Monday 23 June 2008

Life in The Fast Lane

You'd think the post exam/results period would be fairly relaxing but you couldn't be more wrong. I've not blogged for a week, and whilst I've not really done much of interest it is more the lack of spare time that has kept me away.

Looking for somewhere to live has been the main priority recently as missbliss wrote about, this isn't the easiest thing to do when you live hundreds of miles away from the place you're moving to, nor is it made any easier when you've never actually been to said place. Nevertheless with the help of the Internet and my trusty mobile, I managed to arrange several viewings for the weekend (albeit for places that neither missbliss nor me were particularly keen on). What was a reconnaissance mission more than anything turned out quite productive and we found a place that seems almost perfect. I have since spent the weekend with my fingers and toes crossed that the place hadn't already been taken late last week. It hasn't... and we're hopefully on our way to a lovely little flat. As with everything, what might have been a perfectly simple process has since developed complications but hopefully nothing we can't overcome. If anyone has any ideas about what we might do with all our belongings for the 2 week period between moving out of this flat and into our new one it would be greatly appreciated.

During my madness I have also decided it might be an idea to switch banks, this isn't an easy process at the best of times never mind in the middle of everything else. We managed to successfully apply for our first joint account last week and that was easy enough but somehow I don't think moving my student account with HSBC which is due to be upgraded to a graduate account in July will be quite as easy. Why all this madness you might ask? Why indeed, HSBC sent me a letter informing me that they want to reduce my interest free overdraft by £500 and charge an extortionate amount of interest on anything beyond that limit. Banks such as Lloyds and RBS offer a £2000 overdraft for graduates, matching my student account so tomorrow I'm going in search of a better deal. Yes it will be a hassle moving my professional studies loan and all my direct debits but I think in this case it might well be worth it. Missbliss's advice that being loyal to a bank is financial suicide (ok, so I'm exaggerating a little), seems pretty sound to me. Has anyone got any experience of moving banks? Particularly as a graduate.

Tomorrow I have a 2 week rule hospital appointment all of my own (although I've been waiting 4 weeks!) For those of you that don't know, the 2 week rule is the suspected cancer referral system but don't worry, I'm sure, as is my GP, that everything is fine.

To get away from it all I'm going to be spending most of this week in a tent in a field at Glastonbury. I will of course have my phone in my pocket awaiting phone calls from various banks, hospitals and letting agents, sometimes I wonder, what did people do before mobile phones and the Internet?

7 comments:

sillyvicky said...

Ah the good old nhs taking their time even with colleges. Hope everything goes ok for you

Can you not store your stuff at parents and friends house.

Alternativly when we first moved into our at that point half converted barn we stored stuff at a lock up was £100 a month. Have a look in yellow pages for secure storage.

Anonymous said...

hi

in a similar sitaution banking-wise. I know moving from HSBC to someone else's graduate account wouldn't be a problem normally, but can you do it if you have a PSL with HSBC?

Dragonfly said...

Hope the appointment went alright.

Sage said...

Good luck with the hospital and the trip to glastonbury...

ditzydoctor said...

hope it all gets sorted out soon! :)

David said...

I would, humbly, suggest moving or changing banks, but not both at the same time.

As for your stuff, 'big yellow self store' up here are offering 28 days for £50 I think, plus about £25 for a van either end could see you doing it for about £100. not too shabby, and if you pick one near your new place, you can even move stuff in in stages....

Ms-Ellisa said...

Good luck with everything. You do have a lot in your hands right now... But on the bright side you're off to starting a new life, that's always a great thing, right? :-D