My SOA: the start of a long, long road......

LookingAhead

Mystery dining huh? hmmmmmm I can feel some "googling" coming on!

missk_ensington

Does your profession allow you to do any extra work self-employed/freelance/extra from home? This could be a way of earning extra money, for example, in the summer before exam time I often make a bit of extra money giving private English lessons. Perhaps there is something you could do?

I don't mean to sound insensitive regarding the charity money, it is very admirable giving such a lot of money (£18 may not be a lot to you, but thats a hell of a lot to me! Thats a weeks shopping for us!) I just don't think now is a good time to give. I'm sure nobody would blame you if you had to cut your cloth and stop making contributions for a few months in YOUR time of need.

I really do wish you luck, and hope you don't have to sell your house. In your position I would at least talk to your son about how he would hypothetically feel about moving schools (not neccessarily to the local state school, there may be a good state school in the next town. Ok, it would take time travelling and cost money for buses but it'd still be much cheaper) If he doesn't buy it, then fine don't pursue it but there's so harm is talking about it.

Good luck

lifebegins

Hi MissK: good idea re. extra income. Will look into that.

Other resolution for the day: I will not forget to take my children's library books/ DVDs back....(£6.30 in fines today, aaagh!!).

lifebegins

It's 11 days since my lightbulb moment and so far I've:
Saved £100 on car insurance renewal
Been accepted for Capital One 18 months 0% card to transfer my soon to be 16% cc balance on to.
Joined quidco, pigsback, mystery dining and yougov.
Cancelled window cleaner.
Spent less than £70 on a grocery shop (much less than usual)

Worked out if I stick to new budget of £760 per month for 5 of us for food, petrol, clothes, haircuts and hobbies will be able to pay off £1200/ month debt!
The snowball calculator says DFD August 2008: only 24 months to go!!

Anyone else got a DFD around then?