"Simply not solvent!

tyllwyd

I just thought I'd say hi - I don't usually read diaries, but I happened to come across yours and it has struck a chord with me!

I'm a freelance mum too, doing copyediting/proofreading (mostly very dull legal/academic books). And I've got two kids, five and nine years old. I don't think I'm earning as much as you (probably £10000 per year) but I'm a bit luckier because my husband has got a steady job, so his salary covers all the important bills, and my money - in theory anyway - is for the extra stuff.

I'm finding this summer a total nightmare - I seem to be working all hours, and trying to fit around the kids childcare and activities. My oldest is at home today, bribed to be quiet by a new Nintendo DS game, which isn't my finest parenting moment!

About the cheques - I agree with the others, if you paid them in on Saturday, I wouldn't panic about them until Friday at least. But if you are talking the accounts departments in those companies, the guys there won't be too bothered by a phonecall, they get that sort of thing all the time. Have you asked if you can get paid by BACS? Most of my clients do that.

Seaxwyn

Thanks for the message Tyllwyd. Lovely to know there are others out there struggling with the same things. My kids have been playing on a Gameboy a lot this summer - with amazing luck they actually found a game dropped in the street which is keeping them all amused.

I've rung the three clients, the cheques don't appear to have been presented yet. So I will give it another day. Some of my clients do pay by BACS, I should ask if I can switch them all over.

Re the work, the client is cool but needs the two reports by Saturday as she is taking them to her client. So I have been let off lightly and need to write those things NOW. Starting with two summaries so I don't feel too daunted.

taxi73

I hope your light being off means that you are getting on with your work.
If others pay by BACS then these 3 probably will so that's good news.I do think you will benefit by breaking things into manageable chunks and you are maybe overly worrying about the kids as they seem to be having fun doing what most teenagers do ie play games and watch TV.
It is hard juggling childcare with working but as an incentive you could maybe set yourself a task of doing a lot of work (on the grounds that the children occupy themselves) and as a reward for all your hardwork and them allowing you to get on with the work you can all have a cheap fun family day....Maybe set them a challenge of working out a cheap/free day that should keep them quiet for a while.Just an idea .

Seaxwyn

Thank goodness the missing cheques are now showing in my account. Perhaps I did panic a bit early - but a cheque I paid into NatWest on the same day was showing in Tuesday.

Taxi, don't let this put you off A&L. I have never had a problem before, and I did forget to write my account number on the back of the cheques so it's my fault.

hypno06

I am glad those cheques have cleared. Did you have any luck getting the charges reversed?

I hope you manage to get on top of stuff today!

Seaxwyn

A nice man I spoke to said to appeal the charges after they appear on my statement. So I'll give it a go. I've only ever had 2 bank charges before, and I got those charges back after one phone call. That was when NatWest decided to reduce my overdraft limit without telling me, so I suppose I had fairly strong grounds.

Today I have a meeting in London in the morning, and visiting my dad (at home!) in the afternoon, so not much time to work - I musn't waste the precious few hours I have!

chevalier

have you looked on sites like whattodowiththekids.com to see if there is anything near that is cheap that OH could take them to?

I wonder if maybe you need to have another LBM. Don't get me wrong I don't mean to have a go, but you know the things you have to do, but don't want to confront them

Ie you know that you have to confront OH about not getting more work, and keep on at him about it, or clearing the shed, or taking the children out when he has said you would, or helping you clear a proper work space for you or or or one of the other things.

You also need to confront head on the procrastination. I find Benbenandme's thread very good for this. She not only makes a list but then goes back and puts red lines on it. It really guilts me into making sure I don't stay on here all day to be honest. Ok I don't have deadlines in the same way you do, but I do have things that have to be done, and if they don't they eat into time with the children too. I would far rather be playing pairs with my youngest of helping oldest with reading than HAVING to do the washing say because I have been messing about on here......

Like I said you are a very skilled, creative person (top people in any industry don't just let ANYONE interview them), BUT your avoidance of confrontation, and then meaning what you say about such and such, means that you are holding yourself back.

I managed to phone people yesterday (virtually phobic about this since the depression) and negotiate a discount on a car (never done this before), because I decided that if it all went down the tubes, I wasn't going to die. It gave me a major sense of relief and calmness about it. So got $1200 off the car:D .

You CAN get these things done. Borrow someones ipod, put the earphones on and tune out everyone else. Go on I have faith you can do this, you can move forward.

I think it was Churchill who said something like
When the going gets tough keep going

Sorry if I annoy but it is midnight here and the day has been a bit loopy
chev

taxi73

Hi seaxwyn glad the cheques are clear for you now.Could you help me with a couple of questions re A+L please:
(1)When you pay money in at the PO how long is it until it shows online.?
(2) Is the online in real time?
(3)RE Cheques do I write my account number on the back of them.?
Thanks

Seaxwyn

Thanks for the much-needed pep talk Chev, I am going to reflect on it as I eat my soup.

Taxi, I can't say for sure as I don't keep notes, but these are my impressions:

1. I have always been surprised by how soon the money shows up after paying in at the PO. Like usually the second day after you pay it in. So if you pay in at the PO on Mon, it would show on your account on Weds, although it wouldn't show as cleared for another day or two after that.
2. I'm not sure. I think your online account only refreshes once a day - ie if something is not showing at 9am, it won't appear later in the day.
3. You are meant to write your account number on the back of cheques when you pay them in . Actually I don't think I usually do this - I was surprised when the man on the phone mentioned it. But he said that was a possible reason for my cheques taking longer to appear this time than usual.

I have been with NatWest for 21 years - and never had cause to complain about them - but I would say A&L beats them hands down. The website is easy to use and the few times I've had to phone up, the people have been really pleasant and helpful. This week's glitch has not put me off. I hope you have a good experience with them too.

Now off to heat up that soup!

taxi73

That's a disappointment that it takes days to clear from the post office.I shall have to use the branch in future.I can't wait 4 days for cash to credit my account.
Thanks anyway..may have to change to somewhere else again.
PS..just went online and looked at FAQS and it says that cash is credited the same day so will keep an eye out for it.