2014 - the drive to be ready to pay back debt created by doing a masters

sassychick2014

Morning

Your sealed pot challenge is going really well too so you should be pleased with yourself too.

Have a great week!

Magsnoodle

Hello all,

Well this money saving malarky is going reasonably well at the moment. Just trying to work out where is the best place to save my money for this financial year.

Have bought a used book from Amazon for uni for 1p with £2.80 post and packaging and it is in great condition. Its an ex library book with limited marking on it. I'm dead chuffed with it.

Well nearly completed week 2 of term 4 and then off for 3 weeks break. I'm looking forward to the break tbh as I feel whacked.

Hope everyone is doing well and catch up with you all soon.

TTFN xxx

Magsnoodle

Hello,

Yes I know I have been very quiet lately but there is so much going on that I'm not sure I can catch my breath. Work is busy as per usual and uni is off for 3 weeks but lots to do. Hubby is having tests done Wednesday week due to problems with blood where it shouldn't be. Not sure how I will get through this as had to deal with him being diagnosed with prostate cancer six weeks before our wedding three years ago and panicking in case we need to contend with something sinister again. This man is my rock who enables me to be who I am and do what I do and it is incredibly hard to think the worst. Yes I know I should wait for the results etc etc but we did that before thinking there was no way it would be anything nasty and it was so you'll have to forgive me if I'm thinking the worst this time. And he hasn't told any of his family.........
Sometimes life is a bit crap isn't it???

On the money saving front been a good few weeks and managed to squirrel away a little bit more which I will use to open a new ISA if that is the best thing to do with it.

We had a gift voucher for Jamie's Italian for Christmas and got roudn to spending it today. Had printed off a voucher I had for free pasta dish and forgot that I had a gold member card - never used it but I always sign up to loyalty things. Anyhoo, as it is my birthday this month, we had a free bottle of proscecco, I had a free pudding, one of the mains was free and we had the £30 gift voucher, so although it came to £31 it felt like we had really pushed the boat out and spoiled ourselves - should have come to nearer to £80 without all of the vouchers etc.

Anyway I will sign off for now. Have a good week all and keep going.

TTFN xxx

Pippilongstocking

AlexLK wrote: »

Switch the internet off, open MS Word and start writing. Simples!

Seriously, how do you find studying with a family? I am hoping to start a PhD (purely for own interest) when my son starts school in September 2015.

Wise words when I was doing my PhD I had to do just that.

As much as the web and everyone on here is a help - sometimes some 'off grid' is required to get the job done.

I had mine (my free time to think and write) when kids were asleep or at school and with the aid of a piggy timer (kids use it too don't you know) and if they'd need to do anything I'd use the timer so I turned my logic on myself.

Sometimes just 5 minutes of writing (or just starting to write) can just help kick those words onto the blank screen.

My son's now at uni and uses the 'timer thing' himself as well as physically sometimes switching off the internet.

Its a hard slog but worth it.

As for family time and treats - makes it all worth while.

I wish you good luck. And plenty of it.

You'll get there - we all somehow do, even if that path is a bit wibbly at times.

Looking forward to hearing more.

sassychick2014

Hey hon

Just read about your OH and his tests on Wednesday and wanted to let you know that if you need to vent at anyone we're all here and that's kind of what we're here for. I wish him (and you) good luck on Wednesday and will do the positive thinking that you seem to be needing at the moment.

Do let us know how he gets on. Big hugs xx

giblet1979

Hi,

I'm sorry to hear that you're going through a stressful time. I hope you're ok? Sending positive vibes.

What are you studying? From experience, I know it's really hard working and studying and it sounds like you are doing great.

Take care x

Magsnoodle

Hi all,

Have decided to put the tests to the back of my mind as that way I will just have to deal with it when it happens. No space at the minute I'm afraid. Have started comfort eating which has involved making small purchases of chocolate and crisps which I had stopped so not helping my money saving part of my life either

I'm studying an MBA part time 2 nights a week and if I am honest absolutely loving it. Off for three weeks now and then back in for 8. I am now in term 4 and can't believe I am half way through the whole course, hence the payback date of 30.04.2015 - all taught modules will be over then. This term it is Leadership development and topics in advanced strategy. Sounds more grand than it is....

Thank you all for your words of encouragement :A- have really struggled to open up to the real world - usually never a problem but have realised that without my OH I would not be able to do what I do in my life.

Take care all and TTFN xxx

Magsnoodle

Hey should have advised on some of the positives for this week apart from the great OH and DD. Have had some vouchers for my birthday - one for Next and I see if I use the internet then I can get an additional £10 to spend so that brings it up quite nice and my hubby got me some of the creams that I will run out of soon so all good. The lovely DD bought me a selection of my favourite herbal teas and gave me some money to buy some more when we go shopping on Thursday in a big health shop. Really have been spoiled.

Sorry for some of the negativity this week - normal service will be resumed soon (I hope)

XX

sassychick2014

Evening hon

Did I miss your birthday? I know you said it was this month but I didn't realise it was now! So happy birthday for whenever it is/was

Positivity is always needed regardless of what you are going through so continue to find those and you should make it through.

Good luck for your OH tomorrow x

Magsnoodle

Evening all.

Thanks sassy - birthday was yesterday and had a lovely day.

Work today and now off until next Tuesday - woo hoo. Hubby's test is next Wednesday and I am going to work from home on that day so I can be around.

Had a bit of a go at the beloved teenager. Decided that we should start giving her a monthly allowance - began April 2014 and she went shopping on Monday and blew the lot. She then had the cheek to ask me for next month's money in advance and said she would give it back to me when she got it. I went ballistic. So now she has over a week left of her holidays with no money to treat herself. To say I was fuming is an understatement. I am working so hard to save every penny and she has just gone out and blew over £50 on clothes that were not needed.

Others have said better to do it now than when she gets a proper wage but I am SO disappointed in her. I've made her write everything out that she has spent so she at least can see what she has done but I am still really angry about it and it happened on Monday.

Need to let it go now as this is ridiculous. So when any of my friends ask how she is my answer is breathing and this is progress

Have a good evening xxx