8.8 years

Octobergirl

_pale_Ouch....bad day today. The c.van has been to the garage for the third time this week. It is going to cost 1k to fix. It's due it's service and mot in a few months and we were expecting money to be spent on it, but not this much.

So, we're up a certain creek. I'm not willing to spend out good money after bad, so we have decided to cut our loses and chalk it up to a ( very) expensive mistake.

I need a car for DDs hospital appointments, looks as though we are going to have to go back to a Wheelchair accessible, which will take months to order and ill be back to square one, spending £200 a month lease hiring a car I can't afford to put petrol in.

Insult to injury, I'm now going to have to spend £350 to hire a car to take her to her therapy programme for the next 3 weeks.

Bum bum bum.

Lois_E

Oh no! So sorry to hear that.

Octobergirl

Wow, what a day. Spent the morning tearing the house upside down looking for part of my driving licence, which I need to hire car. Not a dicky bird.

Whilst pulling things out of the cupboard I inadvertently dropped two new door keys (£15 a pop) Into the toaster. Which I discovered when doing DDs breakfast. Cue house smelling of burning plastic.

lovely new front door won't close....

That should be it for today then:D thank god it's treat night, I need wine.

Lois_E

What a catalogue of disasters! Hope things start looking up soon.

Barbeduk

Hi Octobergirl, sorry life is throwing everything at you at the moment. Hope you got the hire car sorted. Have a better weekend

Octobergirl

Thanks Barbeduk and Lois,
The rental guys were fab, shiny little Corsa on the driveway. Rep coming on Monday for us to do a test drive. It will take 10-12 weeks to get a car adapted for wheelchair use, however we have a hire place down the road, that does a 3 day weekend for £30....it would actually be cheaper to hire a car as and when than actually own one, so I'm not going to rush the process.

Heavy snow means we have been housebound, baking with the children, playing board games and some tweaking of my filing system, so hopefully things will run more smoothly next time we need documents!

Very tempted to take the kids to see the Croods tomorrow, although it would be £13 instead of the usual £3.50 for the kids am films.

Octobergirl

The stars are shining on us at the moment (fingers crossed). The lovely men at the garage have breathed life into the campervan, so the hire car can go back.

New plan is to get it through its mot and then sell so we can get a motability car.

Tax credits fall twice this month:j:T, which pays for the garage bills and hire car, I SHALL be rid of my overdraft at the end of this month, woo hoo:D

New front door is fixed, yay:D

5 things I'm thankful for;

1. Grant for intensive therapy for DD
2. Seeing DD standing at parallel bars for first time yesterday
3. Seeing DD and DS cuddled up in bed together this morning
4. Overdraft free
5. Living in a very beautiful part of the country

Octobergirl

Sadly, we've just waved goodbye to the c.van, she wasn't repairable within our budget. The money gets paid back to the loan we received from a relative, which reduces it to £1240 owed, but with no timeframe.

I'm really reluctant to get a notability van, as its £230 a month before we even put any fuel in-unfortunately I can't see any other way, so will get the ball rolling.

Our budget is so tight now, I need to seriously consider getting a part time job. One has come up, so I shall get an application form in.

5 good things today;

1.managed to renew house insurance for £50 less than last year.
2. DD had walking frame assessment and needs less support.
3. NSD
4. £200 gift towards DDs 3 week therapy block.
5. Early bed:-)

sarahevie

I work for similar amount, probably less than £2 an hour, when you take into account reduction in tax credits etc. I'm not even going to work it out, as it would probably be depressing

I do like my job though, and I like being away from the kids (although I love them dearly too.) I only miss them for two hours a day, four times a week (as I work when they're in bed) - but it keeps me sane.

There's also bonus payments, pension scheme, perks etc you get through work. I'm thinking gym, health stuff, shares, subsidised cafe, staff discount etc.

Octobergirl

gosh, only a month since I last posted, seems like forever!

New notability van is due to arrive on Tuesday:j Although its been nice and simple living without a car, I've even lost half a stone with the extra walking.:D

I've started £50 overpayments on the mortgage, which will bring our mortgage free date to Dec 2020, just 7 1/2 years to go, which I' going to try to bring down to 5 if I can.

some good ebaying and some poor financial juggling, which has cost £50 in bank charges rrrrggg.

booked a week away For September, first hot and sunny holiday without kids for 9 years, can't wait:D

Went for job interview, but the childcare would have been impossible, still, I've got the bug now, definitely ready to go back to work, so will keep looking for something with child friendly hours.

Forecast to be in the black (just) at the end of the month..yay!