The single track road - life on a different path

MeandO

Thanks for the hugs Steup x

I'm going to have to go through my budget again tonight via YNAB as it's going to need cutting back drastically this month.

I've realised I over-estimated the tax credits by £30 a month too (as it was £30 higher the first month) and I told the ex he could drop the money he gives me by £100 from now on as I'll be receiving tax credits (he is struggling with money/budgeting and I won't take more from him than is needed to pay off our joint 'debt' to my parents and half of the childcare - I've even halved the child benefit with him, I'd never take advantage of him - or anyone).

Wish I could get onto YNAB at work as I'm sat here bored with nothing to do, but can't download the dropbox thingy here. :mad:
That's tonight's job then, as well as hoovering through the house and giving the bathrooms a clean.

Today I need to pop out at lunchtime as I'd like to buy some flowers. It would've been my much-loved Grandad's birthday today and every year I try to buy a little bunch of flowers to put in a vase at home.
We were extremely close and I adored him. He was the first person I lost in my life although sadly, many more family members have gone since. I've just worked out it's been over 19 years since we lost him, which means I have been without him for more years than I had him in my life. Now trying to hide the tears at my desk.
I can't believe it's been that long, feels like yesterday.

I guess that's one of the underlying reasons for me feeling so down today.

liltdiddylilt

Levi- wrote: »

Oooh I didn't know we could hire out old men

MeandO wrote: »

You know Lilty's radar will be beeping madly again at that statement, right?! :rotfl:

NEEEEENAAAAANEEEEENAAAAAA


Oh Mrs
I've missed a lot

Him.. is beginning to sound like he isn't worthy of your time you know. Just as Levi's cryptic other seems to be wasting his time and taking advantage, Him is too.

Yes it is hard juggling kids, relationships, jobs... but you have to make a concerted effort (BOTH of you) to make things work or they just won't. It isn't like in the movies where everyone lives happily ever after and nothing is ever hard because you love each other. It is spiky and harsh. Communication is key. so if he can't spare you a thought on a (eww) fag break then there is something wrong there I really hope you can figure out how to make yourself happy hun. Only you can do it

With the garden... take it steady. I am so jealous of your lavender haul. I LOVE lavender but all mine is planted in my mums garden as I don't have one. It has taken mum years upon years to get her garden the way she wants it. So please don't push yourself.

With money juggling, work need to sort that out and you can force them to. Precisely because of the reasons you have already told them. Their error leaving you in financial hardship is illegal!

We are here to help you keep your chin up and costs down. Keep YNABing. Have you got the app for your phone? You can enter stuff there but can't budget from it for some reason. You can get dropbox on there too!

Much love. xxx

MeandO

liltdiddylilt wrote: »

NEEEEENAAAAANEEEEENAAAAAA


Oh Mrs
I've missed a lot

Him.. is beginning to sound like he isn't worthy of your time you know. Just as Levi's cryptic other seems to be wasting his time and taking advantage, Him is too.

Yes it is hard juggling kids, relationships, jobs... but you have to make a concerted effort (BOTH of you) to make things work or they just won't. It isn't like in the movies where everyone lives happily ever after and nothing is ever hard because you love each other. It is spiky and harsh. Communication is key. so if he can't spare you a thought on a (eww) fag break then there is something wrong there I really hope you can figure out how to make yourself happy hun. Only you can do it

Much love. xxx

Yeah, I know Lilty I'd tell anyone the same thing if I was looking in on it too. *sigh* we'll see how this weekend goes I guess.

Yes, I have the YNAB app too. Can see it's good for recording spending, but not a huge fan of it otherwise. If I could just get on it at work, I'd be sailing through it now, but must make the effort to turn my laptop on at home and update regularly - despite trying to avoid too much laptop time in the evenings.

Oh, and I've just been informed that it's 5 weeks until the next payday as we've been paid early this month due to the bank holiday. I'm going to struggle.

I've been on the phone sorting out my will via the w0wcher will writing service I bought a while ago. Have been chasing and chasing them, and finally have sorted it. It is quite upsetting though, thinking about if anything happened to me & O's Dad, who on earth would look after him. We agreed on my sister, but she is that much older than me, and my parents are not in good health/getting on. It hits home how few 'people' we have. I just hope to god it never happens, it really does hit home with regards to being as healthy and fit as possible for my son's sake.

I didn't go out at lunchtime today, so will buy a very small bunch of flowers tonight. If I had any in the garden, I would pick them, but unfortunately my garden is bare of flowers now the daffodils have gone over.

I found an old post on here about a lady who had a 'mortgage pig' in her kitchen, into which, the family threw all their small change and bits and pieces to use as monthly mortgage overpayments. She wrote a speech bubble poster to put above it about the reasons for wanting to pay off the mortgage and made it very personal to the family. I love the idea, and so am now on the lookout for a piggy bank. She said, a box just won't do - it has to be something with character to be fun to pay into - I agree - so am off to find a cheap but loveable pig for my kitchen worktop.
First, it will be used to pay off the debt, then will be used as mortgage overpayments.

Levi-

That sounds great -the mortgage pig! I might start doing that with loose change and then whatever is there by Xmas I will make an overpayment to a card I have a cute money box shaped like an retro american gas pump.
Check out charity shops, I always see fun stuff like that in there! x

Levi-

Thoughts and warm wishes out in the Universe for granddad who sounded such a wonderful man. I know he is still looking after you
It would be my deceased nana's birthday next Friday so I might do the same thing re: flowers, it's such a sweet idea

hummingbird

MeandO wrote: »

I found an old post on here about a lady who had a 'mortgage pig' in her kitchen, into which, the family threw all their small change and bits and pieces to use as monthly mortgage overpayments. She wrote a speech bubble poster to put above it about the reasons for wanting to pay off the mortgage and made it very personal to the family. I love the idea, and so am now on the lookout for a piggy bank. She said, a box just won't do - it has to be something with character to be fun to pay into - I agree - so am off to find a cheap but loveable pig for my kitchen worktop.
First, it will be used to pay off the debt, then will be used as mortgage overpayments.

I remember that thread really well! Just shows how long I've been on this site LOL! I can remember the speech bubble too! LOL. That thread ran for ages I think. It had a lovely photo of the mortgage pig and seemed to work really well for folks.

That just isn't on about your pay being less due to their error! And, especially as it's going to be a 5 week month. Lilt seems to know your rights concerning this so put the pressure on 'em to get it sorted hun xx

liltdiddylilt

Hey lady

Love the mortgage pig idea. I tried it with some old milk tins from Jellys original Aptamil Pepti stuff as they came in cute metal cans with plastic lids. Didn't work though. I would love a pig but I am greedy and want the interest so just make a YNAB category for it and earn minimum 2% a month on my little squiddly bits.

Tax credits will be in on the 17th of next month for you. If that helps pressure-wise. Do get on to work and impress that they have effectively taken away your ability to run your car to their office! xx

apple_muncher

Flowers for you too xxx

(Tried to put in a pic of flowers here but failed dismally!)

stepuptothepl8

I have a massive pink pig that DD gave me for Mother's Day.. I use that for all my coppers, and £2 coins. Not sure how much is in there, but I've decided I'll use it for Christmas food. Or a present for me. Not sure which yet! xx

Levi-

Lilty how do you know which day the tax credits come next month? Mine came today (usually monday, but early due to bank hol) and they said mine will always be mondays. which monday is it though? last of the month? X