Catching up on 'things'

With no technology ~ sometimes there is only the time to stop... 

Gee there is quite a bit to catch you all up on...

No car for 8 days, coinciding in part with no comms for 10 days makes for a very frugal period of time ~ creative making do and knowing only so much can be carried on a push bike! Fifteen days of prehistoric survival. No phone or internet, only mobile which changes to a 'plan' with free internet . . . on 24/11 . . . so there you have it. Cut off from the world ~ at the least the lawnmower was repaired at some point in there. We were fine with the mower ~ the repairer called us to advise how going, when going, collected and going.

Let's get the whole recap started with the car ~ the initial quote was $625, although this changed the day before Husband took it in as the wrong engine details had been provided. Now the quote was $700 ~ no sweat, better than $1000! That was Tuesday night, 9 November, organised SmallBoy to be taken to and from school, with the possibility of needing the next day (better safe than sorry). Husband was running a little behind schedule to get to the mechanic by 5pm using the deadly treddlie and called to say he'd be there no later than half past.  No point mate ~ she's not ready...

Ten minutes to collection time arranged and cool as 'it ain't gonna happen'.  Foine ~ not really ~ but what can we do?? Even though Friday here was a public holiday for Show Day, the mechanics would be and we'd have a car for the weekend. *phew* It's my birthday that weekend ~ and Show weekend ~ we could watch the Saturday fireworks from outside, enjoy a picnic at the side of the road even and avoid the expense and crowds. Not renown for reliable, safe, timetabled buses on the weekend ~ the only other (non) option is taxi and that isn't going to happen either!

Saturday came ~ so did the mechanic - to pick me up and drive me to a doctor appointment which had only been put back three times and I really did need the medication by Saturday. Friday even when said 'car for the weekend' was still on the 'wonder if it will be our car, a loan car or no car' level, we could have gone in after hours for prescriptions only and tried for Monday when, surely our car would be ready. Cap it off ~ didn't get to the Show, so that was a savings win; plus the weather was disgustingly bad and fireworks got cancelled so missed out on nothing there. 

It was a beautiful day on Wednesday 17 November when finally the car, set to be ready any time from the previous Wednesday, was actually there for retrieval, driving, to have the new registration paid for awaiting adhesion to the windscreen since Thursday 11 November, to avoid driving unregistered as of Sunday 14 November ~ a very auspicious day in the big scheme of things ~ my birthday. We did get a discount on the final bill, to cover my taxi home from the supermarket across from the doctor on Saturday - we were now expecting visitors up on Sunday as we were car-less (still) and unable to travel! 

All up, we were charged $600 ~ the original quote, less taxi fare ~ and having fared us well for the local, about town run *thinks*  ~ let's just say the longer journey of Melbourne and back was substantially more eventful that the usual trip, resulting in a lot more country-side seen, a lot less people visited and yet another family semi-inconvenienced with the need to bring the SmallBoy home to us... again!!  Saving $100 on the bill was good - but might be needing that to check all is actually running properly after the weekend drive.

Budget Re-done; Out-goings Reduced ~  

When we started our Mission, our financial status as at the end September / start October is listed on the Financial Report page.  We shall leave that as is, to show a starting point and this entry will show our financial status as at the end November / start December ~ the journey over the past two months. 

Our income has increased slightly - Husband and I each receive an additional 50c to our main payments, there is also a nominal increase in one of those family payments. We now receive $1340pf. *party*

The VISA interest rate has been reduced from 20.9% to 9.2%, the minimum repayment is down from $336pm to $100pm however we've kept paying $150fn (min), plus extra when under budget as mentioned in the Weekly Updates and your gifts.  All this has reduced the amount owing from $5836.33 to $4962.64 with $500 to be put on this week from the ATO :P

The Mortgage repayments have been kept up to date and (relatively) on time. While not forming part of the 'debt' we are striving to eliminate, it does form part of our regular outgoings and stress levels, we've reduced that from $165,900 end of Sept to being $164,300 end of Nov with $245 in redraw! All those little $5 deposited each Monday and Friday automatically is such a good practice! 

The Mortgage is the good side of our home loan package ~ time to hear the adventures relating to the evil twin, The Line of Credit... 

When we started, the Line of Credit was $21,764 - pushing the final few cents of its $22k limit (excluding the NIVA which we refer to later) ~ today the Line of Credit sits at $23,309 in debit. Just prior to Hellstra unleashing its evil communication-severing service 'magic' ~ we had been talking to our lovely lender about ways we could ease our financial stress and burdens without losing the house, or fear of losing the house, paying but not necessarily all the 'due' totals. On 12 December, documentation was emailed to us, thankfully downloaded and saved that day because that was the end of phones and the sudden limiting of Internet access.

Earlier in the month, we posted the outcome of a reader 'dare' ~ finally getting in touch and doing something about the never-reducing Line of Credit. We might not have been able to send anything using the convenient electronic/Internet connected methods accustomed to when our Internet provider InterNode has the ability to use the wholesaler (Hellstra) on a line connected to our place ~ no, not going there...

We did the math and checked it thrice ~ and have asked the NIVA part of our $25k LOC be reduced to $1k from $3k as we are not using it and is better there as a buffer of just in case we need cash, it is there. This 'pushes' $2k back into the LOC without trying to 'balance' a $3k-NIVA, and back under $22k (just). We are in the process of arranging to effectively 'freeze' the mortgage side of the account for three months, meaning $520pf is free'd up for 3 months ($3200ish) which can be paid against the LOC and bring it down to $19-$20k, during this same time. 

There have been reductions made to our usual outgoings, shopping visits are able to stretch further especially now we can actually see items in the pantry ~ gee it is brighter in there with the wall gone! Must get those curtains up! Using 'new found' specials in the cupboard as made the menu planning easier and requires less from the supermarkets.  We are getting under the $150pf mark most fortnights now, $100 spent 'rich' week and as much under $50 the 'poor' week as possible.  The summary is now:

The Normal Outgoings 

$ 200.00 pf  ($522.13 pf) ~ Mortgage (min) ** if auth'd by 4 Dec, next due

$ 150.00 pf  ($200.00 pf ) ~ Food, groceries and sundries

$   90.00 pf  ($117.92 pf) ~ Internet, land line, mobiles 

$ 100.00 pf ~ Gas + Electricity payment plan 

$   57.07 pf ~ Insurance – House, contents, life

$   75.00 pf ~ Council rates, water rates, registration

$   20.00 pf  ($90.00 pf) ~ Doc (now public, was private); Meds

$ 5.00 pf ~ Microsoft Gold fees – connects XBox, Wii for me, Skype

$   20.00 pf  ($50.00 pf) ~ Savings

$ 100.00 pf ~ Fuel – petrol

$ 847.07 pf   ($1317.12 pf) Total per fortnight outgoings

We've stayed up to date, some with changes, on:

The Struggled Goings

$   33.00 pf ($44.00 pf) ~ Refrigerator rental - yoemans

$ 197.90 pf ~ Personal loan – wyndham

$   75.00 pf ($91.40 pf) ~ VISA (min)

$ 100.00 pf ($150.00 pf) ~ $5 - $10 to bills, water, home care, mortgage, bills collect 

$ 375.90 pf  ($482.40 pf)

Incoming pf:  $ 1342.90  ($1256.94)

Outgoing pf:  $ 1262.97  ($1800.42)

Outstanding Accounts

$ 836.00 ($870.00) - HomeCare Services

$   36.00 ($106.00) - School fees

$ 370.00 ($390.00) - Dental account

$ 249.90 - Magazine subs

$ 590.00 ($800.00) - Electricity and Gas - payment plan costs set

$   43.33 ($192.28) - Water arrears 

$1301.40 ($1421.40) - Collections

(reduced total by $570)

We have reduced our out-goings to free up almost $80 cash a fortnight, removing the struggle to try and find an additional $600 on top of our incomings each fortnight and continue to pay down the balance on overdue/outstanding bills. eBay has helped, as has reader gifts. But most of the action has been from Husband and myself, and a heap of understanding, tolerance and contribution by SmallBoy. Every canteen order not ordered is $5 we don't need to 'find as automatic' twice a week. The mortgage amount budgeted above most likely is to the LOC, it still going to be made within our budget and not beyond. In-roads have been made on bills outstanding - everything has a lower outstanding amount. We see that as a positively positive negative...

 ~ Action Stations ~  

As soon as the car was back, it was off to the library with ready, printed, finally signed and dated printed and hand written forms, letters, statements and guff to get the application in progress. Sure, cost $9.90 to send an eight page fax from a library, but its an investment in obtaining relief and reduction.  Chalk it up to experience because with the phone back on for the weekend (!?), yesterday I called our Salvos Centre and found this next set of requested papers can be sent for free from the Salvation Army Community Support office. Taking that as having saved $10 to get the medical reports and other guff required in addition to the first fax... *arrgghh*

Learn from our experience people ~ if you ask the right worded questions to the right person at the right service you will get an answer you can obtain help without it being for food or bills. Saving $10 to send a fax is huge - half a $21 Challenge week!  

The outcome of the Hellstra debacle did mean the line our Internode account was 'connected to' ceased to exist to our land-line ~ oh, and seriously, when you get the recording 'the number you are calling has been disconnected' think phone company cock-up not late bill payment, please :D ~ to get the Internet and VOIP we had to reconnect. We did need to come up with $120 immediately for that ~ we do have a credit on our land-line account for that same amount, it will pay the line rental for 5-6 months so that frees up $17 for a few months!

 ~  A Little Income-Tax Boost  ~  

And we've been rather wise ~ well, we think so ;D

With a little under $3500 in refunds being received (off course while with no car to go sign and collect, then no Internet to use/move the funds once paid into our account) ~ we decided on Friday we will put $500 onto the VISA, $500 onto the Mortgage, $1000 into the high interest savings for the LOC once the NIVA limit is reset, the final $1000 was used to secure solar panels with the maximum rebate and RECs higher than our outgoing electricity charges before changes to the limits end of the month. We've got a year to have the roof ready for panels that will be needed, but it secures all the rebates to $10k. The remainder of the refund is towards SmallBoy's birthday, my sisters' birthdays and Christmas...

Currently searching for any methods to get the roof fixed and stabilised for a 3kw system - even though we have not purchased that big, it can be expanded upon over the years and best have it roof ready now don't you think. As we expect to get the family tax payment reconciled and balanced with Centrelink, this might throw a few hundred of outstanding entitlements to top up the Christmas cheer, New Year merriments and some over for the LOC which should have been sorted by the time that is calculated. Fingers Crossed!

More to get ready for the Weekly Update tomorrow ~ so we shall leave the re-cap there for now. We are really pleased with our efforts, changes and boy is there heaps to get onto eBay this weekend.  Yes Tupperware fans ~ there will be some awesome items including a full original Back2Basics set, still in the box. Maybe two...

The Menu Plan and week schedule will be out on 'Mands on a Mission' on FaceBook later tonight ~ a small shop is expected this week (it is big shop week, but we might make it under budget as we use the pantry supplies). Feel free to 'like' or 'follow' or whatever there is to click and stay up to date!

Shall catch up tomorrow night 

Non-Comms ~ the frustrating monopoly called Hell(stra)...

Within something so small hides the ability of hugeness ~ the joy of Bonsai 

So where were we...?

Honestly, when last we spoke the car was playing up, getting a new(old) engine and to be back on the road before the weekend of my birthday.  That didn't happen...

Then the telecommunication monopoly referred with disgust in this house as Hellstra to which we pay line rental to on a monthly basis ~ purely for the surety of phone contact should/if InterNode, our Internet and voip provider, have signal difficulties ~ decided its credit management team 'special circumstances' advice and action was up the garden path, then provided eight other consultants to stuff it up even further and more complexly over a period of eight or so days, probably taking about 8 hours of calling and hold time - not one single (promised) return contact was made - all it online, operational, communicational and Internode took under 12hrs to reinstate Internet and voip once its 'wholesaler' (aforementioned Hellstra) accepted the order blah blah techo babble request.

Sure we had to pay for a reconnection with our Internet provider, sure Hellstra issued a credit against its bill for said amount to our Hellstra account, but it is still not the end of the issue.  Still chortle with a handful of disbelief at the discussion with one particular customer team member called Peter who is hopefully receiving some additional training, assistance and supervision with service protocols, anger management and ear-wax removal to enable him the abilities and right to be able to take calls from customers in the future. 

Saving the BS behind the car - motor - communication saga . . .  Um, is that a theme? 

Is it no longer considered good business practice to call the customer, you know that person who pays to use a particular service and has the ability to source most elsewhere? Might not be the best of news, but telling me at 8.35am you're on the way to take our child to school as our car is, yet again, not available or going and having had no responses for 24-48 hours, one makes alternative arrangements...

Let's save that comedy of errors - its a good one too.  And Hellstra can be left here too ~ in some ways contributing to the reduction of one of our regular, ongoing budgeted expenses. At minimum, it brings the phone down with a credit which will cover line rental costs for about 5-6 months. If we are lucky, the reinstatement of Internet might be flagged to just do the techie bitties and not a reconnect, or if a reconnect it can be the lower charge. At least, in the long run its covered - somewhere...

We are in discussions with the bank for a wee repayment break, reduction, hardship application to enable us to stay on track with payments, but get these into the Line Of Credit so if Husband does have a longer period without finding employment after 3-6 months of being the brute strength and partial motivator, house husband, carer, hunter, gardener, gatherer - we have built ourselves a buffer in case part time work offers are on the lower earning end.

eBay has had its hits and misses ~ largely impacted by being off-line (scored another mark Hellstra), but aided in some ways as we were able to de-clutter and scavange about in a more hands on fashion.  Writing this, I have realised now why I am so darn achy and sore of late.  Bit over doing it methinks in hindsight!  Oh well.  Be aware by the start of the weekend there will be a few items going up every day to get the flow going. We've got a little system going - and we've got to work in with Avon items - which earned us $14 this campaign period!  Not bad!!

Biggest 'save' was the tax return which brought $3k into the picture. We'd had this 'assigned' to VISA, Line of Credit and Mortgage - the left over, if any, for birthdays (7th, 12th, 13th is family) and Christmas, including petrol to get to the 'party'. So everything got a bump and the new amounts will be up on the Weekly Update for this week. There's a fair bit to catch up on since the last report. 

It's so good to be back on-line.
Until tomorrow...

Two Challenge Takers ~ two outcomes

Gorgeous - Ballarat Botanical Gardens 

Well done readers ~ we know two people have contacted their banks about their interest rates after we issued the Challenge.  

One didn't fair too well ~ Nicole commented on yesterday's post. I think it's because she's doing brilliantly already with a zero balance and only a low limit ~ but if her bank is getting nothing from her now - what's an interest rate drop to keep a customer happy?? Good on you Nicole for giving it a go!

But Renegade Rosie (not her real name) has the type of success we would expect. At 25 years young, Rosie has an almost max'd out card of $25,000!  Even worse, she has been paying interest at 21.6% and an annual fee. Rosie messaged via FaceBook and said no-way would this work. So I responded that it wouldn't if she didn't at least pick up the phone, call and ask ~ I even bet her $1 she would get at least 5% on the first offer and, if the bank did drop it to about 15%, ask for a little more.  So she did ~ and into our Spare Change Jar $1 has been put!!  Rosie went from 21% to 11% ~ a full 10% drop.

So she dared me back and said stop talking about calling the bank with your Line of Credit and do it. Little whipper-snapper had me *grins*  So I called our lender and we've been given three months off making payments on the mortgage and line of credit ~ holy Toledo Bat-tlers.  The three months of repayments will be added to the term of the mortgage, but we are four years ahead in payments so adding about $1500 for the relief of well over $4500 in payments, fees and interest is going to sit well with us.  By capitalising on the mortgage we can still pay into the account, and it will sit there as a redraw if needed. The other change we made to the loan package was to lower the amount available on the NIVA to $1000 - this way any repayments go and stay in the Line of Credit and don't keep going into the NIVA to make up a balance of $3000 - much more reasonable. That's going to save us over $580 a month in the short term, and a heck of a lot more in mental stress in the long term.  Woo Hoo!!

But I didn't stop there.  No ~ it was then on to Helstra to change our telephone account to a $0 incoming only line. Brilliant.  Sure, you have to beg and pander a little to get this, but that is a monthly saving of $20.95 better put into the LOC than to the telecommunication giant (headache). With Skype, email and text, we don't need a home phone to make calls, it means others can still contact us for a local rate, not mobile rates. What's more, I discovered the pension concession had not been applied when the low-income phone line was applied 5months ago and got a refund of $15.90. Hahaha ~ feeling a little power-happy.

So I rang Optus to see what discount I could get there.  Right off the bat - the paper fee was removed. That's $2 in our pocket. Then we changed my phone plan down by $10 to a $49 cap (no contract) which gives me an additional $200 of calls and text plus FREE FaceBook on the phone/internet. It also comes with 1.5GB of data download ~ although I am not really sure what that means.  No doubt it is about email and stuff, but I 'do' email on computer so that's an elephant (irrelevant).  Too darn cool ~ this little chickie is on fire with the finances today!  Really it is only being back in control of the crumbling mess of our limited finances. There was only one biller left ~ because the VISA rate was lowered last week ~ and that's the electricity and gas company.

This one has not been set as yet - but the outstanding balance on our account is still up at the $800 mark and it was suggested we apply for a charge waiver under hardship.  Did you know you can apply for this once every two years?  A total zeroing of any overdue account on electricity, gas AND water. Of course, 'conditions apply' but each service is eligible. I see a light - and it's not over at the Frankenstein place...

All up, in under 5hours, we have free'd up $620 a month. 

Today I also did my first street as an Avon Lady ~ ding dong...

One sale, one possible sale and sore feet. It was slow but fun.  Anyone want any Avon? There are some great stocking fillers, Christmas labels and decorative earrings along with the make up and skin care on offer!

And two of the items on eBay sold.  Sure - nothing huge but it is another few dollars to be put into the debt and for the first time in a long time we feel we are doing the right things to get back in control.  So if you've thought about throwing your spare PayPal change in our Jar or Treasure Chest but didn't want to be supporting some lazy no-hopers just wanting scam others to pay up - surely this shows how committed we are to helping ourselves as well.

We really could do with some help tho' ~ 100 people with one spare dollar will help us get this week's debt challenge paid out!  Go on ~ use some cents and help us out . . . please!?!