be in the terms and conditions but it doesn't make it fair. I argued that it says it will pay money towards highest charging debts first and therefore the balance with the shortest expiry date not the transfer done first. And if they say no go to ombudsman. I find complaining to Halifax this way great. They really want to make you happy and can see when it's not fair. (I don't recommend making bogus complaints).
Over £7k in 5 months wow! X

enthusiasticsaver · 15 May 2018 at 10:25AM

I think Kitten makes a good point. Make a complaint or enquiry as you have nothing to lose.

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

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