Second Time Lucky

amycool

Thank you everyone. I have this afternoon and one more day to get through! Even my neighbour who had said she couldn't wait for the holidays (she works part-time so isn't with her son all day every day) has been saying she's not sure how she'll get through the summer holidays.

This second week has been less painful than the first thankfully. My lovely friend came on Monday to boost my happiness levels (and was great with DD). My in-laws said they were taking her out for "the day" but only lasted 2.5hrs and then couldn't take any more! Yesterday we had a great morning playing on the park in the sunshine and then an afternoon of moaning and sulking. Today has seen a few minor sulks but she's now watching a DVD, which is bliss.

It hasn't cost too much this holidays - just the odd treat here and there. I would have liked to have been to more places but it's just too stressful for her at the moment.

I'm 99% sure that tomorrow will be the first 15th of the month when no money has come in in 8 years. It's a bit scary. I've really been craving work today, but I suspect I'm only remembering the really lovely bits about my job. If I did go back I would have a new manager (who is completely incompetent) and have even fewer staff to do even more work. I hope it won't be too long before DD can cope with my working. I suppose there's always voluntary work as then you have more say over your hours. I'm pondering going back to the comping too as I really enjoyed it and won some nice stuff. If I set aside 1hr a day that won't intrude too much.

I'm feeling more positive about driving again too and have found an instructor online with good reviews so next week I plan to e-mail him and see if some weekend lessons would be possible. 8am on a Sunday morning would be best for me right now to get my confidence up! :rotfl: I do miss driving. It still scares me though.

I better go as I'm sure this film will end soon. Wish me luck for the next few days. Monday is already planned out: hot long bath, midday nap, TV. Mmmmmm.

amycool

Lots of thinking has been happening this week:

Driving - I have just e-mailed a local instructor to see if he is available for a lesson. Whereas before I always acted like they were doing me a favour, I have outlined what I need from an instructor and I'm going to try to keep in mind that I am paying them. If I don't get on with someone, I need to stop and find another. I refuse to be coming home in tears again. I'm really hoping to rediscover my love of driving, as there were times that I got a real kick out of it. Financially, it's going to be very expensive, as I know having a long break means I will need loads more lessons in future. I also can't practice with my OH anymore as we don't have time.

Comping - I miss the buzz of entering competitions and receiving lovely things through the post. I don't miss spending 6 hours glued to a screen and winning nothing. So I am going to start spending an hour or so 3 or 4 times a week - only entering things I really want to win. It will give me something productive to do and you never know, I might actually win something good!

A possible pet - A bizarre thing has happened. I have a sudden desire for a dog. Since becoming an adult, I have never wanted a dog. I lived with one for a few years but it seemed such a big commitment. But I find myself now a SAHM with the time for a dog, and I've read of the therapeutic benefits for adopted children. It would also give DD a playmate during the holidays so she isn't totally alone. The key thing is whether I intend to stay a SAHM for the next however many years, and also can we afford it? My research suggests that dogs cost around £1500 a year, which is a considerable amount. On paper, we can afford that, but it would mean delaying our mortgage free date considerably. We won't be making any hasty decisions but it's an idea and OH seems to like it.

Running - I did some running with DD during the holidays (not much!) and I'd quite like to get back into it. I'm thinking I'll use my old running shoes for now as I won't be doing any serious mileage. I'm thinking maybe I should put my running gear on for the school run (embarrassment vs health benefits!), and then just go for a little plod up and down the big road. After having tendonitis everything is still a bit sore so I don't want to overdo it. Ultimately I'd like to go back to parkrunning every weekend as I loved it and got to meet some lovely people.

In the short term (next week) my plan is to freecycle the old fridge and the old rug. I pondered ebay but it's not worth the faff. I'm starting a course on Wednesday and will hopefully have found a new driving instructor by the end of the week.

Future weeks need me to get an electrician to finally get the chandelier put in, disconnect the faulty alarm, and give the electrics a once over.

I am taking control! We'll see how it goes. I also need to explain to my mum that I can't talk on the phone for an hour every day any more.

trulymadlyhannah

Just popping by to say Hello!

We have the same mortgage free by 40 aim

Good luck with your driving lessons, hope you find a good instructor. On our first year at our allotment the pigeons and slugs ate everything, and it was really disheartening, glad you have some back up plants. Crushed eggshells are ment to be good agains slugs, ive not tried beer traps but I might give them a go, most of our slugs are tiny, but greedy!

debtfreeoneday

I read that cucumbers in the soil are good for keeping slugs at bay as well?

amycool

The slugs don't seem interested in the peas or beans thankfully and the lettuce is fairly safe in pots on gravel.

Big news! Our car wouldn't start in the week and we decided enough is enough! So we have bought a new car and will be picking it up on Friday. We will be £7000 poorer, which is terrifying. It's only just over a year old and has no road tax to pay, plus it's very fuel efficient. So hopefully it'll be worth it in the long run. It's also beautifully clean, which won't last long.

I did a quote for insurance and the cheapest was £500! :eek: I kept going though and did about 5 comparisons and eventually got a quote for £307 from Aviva with £60 cashback. Result!

I started comping and have been loving it (so addictive) but last night I decided to change my action plan. I usually do end dates, so all the 25th Apr, then 26th etc etc. The problem with this is getting a bit too expectant for an e-mail as I know I've entered loads for that day. Plus, if I have a few days off I get behind and stressed. So, from now on I'm going to try entering them as they appear. I have hardly any to actually enter though now as I can't go for any of the lovely sounding holidays or meals or tickets to things!

I'm not sure whether to keep overpaying 50% of the surplus each month, or let the savings fill up a bit first. Obviously this month will be a colossal minus number so I won't overpay this month. I think I'll try to stick with the 50% and hope we have no more big outgoings!

Right, I need to sit and watch TV for a bit. It was a stressful weekend!

amycool

Just looked at the bank account and I feel a bit queasy.

I get scared when our emergency fund isn't full. It's also a bit depressing thinking we'll have to save it all back up - probably because I really don't care about cars and it doesn't feel like £7000 worth of happiness.

It is nice though and starts with a purr rather than a ftftftftftftftft.

I got £20 cashback from AO, which was nice.

No wins yet. Still enjoying it but wish there were more hours in the day.

Spent more on the shopping this week as I need lots of chocolate.

Went to a NT place this weekend and were shocked to discover that our NT pass didn't cover the parking!! £6! Still, it was really nice and we even got some sunshine.

We're struggling a bit at the minute as our "support network" are being less than supportive. In one case even making life harder. OH is mega-stressed with work and having to do evenings and weekends on top of 12 hour days, so I am doing 100% of everything else, quite badly.

Plans of dogs are definitely on hold, as are plans of driving lessons.

The good news is that Wednesday's playdate has cancelled so I can put off some housework until Thursday (another playdate). :rotfl:

amycool

Oh dear. Just tried on my summer dresses and apart from a very stretchy one, I'm too fat for all of them. Oops. I have just bought a new one for our court date but it's way shorter than I had imagined and makes me look like mutton dressed as lamb. Oh well, it's meant to turn cold soon so I can wear thick tights!

I've bought lots of fruit in the hope that I might eat it instead of biscuits.

DD needs more summer PJs and some shorts. My Mum got us some bargain swimsuits for her, so that was good.

OH's wage is now officially £100 lower each month. His pension contribution has shot up for the second time since he started. It makes things very tight, which means OPs are going to be very low.

However, he has a job interview next week, which could save us in travel costs. The downside was having to spend £150 on a new suit and shirt!

Muser1

Snap re clothes!

spendinglikemad

Snap here too (tried on last years shorts and wish I hadn't!):eek:
SLM

amycool

Trying to cut down on chocolate when your child is going through a lot of grief (which manifests as anger and violence) is impossible it would appear! I am trying but largely failing.

However, some good news! I am a winner! :j

I just had a look and I originally started comping in April 2011. I won tons of great prizes that year - tickets to lots of things, a chandelier, wine, a night way etc. Then 2012 came along and I must have been busier or just less lucky as I won hardly anything and mostly very low value things. So by June I gave up.

Now I have more time on my hands and far less disposable income for buying nice things I have started again and today I won my first prize! A set of Stabilo fineliners. My OH's lovely fineliners are pretty wrecked since DD came to live with us so he can have them just for himself!

I was pretty excited at my win.

An unexpected spend this week was OH getting on the wrong train and ending up miles away with no way of getting home so he had to get a taxi.

I still haven't bought my niece a birthday present. I'm so disorganised.

I also spent an unexpected £10 on various things (balloons, socks, a sunhat, a stamp and a water bottle for DD).