Jo_R's debt-free diary, slow and steady progress!

Jo_R_2

Things still pretty quiet on the money front, days just ticking over until the end of the month and all next month's money is in. Should probaby start refining November's SOA, been quite slack as was supposed to be ebaying for funds towards my OU course - which reminds me, I need to post off the form to set up the DD.


Could post more but want to get a few bits done whilst DD2 at nursery, the time flies by every day and before I know it I'm picking her up again. So here goes:

• [STRIKE]check online banking and online CC[/STRIKE]
• complete and send off DD form for OU payments
• do one hour of work for OU course (prob this evening)
• [STRIKE]do washing up and clear table from breakfast[/STRIKE]
• make cakes or cookies
• check train times for Thursday to go to funeral and buy tickets

That's all for now x

Jo_R_2

^^^Got all that done!^^^:j

Been updating quite infrequently. Friend's death has made me spend a lot of time looking at myself and my life so for the last week or so, moneysaving has been put on the back burner.

As a result I'm not quite up to speed with things. Luckily I have been conscious of not spending what I don't have - the benefits of doing my monthly SOA I guess. So although there have been a couple of instances where I've spent unplanned, it's all been needed and nothing that has broken the bank or the SOA.

Some small things we've been talking about I've decided to go for. Mainly because during the funeral service, it was apparent how much my friend made of his life - he was always the same way back when when I got to know him, and it made me realise how much I have let my interests and pasttimes go since getting together with OH and baby, mainly due to time and money constraints.

It just made me think hard about what I am doing to enjoy my life as well as the day-to-day mundanity and every-day-ness. I realised I can enjoy myself without it breaking the bank; example being yesterday morning when feeding baby, I picked up a book I've been reading here and there for months now and got stuck in. Me and OH have plans to go on a date night next Saturday, and have plans to get tickets for a gig in a month or so. I'm also looking for a job, something I had decided I wanted to do but not done much about.

Another big thing is a holiday. We're hoping to do two - one family and one just me and OH. We agreed just a long weekend away would do us and keep costs to a minimum; however not ever having booked a family holiday I have no idea where to start except to panic when I realise a school-holiday holiday (LOL) is going to cost us lots!

OH is going to save half his tax credits money so around £100 per month hopefully. We'll probably go for a long weekend in the Peak District but hoping to go down to Cornwall with the family so been looking into that today - not sure what time of year yet though for that.


So plans for tomorrow:

• [STRIKE]menu plan, shopping list and then shop![/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]check online banking and credit card[/STRIKE]
• go through this month's SOA and check if any pennies left over to overpay on cc
• [STRIKE]text/email ex to 'helpfully' remind him to add on to child maintenance the £10 he owes me for BT from old house:D[/STRIKE]
• do SOA for November

And is half-term this week:eek::eek::eek:

EssexHebridean

Jo - so sorry to hear about your friend. Sounds like he would be pleased that you are getting something positive from it though in the shape of re-evaluating your life and looking to maximise quality of life. It's something I have to remnind myself from time to time - life can't be put on hold or ruled by spreadsheets and budgets - yes to living within your means but you have to ensure that your quality of life stays on the up or you'll get disheartened. I like your comment about the small things too - Sometimes something as simple as just taking time for ourselves can make all the difference - getting your OH to watch the kids one evening while you soak in the bath with a facemask, hair deep conditioner and a good book, for example.

Jo_R_2

We've all been poorly this last few days - kinda put a dampener on half-term as hardly been out.

Baby was last to feel brunt of it and was quite bad yesterday but seems brighter today so that's a relief - not been able to do much at all as he wanted carrying/feeding/to sleep on me all day bless him

Lovely sunny day today so just going for quick shower, then promised to take DDs to park to get some fresh air and hopefully shake off this bug a bit. Not sure about rest of day, not had much sleep for last two days with poorly kids so don't want to be too over-ambitious! Parents have offered to help out so can call on them if needs be (they are lovely:T)


So:

• go through this month's SOA and check if any pennies left over to overpay on cc
• do SOA for November (both carried over from a couple of days ago, hope to get done tonight)
• [STRIKE]buy local paper as jobs day
• one load of washing to do[/STRIKE]
• peg washing out on line instead of using tumble dryer - might risk it but might not be for long as looking distinctly cloudy!

Anyway need to get cracking before kids start ushering me about LOL!

Keeping_Positive

Hope you have some pennies no make that pounds to overpay xx

Hope you and little ones get better quickly.

Jo_R_2

Feeling a bit better today thanks KP and kids seem better too, if all still coughing and snotty!

Hardly seen OH for the last week, he's been busy at work Having kids all day and not seeing him til late means the lack of adult conversation is driving me crazy! Luckily parents have come over today - just having an oasis of calm as they're all out at the park for half an hour. Prob should be doing something contructive but hey...:shhh:

Did try posting this morning but comp went mad and just wanted me to log in over and over...! So what I have done today:

• checked online banking - ex FORGOT to add to the child maintenance the £10 he owes me which I took 'in advance' as it were and overpaid on my Virgin cc - (down to £295.11 on the Virgin cc) - will email him about it
• tried to check online cc but wasn't playing so will try again shortly
• did provisional SOA for November... Very tight, need new shoes and school tights for DD1 and so far got just over £30 left over after everything - except diesel, need to check with OH if he is paying for that out of his tax credits as he mentioned, hope so or else I'm in trouble!
• pegged out washing on line - not sure if dried much though!

Jo_R_2

Quiet day - sat with fire blazing (naughty me but sooo cold!:D), still in dressing gown with baby asleep on me. DDs at my parents and the weekend beckoning. My sis is coming round later after work for a couple of hours so looking forward to that.

I am seriously thinking of giving up my OU course. I love studying but finding it difficult to find any time in the day to study, am tired in the evenings and it has been more difficult than I anticipated to find 'free' time at the weekends to study, surprisingly.

I am also questioning my career path... Not sure midwifery is for me for many reasons, mainly practical ones. OH ultimately wants to be a firefighter and I envision many problems involving shiftwork and childcare, and us not having any quality of coupled life -ie never seeing each other and that's a priority for me thinking of even getting through to when the kids are grown up.

I have been questioning things a lot since my friend died. I suppose I'm very conscious that we only get one shot at this, I feel like I'm at a time in my life where I want to have a career, something I enjoy, that I can work at, be good at and progress, but also have a good work-life balance (not asking much am I?!)

So I've been going back through the years and doing a bit of soul-searching to see what it is that I *do* want. I have an idea, but I'm also conscious that I feel quite emotional at the mo so not going to make any big decisions yet.

Anyway, have done today:

• checked online banking

To do:

• [STRIKE]check cc online[/STRIKE]
• look at potential Christmas presents online - ongoing!
• [STRIKE]check shoes that am watching on ebay - hoping for a bargain![/STRIKE]

EssexHebridean

Oh Jo, sounds like you have some really tough decisions to make. Think really hard before you give up your OU study - you've fought so hard to be able to afford it in the first place and it seems a shame to stop now. Can you not sort out with your OH that he looks after the littlies and gives you a couple of hours at a time for the study?

As for the fire - not naughty at all, if you're cold you're cold and particularly considering you all - including baby, have been poorly, you need to keep warm and look after yourselves.

Jo_R_2

I have a very strong sense that this week is a week of decisions. I'm kind of floundering at the moment, feeling the confusion of whether to carry on studying, pursue the midwifery or change tack, and realising I am finding it *very* hard to live so close to the edge as regards finances - as it stands I have about £30 left after expenses on my SOA - whilst this is fine as all bils etc are paid, it means I have nothing left to play with, to use to take the girls out now and again, to take OH out (even if only to the pics or for a pizza) and to overpay.

I'm not going to pontificate on here as I don't have time (LOL). I'll no doubt pop back in a bit or this evening. Things I definitely do need to do though:

• pay council tax by phone
• email ex about £10 owed that's not been paid
• do shopping
• finalise and print out November's SOA
• go through bills and paperwork and file:D

miserly_mum

Hi Jo

I'm wondering if your doubts about the OU course are because you have maybe bitten a bit more off than you can chew right now? Rather than because the course isn't what you really want etc

You have a lot on your plate with 3 young children, new(ish)relationship and financial worries. Did you perhaps kind of fool yourself you could find the time,energy and money because the course was something you really wanted to do?

BTW this is not a criticism. I had also hoped to start an OU course this year but when it came to the crunch I had to be honest with myself. Some days I don't get 5 minutes to myself as it is without trying to slot in OU work aswell

I will still do it but next year when my youngest has started school and I will have a few hours every day of "me" time. I'll be able do course work and still have time for the kids and my OH.

There are only so many hours in a day and its so easy to take on too much at the one time and end up not being able to devote enough time to anything IYSWIM?

Also you say that your OH wants to be a fire fighter? Is that achievable for him? Or is it something he would like to do but might not actually ever do?

You are actually doing somethig positive towards your goal of being a midwife right now. It would be a great shame for you to give up this just because your OH may or may not end up in the fire service somewhere in the future.

Good Luck whatever you decide