Hypno's kick up the backside debt diary....

Seaxwyn

Hypno, you are indeed an amazing woman.

I'm self-employed for exactly the same reasons as you - to be around my children while they're young. I could not bear to go back to full-time employment now.

I'm just having a wobble as I got a tax bill that I'd forgotten about and am behind on a few jobs and sick of spending day after day gazing despairingly at my screen and fobbing off impatient clients. At times like this a nice cushy job with a regular salary and PAYE tax seems very attractive.

But I wouldnt really want to give up the freelance life. Thank you for your eloquent reminder - I knew you'd have a good one.

hypno06

Hi Seaxwyn and Impomdasp....just got back from the children's karate and am now cooking egg and chips for dinner - there are some advantages to being a DFW!!

There are fleeting moments when I think that it would be easy to go and get another job - "real work" with salary and pension etc. Then I think of all the stress that accompanied it, and in real terms I would not be any better off. I think the only thing I would gain is the excuse to have a cleaner again.........now there's a thought:rolleyes:

When I was working, I used to worry about my debt and also worry about my client's money - especially if the market was crashing! Now I only have the one thing to keep me awake at night so that has got to be a good thing:T

I do miss the buzz of dealing......I loved that side of it truly, and if I got the chance to be a dealer again I would seriously think about it. But anything else...... Probably not.............

hypno06

BTW Seaxwyn, hope you have sufficient time to pay the tax and it is not going to be a problem for you.....x

Sea78

Hypno - echoing what others have said about your general wonderfulness!

I would also say that if I hadn't have had to go down the DMP route, I would have been a lot better off not having to do it as I can't really overpay, and like you say, the pressure has eased, but it's left me feeling a little blurghh.. Does this make sense? The DMP was the best thing that coul dhave happened but that's only because I couldn't cover the debt repayments. I think I've missed your reasons for not having a DMP - was it something to do with that?

Sea xxx

Seaxwyn

Thanks hypno, I have until the end of july to pay the tax and I should be able to afford it. I will however end the month with more debt than I started so the race to 35k is getting more even...

Also means I can't spend anything on 'extras' this month. I've just been chatting to the DDs about how their birthday will be as near no-spend as we can make it and they are very accepting and happy about it. We have decided to give their party guests a pocketmod each as a leaving gift - very desirable and also totally free: http://www.pocketmod.com/

hypno06

Thanks Sea, that makes perfect sense to me.

One of the reasons that I never post my own SOA on here is that on paper we can't afford our repayments. However, because of all the extra that we do - OH second job, ebay, matched betting, mystery shopping, invigilating, lodger etc, we somehow manage to get through.

It is also very frustrating that our credit cards are all high aprs - 24.9%, 26.9% and 21.9% and we can't get a 0% or low life of balance card so we are stuck with it. Sometimes the possibility of freezing interest charges seems soooo attractive!!

So each month is a struggle, but we manage it - sometimes by the seat of our pants, but we do. And the months that are a struggle really take it out of me. I don't really want to a DMP at all - I have always said that snowballing is the way forward for us. But when you are tired, you have to think of the alternatives, even if it is just to prove that you are doing the right thing with what you are doing, if that makes sense!

So, the snowball continues!! Thanks for "listening" to me!!

hypno06

I know what you mean about the birthdays, DD got clothes for hers, but she needed clothes anyway because she has been stood in the compost.......so really birthday cost me nothing because she was desperate for a dress that didn't show her knickers, and trousers that intentionally didn't stop just above her ankles!!

And for her birthday dinner, she asked for Fray bentos steak and kidney pie and chips.....:T

Just had a quick peek at pocketmods - what a fab idea, will be visiting again when I have more time for a play!!

hypno06

OK, for those that would like, here is the simplest cheese straw recipe in the world.....

ingredients:

100g/4oz plain flour
pinch of salt
50g/2oz butter or block margarine and lard
50g/2oz finely grated strong cheese (value is excellent for these!)
little beaten egg or water
pinch of mustard powder (optional, but gives a really nice flavour)


Mix flour and salt together and rub in the fat, until mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.

Mix in the cheese.

Add a little egg/water stirring in until everything sticks together then collect the dough and knead gently to give a smooth dough.

Roll out on a floured work top and cut into appropriate shapes.

Put on a greased baking tray in a moderately hot oven - about 200 degrees c/400 degrees F/Gas mark 6. and cook for about 10 mins!

Yummy when hot, yummy when cold! They also freeze well I find so good to double up when baking and put some away for those days when you run out of bread:o

blackangeluk

Wow Hypno - I understand completely the work/children balance but you made a fantastic decision and I understand why - Well done, your children are very very lucky :T

LookingAhead

I now have eyes like saucers after catching up with your diary today...!
:T