My how times have changed

roxy7699

Just wrote a post and lost it....

It went along the lines of Tiny cried through nursery as her sleep was interrupted.

Called tax credits, updated claim and found out over payment details to challenge it post bankruptcy.

NSD but have a misc £8 short from my account.

First post was much better though.

roxy7699

Time flies, shame it's not a barrel of laughs.
Having done a rebudget now that I know what tax credits I will receive I have to find £600 a month to cover nursery. That was the cheapest nursery too.
I finally got paid this morning for December and January, I had wanted to return to work in March/April but I'm actually scared of being made redundant as the business seems to be having big problems. Where as if I stay off and I'm made redundant I will have to also get paid the remainder of my maternity leave. I have still been doing bits of work but that had to stop when I could no longer access a system due to non payment. c2009 all over again.

Positives are thanks to the lovely Opto mum's inspirational diary I have decided to go back into some education. Studying a HR qualification and going for a degree. I think I may be mad, but I work better under pressure. This non payment has shown me that the other options that I have available are not as well paid as they once were.

Still swagging - almost at another £5.

mfmaybe

The situation with work sounds very frustrating, I hope it all works out. Is your OH in a stable job? You sound calm, but maybe that's the veil of the internet! Doing further studies sounds like a great plan, well done on being so motivated. I work better under pressure too.

Just re-read your thread. Any progress on the eczema testing? Poor wee thing

roxy7699

I've been paid! and paid mum back.

I wouldn't say I'm calm but I have learnt that there is nothing I can do to control it. I gave myself a date that I would take action by and thankfully it hasn't come to that.
OH is in a semi stable job, we don't share finances and I have asked him to let me know what he is now contributing to everything. He had initially said 50/50 but don't think it will end up that way. He is very bad with money (no debts as such) and has commitments from a previous relationship. So while he earns a decent crust he doesn't see much of it. His employer are always changing the goal posts too, he is actually self employed but as far as I'm concerned he is an employee who has to do his own accounts as they dictate far to much. I will be calmer with money when I know what he will contribute extra until then I'm refusing to spend out of the budget. It will also determine when I go back to work but he is kicking his heels about it.

I've received my first study package of 3 and have started reading. All very exciting. Have to do a few presentations which sends chills through me, I am fine with people, but working from home I find myself dreading the thought of it - yet I know I will be fine when I get there - I just have to get there.

The kiddies are not too bad, big one is off at my mums for the week doing tennis club and helping out at the community cafe, they both enjoy it alot and has become a ritual. She's been promoted now at 11 to be allowed to operate the hot water machine.
Tiny has been fighting a cold for about 2 weeks, I gave in today and bought her some cough medicine. We were at the gp twice at the end of last week. I took her first as she was on her second day of hardly drinking milk and then the 2nd time 24 hours later as nursery questioned her health. It was as I thought and a viral bug. Eczema has calmed down a lot but it does require rigorous creaming morning, noon and night or you see dry patches coming. She looks like a reverse dalmatian at the mo. Her bald patches are starting to grow back too. Received a letter to book with the nutritionist so I'm guessing something has come up with the allergy testing they just haven't let me know yet.
Having said all that she is such a happy smiley baby like her big sister I shouldn't grumble.

Money making has been slow, not many surveys, swagging is a task and nectar vids non existent.

roxy7699

I don't actually understand how time moves so quickly!

Kids update
Big one got accepted into her chosen high school - I'm chuffed
Tiny is doing alot better, still very head strong but skin and health are all better. She is now no longer allergic to anything (go figure) she has outgrown everything in three months.

Work
Continued to be a problem, Feb pay came on time along with a 'chat' that they would not be able to accommodate me full time. I decided that I would muddle on through my studies with the at home advantage however to world had other plans. Was however told that if I was to find a new job that they would waive any notice period as I have been messed around so much - translated to we can't really pay you.
Having started my new courses I updated my cv and updated it on Reed just in case a job came up in the sector that I wanted at the right pay and in the right location. I was well aware that this is very unlikely which is why I did it straight away just in case.
Reed then contacted me to go in and register and see where I was at with looking, I had a cold again so decided as I wasn't actively looking I would postpone. Fast forward a week and I received an email saying they really needed to talk to me this job came up blah blah. Looked at the job, exactly what I wanted but not sure I was qualified with the required experience. Also having spoken to the agency was abit unsure I would fit the culture of outings etc with young kids at home.
Anyway....decided to go in and register, but it had to be that day....next day had an interview with the manager (1 of 8 candidates).....by the monday was being put forward to an assessment day on wednesday (down to 4 internals and myself) by Wednesday evening I got offered the job at maximum pay!

I'm now in my 3rd week, loving it, feel very important being given projects, feel valued and like I am worth something. Having been told that there is no way I could command what I wanted by one of my bosses friends / colleagues who I picked up some admin work with, I surpassed it by around 5k. It is however a fixed contract for a year so I need to work my butt off to prove they need me somewhere.

Perks: daily lunch provided, can walk there so saving £25 a week on petrol, having a proper lunch I don't really have a need for dinner so have been saving on the food shop.
Cons: big one is having to be very independent.

Finances
Still struggling as the new job pays every 4 weeks and only caught one week of pay (loved the amount though)
Old job only paid half my wages in March, remaining came through last week. So still borrowing off mum but hopefully this will be the last time. I have 1 week due and 15 days holiday this month end.

Studies
Picked up an extra course - I know I know, so 3 hours study in the evenings every day hence why I haven't been on here. It seems to be paying off with the job though so far.

Very long update, nice to see you all. xxxxxx

mfmaybe

Wow Roxy that is indeed quite an update. Amazing congratulations on the new job, you really deserve it, especially after being messed around so much previously. Despite the temporary cashflow shortfall, sounds like you should be in a great position to nail those debts to the wall :j

Really pleased to hear the news on the tiny's health and the not-so-tiny's school. Hopefully, life is going through a busy yet happy phase for you?:T

roxy7699

This is turning into a quarterly update.
So...quick update.
Work going well, really settled in taking the role by the horns, making changes and receiving some great feedback for the first time in a long time.
Had a slight financial meltdown when I did a three month forecast and realised I could barely afford to eat. Also worked out that if i stopped working I would be about £400 better off just due to childcare.
I spoke with my line manager in a just keeping you in the loop capacity, not asking anything I know I came in at the top of my salary bracket, also haven't made any decisions just want you to know should I need to do something.
I then did my forecast out for the next 12 months and figured that if I shuffle some things, pay some things a little later I will survive if I am very frugal.
Fast forward a week, my role is temp to cover someone who is cover a chain of maternity leaves. My fate is dependant on when people return to work. Well the Lady who I'm covering has handed in her notice.
So.... I've been made permanent. As a result they are paying my professional studies and saving me around £130 a month!

Children are well and growing way to quickly.

Still counting my blessings.

roxy7699

Evening,

I'm trying to make an effort to be more active here as I think it has good knock on effects.
Today has been a day where I realise there is so much more that I want, house etc and that I need to have a plan b to do just that little bit more.
My finances are somewhat restricted by nursery fees but won't be forever, however if I ever wanted to add another to the mix I would need to be in a very different position and OH would need to make some serious changes. Right now I'm focusing on my side of things only.
I have updated my signature following my wondering what my debt free date would be. I'm not impressed, in my head a credit card with only £600 on it can be cleared quite quickly. I now have a spare £100 a month in theory so it would be gone in 6 months.
Reality never works that way though...I am £100 better off but in real money it means I break even.

Never fear, I really do thing that I can make over payments each month by cutting some corners and earning some online pennies. Only thing so far for the last two days that I have been doing surveys studies haven't happened.

Today's good news:
I received a certificate in the post for the quite easy course I did in Equality and Diversity.
Tiny took her first steps.

littleskintdragon

Its tough going this debt busting, your doing really well though.

Congratulations on the 1st steps we had ours last week! Very wobbly ones mind!!

roxy7699

Ahh congrats on your first steps also...bring on the mayhem.

Debt busting is definitely psychological, paid £20 into credit card and it bought debt free date forward a whole month.

This coming week is going to be hectic, have a work/family day on tuesday and then off to Ireland for a friends wedding for 3 days. Very excited as this will be our holiday this year. Somewhere in there work has to happen and a bag needs to be packed. Meanwhile I sit on the sofa surrounded by toys, watching top model and eating dry cereal.