My Regaining the Focus and Getting Back on Track Diary

lunar

Chocaholic, im so sorry i missed this news until today. Have you found out yet if he will be getting any payout? ill keep my fingers crossed for you. As Hypno said it must be such a relief that you got rid of your debt before this happened. Also, you have spent so long being a DFW that you know how to make the money you do have last, and can make a bit extra online etc.

Have you thought of putting up a new SOA? Im really hoping that he gets work very soon but you could have a look at your finances on your wage to check where all your money is going. one other thing you could do is make sure you are getting all the benifit you are intitled to on your new income, after all these situations are what its there for.

Take care and send me a PM if you want a chat.

chocaholic110

Oh blimey, I don't think I would dare do a SOA - it didn't really add up when we both worked so not sure how it would now. As to benefits - not sure we're entitled to any. The jobcentre did say he could get a tiny amount of JSA but that they would reclaim it out of any redundancy money and we're not getting Working Tax credit anyway thanks to a mix up when I was at Uni which led to us being overpaid.

Keeping_Motivated

chocaholic110 wrote: »

Oh blimey, I don't think I would dare do a SOA - it didn't really add up when we both worked so not sure how it would now. As to benefits - not sure we're entitled to any. The jobcentre did say he could get a tiny amount of JSA but that they would reclaim it out of any redundancy money and we're not getting Working Tax credit anyway thanks to a mix up when I was at Uni which led to us being overpaid.

Make sure you notify Working Tax Credits though as you should now be eligible for more and your arrears will be paid off quicker if that makes sense.

lunar

Hope you are getting on ok, Has your DH had any luck with getting some interviews yet?

I know it is still a stressful time of year but you must be so proud that you did so well with your christmas challenge this year. Everything is all ready sorted so you can enjoy a guilt free christmas with lots of pressies. It just shows the difference that this site really makes, even when things go wrong.

When do you finish work for christmas this year?

chocaholic110

Thanks for asking, lunar.

OH has had a few interviews and been taken on by several agencies but it seems permanent jobs are hard to come by. Nevertheless, he's worked today and is working tomorrow and Tuesday, so far. He has more numbers to phone and more application forms to fill in and I've never known him receive so many phone calls - he seems to be permanently talking to other drivers who call with numbers to try! He thinks his days of staying out overnight may be over, which means we'll have a lot less money but a lot more family time - so every cloud, and all that! We'll just have to readjust our spending - again! And I'll have to be more dedicated to ways of making extra cash. Plus I think my dreams of a bigger house are over for the moment, but who knows what will happen to the property market over the next year or two.

I saw on your board you've had snow. Quite a lot here too; school was closed all day yesterday for DS and at lunchtime for DD - typically on my day off! I only have to work 6 more days before Christmas (woo hoo!) and I finish on the 17th but I'm going in for Christmas dinner on the 18th. One of those days is our Christmas play and one is the Christmas party so hopefully lots of fun coming up. Cross your fingers for our class nativity - it could be either brilliant or a disaster, depending on how the cast feel on the day - eek!

I used some of the Christmas money to order the last few gifts for my children yesterday. Only need to order a Guitar Hero: World Tour for the Wii now for DS and was hoping for one or two more Amazon vouchers first but think I'd better order it fairly soon.

I only need something for my Mam, OH's Grandma and the best friends of DS and DD now and I still have £20 Boots vouchers, £27 Boots points, £10 Argos voucher and £31 worth of Nectar points so should be able to manage something. DD's birthday presents are sorted and she's having a sleepover and Wii evening in lieu of a party (much more cost-effective!!)

inkedelephant

Heya, wow, I think you are doing really well. I don't think I'd be like you if I had kids. I am writing up my thesis and i always think thats a good excuse to spend... but yeh your doin real good :-)

lunar

Im so glad your DH has been getting some work, it sounds like he is working really hard trying to get things sorted out. Good luck for the nativity at school, i bet you cant wait to finish for the hols this year. Its my first christmas off for 10 years im so excited!

chocaholic110

Hope everyone is well and loking forward to Christmas. Got everything wrapped and ready - Thank goodness for the Free Christmas Challenge - and put up the tree and wrote the cards yesterday. Tom loves the lights on the tree and we found him unwrapping a present under the tree this morning - not even one of his own!!

I have rejoined the Flylady challenge in the vain hope of getting the house in order by Christmas. The kids are off school so they can help but OH is working tomorrow so he gets out of helping.

OH is working a few days a week (three last week) so finances aren't as stretched as we feared. The job he's doing isn't the nicest (transporting abbatoir waste to an incinerator but the pay isn't bad - if he worked 5 days he's make the same as in his old job but in a lot less hours and without nights away from us). It's actually quite nice having him around, even if we will have less money. I need to work out properly how much we need to live on and have a think about how we can cut back - I quite fancy doing a frugal challenge - need to have a read through the OS board, methinks.

Also OH's redundancy cheque came on Friday but we're going to try and manage without it if we can until we've decided what to do with it (if we get a choice and don't need it to live on). He may get a little bit more for lieu of notice but I'm not sure as apparently you don't get the form until the period of notce has ended and as h's worked a few days he might not get anything anyway - we'll have to wait and see.

Thought I would update with a photo - here's Tom getting in the Christmas spirit!!

hypno06

blimey -Tom is getting big! Time flies!!!!!

Glad to read that OH has been able to work, and I hope something permanent comes up soon. I am sure you will make things work, whether on less money, no money, more money or whatever!! And as you say, thank goodness for the free Christmas challenge!! Here's to another one next year!

If you are not about between now and then, have a Fabby family Christmas and wishing you all the very very best for 2009!

chocaholic110

hypno06 wrote: »

blimey -Tom is getting big! Time flies!!!!!

I can't believe it myself - he's one next month!! He's still not very big though - wearing 3-6 or 6-9 month clothes!



If you are not about between now and then, have a Fabby family Christmas and wishing you all the very very best for 2009!

And to yourself and your family - hope you have a good one!