We are about to pull the purse strings soooo tight!

Alice_in_Poorland

Haha brizzle, it was major news in our house when I came home the other night.

Yay it's Saturday, and a lovely one again too. I'm at bit late to the washing party today. Only just got the first load in. Didn't do any last night, I was absolutely shattered. We had chippy tea, although we didn't eat it all. Note for next time buy less chips.

Anyway on the money front I paid another debt of this morning, S@antader paid in full.:T:T:j:j
I'm so happy, it's just given me the boost that I need. I'm going to keep a tab on the NSDs in July. Need to get the 365 jar back up to date after the car episode, and get back on track. Must also update signature.

We're off the the carnival with £20, our own snacks and drinks.

Did I mention DS is not going to uni! . Kids!! He's changed his mind about what he wants to do and doesn't want the debt. Currently looking at apprenticeships.

Hope everyone has a great day.
Xx

Alice_in_Poorland

Quick update on outstanding debt-
Bcard 4775 - £200 interest added whilst transferring to DCA
Bcard MBNA 1102
MBMA 220
Yorks CC 3520
C@pital 2540

Total £12157.

Going to try an pay off MBNA £220 over the next 2 months.

It's so hard paying everything off at a reasonable rate and living. I'm not trying to compete with the joneses, gave up on that a long time ago,just want to bust this debt.gggrrrrr.

Xx

pennywisepoundstupid

Welldone AIP, you are doing so well.


Just noticed that you only have £157 (I say only, I know its a lot) until you get into the 11s, any chance you can scrape it together, ebay sales, cutting grocery bill etc. It might just give you another boost.

Have a great time at the carnival.

Spendless

You're doing well Alice. Another month or two and another debt will be gone.

Nothing wrong with apprenticeships. Does DS2 understand student debt though and is not just going by media grabbing headlines? The debt is not paid back until he starts earning £x amount and is paid off at a small rate on income above that amount, anything left still owing after 30 years is written off. Tuition fees upto £9250 can
be borrowed in full. Maintenance loans are based on the household income of the students parent/s (or step parent) where child lives. If they don't qualify for the full amount of student loan there is an 'expectation' but no obligation that the parent/s will fund the difference.

I'm saying this even though you may well be aware of how it works (I've no idea how it works with your DS1 studying abroad) just because I've had several friends and relatives say to me 'all the debt' but it's mostly a psychological barrier than anything else and they've not really understood how it works. The biggest issue I see with it and what Martin Lewis tries to highlight, because it's kept very hidden, is if the maintenance loan isn't enough for them to live on and parent/s can't or won't afford to help out. Then it's only do-able if either student can find work around their studies, already has enough in savings or can live at home and commute.

Alice_in_Poorland

Thanks PWPS, yeah I'm certainly going to try. Just got to keep the momentum going.:). It is more than I thought after Bcard added more but we'll get there.

Hi Spendless, thank you for the post. The trouble with DS2 is that he's still not 100% sure what field he wants a career in. He had 2 completely different paths in mind, he'd chosen one now he's changed his mind. With the finances 2 of his cousins have completed uni, one changed his course during his first year and the other has a very well paid job in an absolutely different field altogether to what their degree is in. But they both moan about having to pay their loans back particularly when their degree wasn't/isn't need for the job they do, and I think this has put him off. That and the fact that he knows about our current situation (not all the details). People might think it's unfair after all the money we are spending on DS1. He has been awarded a scholarship which paid is paying for his education and we have to pay his living fees.

DS2 has a summer job now that school has finished and after an initial blip with managing his money he seems to be doing ok at the moment.

Xx

Alice_in_Poorland

Saturday was lovely, had a really good day. Didn't win on the raffle or the duck race. DS3 had a go on a few fairground rides (how expensive) and candy floss. Came back and just chilled out.
Had the offer of going out but declined.

Yesterday I did housework first thing to get it out of the way. Did meal plan and went shopping, then just chilled in the garden. Too hot to go anywhere, and our back garden is free.:)

Spent £87 in sburys, but that did include 2 boxes of hair colour, serum for my hair and shampoo and conditioner all round. That came to over £20,:eek: Also other toiletries which were on offer. I also got some beer and lemonade which we'd usually get from @ldi but I didn't want to hang around wth the shopping in the hot car. So probably around £50 on food, and the odd cleaning stuff (that was on offer same price as cheapy shop).

Today was NSD 1.

Just got to keep plodding.:)

Xx

Spendless

Alice_in_Poorland wrote: »

But they both moan about having to pay their loans back particularly when their degree wasn't/isn't need for the job they do, and I think this has put him off.
Xx

Another angle to look at is would they have got the jobs they are doing at all or at that stage of life without the degree (forget the bit about whether the degree is relevant to the job)? A lot of that may depend on the job market where you live.

Onebrokelady

Hi,I'm currently reading your diary and I'm finding it a great read,it's inspiring me to aim for more NSDs than I do normally,it's great to see how far you are now ( Im on page 71 ) and also there are still some funny moments and comments too,I lost my MSE mojo for a few weeks but I'm back now and your diary has really helped,well done xx

Alice_in_Poorland

Spendless wrote: »

Another angle to look at is would they have got the jobs they are doing at all or at that stage of life without the degree (forget the bit about whether the degree is relevant to the job)? A lot of that may depend on the job market where you live.

That's a good point. I know some companies will just look for a degree qualification regardless of subject. If difficult because one of their jobs is more about the person and their life skills. It's was a case of been on the right place, at the right time., very lucky. I'm sure DS3 sort himself out.:)

Xx

Onebrokelady wrote: »

Hi,I'm currently reading your diary and I'm finding it a great read,it's inspiring me to aim for more NSDs than I do normally,it's great to see how far you are now ( Im on page 71 ) and also there are still some funny moments and comments too,I lost my MSE mojo for a few weeks but I'm back now and your diary has really helped,well done xx

Hi, thanks for your post. It's a tough old journey isn't it. Glad you've got your mojo back, but don't know how you've managed to keep reading.:). Good luck with the NSDs.

Xx

Alice_in_Poorland

Really enjoying the weather at the mo. I went to have my hair done this morning but just opted for a wet cut. Absolutely no point in drying it.

Went out for lunch yesterday. Had a bit of a heart to heart with my friend.......but you know me didn't give too much away. Spent £12.

We've also been shopping this morning, spent £137 :eek: but and there is a but we are having a BBQ tonight after the football. So breakdown of food shop was £40 on BBQ stuff. (butchers and sburys), £20 on alcohol, and the rest was on food/stuff for home. Not very MSE.

Also paid last months childcare and works lottery. Had to get petrol. I also need to start thinking about ordering DS3s uniform. It's one where you can only order on line so it's a pain if anything doesn't fit and have to send it back.

Have also been trying to work out childcare over the summer holidays. Will obviously try and keep it to a minimum but still looking at £250 ish.

As I've typed this OH has just sat on his phone, now he wanted the party but he doesn't want all the hard work that goes into the preparation. I'm going to make a start now......hmmm let's see if he joins me.:rotfl::mad:

Hope you all have a great day.

Xx