SAHM paying off debts slowly

slm6002

Thanks BizzyWizard, I did read about that scheme and have been meaning to look into it more.  Will put it on the list of to do jobs

Mumoffourkids

Another vote for the help to save scheme. I set mine up two years ago now and have already had my first bonus of £600. On track for my second bonus in just under two years time. It is well worth it if you can save the £50 per month. 

Also well done on the ppi. As others have said, look at it as £2500 gained rather than £900 lost.

slm6002

Hi there.  After looking at the information I decided to set up the help to save scheme.  Only problem is because I earn under £604.56 per month I am not eligible to get an account   I need to see if I can apply another month when I get extra pay, but for now I cant.  Never mind it was worth a try.  Would have thought it would have been if over that amount I couldn't have one as I thought they for us on low income.  Oh well am off to bed so see you all tomorrow

slm6002

Good morning to you all.  What a dreary day.  Kids are not feeling very motivated to get out of bed and start working.  They are fairly up to date so have let them have a little lie in.  The week after the Easter holidays finished was hard too so the half term break has obviously not helped.  I wonder what it will be like after the 6 week holidays?  I wonder if we will still be home schooling.  Got an email from the high school the older 2 go to.  They are inviting year 10's and year 12's back for one day a week from the 15th June.  They also said after 2 weeks they do not know what will happen or if this will continue.  Neither of mine are in year 10 or 12 so I don't expect them to go back this year.  Eldest DD would really like to know her subject choices for gcse as they haven't heard about those yet.  Would be nice to get rid of those subjects she just doesn't feel the love for and be able to concentrate on the ones she does.  Also wish they would let DS drop languages but use those extra lessons for more English sessions, as this is the subject he needs to pass and obviously struggles with more than others.  He will not be doing French or German at GCSE so why confuse him.
Anyway I have been trying to come up with ideas on how to make an income working from home - alongside normal work, and probably similar to everyone else at the moment.  That way if we are ever in this situation again life could remain a little more normal and if it works well maybe I wont need employed work, and can come off benefits and then work on my savings pots.  Am trying to come up with ideas - anyone have any lol.  I like the idea of making wax melts but not sure if there are too many on the market already.  Would love to be able to create something and pop it on the internet and it just brings in income, but not sure how or what - maybe an ebook or something similar, but as you can see I am no writer and my spelling is not great for that.  I like crafts but not sure if I am good enough to sell things, or if the amount of time things take to make would generate enough to make it worthwhile.  Anyway I have enough time to think at the moment lol
The paperwork for Child Maintenance has just dropped onto my doorstep so guessing OH will find his arrives today or tomorrow.  Will wait for the abusive text saying how I am screwing him over again!  Wait till he sees financial settlement.  Oh well.  
I hope everyone has a good day dispite the weather

slm6002

OK I have just ordered a pair of hair clippers and some hair scissors from Amazon as DS's hair is getting bad now.  I think he could have bunches at this point.  His head looks enormous because the amount of hair he has.  In the past I have attempted but it does need improving.  I will study the you tube clips and see what I can do.  Realistically the cost of the clippers and scissors is only 4 haircuts (amazed at the price of clippers as they were only £10 last time I bought some for OH - Should have kept them rather than handing them over to him, but never mind).  I figured we have time for his hair to grown if it really does go that wrong lol.  Don't want to shave hair all one length as he looks like a thug then, so need to shave back and sides and learn to trim top.  Also if I become good at it I can cut out the 5 weekly hair cuts for him at the barbers.  Another £10 saving there.  The girls and I don't get our hair cut very often (myself maybe once a year) and we just tend to put hair up.  DD have really chopped her hair by herself over the lockdown and made a really good job of it (not that I can tell her as I don't want to encourage cutting her own hair lol).  Off to watch hair cutting clips in preparation.
Appologies for all of these posts - it looks like I am missing conversations and starting to ramble.  Getting things out of my head is helping though - thank you if you have managed to get through all of the ramblings

joeyjimbles

Bless you, you are doing so well. 
Maybe get DD involved in cutting DS's hair? Especially if she's confident with the scissors near fringes, and I really recommend the tutorials that were done by This Morning - https://www.itv.com/thismorning/hot-topics/how-to-do-a-salon-haircut-at-home - this is one of them, but there are others if you search, and some associated youtube videos. OH and I cut DS1's hair following it and it looked pretty good - about time for another go since we didn't go super short but if it's another 5 weeks till barbers etc can reopen then it will be needed. 

slm6002

Thank you Joeyjimbles I will certain take a look at that clip.  Well done for cutting your sons hair.  To be honest I didn't expect everything to last this long, but like you said if its another 5 weeks til they can open again, it needs to be done.  Also the queue for haircuts will be so long, this is definitely the way forward.  I think we will all have learnt some new skills over this time.  It will just be a case of how well we have learnt.  We will need to compare convenience of someone else doing it to money we can save and time it takes to do it ourselves I guess.

slm6002

Good morning to you all.  Nothing much to report today on this rather grey day.  Have a lovely relaxing bath last night before bed and slept really well.  I don't have many baths now our shower has been mended so it felt rather like a treat.  Today we are going to be tidying the house as it looks like a war zone.  Its my brothers 40th birthday today so need to get his card to him some how - still not left the house.  I have searched through the vast amount of greetings cards I have in the house to try and find a suitable card as I am not comfortable going to the shops as yet.  I have found some plain cards and also a Age 4 card which I thought I might be able to adjust into 40 lol.  I also found many fathers day cards for later in the month, and I also need a 16th birthday card, but might need to just write inside 16 for that one.  There are a few others in the next few months and I think I should have ones suitable so no need to go shopping as yet.  When I do go I will make sure I take a list and bulk buy the cards just incase that second wave comes.
We are supposed to be going to my dads for a bbq tomorrow but I am not sure that will happen if the weather remains like this.  We might have to postpone it a week.   Feeling like a good stew today but no meat out of freezer plus kids don't do stew.  Tempted to get a much smaller slow cooker so I can cook my stews and currys for just me.  I missed this type of food or something with a bit of spice, as no one to share it with because the kids wont eat it.  Might just be sausage and mash instead.  I might also do some baking, thinking choc chip cookies maybe, but it will depend how long it takes to clean the house I reckon.  Ok must get on

slm6002

Well that didn't go to plan.  Did some tidying but really all we all want to do is veg on the sofa with our cosy duvets and the cats and various electronic devices.  So its going to be a pj day (although I did get dressed).  The rest of todays plans can happen tomorrow, and its looking like the bbq may be postponed until the sun comes out, but will find out later.

slm6002

I am awaiting some items from amazon, but earlier they were marked as delivered and handed over to the customer in person - er no they were not, but helpdesk say I just need to wait for them to turn up as they have probably just pressed the wrong button.  I'm thinking someone has received my goods and is thinking great free stuff.  I have to wait until the 9th before I contact them again if they haven't appeared.  They have been such a help over lockdown so don't want to complain too much but aghhh.
As you know my mind flits between things quite frequently and today I have been thinking about the summer holidays.  We are only about 6 weeks away and in any 'normal' year I would have started working out what we were doing each week or at least have a list of options.  As we just don't know where we will be in 6 weeks re lockdown and social distancing, I think a list of possible activities might be the best option and then we can pick what to do when closer to the time.  The older two go to camp with their Friday groups for a week normally, but that has been cancelled.  We obviously have 5 days in a caravan so will wait and see if that still goes ahead.  OH has also mentioned he will be having them for a week, but it was quite a while ago he said that and not really sure if it will actually happen.  I'm not sure I would really know what to do for a week on my own.  I was only just starting to get used to 1 night.  Anyway I have been looking into escape rooms.   I am thinking I would make one up so I can tailor it to their abilities, and maybe put a voucher for treat inside a box for the treasure.  We would like to visit the beach for the usual sandcastles and well as to go crabbing (2 separate visits) and the woods.  There is one close by that that has an orienteering activity that I think they would like.  We haven't been to that one before but it is within my driving distance so should be ok.  I have been printing recipes off that have been popping up over this lockdown and have kept them to one side ready for when we don't have school work to do.  The kids love to cook but do need to improve as I tend to babysit them even though i know I shouldn't so much.I need to look at things to do near our holiday caravan just in case it goes ahead.  They have entertainment but according to reviews its not great so need to find some alternatives.  The kids got very excited when we had a carvery a few months back and I said perhaps once on holiday we could go to another.  So simple but kids were amazed by it lol.