~*~OrangeFairy will be debt free in 2014...with a bit of hard work~*~

OrangeFairy

Good morning all,

I didn't come back on and pose my question....

Do I or don't I?

My biggest ever regret is not getting a degree....I had DD1 and my life went a different way. I started my open Uni degree when the kids were really young and did 60 points of the 360. Then life got in the way. I achieved my AAT with work and this can be used as 60 points also (I have enquired and am waiting to hear back)

So I am looking to complete my business degree for my own desire and self esteem plus to be a good role model for my children.

However am I being selfish? It will be at a cost of £220 a month and I don't need it currently for my job tole for progression but it will help especially in a new manager role if I move into it plus it puts me in a better position if I changed jobs. If I do it I will start in October. Hopefully my new job role will increase my wage by £200 a month but I can't count on this.

Also it is a lot if study time while I am already working fulltime.

I am concerned this is a knee jerk reaction to my 18 yr old sister starting Uni in Sept so I am going to think about it over my 2 week holiday now.

So if anyone had the time and inclination to give any wisdom as to whether or not I am being silly for me to read on my return I would be most grateful!

OF x

MrsSmith2013

Morning OF!

I can DEFINATELY give you some advice on this, as I have experienced this exact same predicament!! Here's my experience:

When my DD was born and I went back to work, she was the kick up the bum to get me to push myself. I too decided I wanted to do a degree, and started looking into my options. There's a very reputable Uni in my city which offered a BA Honours degree in Business Management which I was interested in. So I approached my boss about it, who agreed it was a good degree and would be relevant to my progression within the company.

I applied, and I did it as a night class. Two years, two nights a week with no summer break because we had to make up the time the full time students had.

I won't say it was easy, because more than once I considered throwing the towel in, but once I realised just how much work I was taking on, looking after a toddler, running a house and working full time, I was more than half way through - and thought, I would be INSANE to quit now! I fell pregnant with my DS in my final year, and wrote my thesis while pregnant, graduating at 8 months pregnant - but I did it, and I am soooo glad I did.

The only difference in our situations is that my employer paid my tuition fees which I couldn't have done myself. I think I was about £3k per year for fee's. I was tied in to the company after that for however many years, but thats passed now anyway.

Maybe approach your company and see if they would support you in it, as its further training that could be related to you role? Even if they went halfs with you it would still be a saving for you.

My advise would be to definately look into it - it IS a lot of hard work, but it is worth it all in the end!

Mrs S x

OrangeFairy

Hi all,

I am back from my hols!! Well I was last week but haven't had chance to post.

We had a lovely time. I absolutely adored Austria! If at the end of our Austria leg they told me we could stay there rather than move on to Italy I would have done!

So in a nutshell-
Germany-Austria-visit to beautiful Hallstatt- lots of bratwurst eaten-light show on the lake- ice caves - cable care- SIL got engage up the mountain- lake swimming- Italy- lots of pool time- pizza-Verona- Venice-swimming in lake Garda-Switzerland- gorgeous drive-swim in fresh outdoor pool looking at the mountains- walk in alpine woods and across rope bridge-home !

Cost wise we had always planned to spend our money and use cc for the remainder to pay with sept money. All fuel went on card and we were pleasantly surprised that is was so cheap. I had estimated nearly 400 on fuel and in total we spent about 220 not including uk travel. So we have come back with a card with £370 on. Hubby has already paid off £250 and we have my expenses for work to come back of £90ish plus £48 from SIL that we are owed. They might need to be reminded of this.

So we should have the holiday costs covered which means my money is left to cover DD2s bedroom furniture and paying for a few of the bits I bought before the holiday.

I still have my challenge of paying off £500 in September to get our debt figure to £3999!

I will find out where we are with this later and do a debt busting post!

Mrs S- thank you for your comments about studying, I really appreciate it. I will be making a decision tonight with hubby :-)
OF x

OrangeFairy

Money update.....

Well hubby paid £50 from the big card and jointly we paid £271 off cc2 which brought it to £999 so under the £1k mark!

So £179 to go this month to pay off my change of £500 over August and September to get the debt to under £4k. This could be done with the next pay cheque before the end of the month but would be nice to do it without

Then the big challenge is pay off £1000 in October!

I need to work out what I have left this month. Hubby only has £30 so everything will fall on me. He has paid for all the holiday bits.

I have a school trip, cubs trip, dd2s birthday, and leaving presents for my sister to get too!

OrangeFairy

Morning,

So here are the money things that will be my stumbling blocks over the Next couple of months to reach my end of Oct under £3k target...

Presents for sis for Uni £40
Present for cousin for Uni £15
DD1 school trip £35
Bedside cabinet £99
Desk £225
Helping hubby with fuel and last couple of bills £100
Maybe deposit on Wimbledon trip for DD1 £75
Left on holiday card £150
Other things for DDs birthday £50
DD2s party £40
Guttering and floor board repair £250
Pay remaining cost of DD2 wardrobe £100
Bits from before the holiday £60

So quite a lot :-/

So extra possible bits to help...

Wage increase £100
Old money owed by boss for last year £100
Under payment by boss this year £50
Boss didnt increase my wage last month so need to check. Maybe £100
Owed by SIL £48
Mileage claim £90
Clothes for cash £10
Music Magpie £10
FB sales £20
Eb@y sales £30
Hubby to bill acquaintance for websites if still needed £180

So if all money possibilities are fruitful and all items are paid I have a £501 imbalance which will come from wages. So we will see how it goes!

OF x

starnac

Welcome back OF. Glad you had a lovely time on holiday.

You are powering through your debt, well done you. I'm sure you'll be DF by end of the year. :T

What did you decide about going back to do some study?

brizzledfw

Yes, just catching up. Hope you've decided to study We went to Austria this summer too and loved it. Swam in Como and Garda too.. Freaky!:)

OrangeFairy

Thanks for asking ladies.

Well I have compromised and decided I will study but will start in April with the next lot of courses.

This is disappointing as I really just want to get into it right now. But it is the sensible option. These next few months are crucial in terms of getting debt free by march and throwing a £220 a month payment into the mix isn't wise. These next 6 months I have to prove myself at work which means more pressure and time so perhaps I should concentrate on that first.

So in April I will be signing up to 'An Introduction to Business Studies' which is a 30 point course.

I feel pretty good about this as it fits in better with our current plans but means I am going to study

Today....

Lunch from stores- slow cooked gammon sandwich
Dinner from stores- jackets
Get money for window cleaner
Moved DD2s furniture out/into the middle of the room and lay down sheets to prepare to paint tomorrow
Take pictures of furniture and shove on FB sales pages to see if I can squeeze any money out of them
List eb@y bits
Do music m@gpie bits
Housework

I need to work hard so I can finish at 1pm!

OF x

brizzledfw

Good plans and actually April sounds right, even if a little later than in your heart, you'd prefer. The main thing is you are getting started again. I assume the existing 60 still count? Hope so.

Have a good weekend and hope FB sales pull through!

MrsSmith2013

Hi OF,

Glad to hear you have made a decision about your studies, I'm sure you've made the right decision about waiting til April - which isn't that far off really!

At least you'll be starting it debt free without the worry of having to juggle debts and homework as well as the cost of the fees!

Hope you had a good Friday and you manage to get some money from the FB sales!

Speak soon
Mrs S x