Learning to budget to make future adventures happen

Chandelier.

Crunchy it sounds as if you're making the right decision for both yourself and your family. Your health is definitely the most important.

My official last day of my contract is Sunday and to be honest it's a relief- not because I don't love what I do but this year has been a big roller-coaster and I felt as if I was having to always be proving myself to someone. I'll still be working but having more control over my shifts and when/where I'll work.

I hope you manage to get everything you need to done

louby40

Crunchy, teaching and being a mum is so hard. I'm off sick after having a hysterectomy and I'm soooo relaxed.

My school had Ofsted on Wednesday that then turned into a 2 day inspection. It wasn't a brilliant outcome and from what I can gather the inspector arrived with an agenda! I felt terrible that I wasnt there - but also relieved.

People don't realise what an intense job teaching is, they just see the short working day (yeah right) and the holidays.

If you can afford it I'd take a break!

Louby x

crunch_time

Chandelier. wrote: »

Crunchy it sounds as if you're making the right decision for both yourself and your family. Your health is definitely the most important.

My official last day of my contract is Sunday and to be honest it's a relief- not because I don't love what I do but this year has been a big roller-coaster and I felt as if I was having to always be proving myself to someone. I'll still be working but having more control over my shifts and when/where I'll work.

I hope you manage to get everything you need to done

That's great chandelier! It will be awesome having more control over your working life. I think that's the holy grail.

crunch_time

louby40 wrote: »

Crunchy, teaching and being a mum is so hard. I'm off sick after having a hysterectomy and I'm soooo relaxed.

My school had Ofsted on Wednesday that then turned into a 2 day inspection. It wasn't a brilliant outcome and from what I can gather the inspector arrived with an agenda! I felt terrible that I wasnt there - but also relieved.

People don't realise what an intense job teaching is, they just see the short working day (yeah right) and the holidays.

If you can afford it I'd take a break!

Louby x

Oh no! I bet you were relieved but i also really do understand the guilt. My meltdown last week was not helped by realising I had a days work of admin and other stuff BESIDES teaching my class for the day.

I've been feeling awful about jacking it in for a while, but I have done 5 full years now and given it my all. Maybe I will go back or be a TA in the future or something. I just don't feel like i have anything left to give and my OWN children deserve the best of me right now.

Hope you are well on the mend. xx

louby40

I'm feeling really well.

I've been teaching 20 years, had 2 children, built a house, got divorced, ended a 6 yr relationship and moved house 4 times (twice as a single parent) during that time. I've always worked full time - my mum reckons I'm made of very strong stuff.

I've got a lot of grey hair though now hidden under the dye! Do what's best for you.

Louby

crunch_time

Good evening debt free wannabes!

So the envelope system is in place. A reluctant husband obeyed the rules fully when I sent him off to the butchers earlier and only came back with what was on the list. We budget £100 a week and we have only spent £80. We might have to buy some bread and milk in a few days but this system is miles miles better than dealing with cards. I just need to actually think rather than rely on the card.

Changing the mindset to 'saving up to pay off the debt now that its all on 0%' is working to. We went to Mr s on the way to a friends party today and had to pick up a few bits like a present, beer and a couple of toiletries for me that i couldn't get in A L D I. Everything was on budget or low cost except for the beer - husband spent £18 on a crate (a crate!) of his favourite. On the way home he was peeved that he had to leave so much beer with his friend who didn't even like it when he tried it. So next time he said he will just get a pack of 6 or something and just drink his favourite at home. Result!!!

So we are £48 down on the savings already but that is fine. They we re planned expenses.

I found a reconditioned ipad on amazon for the husband for £100. Perhaps if i can use the grocery shopping savings and weekly spending money savings for this over the month then husband can really see that I am onto something! (His solution is over budgeting for somethings - but then we overspend).

Crunchy xx

Hiddenidenity

I've just read from the beginning and wow you've made amazing progress! You should be very proud of what you have achieved.

I agree with the replies about doing what's best for you and yours.

I will subscribe to follow you're definitely an inspiration

crunch_time

Hiddenidenity wrote: »

I've just read from the beginning and wow you've made amazing progress! You should be very proud of what you have achieved.

I agree with the replies about doing what's best for you and yours.

I will subscribe to follow you're definitely an inspiration

Thank you hidden identity. I'd feel more inspirational if I hadn't got into any more debt since April!! It does feel good paying off the whopping loan 3 years early.

Crunchy xx

crunch_time

Morning diary,

Today's plans are a picnic in the park with friends and then cleaning and sorting for the week ahead!!

We have decided next weekend will be a nice quiet one at home so we can get some stuff done.

Feeling much better and trying to think positively about work tomorrow.

Katie x

crunch_time

Evening all

Lots of good news here...

- no childcare bills this month thanks to childcare vouchers so total amount saved has been amended to over £1k now.
- I've decided on what I am going to do when I quit teaching. I will need to do a course and it draws on old skills but once I have completed the course, within 5 months and with some had work i reckon I could be earning very nearly what i currently earn. It will be worth it as I will be freelancing from home so can work around the children = priceless.
- Because of the potential of freelancing for me and contracting for the husband in the near future we have decided to move house now rather than wait as we might not get such a good mortgage deal if we are not employed. Our parents are helping us out financially which I am incredibly grateful for. We are waiting for our mortgage consultant to come back with some figures tomorrow but our house will be going on the market soon!! I'm feeling very nervous and up in the air about it but it is for the greater good. We will need a bigger house in the next few years so it makes sense to invest now whilst everything is on our side

So we have got lots going on but the plan is still to save up to pay back our debt and then if we need the money we have the savings to help us out. Pay day for me is two weeks today. I won't have a childcare bill for August so hopefully will have more money to chuck into the pot.

The 'savings towards' rather than 'paying down' approach is going well. I don't want to spend and I have already saved £15 towards husbands ipad saved from food money this week. And we have £71 of spending money left with lots of cheap weekends planned. I'm hoping this cash method will get him 'sold.'

Crunchy xx