From debt to freedom...

Cherryfudge

Honeysucklelou2 wrote: »

I did have to nip to Mr T's to do an emergency last minute ingredients drop at school today for DS2 and spotted that a particular toy that DS3 has seen before was reduced by 50% to a much more manageable £7.50, so I confess I did take advantage of being there today without DS3 in tow and bought it.

That was well-timed! Love it when that happens.

Well done for resisting the late night sales.

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Cherryfudge. I'm glad I did seize the opportunity as this particular toy had sold out by yesterday.

This week has been topsy turvey in terms of work days. Technically I have had my 2 days off but on both days had to go in for things, so in reality have not had that time and because it was covering those odd jobs that have to get done, I won't be paid for this time. I worked yesterday which threw all of us, with my children asking if next week will be normal! Unfortunately it looks like I'll have to go in today to be fully prepped for next week.

Payday was yesterday. Thankfully the extra day I worked in October has been paid :T. The extra will be useful this month. I confess I did buy a pair of boots yesterday. Mr T had a clearance sale so they were £10 cheaper, in my size and needed! My old boots have a 4-5 cm split on one edge , which has been ok, I've walked slightly oddly when it rains to avoid wet feet, but the other side of the boot split this week, meaning I've been hoping they hold together each day. I thought £15 for a new pair of boots was a good price for dry feet:D.

I need to sit down today and budget carefully for the rest of the month. There are a couple of Christmas village events happening over the weekend do hope to get along with the children .

magicgirl

Honeysucklelou2 wrote: »

This week has been topsy turvey in terms of work days. Technically I have had my 2 days off but on both days had to go in for things, so in reality have not had that time

This is exactly what has happened to me over the last couple of months and it really started to take its toll lately.
The boots were a bargain and you will save that money in other ways


I hear you with the budgeting. I only really look at that stuff while I am at work but really need to pay more attention at home.


shift patterns of any sort are such a strain on the home, aren't they? My smalls always get really upset when they realise I am back at work. Not because they miss my physical presence but more the sense of security in knowing I am around. Its a tough balance to strike but you do really well and I really hope to pick up some of your good habits along the way.

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Magicgirl.

Payday was Friday and the direct debits have gone out over yesterday and today, so now back to being skint! I'm thankful that the bills are paid.

Work is very busy, lots to fit in before the end of term.

Honeysucklelou2

Now that the direct debits have gone out, a little more has been paid off and some more added to the EF. I downloaded a debt manager app last month, which has all the figures in handy charts. Everything a payment is made you can go in and tap the chart and it automatically adjusts. It refers to snowballing but also making snowflake payments, which as I understand it, are any one off extra payments that are made. Haven't got enough wiggle room in my budget at present, but interesting to see how the app lays everything out.

I'm deliberating over what to do about the work Christmas do. I usually go but this year it does seem quite expensive. The set menu is £25 or something off the bar menu is going to work out at about £15. I know it seems a relatively small amount but it's still a lot when I've cut back everywhere to get a better health/work/life balance. Hmmm, still deliberating.

On Friday I'll need to find the bank van route and stops to be able to take out money from my Christmas savings account. (It's an account that has no bank card with it which worked perfectly to use as an in branch account...until they shut the branch). There's not a huge amount in there as I only save £2.50 a week, but at least it's better than nothing.

crazy_cat_lady

Do you want to go to your works do? You so rarely get a night out to yourself that I think you've more than earned it. If you want to go then you should go. I'd only consider giving it a miss if you're genuinely not bothered.

lucielle

Ditto what CCL says
L

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you CCL and Lucielle. I did go to the staff do last night. You're right CCL, I very rarely go out at night and in the end I felt that the colleague organising it had had such a job to sort it out, that it would have been almost rude not to have gone. I did enjoy adult conversation and a nice meal!

Yesterday was quite a productive day, having spent an extra day in school this week, simply completing tasks that have to be done by the end of term. After dropping all but DS3 at school, we returned and had a baking morning. I made a sausage stew and put in the slow cooker for the children's evening meal, made 2 banana and apricot loaves, 1 batch of pear and ginger muffins and a batch of chocolate brownies. I might freeze one of the banana loaves so that on a time poor week, it's something to pull out for packed lunches.

I managed to find a bank bus timetable and got there in time. It only spends half an hour a week in a nearby village so if you need to go, you daren't miss it! I save £2.50 a week which I know is a very small amount but it meant that I could take out £130 yesterday. I used some of it to pay for my meal at the staff do and the rest will be used today to pay for Christmas gifts. I want to my get my godson's sorted and posted by the end of the day!

I have a few work tasks to get done but I can do these from home and not have to go into work . The day looks to be a bright crisp day so I hope to get a walk in too.

Honeysucklelou2

My godson's gift is in the post, so that job is done . I was able to get a few gifts on Saturday for the children. I still have a few bits to get but will have to do a bit more next weekend and hope that it will be ok.

I confess I was quite lazy this weekend. The weather outside was wild yesterday, gales, thunder, lightning and hail over a few hours. I had planned on going to a carol service but the weather outside and the lovely fire inside swayed me. I was a little cross with myself as I do enjoy carol services but on the plus side I did feel relaxed and rested for the new working week ahead.

Honeysucklelou2

I drove home from work yesterday and became more and more concerned about my car. It was making grating/ crunching type noises to the point that I drove home very gingerly. I do have breakdown cover but due to the rural roads, if I break down , it's either so narrow I'd block the road or quite remote. I ended up borrowing DS's van to get to work today and will need to contact the garage tomorrow. It's an expense I could really do without, especially so close to Christmas but then it's vital to be safe and I need the car to be able to get to and from work. Looks like the EF will be depleted again shortly.