"Simply not solvent!

Seaxwyn

Well I've had a shock this morning - checked my online banking and for the first time ever in my life, I have gone over my overdraft limit. Luckily I paid some cheques in on Saturday so it's only a temporary hiccup - but I hope I don't get penalised, like losing my 0% overdraft for instance.

I've got more money coming in, but lots of bills and expenses this month, so things are tight and we are doing a storecupboard challenge. Today OH is doing some work on a friend's website, they are paying £50 and I hope they give it him in cash straight away.

I'm not making much inroads into my work, I'll try to do a solid two hours now as I've arranged to take the kids ice-skating at noon. One of my daughters won a family ticket in a colouring competition!

I'm trying to keep chilled about my difficulty working with the kids around. After all, I opted for the freelance life mainly so I could be around for them. But I MUST get some work done as well. I have left a message enquiring about places on a playscheme for the two youngest. I hate doing this, but it sounds a good one, run by a local farmer's wife who has six or seven children herself and is a real earth mother. Even if just DS went that would be a help. Anyway I don't even know if there are any places left.

My dad is doing well. He's now at a new hospital where he should finally get some physiotherapy and speech therapy. He seems in good spirits and is now able to walk/shuffle from his bed to the TV lounge or out into the hospital garden.

taxi73

Dads improvement sounds good and am so happy to hear that.
Sorry to hear that you are struggling with juggling everything at the moment.

Seaxwyn

Another blow, a letter arrived today saying that our tax credits are being stopped.

On the other hand I got a load of free veg today from my mum's garden. With my dad in hospital she's not getting through it. So I'm doing brilliantly on my storecupboard challenge.

Work... not so good. I have kind of given myself permission not to work while the children are in my care. So today we went skating (on the lamest ever rink - plastic not ice!) then went to visit my mum for a couple of hours. I need to insist OH looks after them for the next two days. Must chase up the playscheme lady too. My mum has said she will pay for 3 days, and will have them to stay overnight in between.

I feel rather humbled after reading Hypno's diary today with her plan to pay off £85 per day! I know I should set myself a target DFD but it's as much as I can do just to keep up with outgoings. I've only paid off £2.5k this year, and even that masks the tax timebomb looming in January. I need to buck up my ideas somehow.

hypno06

Are tax credits being stopped because you didn't renew in time?

If so, give them a call and reinstate - I did the same one year and they were very quick to sort it out for me.

The playscheme sounds good and if you can get the children amused for 2 or 3 days it will give you some good time to take a deep breath and delve right in to working.

Dare I ask if OH has any plans for bringing in an income to take some of the pressure off you?

Seaxwyn

Sadly the tax credits are being stopped because we earned too much! Also because we are repaying as they previously overpaid us. Tax credits are always boom and bust for us!

OH is trying (very trying). He's doing some work today for his friend's sandwich delivery business. Then he's doing five hours driving this week for the YMCA. And he has some teaching booked again in September, I think. But it doesn't add up to anything like a proper salary.

Meanwhile I have lots of work but it's mostly writing and editing, and that I find very hard to do with distractions. Even the threat of distractions. SO, I have just booked DD3 and DS onto the playscheme for 8 days. It's only for the mornings anyway, and sounds really nice, and the organiser said that if they don't want to attend any of the sessions she will reimburse me! That's quite a relief.

taxi73

Sorry to hear your latest news re tax credits.We've had the same situation with them on and off for years ever since they first started.We go from overpaid to underpaid.You never know where you stand with them.
The playscheme sounds good for the young ones and it's nice that your mum can help a little.
Hope you can manage to get your work done and that your DH helps look after the kids inbetween his work so that at least you can get yours done.Take care x

Seaxwyn

Thanks Taxi. I guess the tax credits system is set up for people with jobs, who earn a predictable amount. Not the likes of you and me, whose income can vary wildly. I expect I'll get a generous tax credit again a year from now!

bountiful

In my experience Tax Credits have been a nightmare - so much so that I am currently not even claiming benefits or TCs because I am so scared of racking up more overpayments debts! Mad isn't it?!

Seaxwyn

It is mad - I still owe them over two grand but thankfully they aren't asking for it back now, but will take it off any future entitlement.

I can't fathom the system they use, I just give them the details and feel grateful when they do decide to pay me.

hypno06

You mean they have a SYSTEM I don't know if you can call pulling numbers out of a hat a SYSTEM :rotfl: