Evan's DFW & Wedding Diary

hypno06

If you are doing her accounts for free, you should CERTAINLY ask for a discount!!!

~evanesco~

hypno06 wrote: »

If you are doing her accounts for free, you should CERTAINLY ask for a discount!!!

If only it was that easy, she's also a friend, so I'd feel really cheeky, and as easy as it actually is to do them, only takes me an hour a month, I know she really isn't capable of doing them herself.

~evanesco~

And I couldn't get through to the post office. May send the night lad after all.

~evanesco~

Evening DFW's. Bit of a cash flow problem this week. My pal owes us £80 for some concert tickets. I didn't lend it per se, I bought the tickets and we agreed they would give the money back this Saturday, when they came over to see us. Now since then, nothings been mentioned. I really could do with it back this week. I can get an advance from work, but, don't want to. And I'm a bit loathe to ask for it back, even though it is owed. I should start charging interest. Erm, I lent my brother £100 as well, but he's going to give me that Xmas eve, and it's from January's budget, so I'm not desperate for that really. I should stop pretending to be a bank.

Having problems with my friend/childminder too. My OH went to pick DS up today and he was in the living room, on his own, watching tv. She asked where the childminder was and at that point she popped her head around the top of the banister and muttered something about message from o2. She came down stairs with her laptop. Who knows how long he had been left on his own. he hates going, says he's bored all the time. The thing is, if we didn't pay her, I wouldn't mind that she never does anything with him. She even said 'I'll have your two over Xmas, because I don't need to do anything'. (She isn't BTW, money grabbing bleep, she'd already told me she was taking 2 weeks off, then realising she'll lose over £300, obviously deciding, being paid for 'doing nothing' seemed like a good idea.) I used to child mind, so am well aware that the service she is providing is really below par. I've offered loads of suggestions of things to do with him, and now this feels like the final straw. She just doesn't even try and spends a lot of day in her PJ's, watching telly. We are looking at moving him after Xmas, but this will probably cost me our friendship. Shall I give her one last talking to, before taking the step of removing him?

~evanesco~

Argh! I paid my credit card out the wrong bank, not that it matters, but I didn't want to pay it out of that one. Why can't it be January? My Xmas money bank looks all wrong, there isn't as much in it as my spreadsheet says there should be, and apparently I have a deficit this week of £158. Only I don't, I do have a deficit, but I dont know how much much by becuase I have given myself a headache trying to working it out. I'll have to work it out, else I'll be in a muddle all week.

~evanesco~

Morning! Phew, that was hard work, but it looks right now. I have no idea what was going on, but I'm £3 ahead of my budget, which is fine by me.

I know why people don't like changing banks, it's a nightmare. 3 times I've asked Child benefit to pay into my new account. The first time the paid into my old one and for the past 2 weeks they haven't paid it at all.

I think they open at 8.30am so i'll give them a ring after that. Our friends gave us the ticket money, I didn't even ask in the end.

We had a pretty good day out, took the kids to a stay and play all day centre thingy, which they loved, then went out for lunch. Which was shoddy, so I got refunded for my meal. And off into town for a spot of shopping and our friends to catch the train home. Lovely.

Obviously meant I needed an extension for my TMA due yesterday, but I'm on my final chapter and will be back on track by Tuesday, and will catch up and get ahead over the Xmas 'free' week.

hypno06

Ahead of budget is good! And your day with the kids sounds as though it was generally very MSE too!

Good luck with sorting out the child benefit - I am sure it will all sort itself out soon!

angela110660

~evanesco~ wrote: »

Evening DFW's. Bit of a cash flow problem this week. My pal owes us £80 for some concert tickets. I didn't lend it per se, I bought the tickets and we agreed they would give the money back this Saturday, when they came over to see us. Now since then, nothings been mentioned. I really could do with it back this week. I can get an advance from work, but, don't want to. And I'm a bit loathe to ask for it back, even though it is owed. I should start charging interest. Erm, I lent my brother £100 as well, but he's going to give me that Xmas eve, and it's from January's budget, so I'm not desperate for that really. I should stop pretending to be a bank.

Having problems with my friend/childminder too. My OH went to pick DS up today and he was in the living room, on his own, watching tv. She asked where the childminder was and at that point she popped her head around the top of the banister and muttered something about message from o2. She came down stairs with her laptop. Who knows how long he had been left on his own. he hates going, says he's bored all the time. The thing is, if we didn't pay her, I wouldn't mind that she never does anything with him. She even said 'I'll have your two over Xmas, because I don't need to do anything'. (She isn't BTW, money grabbing bleep, she'd already told me she was taking 2 weeks off, then realising she'll lose over £300, obviously deciding, being paid for 'doing nothing' seemed like a good idea.) I used to child mind, so am well aware that the service she is providing is really below par. I've offered loads of suggestions of things to do with him, and now this feels like the final straw. She just doesn't even try and spends a lot of day in her PJ's, watching telly. We are looking at moving him after Xmas, but this will probably cost me our friendship. Shall I give her one last talking to, before taking the step of removing him?

First - the lending - remember the saying "never a borrower or a lender be" or something like that - especially with friends/family because they think they can leave it longer to return the money. You are not in the position to bankroll them at the moment - you must ask for the money back asap.
With regards to the childminder situation - I would be horrified if my children had been stuck in all day with someone watching tv in their nightclothes. Remember you are paying for her services - friend or not. You could stay at home yourself, in your pyjamas with your own little one and not pay out £300 for it. If that is not a realisitic situation then I would def get rid of her - friend or no friend - she is not making any effort for your child.

~evanesco~

Thanks Angela. My friends gave the money back. My brother I'll speak to tomorrow.

Our little boy had a much better day on the Friday, loads of activities. Then yesterday, she was back in her pj's. She was apparently hungover. I'm going to look for someone else after Xmas. It's not on. I've taken the day off today, so he hasn't been. There's only next week, then she's off for 2 weeks over xmas.

Budget sheet is all on target. Seems to be taking a lifetime to sort out the direct debits. I've transfered the money for next week, the week after I really don't know which account they're all going from, so I'm going to ring the companies and find out and then change them myself.

angela110660

I am glad you got the money sorted out - only your brother to sort out now then!!
Good for you for making your decision about the "friend"/childminder - you and your child deserve much better for the money you are paying out - you want peace of mind; your child needs some activity and stimulation - not what is going on at the moment by the sounds of things. Well done to you for being a strong parent.