SAHM paying off debts slowly

slm6002

Well the car made it home but its not going anywhere until Friday when OH gets paid. Oh well extra exercise it is for me. We shall borrow a car for tomorrow to get all of the bits we need to done and visit nana whilst nearby. Uncle mentioned getting things organised at the bank today whilst on the phone so maybe inheritance is on its way. Well I can hope.

slm6002

Hello Well I have made it through the week. Kids went back wed but I had OH here until half hour ago (he is off on his stag do) and we will see him again sunday. We have been food shopping this morning which was strange as he never comes to the shop with me and I am not sure if he has ever even enters lidl. He enjoyed choosing food that we normal don't get as I am in a little rut really and tend to just buy the same things each week. We spent all of our budget but have more than enough for the week and probably half of next week at least too. The freezer if full and there are some new things to try too. Tonight I think me and the kids are going to have sausages, mash and beans. Proper comfort food. Tomorrow is ham, chips and beans again good comfort food. I have picked out a few of the dvds off the shelf that we haven't seen for a while so we can have a film afternoon / evening tomorrow. Might even pop some popcorn as I think there is still some in the cupboard

slm6002

Tax credits are confussing me. I normally get paid the same amount on the Monday and unless there is a bank holiday it all works well. I have been paid on 2 Thursdays now (1 because of easter) so assumed they may pay me on Thursdays from now on but then I looked online and I am being paid again on this Monday - not complaining as it looks like I am being paid an extra week but I am slightly confused. Also the amounts keep going up and down and all over the place. Only by a few pounds here and there but never the same at the mo. Who knows lol

slm6002

OH is on his way home - I am so soppy I have been missing him! Anyway have had a sneaky peak in his account and nothing has been taken out so he has stuck to his budget (although more than I like, he has not gone over). We have concert at the church for St Georges day after lunch so will see him when we get home.

I have tried to open a joint account for us both to try and start paying household things from there and then savings for Christmas etc from my account. We haven't been told yes or no yet but hoping it will be a yes as we both have accounts with them already.

Had another look at house prices near us (trying to work out the price of our house for mortgage purposes) and the house that is fairly similar down the road is on market for 215k. I was guessing ours was 180k at most so we might have a bigger lump sum to put down even though dmp still on credit files. Need all the help we can get come December.

About to do meal plan and this months what's on daily calendar for the wall - keeps everyone on track - even OH goes and looks to check if anythings happening now. This will take us to 21st May I reckon - quite a lot going on - SATS for DD, OH Bday, AGM for scouts. Lots to do along with daily school bits.

OK I must get on rather than rant on here - have a great day

slm6002

Silence - ah its lovely. Still no rest for me even though have house to myself after 3 weeks. Got tax credit paperwork through this morning and now even more confused. They have made up a figure to work out tax credits as 'many people get a pay rise each year' well not us! It then shows the figure I gave them a few weeks ago which is lower than last year, yet we are still getting less. It says they will decide if we have had enough at the end of the tax year (so april 2018?) but surely we need the extra money now not next april!

Never mind I will budget with the lower amount and then hopefully the larger amount will come through soon. That along with the extra few pounds from OH should make everything doable

The only expense this weekend was the hire of 2 dvd's from the library £2 so not bad. We had concert for the scouts yesterday and they had fun bits for the kids to do afterwards and all got a burger to say thank you. The only thing I need to get today is bin bags as I have just emptied bin and they have all gone.

Not heard from bank yet re bank account but hopefully soon will. As soon as we know I can start transferring money and account details for household bills.

slm6002

Good morning - well everyone back off to school and work. I have written myself a to do list as so much is going on in the next few weeks. I must now make a start on the actual list.
OH looked at the car and even though I think it is driving well apparently it is all about to fall apart by the look of the underneath. He is now looking for another car but really I do not see the point as it will only be another really old car with our lack of budget so no better off really. I am 'allowed' to do local trips but not any further. I don't see how it would have passed a mot if it wasn't road worthy - however dodgy the mot may have been - and it was only done in feb so not long enough ago for everything to fall apart.

Anyway one of things on my list is to relist and list bits onto ebay as lots to put on there so I can get rid of it and make some money. I also need to clear the understairs cupboard as OH has plans to put coats and shoes in there rather than it being my office - to be fair since I got laptops rather than stand alone computers I haven't used it and it is now full to the top with stuff - most of which we don't really need.

Ok off to do some work - have a lovely day

slm6002

Hello - well my to do list has got a little smaller but still quite a lot needs doing still. People keep asking us to events or mentioning things to do over half term so it is looking even busier now. My mum and uncle will be here too so we are trying to fit everyone and everything in that week.

Money wise things are tight as normal but I have been busy at home so no impulsive buys recently as I haven't really been to the shops. Perhaps this is the key. Still not managed to list things on ebay yet - might be tomorrows job so I can get the money coming in.

Right off to get ready for school run and next lot of washing in the machine

enthusiasticsaver

Half terms and school holidays should be budgeted for really if you spread the cost over the year then it does not come as such a shock when you have the kids around and costs inevitably rise. Lots of free things to do though - museums, parks, nature walks or beach trips if you are near the coast. Mine used to like flying kites on Dartmoor and letterboxing with a picnic and an ice cream from the van as a treat on way home. Only cost then was petrol and ice cream.

slm6002

I do normally try to put money away even if it is only a little bit each month for the holidays and always something to do around here. Can i ask what letterboxing is please - i am not sure i have ever heard of that?

We live about an hour away from the beach and the kids would be happy with picnic and on beach playing all day. We tend to go home via maccy d's as ice creams are a little cheaper than on the seafront. We only buy icecreams from there and the kids are happy as its like a treat.

slm6002

Well OH kind of got offered a new job last night. It's almost £4 extra per hour but 9 hours per day rather than 11 basic. Overtime would be more as well plus every call out he gets would be another £25. At the moment he can walk to work so travelling is no cost at all and no more than a 5 min walk. If he took the job it is a 30 min drive each way which obviously would eat into the extra hourly rate. Think I need to do a spreadsheet and work out the figures. It would still be very erratic hours as almost permanently on call (but being paid for it - I think) so no chance really of me getting a job outside school hours still. Obviously if wages go up benefits go down so will definitely make a spreadsheet for the figures.