The 'I'm less money-idiot more money-savvy' Diary

judi24

Thanks Beannie and The Magician - the annoying bit is the assumption that its ok to just not have them. It wasn't even an ask - or an 'is it ok' it was a 'I'm telling you I'm not having them that weekend' - when I said I had something planned too (which I did) he basically said tough! It's the principle - not the fact I have the kids - I hate them going to their dads - so would have them every weekend (although I did have a good weekend with out them this weekend!). He didn't even want to swap and have them another weekend - and when I asked about Easter he said he wouldn't be having them at all! I don't think he understands that by doing this he is destroying his relationship with them! It will be interesting to see if he turns up at DS parents evening this week! Ah well I guess its not a big deal - just annoying!

judi24

Well been tired today again - sleep disturbed by DS wandering in and getting in bed beside me at some point last night (funny thing was that he didn't remember doing it and got the shock of his life when I woke him this morning!)


Today we found out about DD3's secondary school allocation. She is very happy and I guess I'm ok with it. I preferred a different school but she has to be happy and I know that where ever she goes she will work hard. More good news as I got DS progress report - which shows a great improvement since the autumn term. Its amazing really - he now has to choose his options for GCSE which is really early but the school have decided to do this in year 8 instead of year 9 due to curriculum changes - the problem is the only thing he wants to do is either be in army - so apparently needs no qualifications! or become a games designer with his own company by 16 and so only really needs business studies and ICT so everything else is completely pointless!!!


Reverend mother treated us to tea out tonight to celebrate all the good news!!! which was lovely of her! So a NSD today! First of the month - I am going to do better this month!


Also worked out travel claim at work today and it came to £187!!!! Totally forgot to claim my train fare to Leeds a few months ago the millage soon adds up!


Going to buy 2 new tyres for the car and put the rest to the service and MOT due in June!!!

judi24

Well what a day!!! Rubbish sleep again!:( This is really getting me down! and DS has got himself all obsessed with the Army and know he won't get in if he has asthma and ADHD so has decided that not taking any meds at all will show people that the conditions don't exist!!!! No reasoning with him either! Just when things seemed to be looking up at school and his report had improved!!!

With all the trying to persuade him that we will look at his health problems seriously when he gets through the school year and discuss how he can deal with the ADHD differently without meds he managed to miss his bus! I then had to take him to school and was running on fumes as wanted to get fuel at a cheap petrol station - but made it to work. Totally forgot that I had an off sit meeting and would need fuel en route!:mad:

Was in a fluster arriving at work and managed to leave my car keys in the ignition! so when I went to leave for the meeting (late as usual!) I couldn't find the keys and when I did the car wouldn't start!!!:eek: Managed to get one of the guys to help jump start me - luckily I carry jump leads for just such and occasion! Then had to get fuel playing that the car would start after the refuel (which it did!!!)


Meeting was productive though!


Home and DD2 had tidied up a bit and made tea which was a nice surprise. DS seemed to have not had any issues despite not having his meds - but parents evening might be interesting on Thursday!

Tomorrow the aroma therapist at work is going to have a go at un knotting my shoulders and is going to make me up some sleep oil - so hopefully that might help. But work is really challenging at the moment - and not even thought about my dissertation for over a week! Need to get my act together!!!

So not a NSD as I filled the car with fuel (made it to cheap garage too!) so hopefully that will last the month! also wrote a cheque for DD3 school trip payment - £80 down only another £188 to go!!! :eek:
No Unbudgeted spends, so quite happy with that!:D


Going to head to bed with herbal tea and my book in the hope that I can get some sleep!

vasseur

I know it's hard but you need to start slowing down a bit earlier in the evening so that you are more relaxed by the time you get into bed. I have found that I have been sleeping a lot better if I just read a book before bed rather than playing around on my phone!

I like the idea of the sleep oil. I hope it helps.

Nice that your DD3 got the school she wanted - we did too. Much relieved!

judi24

Thank vasseur - I know I need to slow down but it doesn't seem to happen! I did sleep a bit better last night I think - but I need it to be more than a one off really! Hopefully the sleep oil will help!


Checked my Noddle account today - my credit score on there (I know its not worth much!) has gone from 1/5 to 2/5!!! So I guess that is positive. I haven't looked at Experian and Equifax for a while and won't do until I am in a position to apply for a re mortgage.

judi24

NSD today!!! so 2 so far for March!


Today has been frantic again with DS kicking off before school, work being manic and trying to get some study done as I still have no idea what my dissertation will be about!!!


Not much else to report and going to bed as still not sleeping but trying to spend more time reading and listening to relaxing music with my herbal tea before trying to sleep! Didn't manage to see the aroma therapist today but hopefully will get a chance tomorrow!


Not much else to report in relation to money! so off to bed after doing my 5 OS pleasures!

judi24

Not a NSD today - had to get milk and couple of other bits tonight - I also had to lift cash to pay for the deposit for my Christmas night out! Yes I did say Christmas!!!!:eek: A group of us go to an organised Christmas party which is an all inclusive thing and if we book now it is a bit cheaper - we pay a few pounds a month between now and December then all we need to do is pay for the mini bus, It is a great night and is usually my only proper Christmas night out so I don't mind really.


Had DS's parents evening - and was amazed at the improvement since the Autumn term - there are still a few issues with him acting the clown and not applying himself fully in some subject but WOW I was so happy I can't even describe it!!! His behaviour and achievements is so much better! He has even set himself some personal goals tonight and I have set him a challenge in English - which is his problem subject (which I will pay dearly for - you might call it bribery!!!:rotfl:) I agreed to get a 'Go Henry' card on a trial to pay him some pocket money and help him take some responsibility with money. He can also use it to put any gifst of money on. I can set him chores that can earn him extra too. He won't be getting much - thinking £10 a month with a few pounds extra for chores but I am also going to set consequences so not going to nag and shout to get up in the morning - but if he misses his bus he will have to pay for the inconvenience it causes me to take him to school. Likewise afterschool detentions will cost as I have to come out of work early to get him.
We are trying it for 3 months and see how it goes! He has also agreed to go back on his med and do a proper trial without them when he is 14 (18 months away) as they clearly are making a difference to his school work - Discovered tonight that he is a physics genius and has even talked about staying in school to do A levels which he was adamant he wouldn't do - such a happy mum tonight!!!! - nothing else really matters today!!!!:)


But even more good news - I have a pay rise coming in October and it will be back dated to April! it's just over 2k but once tax and pension etc is taken I will be lucky to get around £100 a month but using Martins calculator - if I used this as mortgage overpayment I would pay my mortgage off 2 years 5 months earlier and save just under 5k over the term!!! - I think I might just do that!

Dansmam

Yay to son (consequences good, unexpected genius gooder) and yay to increased income. Magic combination, on a roll...
DM

betsycat

Wow Judi.... what a fantastic post!! So happy for you and your DS, sounds like he's following in his mum's footsteps and your happier, more positive outlook on everything is rubbing off a huge well done to the both of you!

And congratulations on the payrise, that's 2 years closer to your lovely early retirement eh?

beanielou

All sounding good :j