Crunchy pays it down....£20k...the final chapter

crunch_time

So an interesting trip to swimming with lots of inspiration.

- the newsletter from the swim school is advertising for swimming teachers with opportunities to be trained up - that's an idea to pursue!
- I bumped into a friend in the car park who is a play therapist - that's an idea to pursue!
- I chatted to another mum who works for the NHS part time but also has her own business making and selling fudge at craft fairs and for weddings etc. That's an idea to pursue!

There are lots of opportunities and possibilities for me - teaching is not the be all and end all.

I've decided to register with 3 supply agencies for September start to see what possibilities they have. I have enjoyed doing supply in the past. Its doing the job without the commitment.

Right lets get caught up on the banking. (whilst sitting outside enjoying the sunshine!!)

Crunchy xx

crunch_time

Banking all done. YNAB looks good. I forgot to say it the bit above that there is another mum at swimming who is a specialist teacher. I'm not quite sure what that is and have been meaning to ask her. When I googled it just now it came up with SEN, teaching the deaf etc. Definitely worth investigating.

I am starting to think about the last few years in teaching being about laying the foundations for my next career rather than the be all and end all.

Husbands parents retire next March. Maybe they wouldn't mind looking after the kids once a week whilst I volunteer and get some experience in other areas. And my mum has already said she wouldn't mind doing the same. Husband is keen for me to pursue special needs teaching. He was less than enthralled when I told him I was thinking of not pursuing permanent jobs from September. Not sure exactly why. I will have to do some prodding. Its probably got something to do with paying down the mortgage and buying a new car for him. Really important things then!

Right off to do some organising. Thanks for listening!

Crunchy xx

Herewego

Hi Crunchy

I feel your pain in which job to go for, its always a struggle when you have little ones. I was in the same position although many years ago and I trained to be a childminder so got the best of both worlds, with you being a teacher as well you would be perfect
I also have a friends wife who is a child minder and she earns over 20k a year just another idea, ive not read all your diary and you may have already been down this route.
Sorry rambling now pottering off again now

HWG x

DebtFree2012

Do what you feel is right and you may not know what that is yet or it may change multiple times but ultimately we only get one life, so be happy

crunch_time

Very good advice - thank you debt free wannabe friends!

I went to look around another school today which is not far from the other one. I really liked it and the head but it's another one which is out of my experience level. The head said to apply anyway which I think I might do. It's 3 days a week so my take home would be about £80 more among after childcare.

The last few days I have realised....

- I like what I do.
- I like doing it part time
- I want to do something else creative on the side.
- I'm not interested in management.
- based on this and if they continue to keep my sectors pay relatively low I'm only ever going to earn £1200-£1500 a month. Which is great!
- but I know there is more to me than this and I want to explore it.
- that ive got to stop thinking too far in the future and what might be and concentrate on the now.
- that I really enjoy being frugal and low maintenance
- that I want the money I earn to go on family adventures more than anything in the world.

At least T the moment I am learning a lot about what I do and don't want.

I need to update my signature. There is a little bit on the credit card to add and I have a fresh energy debt to pay off £250. But it means our dd will go down £22 a month which will be great if I'm not earning from sept. I slushed the last one away no problem. Will update later

Crunchy xx

DebtFree2012

You're doing amazing and I know it's hard when there's so many thoughts going round your head. I remember when I had DS, my head was so full I had to talk it through or write it down as it felt I was "leaking thoughts" which sounds crackers. I think we all have these moments, I reckon I will be due another one (moment, not son) soon LOL!


I suggest copious amounts of wine. Ooops, not very frugal, but it's Friday and I don't care . xx

t2rry

Hey crunch. It sounds awful, but I have found your fluid thoughts on work really interesting to read! I think you're probably going through the same thoughts I will be having in a year's time!

I have to say, it seems to me your quiet dream to stay at home for a while jumps out at me. You seem to keep coming back to it. And it seems to me that's been true for a while. Is that just me?

I second DebtFree on the copious amounts of wine position!

crunch_time

OMG Debtfree that's how I feel - like I'm 'leaking thoughts!!!' I've always been an over thinker and will think myself into an oblivion. It definitely helps writing it down (or typing waffle on here ha ha!!)

T2rry - yes there is definitely a quiet desire to stay at home. Not forever but at least Sept to January. In a weird way I feel we will be so much more better off! The main reason I feel is to settle DS in school. He isn't even 4 yet and I think he is going to struggle. I want (and we can afford for me) to be the one that waves him off at the gates for those first crucial weeks and not have to organise everyone's holiday to arrange cover for this. I know he will then be ok about going to the before and after school club. Meanwhile at home I can really get frugal like I did when I was off with DS as I would have the head space to get to grips with getting our food budget under £400, cooking from scratch and making lots of things to save money.

We will just have the loan to pay in its usual monthly instalments. If I was working, husband would suggest that we buy him a new car which would be at least £100-£150 whereas if I was at home we would make do. With that and child care I will only see about £200 a month and I reckon we can save that.

My gut is saying stay at home but my head would be more happy if it was by default i.e. there were no suitable jobs/didn't get a job so I HAD to stay at home and it wasn't a choice.

Ill just keep 'looking' and see what happens.
Thanks for the input ladies - most appreciated xx

crunch_time

So I was thinking yesterday that I needed to adjust my signature but I have decided not to.

The only thing on my credit card is £50 for husbands new beard trimmer which I will pay off when I get paid a week after next. I have also decided to pay the energy debt off over the next year as part of my dd. £20 a month over the year is not that much compared with £250 now.

I think I have convinced husband to have a quiet (frugal) weekend at home with no parking, fuel and caf! stops for a day out. We plan to make some phone calls this morning all in the name of sorting financials.

I will have to do the dreaded work too at some point.

Enjoy the lovely weekend everyone!!

Crunchy xx

crunch_time

Morning all!

Working week done. Its 18 more days left to commute so getting closer. Some days I love it and some days I hate it. Been keeping an eye on the jobs board and nothing yet that meets my criteria so will keep in checking.

Since summer arrived early at the weekend, long story short, I had to spend £100 on my credit card on new sandals and pumps for each child, sandals for me and shorts for husband a week earlier than I had planned to. Ah well! I will clear the credit card when I get paid next week and the rest will go into savings.

In money news, husband did a few more expenses which means that the credit card is now down to £804!!! Just got to wait for the payment now! Should be next week. Signature updated. It feels great to be in the £13,xxx now although it wont officially be that way until next week.

Husband has got (another) job interview this week. Ever since he moved companies last year he hasn't been 100% happy. He has had a couple of interviews, one of which he was offered but turned it down. The other company liked him but didn't see him in the role he was interviewed for. Now another role has come up. There is no talk about money or where he would work - home or office but the company is bigger and the benefits are better - pension/bonus/healthcare etc. I shall of course keep you posted.

Right - got to update the spreadsheet and YNAB and of course do lots of cleaning and washing!!

Crunchy xx