Spreading our wings - a new start

MissShoes

Just catching up on this....amazing news about the pension lump sum! Congrats Chrysalis!

Send a voucher for your nephew's birthday? Clear conscience, higher moral ground and all that xx

Chrysalis1976

A fairly busy day today with shopping, coaching, collecting athletics equipment and sorting out stroppy phone calls from students who hadn't read emails I sent and a company who had booked their staff to see me on the wrong day!

Did a shop until Friday so we can get fresh for the weekend, nothing much else finance related apart from paying for dd guitar lessons and dh is getting a refund on something he ordered for his trip but has never arrived.

We do need to add another savings pot to our list as the bay window in the kitchen is really bad with mould and wood flaky all around it could quite easily fall out one day. I will ask the local company to give me a quote so I know how much we need to save.

Kids back at school tomorrow, everything is ready to go just need to set the alarm!

Last term on my course, I'm really looking forward to finishing and graduating.

C x

MissShoes

Hope all well with you and the new budget post lump sum?

Chrysalis1976

Good evening, good evening, good evening!

It has been a few months since I posted as so busy with a number of things both at work and home, I've been itching to get back on due to a few changes which mean that we have to be careful in our budgeting so we don't mess up what has been a great year.

In the last few months I have finished my degree and graduated therefore I was no longer tied into the financial side of work part funding it, I always wanted to cut my hours as soon as this was finished so I applied to work 3 days per week which was accepted eventually. The bonus of keeping in with this is I can still be flexible with my hours, I don't have to see my nightmare boss as much, I still get 2 weeks off at Xmas plus all the training options as I work for a College, I also still pay into a pension.

As I still need full time hours I have increased my work for my second job which I love, this work is often in the evenings and weekends so I can have time to myself during the day and have reduced the amount of holiday clubs for the kids as I've been at home. I need to make sure that I work plenty of hours over the week so I don't lose any income.

My motivation now in terms of debt is to get rid of all remaining monies owed so we have nothing to tie us down and then to hit the mortgage, we haven't had a holiday this year except a long weekend to Bristol with lots of the family and it was great. We have also had the woodwork done in dd's bedroom and still need to pay for plastering and a carpet evetually.

Current debt:
Car finance £6000 if we pay back early
Mum loan for porch £500 remaining.
Dh computer approx £500 finishes next May but would like to pay off quicker.
Kids computer - will get statement in December but would also like to pay off quicker.
Bike - got a new bike as we do this as a family, £500 can pay off quicker.

I will start with the money owed to Mum and then work my way down then pay extra amounts towards the car rather than saving a lump sum. The car payments alone would save us £158 a month!

That's all for now I do seem to be able to plan better when no children or husbands about!

C x

parsniphead

Hello found you.

Going to read now as I'm very nosey.

Ali x

Chrysalis1976

This one Ali!

£50 paid to Mum this morning so now owe £450, I updated our balance book and looking very poor until hubbys pay day. I have 4 weeks now until mine comes round again so need to stretch it out, I still need to see if my two kids can last in their school shoes a bit longer, they don't go back until the 7th due to building on the school site.

Almost £35 in 1poll account so not long until pay out, I really need to sort out some more selling and money making ideas especially in the run up to Xmas.

Had to send a letter to tax office as they said he had underpaid tax for last financial year but they had written that he earned £8000 more than he actually did and that he used his work van for personal use which he didn't so copies of P60 and other documents copied and sent to them!

I've emailed my second job as I should have accured some holiday hours over the last 18 months I hope to get a nice back pay from that and also still owed some teaching hours that haven't been paid.

Lots of things to do but 3 very busy days, back later as teaching athletics this afternoon.

C x

Chrysalis1976

Wow back again, I've got the bug to get this last debt out of the way so constantly looking for surveys and saving every spare penny.

I've had to buy new shoes for ds as when I looked as his old ones they are full of holes, I wish I could afford some Claaaarks but not at the minute I brought from another retailer and had a 15% discount voucher so only spent £11 with free delivery.

Tomorrow the kids are out all day with my parents whilst I'm at work, hopefully I may have a few minutes to declutter another area of the house to sell or recycle some of the items. I will also have another look through our outgoings to see where we can save a few pounds here and there, this might not happen until later in the week though depending on time!

Night night C x

Chrysalis1976

A bit of a frustrating day today as my car has a fault that developed a few weeks ago where it pings up the engine warning light and goes into limp mode when it hits 70mph, it's really annoying as it's been into 2 garages and they can't find a problem. The car isn't very old so hopefully can't be a major problem but has to go back into the main dealer in a couple of weeks for another check. Keeping my fingers crossed it won't be too expensive!

Second job also got back to me about holiday pay, apparently they pay the extra each month but haven't showed it on the payslip but have been asked to do so. Never mind at least I know I've been getting it.

On the plus side 1 poll is creeping up nearer to pay out, I have walked instead of using the car as much as possible today and submitted expenses for the month for job one, only a few pounds but it all adds up.

Spent hours doing paperwork today so still haven't had time to do a budget overhaul. Must also sort through the next bits to try and sell.

Any other ideas to make or save money always welcome!

C x

parsniphead

Bad luck about the car. I miss the days of simple cars. I hope it is fixed for you soon.

Let's hope today is better for you.

How to make more money.......?

Chrysalis1976

Another busy day at work although one person didn't turn up I bumped into one of his colleagues and made a new contact which will be very useful for my athletics.

I had a quick look at the budget and there isn't much wiggle room at the moment apart from reducing gas and electric, food shopping and fuel use. So more effort needs to be made on earning extra bits and pieces plus developing a business idea that I have. I have the outline and have spoken to a business advisor to again need to sit down a write a proper plan and start up costs plus look at any potential funding.

1poll now past £37 so almost there and a small payment due from qu**co, all meals made at home today and tomorrow we are out at the local aquarium tomorrow paid for with T*sco vouchers.

Ahh bless interupted by the chap from next door bringing round a dozen eggs from his chickens as an apology for their very noisy cockerel, I actually don't mind it crowing but the eggs are more than welcome.

C x