Back to Black - XSpender's 6 Year Plan

XSpender

Not a great deal to report on the debt busting and saving front. The IVF treatment concludes this week and I can't think of much else at the moment.

The funds are looking good for our holidays and if we can keep up our frugal ways I shouldn't have to use any of the savings, just this month's wages as spending money.:T

Sold a phone and sent my first parcel off to music magp1e today, so that will be £40 in the pot for when we get back.:T

I have been sent 2 surveys to complete and responded imediatley but both frooze and I have been unable to complete them which is a bit annoying, especially as one was worth £2.50!:mad:

I am going to do a good stock up shop when I get back as I have found that it is easier to give in to temptation when there is not much in the house, that said, the grocery bill (which includes take aways) is less this month than previous months.

I am looking forward to shopping and lunch with my 2 best friends on Thursday if I am OK after the procedure tomorrow. I have £50 birthday money to spend but want to hold off buying anything until I know if I am preggers or not. I could do with a new swim suit, a bright red special k one would be nice:D

Fingers crossed for some mystery shops when I get back from my weeks hols.

XS

XSpender

I feel like I haven't wrote on my diary for ages but have had a manic month. We have just completed our first cycle of IVF and have had a positive result, just need to wait for the 7 week scan now and I will officially be a 7 week pregnant person:T

We have also been on holiday for 2 weeks, a week of which was in the caravan and we still had 13 quid left in the bank at pay day:T

Things are a bit tight this month as OH car had some work done last month which comes off his wages this month but I think we will be ok and I want to start saving like a crazy person, starting this month.

The plan to clear the secured loan by the end of the IVA will have to go on hold if I stay pregnant ( I know that doesn't sound very positive but it's very early days 5 weeks into IVF) as we will need things for the baby (or babies:eek:) and I am the main wage earner and will go on maternity next year.

I am a bit worried what will happen to the IVA repayments if I am on maternity but they will be getting something even if it is less than they expected or they can make me BKO. We are in £40k negative equity and I would rather have the baby than the house if it came to that.

I am away with work for three weeks at the end of this month beginning of next so I am not going to get far with my challenges. May need to restart them all in October. At least they feed me when I am away so that should help the grocery challenge:rotfl::rotfl:

XS

jacey98

Hi XS

thats really great news and all very exciting and good to have you back in diary land.

jc x

XSpender

I have just found out that I have to go to a meeting tomorrow with everyone in my department. I know that is will be about restructure and that I am very likely to be made redundant.

Everyone keeps saying its great timing as I am pregnant(but only just) and can take enhanced voluntary redundancy. I have also been talking about doing a PGCE course when my baby is older to teach in FE. It all sounds perfect but I am now doubly worried about the IVA payments as when I look at the figures there is no money left after bills and secured payments to pay them when I am on reduced income/SMP. I can't see me getting a new job at 6 months pregnant when I get made redundancy to go on maternity almost straight away.

I would get a large redundnacy payment but the IVA co would be entitled to half of it.

My DH also thinks it is a blessing in disguise but I am not convinced yet:rolleyes:

XSpender

2 people in my team are to made redundant and we all have to reapply for our jobs and say if we would consider VR. The bottom two will be made redundant after the selection process regardless of wether you want VR or not. There is no £ incentive to take it. If I was adamant that I really really wanted to go I could get the redundancy money. My issues are:

1. The IVA. I have spoken to the co and if I am made redundant and leave in Feb I can offer my full redundancy money as full and final settlement because I am preg and won't have an income after that BUT if they do not think it is enough they will take it all as a windfall payment and then fail the IVA and we would be made BKO and lose the house. If I was getting another couple of grand I think it would be accepted.
2. My OH job is not safe and if we were both out of work we could not survive
3. I earn a bit more than my OH and get a company car and good pension
4. At the end of my maternity pay I will not have any income except CB and a small amount of CTC. I would need to find a job then.
5. I work in financial services and I think further cuts/changes will happen within 12 months
6. My job is demanding and stressful and involves a lot of travel and overnight stays. Is this what I want to do when I have a baby?
7. What job could I get that would be as satisfying as the one I have?
8. If I did retrain at the end of my maternity I would have no money coming in

I have until the end of the month to work out what I want to do and I cannot decide wether to take the money and run as I am pregnant. It is so tempting a we may be able to pay off the IVA but I would then have no job and no income at the end of my maternity pay.

My head is battered!

Any suggestions or comments gratefully received!

XSpender

Had another word with the IVA co yesterday and they feel that, because I will be pregnant and find it hard to get a job before the baby is born, the creditors will accept my redundancy pay in Feb as full and final settlement of the IVA and I will be debt free:eek::j:j

If everything is ok with the scan next week we have decided that I will ask for the redundancy money and leave work in Nov although I am paid until end of Feb. I should receive career advice etc which will help me decide what I want to do after maternity and get my CV looking good.

I cannot temp or get another job until Feb but I am going to be doing mystery shops, dooyoo, surveys, scratchcards, ebay, car boots and selling all the stuff I never get time to do to make a good use of my time and get some money saved.

I will also have to sell my free shares which are worth about £1000 at least but I won't get this money until about May.

XSpender

I haven't updated my diary in weeks:o what with morning (and evening and all the time) sickness and the threat of redundancy looming over my head it has been a funny old time.

I have gone from definatley wanting to take redundancy to definately wanting to keep my job. I think the idea of getting out of the IVA and being debt free was very tempting but not practical once maternity money runs out.

Because I haven't been on here I haven't been focused on DFW and MSE ways and although I have managed to save a little, not nearly as much as I could have done.

Today I have:

• Sold my first book on green metropolis. :T It's a bit battered so doesn't make much after posting but it all helps.
• Banked a cheque for £2.42 from music magpie:D
• Meal planned for the next week out of what is in the freezer and cupboards
• Meal planned for the following two weeks
• Ordered my groceries on line in order to stick to the budget
• Drawn up a budget for Nov and Dec
• Started thinking about what challenges I will participate in during Nov

Hope to post more often as we move into November and give myself a kick up the bot

XS

jacey98

hi xs

good to have you back hope the sickness is getting a little better.

i have had several wobble moments but now have new diary and i think almost back on track now!!!!

jc x

XSpender

Hi JC

Thanks for popping in!

I am glad to be back on MSE reading everyone's posts and diaries as they are really helping me get motivated again.

I will have to go and catch up on your diary too!

XS x

Katy83

Hi XS,

Just been reading through your diary - you've come such a long way, well done. Congratulations on your pregnancy too, sounds like an exciting time. When are you due? Sorry to hear you are so sick though, that has got to be tough.

I'll subscribe to your diary to see how you are getting on. Hope you manage to keep hold of your job. Things are awful everywhere at the moment, everybody seems to be under one threat or another.

Good luck xx