Adventure wanted, but first we must rid ourselves of debt

savingholmes · 15 February 2018 at 10:14PM

HI - I have a days out pot and a meals out pot - I do rob it if I really have to - but it gives us all something to look forward to eg one Chinese or meal out a month - and perhaps a cinema trip or something. When you first join MSE people encourage you to go cold turkey on many of your financial commitments - but I think after a while when you have got better at budgeting overall - it is more motivating and less like a crash diet to allow some money for treats.

I used the £10 a month challenge to help fund it.

Last year - I got my main bank account to pay me £13 (minus £3 a month fee) for the privilege of my custom and transferred some money for part of the month to another bank account with the Nationwide who at the time offered a 5% interest on a balance up to £2,500. I don't know if it is still the case but if you get someone who has a nationwide account to refer you - I think they and possibly you get a bonus. Worth checking on MSE and quidco for best offers. Weirdly I got a better rate on that current account than I would have on a savings account with the same bank. It was only a 1 year rate though so I now need to review. There were some months - where because of saving money to pay off CC in one go rather than each month - that I earned £10 or more in interest... Worth looking into.

AdventureWanted · 16 February 2018 at 9:07AM

Thanks savingholmes, I'll definitely look in to this.

Have just completed my daily bank checks/bank round downs. Have updated ynab and sent £3 to CC2 and 40p to the EF.

DH has the day off today so we are planning on a day out, although we're not sure where yet. We've got national trust membership so may go to a local NT place or to our local adventure park which we have season tickets for. Hopefully whatever happens it won't be too expensive. Going to take a thermos and some cheapy Apple juice cartons I got in the last food shop (45p for 3, whereas in cafe they're usually £1 each) with us to try and eliminate coffee shop stops. Might even make some flapjacks before we go.

AdventureWanted · 17 February 2018 at 12:00PM

Well our day yesterday was different to what we had planned. We couldn't decide where we wanted to go, so thought we'd go out for the afternoon only and then we found out that the kids tennis lessons were on (we thought they were cancelled over half terms), so we ended up going there. We were very good and took a thermos of coffee with us and a small thermos of hot chocolate for DC2. Whilst DC1&2 played tennis me and DH went for a walk with DC3. After tennis we popped to a secondhand children book shop, as I had seen some dinosaur books which I hoped DC1 would like. Spent £13 on loads of books (all budgeted for out of home ed expenses). The fantastic news is that DC1 decided to have a look at one of the books with me when we got home (Seriously silly stories - Little red riding wolf) and has read more with me this morning. He's almost half way through the book already :j He thinks the book is hilarious and even gave himself hiccups from laughing so much. He said he is enjoying reading it!! (*faints from shock*) This is such a huge relief for me. Hopefully he will continue to enjoy reading from now on.

This morning has been fairly quiet so far. DC3 is now napping so we're about to finish the game of
Monopoly we started yesterday, then might head out this afternoon. Can't believe how glorious the last few days have been.

AdventureWanted · 17 February 2018 at 9:59PM

Well I got totally thumped at monopoly. Even beaten by my 5 year old!! Was good fun and DC1&2 loved playing the game with me & DH.

Ended up playing in the garden this pm instead of heading out, as DC1&2 didn't want to go and DH started cooking dinner ridiculously early! Definitely need to spend some time in the garden soon tidying it up. Have got some outdoor toys which DC3 could make use of stored behind the shed, so need DH to dig them out and then we need to give them a really really good clean. He's back to work tomorrow, so will have to wait until his next shift off.

As we didn't venture out today has been another NSD. Think that takes it up to 6/15.

Have transferred £2 to CC2 today and 50p to the EF. Have cashed out just over £3 from top cashback, so will most probably pay that in to the EF when it comes in.

savingholmes · 17 February 2018 at 10:41PM

Hi - I went past a nationwide today and if you get a friend to refer you and then join within 90 days you both get a £100 each.

We went to a national trust property today.... Good to get out in the fresh air. I feel like I have been cooped up since the new year between illness and too much work!

jwil · 18 February 2018 at 10:14AM

Catching up, you are doing really well :T

AdventureWanted · 19 February 2018 at 8:31AM

Yesterday was NSD number 7. I paid £11 to CC2 and £1 to the EF.

Today's PADs
£5 to CC2
48p to the EF

I've been looking at the regular savings accounts and I think the nationwide one looks really good at 5% interest and no penalties if you withdraw. The only thing is that I world rather not switch my current account. I'm not sure if you can just open a new account? Online it looked like you could only open one if you switch. Think I'll have to go into the bank next time I'm in the city and ask.

The EF is now at £621.94. Looking forward to getting it to £1,000.

savingholmes · 19 February 2018 at 9:15AM

By all means go in to the Nationwide and ask. I didn't switch - I just opened one.

AdventureWanted · 19 February 2018 at 9:20AM

savingholmes wrote: »

By all means go in to the Nationwide and ask. I didn't switch - I just opened one.

Ooh that's good to know. When I looked online it only mentioned about how to switch accounts. Thanks.

savingholmes · 19 February 2018 at 9:33AM

Remember though - ask your friends if they are in the Nationwide - as you each get £100 for moving account

Adventure wanted, but first we must rid ourselves of debt

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