From debt to freedom...

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Cherryfudge and Saving Holmes.

Yesterday was a day off but I ended up spending a couple of hours at work doing some work tasks. It was tempting to carry on but a colleague told me nicely that I needed to get home! I seemed to spend the rest of the day zigzagging between home and the next town to pick children up and get 2 to sports activities. DS3 is loving swimming and chuckles all the way through his .

The food on a budget is really helped by using the bread machine more. Last afternoon I put some dough going for pizzas. Two DDs were very happy to assist by making them .

£80 paid out this morning on what I hope will be the last driving expense for DS1. I'm also hoping he might pay me back half but I'm not holding my breath. He is keen to pass his test and researched insurance prices for himself. A policy covering just himself in a 10 year old vehicle, without a black box was £6, 496 :eek: . I wouldn't have believed it had I not seen the email with the quotation on it. Hopefully he will see the financial sense of getting a black box fitted. I'm hoping that on passing his test, I can withdraw from paying his motoring expenses.

I haven't even started on anything Christmas related. DD2 was kind and put me together a list of gift ideas for all her siblings. She is very thoughtful when it comes to getting gifts for people. I remembered I do have a John L gift card as a reward to changing broadband supplier. I haven't used it, so could use it for Christmas .

I'm hoping to have a quiet day today (Friday) and if I can get out for a walk between the heavy showers, so much the better .

Honeysucklelou2

I've got quite a few home jobs done today. The weather has stayed dry so even got a few items of clothing dried! I compiled a menu plan for the coming week. Lasagne for tonight and sausage and cider casserole for tomorrow. Warming meals as the weather seems to have dropped colder over the last week. I found a small packet of dates in the cupboard, so that can be turned into a date / toffee pudding for one day.

Sadly the driving expenses aren't going to stop just yet as DS didn't get the result he was hoping for .

Cherryfudge

Shame about DS and the cost of lessons. I bet his friends are getting black boxes.

Honeysucklelou2

You're right Cherryfudge, most do, except the odd one who seems to be on some kind of family fleet insurance but not sure how that works.

Honeysucklelou2

The toffee apples were a great success. DD3 helped me, as she has every year we make them. Inadvertently I think we have made a new annual tradition as this is the 3rd year we've made them, all through trying to be more MSE .

I'm trying hard to stick to the weekly shopping list I compiled in the summer. It's doable but tight. Today's spend was £55 which included dog food, 2 birthday cards and washing liquid for clothes. Youngest DD has been invited to birthday parties every week for the next 3 weeks, so thinking about where I can juggle / move/ reallocate money.

Cherryfudge

Honeysucklelou2 wrote: »

You're right Cherryfudge, most do, except the odd one who seems to be on some kind of family fleet insurance but not sure how that works.

You have just reminded me that DD had something like the en masse family insurance: her car was insured through her boyfriend's family, I think with him as a named driver. As he's some years older he was out of the higher insurance bracket.

Our own lads got costly insurance as a matter of course - DS1 was long ago now but DS2 got a black box.

magicgirl

Sorry to hear your DS didn't get through this time. It does give you time to look at other options re insurance. There are a few schemes for young new drivers I have been hearing about that work out as good value but I have no context on this as I don't drive. I hope he is not feeling too deflated.
good luck with the money moving. I hope you manage to find some reasonable presents for dd's epic social life.

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Cherryfudge and Magicgirl. I think we will contact the instructor about putting in for the test again. There is a huge waiting list for tests, not sure if that's everywhere or because we are so rural everyone learns to drive and that keeps instructors and examiners busy! It looks like the next test dates will be after Christmas now. I will have to speak with the ex about it...I can't just keep paying out for lessons, tests and insurance singlehandedly.

Rain here again today so am planning to go to work for a few hours in the hope that it will make the coming week a little less frantic.

crazy_cat_lady

Sorry to hear about DS test - hopefully it won't be too much longer dragging out. Definitely speak to the ex and I will cross fingers and toes that he contributes.

Moneywhizz

Sorry to butt in but if your DS is still earning a good salary and not contributing much to the household I think it is time for you to stop paying out for his driving expenses. He probably has a lot more disposable income than you and you have already supported him a lot. Just another opinion.