SAHM paying off debts slowly

slm6002

I am 13p off £200 in my debt fund pot - doing well on sales so far and have another 2 things at least selling in the next few days. I did order some bags to send parcels off in as the envelopes I already have don't really keep the items that secure and I don't want them getting ruined in the post.

Well off to tidy as I have spent too long looking at this screen waiting for bids lol

slm6002

Ok so good news is that spoke with mobile phone people that I am no longer with and they have promised to refund me £74 into my bank account within the next 24 hours. This mystery has been going on for a while now but the last time I spoke with someone they owed me £64. Today at first I owed them £7 and then now they owe me £74? I have no idea but it will take me over the £200 mark and well on my way to £300 for the debt pot

slm6002

Hi well I am still chasing phone company for my £70! Spoken to at least 5 people now and up until today they all promise it will be in my bank by 48 hours. Todays person say 5-7 days! I wish they would say this when I first ring. They have requested payment again as the first one didn't go through. I can still see that I will be contacting them this time next week.

I have been really ill the since sat. I was fine fri night when I went to bed but I felt as if I had the flew by sat morning. Turns out I had tonsillitis. Got some pills (obviously not had any for a while as I was shocked at the price) and am feeling much more myself. I started eating again yesterday - not the best way to diet but not eating for 4 days must have helped as jeans very loose!

Made some good money on fleabay this week and my debt pot is now at £247.86. I am still also waiting on a few more pounds to come in but its going well.

The food budget is also going quite well this week - partly because OH used his own money to do the shopping over the weekend when I was unresponsive in bed! I did do a click and collect yesterday for the first time as we had nothing real in the house. OH is very good at buying treat food but not so good when it comes to meals! I think I will use this again as it means I can plan and shop at home and then collect - no wondering around the supermarket spending more that I intended. I wasn't that with it when I ordered the food so I know I have meals but I am not that sure what ones. I best go have a look and see if I need to defrost anything

slm6002

Not much happened other than debt pot now at £280.99. Need to photograph a few more bits and post them online to keep this going up

slm6002

Half term is here and kids not behaving very well. Got one going for a sleepover tonight so happy she will be out of the house as only 2 seem to get on better than 3!

I need to list some more bits on fleabay today as I have just had a whole load finish so list is looking a lot smaller now. I am doing really well although only small items are being sold due to high postage costs. I am pleased to say that with todays bits added to the debt fund I now have £409.85 in the pot. I am really pleased with this. Along with sales I have also had a refund from silly phone company for £70 which has helped. OH wants to 'borrow' the money but I am very wary of this. He says he will refund me but I just don't ever see that happening. I have worked hard to get it to where it is and don't want to see it wasted on something for his lorry (work lorry - we don't even own it!). Might tell a little fib and say as its in the isa it takes at least 2 weeks to get to it - might put him off a little bit? It would pay off a couple of the smaller debts but the DMP people don't like people doing that apparently so will wait until I have a bigger debt pot and offer f&f payments later on.

I have used mr t's click and collect the past few weeks now and am finding them great. I do however forget something most weeks (mainly milk) but am trying to add to list when I think about it during the week. Might see if I can find app on phone so I can do it on the go.

Right off to break up squabbling upstairs before heading to post latest sales. Happy half term to you all

slm6002

Well I survived half term and have done some great tidying since they have been back at school. Tidying and clearing means I can put unwanted items on fleabay! My debt pot is currently at £426.88 and I am awaiting for another 2.25 from someone = £429.13. I have also heard from elec company that they are refunding me £600 in the next 7 working days. I am not sure about this as the last person I phoned said that they haven't invoiced me my elect for over a year. I think it should be more like £300. Either way I will earn interest on the money rather than them. If they then invoice me I will have money ready.

I am so cold at the mo and am cuddled up on the sofa with my blanket and extra layers on. I could easily have a nap but know I need to leave for school in a little while. May have to put heating on when we get back.

I look after niece on Fridays and she is potty training at the mo. Thought I had finished with potty training with my lot but I guess still need to sort this little one out lol She has been good but its remembering spare clothes, potty etc when leaving the house and also remembering to ask if she needs wee every so often.

OH is still after some of the debt pot for his lorry - have said no but may end up giving in to the smaller item he wants.

Right need to leave for school

slm6002

Wow I have really neglected this diary. Maybe that is why I am no better off money wise. Money is super tight at the moment and bills keep coming in. I know there is light at the end of the tunnel but we are a few months off that at the moment. I made an impulse buy last week which I regret now but I guess I cant undo that. Need to learn from it and not do it again. It is sad when a £35 item can break the budget.

All 3 kids are needing shoes before they go back to school after the easter break as holes have appeared. Only getting cheap ones as they will probably grow over the summer hols. Found out which school eldest will go to next year and have totted up the uniform that she will need - around £200 worth of bits with logos on. So will need £300 in total for everyones uniform to cover everything. OH is very sure we will be buying new and not second hand for high school as he was bullied for having hand me downs. I have already bought a jumper for £2 - I am afraid we don't have the chance unless he starts giving me more money. I think the summer hols will be filled with very cheap / free entertainment again this year.

I have been trying to find jobs but it is very difficult to find one that will fit in around school holidays and hours. I see no point paying as much in childcare (for 3 kids) as I am earning. No family around to help most of the time and can only do the odd hour here and there. A friend of mine has been offered a job for 10 hours at the local supermarket but with the idea that she can pick up lots of overtime hours when her boy is a school but no further hours in the holidays - thinking I may see if they need any more people like this - just need to get OH on board with looking after the kids at the weekend! We could use the extra money that is for sure. Money seems to consume my life at the moment and I am tired of scrapping by and making do.

I know I am due some inheritance and this would solve many many problems for us even if it will disappear very quickly by paying off debts, but we will be debt free finally . It seems to be a very long process that was started at least a year ago and still no date as to when the money will appear

OH has a stag do in a few weeks time and has already paid quite a bit in advance. He has saved some money for his beer and drinks too. It is a weekend away but I do secretly think he should have said no sorry I cant go as too expensive (the rest of them have pots of money). The amount he will end up paying could have given us a cheap week away for the whole family.

Sorry this post is really depressing - think I have been holding this lot in for a while now and needed to write it down to process it.

slm6002

Whist kids have been enjoying themselves on the games consol I have been menu planning and currently planning a click and collect shop. Just been on Mr T's website and see they now charge for this service. No thank you....Mr A's service is free and just as good, plus I find cheaper food anyway. I f I could just get a job there and get the discount card too life would be good Anyway I am hoping to get most of the bits I need and make it last (easier said than done with 3 kids at home).

slm6002

OH has agreed to give me at least an extra £15 per week but more likely £25 extra. Its only a small amount but if I stick to budget it will get me out of my overdraft fairly quickly and mean we have a little more leg room with the budget (although not a lot).

I have applied for the marriage allowance for 2015/16 and hoping the overpaid tax will come back to him fairly shortly as yesterday he got the notification of new tax code. I am assuming as the tax year is up he will get it via a cheque. May have to hide it until the stag do is done or he may want to spend even more! I wonder if he can sign it over to me so I can put it in my bank account? (or is that an old fashioned thing?)

Honeysucklelou2

I understand the problem of balancing the looking for work against the cost of childcare. Have you considered a TEaching assistant job? Posts are term-time, often similar hours to the children. I know a few mums who have found work in this way, myself included!