I Want.

As most PF bloggers are aware want is different to need. A 15 minute trip around a supermarket with my youngest is a prime example of want and need and not something I willingly do anymore !

I want to start another Open University course, but more importantly I need to. The children are getting older, there is more time and space for us as adults, but selfishly I need to acheive something for me. Even invest in me. Torn between a techie course or a social science course, the difference in cost will probably sway my decision.

The jewellery extra income will kick off for me after Easter I have been very busy planning, designing and yes spending on materials. Just discovered www.etsy.com - what a great place !

As for reclaiming my PPI with Cahoot, their first response was a 9 page letter from Abbey, the parent company, including a 14 point intrusive questionnaire asking everything they already know and not relevant to the claim. Second letter going off today.

I'm maintaining a positive frame of mind, even though the car will have to go in this week, I'm expecting a £300 bill, I'm staying close to my budgets, maybe not close enough, no extra snowflakes this month.

Not In Cahoots with them anymore !

I've done something ! Something positive. I don't think I've mentioned this before, but I have a 'flexible' loan of just over £3,500 with a division of Abbey called Cahoot. This particular financial institution offered a very flexible loan deal way back at the turn of the century. Now bearing in mind I had my financial beer goggles on at that time I took them up on the offer of a £4000 @ 6.9% or thereabouts. This 6.9% has considerably shifted over the last 7 years and is now at the extortionate rate of 19.9 % ! The balance has stuck fast, not helped by me dipping into it to bail me out here and there.

Recently there have been rumours that Abbey are downsizing (or whatever the financial term is) this division, not taking anymore applications for cahoot and want the existing account holders to apply to Abbey (all rumours though). So I need to shift this loan, the very nature of it's flexibility makes it increasingly hard to pay off. I'm not in a position to apply for 0% cards, or loans at reasonable rates. However my own bank called me in for a financial review this week, and the long and short of it is they have taken the loan on at 8% ! Awesome !

By the way this is not the 'Just Maybe' good news I reported earlier this week, you'll have to come back for that......