Two thirds of the way there, final hurdle

MERFE

Just made a payment from my account to Barclaycard, balance is now £299.
Joint account is still looking to be £300 in credit at the end of the month not including the £200 we are getting refunded from edf so should be able to repay it but waiting till the 26th (OH payday) just to make sure.

Sept is another 5 week payday so should be able to do some extra payments end of sept as well.

MERFE

EDF refund has gone in. Bank account says there is £600 at the moment but there is a regular saver amount to come out, next weeks food and petrol but that is all. Should be fine to repay Barclaycard.

Got letter from tax credits and it isn't dropping to £40 a month like I thought its going to be £100 a month so an extra £60 than I have budgeted for. I still get quizzed why I would drive so far for work but look how much better off we are since, it is definitely worth it for the breathing space.

OH is due his eye test soon, we have a voucher for the test but he'll probably want new glasses, I think it would be wise to do this at the end of September with that extra weeks pay. (I budget the month based on 4 weeks pay because most months are and it gives us a little extra for unexpected costs or things I forgot to budget for). Probably also wise to get oil for the winter in Sept too. I am going to concentrate on paying off the catalogue with the hoover on it, then the Halifax and MBNA

Kitten868

Looking amazing merfe! Well done you! Surplus over the summer holidays is amazing. Keep it up. As long as debts are still decreasing you're winning. Xxx

MERFE

Thanks Kitten, it's helped to be working over the summer tbh. 3 days a week we only have a couple of hours in the morning to get chores done, go to the park, then OH is home with them without the car so cant go anywhere. Then our holiday to visit my dad is like going on an all inclusive once I got those tickets sorted. We have been to the beach a lot, it doesn't cost much, they all have their wetsuits and bodyboards, buckets and spades, take a packed lunch and I have convinced them more than once that instead of an icecream at the beach we will pop to Tesco on the way home and get a tub of ice cream.

I have got most my daughters new uniform too. I need to get her new shoes, then trousers for them all and new polo shirts for the youngest, then haircuts but they are pretty much ready to go back. There is only one shop to get DD uniform but it was actually really reasonable and the guy was very helpful, like saying to get a big enough rugby shirt to last a few years because they only wear them 2-3 times a year unless they are sporty.

Kids have a party to go to this week, I am hoping it is on Wednesday at 2pm because that is what I remember it being, cant find the invite anywhere (swear I left it pinned to the fridge).

MERFE

Bumped into another mum at the park on Monday whose child is also going to the party, it's definitely today at 2pm, phew, since I got a present and card and the kids are looking forward to it.

Brakes on car done. Kids are going to stay at their grandparents next weekend so we are having an evening out. OH really wanted to go kayaking on holiday and we didn't get a chance so we are going to do an evening kayak, should be fun.

I am trying to convince OH to do a car boot on Monday, there is one in a field by where I work that starts just after I start work, then if they finish before I finish work there is a huge park nearby but he isn't keen with all the kids. I will need to lay it on with the clearing space idea. Otherwise I am back to ebaying after the kids go back to school.

MERFE

Couldn't convince OH to do the boot sale so ebay it is, once the kids are back to school. Although I did suggest we did one together the Sunday whilst the kids are away.

Last day out today so going to combine school shoe shopping with an afternoon at the park and take a picnic. Not a huge day out.

We went on a massive cycle ride on Sunday, found a fab off road route. Youngest managed 12 miles which is brill considering he only started riding around Easter time. Hoping to go back again, although everyone is needing new bikes and when the youngest gets a bigger one it wont fit in the boot anymore, cycle carrier is only for 4 so going to need to get roof bars as well but it will get used to worth getting.

I'm still going to apply to the school when they go back for the dinner lady position. It will be less money but no commute and term time only. Plus there is always potential to increase hours. I'll not leave waitrose unless I get it though and usually loads apply for school posts don't they.

MERFE

Well evening out with OH was rained off but MIL has agreed to look after them for a few hours next Saturday as well so hopefully we can rebook. I just need to check the times middle child has to be at school for the admissions test.

Been thinking about youngest birthday party and don't really want to bother with hiring the hall when we could do it at home just with fewer kids and a bit of organising. I have some party bits for the bags and decorations already. Thinking my ebay profits could be used for the rest but trying to find online ideas for cheap at home parties is so hard. Checked some parenting forums but they are so competitive to be the best parties ever etc.

I've been pretty bad at budgeting over summer with the kids home and having days and just enjoying not having to watch every penny so closely but now they are going back to school I think its time to knuckle down again and get stuff paid off. So back to the grocery challenge and meal planning, it's so easy to let food shopping get out of control. I think I need to look at the catalogue and add it to my signature too, regretting getting that hoover tbh, it is fantastic but we should have just got a 2nd hand one or something and saved up, oh well it's done now.

MERFE

got to love pay day, just ordered oil, damn those price increases. Because we could, we have gone for 750 litres this time, works out a better price per litre than getting 500 but £272. This should last until after Christmas though.

Waiting to make payment to the catalogue, new statement due tomorrow. Thinking if I do £150 this month and £150 ish next month then that will be gone and can concentrate on the 2 CC then.

Went to citizens advice for their introduction day to volunteer and their training is on a Wednesday which I don't work at the minute so think I will probably still do this. Interview next week for it. I checked at work and they don't mind giving a reference.

OH didn't want to do little ones party at home so have asked the lady that hires the hall if the date is free and just waiting to hear back.

Race for life on Sunday, I booked to do it ages ago, thought I had plenty of time to train, haven't got round to doing more than a couple of runs so really hope I can manage it. Time is flying.

MERFE

Started my new job today, have gone for the school one. Doing breakfast club and 3 lunch times a week. I've worked out I will drop about £300 a month but save £150 on petrol so only really £150 drop (worth it to have school holidays off and be home in the evenings). Struggling tbh with the budgeting, partly because the payments all go in at different times of the month. Everythings getting paid off and still have some left each month so its not tight. I don't think I am paying as much off as I could though because I worry about making big payments and leaving me short, then because the money is there it gets spent.

Sometimes feels like we haven't got anywhere, I keep reminding myself we have finished paying for the car, barclaycards all paid off and before that there were Mint and Santander CC, both paid off and closed now. Havent closed the Barclaycard for now incase we need to do another 0% balance transfer. This final bit just feels so slow and its so close to all being paid but still so far to go. We do have over £1000 in savings now too for emergencies or possible having to move fund (always have to be ready for that with renting grr).

I honestly think I give up till after Christmas though. Going to just make payments as normal (Christmas is all saved for, well have £300 so with some crafty shopping it will be fine). Then try and organise the budget properly, once I am more sure of payment dates in new job, need to update tax credits again etc.

MERFE

Christmas shopping today, not for the kids. £100 budget 7 people to buy for although already have something small for MIL so just topping hers up. So easy to get carried away at Christmas.

Feeling better about everything getting paid off, the balances are actually coming down the months just seem so long.

Christmas lights switch on this evening, nice free thing to do with the kids, come home for Hot Chocolate. Sometimes the simple things to do are the best.