SAHM paying off debts slowly

slm6002

Been really busy again - still got plenty of end of term bits left to do before the holidays. Son came home after residential trip and lots of hugs have been had (he is my very cuddly, not wanting to leave home boy so missed us all lots). Also had eldest visit her high school for 2 days - she loves it as she is in the same class as her long term boyfriend. She also knows most of the class from clubs or previous/current schools. We have succumbed and purchased a cheap mobile phone for her after the trip to school. I found it very odd that when the teacher was talking about phones they said no phones on in class unless they were told to use them for their lesson. What if I hadn't have bought her one - I guess she would share with someone, but didn't know they presume all kids have one. Anyway as she is walking I wanted to be able to keep in touch with her. It is capped so once minutes, texts and data has gone, its gone for the month.

I had an interview at the local school yesterday. They said they would let us know by the end of the day or early this morning. So far I have heard nothing so guessing I haven't got it this time. There will be others but this one would have fitted around my kids very well. Never mind - more time to sort the house out.

Found a few more bits to do in the holidays for free and car is going in to be sorted tomorrow (at a real garage so properly mended) so hopefully

ok off to bed

armchairexpert

Hi slm, I just found your diary and read through the lot! I second everyone saying you do very well on what seems like a slim housekeeping allowance.

You said you used to be an accountant: could you do something like book keeping from home? That way you're not advising people on taxation issues, you're just doing the admin side for people? So they give you all their receipts and things and you turn it into spreadsheets? I am sure this is an actual job.

Although why not do a refresher course and get your confidence back? It seems crazy to me that with such a high level of education and a specialist skill like accountancy, you're stuffing boxes full of cards and picking up Avon catalogues. Surely you could earn so much more than your OH?

slm6002

Well I have been very bad updating my diary - so here is a brief catchup to now

OH has another job so payments to me for bills etc has increased each week making life easier.

I have finally received my inheritance which has been put to good use and I am due to be debt free in the next week or so once we have finalised a figure.

I have just got a job which works around the children and start after the holidays. Nervous yet excited too.

OK that's me up until now really - doesn't look much but we are in a much better position than we were. I am looking into how having a job will affect life - meal planning is going to be a must from now on as I wont have the time to wing it and visit the shops every day like up until now.

My freezer if full to the brim but I have no idea what's in there so that is on my list of things to do very soon. Tax credits will obviously drop or stop as my wage is added into the equation so more work on my budget spreadsheet will be needed.

I also need to contact my various volunteer jobs and sort out different days to do them or stop them - will need some time for house and me.

Wondering what to do once debts finished - do I go over to mortgage free wanabee?

Anyway hope you are all well - will catch up with everyone elses diaries now

slm6002

Productive day today. Transferred housekeeping from OH's bank and immediately made an overpayment on my mortgage. First overpayment I have been able to make. I also managed to put the monthly savings into each of my Christmas/bday/car etc pots. Feels good. I am not sure if my spreadsheet is correct but if i keep going the way i am with all spare cash and my wages now i am going to be earning for 8 years i will pay off the mortgage. I think it must be wrong somewhere as i cant believe i could save that on a part time wage and sticking to budgets. I would need to have a similar rate for the last 3 years which i cant see happening but even so its a little crazy.

I also realise that perhaps i should be working on the other debt first but i have money aside, and once the company has sorted themselves out and rung me back i will pay it. If no phone calls by wed i will call them.

I have also emailed every company i can think of to get some raffle prizes in for our charity event so that's another job i can tick off the list. Trying to get these jobs done before i go to work incase i don't have the time after.

OH still not home as he is on call and i guess they need him. Meal in the freezer that he can ping in the microwave when he gets home as i will probably be in bed by then.

Youngest DD has swimming tomorrow and the teacher pretty much promised she could move up a level tomorrow - very overdue and she has been asking for the past few months and everyweek it seems to be another excuse. She had a free private lesson with friend who is also a teacher there and she would happily have passed her but couldn't as she wasn't in her class. So fingers crossed

slm6002

Yay DD moved upto the next level at swimming and because we are moving over to a Monday rather than a Saturday it is cheaper Few pounds to go back into her bank - they pay for clubs out of the Christmas and birthday money otherwise we wouldn't be able to afford it.

Todays job is the freezer before we go to the shops - just incase there is anything lurking in there that we can make into dinner. There should be as it is packed

slm6002

:T:jI am debt free:j:T

I am so happy it is done - credit score will obviously take some time to recover but whilst that's happening my bank balances can improve

kerron7

Congratulations, a wonderful feeling I'm sure!

slm6002

Thank you its a great feeling - keep going everyone else

Kitten868

Well it's taken me ages but finally I've read your whole diary. I was desperate to find out how much it was you owed and how much you had left to pay off when you cleared it off. You have done amazingly over the last 7 years. I'm in awe of how well you do on your budget and your amazing planning. And I'm so pleased you got a job- you have always dedicated so much time to everything else I'm sure you needed a job. Plus to have your own money coming in. I'm copying your a-z holidays and loved all your ideas. I'm at the other end of the journey with a 4 and 2 year old so it's lovely seeing someone else's journey going so well. 8 years to be mortgage free would be amazing after all those years on interest free.

I'm dyspraxic and I was diagnosed by a educational psychologist. I think they are the best people to go to for official diagnosis that can get him statemented or whatever it's called. You can push for this through the school or pay for it yourself. I definitely think it's worth it as it's much easier to help when you know his official diagnosis and they can pick out which elements he struggles with. I don't know if information like that is available nowadays so that's why I'm sharing it with you.

And I think stay here. You've got your chronicle of how things have gone so far here so it will be good for you to see how it's changed. You're still paying debt even if it's a mortgage xxx

slm6002

Hi Kitten - thank you so much for the kind words - cant believe you kept reading . Love that you have picked up some useful tips like the a-z summer (my kids even now like to do it), I hope your little ones like it as much. It was easier when they were smaller I think as ideas could be quite simple. As my new job is in a nursery I might be able to have some input into their ideas too. And yes I have already started collecting local leaflets for ideas for the summer . DS was diagnosed with dyslexia in the end as we paid privately for it. School now seem to listen to me more and are already preparing for next years sats - possible more time for him. I still think he is on the autistic spectrum but its not too bad so its more like just him being a little quirky.

I really cant see how it is possible to clear mortgage in 8 years and really do wonder if my figures are wrong because I certainly wont be earning 90k+ in 8 years. Anyway I will stay here and keep chipping away at things.

I am still having issues with OH as now debt free he is thinking its ok to spend! He hasn't yet but you can see the cogs moving up there lol. Anyway as long as I get my housekeeping each week I don't mind too much (although would prefer it if he saved it) as that is what I base my budgets on. Currently working on this weeks meal plans and trying to include several slow cooker meals that will cook themselves whilst I am at work. Think I am going to be exhausted for the first few weeks until I get used to juggling everything.

On Tuesday DS has got an Egyptian day so needed a costume. I heard him telling DD's that he didn't want a bought costume as they cost a fortune and mummys homemade ones are always much better and unique - bless him I have trained him well. Anyway large white tshirt from OH's wardrobe plus some gold ribbon, few toilet rolls painted gold for bracelet type things and a few fake gems from craft box and we are nearly there. Just need to colour in headdress and then staple it together and one costume ready for Tuesday morning.