Time to stop pretending it will be ok!

julie2710

Well that's the weekend over. I've managed two days without spending any money which is good

School bags are packed, school shoes are polished and I have a small shopping list and a couple of chores for tomorrow.

I've spent this evening listing items on eBay. I've managed 36 in total. Have still got some more to do but I'm feeling a bit tired now. Haven't got anything I won't start at 99p so it doesn't really matter about missing the free listing. A couple of watchers already so fingers crossed. I've had to save a couple of listings for a couple of days as they are perfume and apparently I've hit a limit for this type of item in the last 30 days! Anyway they are good to go in two days and the others I've sold did really well. I also have a load of CDs to do. Not sure whether to bother with eBay for them or just get rid of them in bulk to Music Magpie?

One of my friends is coming round tomorrow to buy my old pushchair/carrycot for £25. See that's how bad I am at organising selling things! DS2 is nearly 5 now :eek: I could probably get a bit more for it but to be honest I'd rather just give it a quick clean and get shot of it!

Right time for a cuppa and an early night I think

Verbatim

Well done on the ebaying and easy sell of the pushchair. AND £59k off the mortgage is no mean feat.
Will the finances for June be a bit easier?

julie2710

A few more watchers on the eBay items. Just been in and listed the perfumes I couldn't list the other day.

Managed to mow the lawn last night so the garden looks better. Was going to put some weed killer on the paved area at the front of the house but as rain was forecast I thought I'd leave it. A wise decision as its been raining all day.

Verbatim, I'd love to say June will be easier. It will be different. I have some bonus which should be in my salary at the end of the month, Also my pay rise, although we had a letter this week to say that we won't be getting as much as last year. However, I've signed up to the works pension so that will take up my pay rise plus a bit, about £40 per month over and above the pay rise I think. Then the increase in the electricity and gas will kick in, another £40 per month. Then I need to pay a chunk to the school as I managed to get them to take the terms fees monthly. (Sigh!!!) We are having a sun weekend in Great Yarmouth at the end of the month. No linen, taking our own and will take food too. Hoping the weather will be a bit warmer. Also hoping my new company car will have arrived as it will be more fuel economic than my current one, which in all fairness is pretty good.

I'm going to keep plugging away with the eBay. Hope that ex has the boys when he's supposed to so that I can get some extra work done. I know it's hard but I know I just have to keep going. It can only go the one way

Verbatim

Here's crossing fingers for good weather for the end of the month. Earlier too would be nice.

julie2710

I cannot believe where the time has gone this week. I've been feeling totally drained most days and it is still all proving a bit of a struggle. Last night I got the boys off to bed early, 7 o'clock for the eldest one then sat down on the sofa, the next thing I know it's 10 o clock and I've been asleep all evening. I still managed to get a full nights sleep though so must have needed it.

The boys are going to their dad's tonight but will have to be back early on Sunday afternoon as DS1 has a football presentation. It does mean that with a bit of luck I should be able to get some extra work done tonight. Fingers crossed.

I'm really hoping the rain keeps off tomorrow as without the boys it will be the perfect opportunity to get some fence painting done.

I'm still needing to eBay a load more stuff. A few items have bids in now and are all ending on Sunday.

I am trying to survive on what's in my bank account. The money I got for my pushchair, plus an extra £10 I have put in my secret tin to use for holiday petrol.

I'm a bit annoyed as the school have announced that the children need their house team T-Shirts for sports day on the 7th June! These are new to the uniform so need to get one for DS1. DS2 can wear a plain T-Shirt in his house colour but by the time it gets to September and he moves to reception he will need the branded one so I'm thinking it is false economy buying a plain red one for him now. The branded ones are £7 each though They have also changed a load of the uniform as well and because DS1 is moving to upper school some of his changes anyway! The changes were supposed to make things more affordable but I've noticed that the blazers are still £90! :eek: Luckily they are having a transitional period of a year or so so I can make do with what I have on some of the stuff for now.

It's awful but I seem to be wishing my months away so I can get my wages and make all my payments and pay off next months bits!

julie2710

Wow! That was a positive start to my weekend. Boys went off to their dad's so a quick rush home and off out again. It's been such a long time since I've done any extra work that I'd almost forgotten how much I get out of it. So I had a lovely evening, didn't spend anything, apart from fuel money and I've earnt £120 :j I've put it in my secret tin for now. Need to decide whether to use it on the school fees or pay off some more debt? I know there's no charges on the school fees but I feel bad owing them money, even though they've said everyone else does the same! I was just used to paying upfront at the start of the term

Well the weather is looking ok today so I'm going to change the beds and get everything washed and dried then get on with some fence painting. I also have some more repairs to do as I noticed yesterday that the felt has come loose on the boys tree house! So I'll be heading up there with a hammer and nails at some point in the day too! Great!

Keeping_Positive

Hello

Great post, I would go 50/50 or split into three so you have a start of an emergency fund.

julie2710

I think you're right. What I'm planning, I think (:o) is to wait until pay day. See how much my bonus is once the tax man had taken his slice and work it from there. I've woken up feeling a lot more positive this morning.

I've super weed killered the patio area at the front of the house and down the drive too. Done three loads of washing and just had a bit of tea and toast before I move onto the next task.

Just checked eBay too and about half a dozen items with bids. Ok, only a couple of £s but still over a day to go on most of them, some longer and plenty of watchers, so fingers crossed.

Right time to get back out before the sun disappears

triple_choc_chip

julie2710 wrote: »

I've earnt £120 :j I've put it in my secret tin for now. Need to decide whether to use it on the school fees or pay off some more debt? I know there's no charges on the school fees but I feel bad owing them money, even though they've said everyone else does the same! I was just used to paying upfront at the start of the term

Hi Julie
Our school run a direct debit scheme where everyone pays over 10 months. It works out so much better for me because I budget for that amount all year.

The 2 months I don't need to pay them becomes holiday budget ie I pay for our holiday in June and have the spending money in July.

We all start paying for the new term in August so we stay ahead of the term IYSWIM. It may be worth suggesting it to your school.

julie2710

triple_choc_chip wrote: »

Hi Julie
Our school run a direct debit scheme where everyone pays over 10 months. It works out so much better for me because I budget for that amount all year.

The 2 months I don't need to pay them becomes holiday budget ie I pay for our holiday in June and have the spending money in July.

We all start paying for the new term in August so we stay ahead of the term IYSWIM. It may be worth suggesting it to your school.

Thanks. That's a great idea! I might suggest it to them. I suppose you could just pay at the time for trips etc as well. I spent the first 3 years religiously paying my bill for each term before the start of every term. I felt really guilty when I asked them if I could pay monthly for the first time and I was really surprised when they turned round and said that's what loads of people do! Particularly as I'm pretty much the only single parent in the whole school and most of the mums don't work!

I'm working on not feeling so guilty about it now