From debt to freedom...

Honeysucklelou2

A busy day yesterday as I made the most of the weather and got 3 loads of washing done and out on the line. Spent a large part of the day hoovering out the car and giving it a good wash in preparation for the MOT today. Hoping and praying that it will pass with no problems. I do a lot of mileage in it as we live in a rural area and do 30 miles a day minimum.
Not very MSE, but I got a bit jittery about not getting DD1 ready in time, so I did order sheets, towels and a bath mat from Next.:embarasse:embarasse:embarasse:
I thought would give me a bit of time to pay it off when the TCs have been sorted but I know ordering is a backward step really:(.
Lots of ironing to do today and must get prep done for new term. It's coming fast!

Honeysucklelou2

On a plus front, food has been better planned. We've had fish portions and oven chips on Fri, lasagne and garlic bread on Sat, roast chicken on Sun, sweet and sour chicken with rice on Mon, today will be toad in the hole, Wednesday the children eat with the ex, if he remembers. He's missed 3 Wednesdays over the holidays. Thursday will be jacket potatoes, possibly with tuna plait and Friday macaroni cheese, salad and garlic bread. We have enjoyed apple and blackberry crumbles and apple amber desserts which have been delicious.

Cherryfudge

Universities have moved on since my day - when my kids went, we found the beds are all doubles and student kitchens now have that luxurious mod-con - the microwave! I actually loved helping them shop for the stuff they needed, but it isn't cheap. Then when they'd finished, we had to find room for it all in our loft!

Mmm, I love macaroni cheese!

Honeysucklelou2

I was stunned to discover that rooms are all ensuite! I thought it the height of luxury to have a wash basin in my room in halls! Sheets and towels arrived today, so sheets are packed away and I've washed the towels in readiness to pack when dry. My mum did mention a while back that my grandmother may have some pans spare as she doesn't cook now, so may ask about those when I see my mum next.

I spent some time today peeling and chopping some windfall apples. They are now in the freezer in 1lb bags. I had to take the car to the garage in the next village so walked the 2 .5 miles back home after dropping it off. I wish I'd had a tub with me as the hedgerows were loaded with blackberries and elderberries. It was one of those beautiful mornings when the spiderwebs sparkled with raindrops. Will have to go back and pick the berries tomorrow!

Honeysucklelou2

Heard back from the garage yesterday - the car failed its MOT on brakes, so repairs are being done and I hope to pick it up today. Slightly panicked about the cost of this but as I live and work in very rural areas there is no public transport option.

I have spent a couple of hours looking for a second job. There seem to be a few waitressing positions but I could only really manage 1 to 2 shifts a week as my main job has enough demands, timewise as it is. On the other hand I feel as though I miss enough time with my children in term time:( I'll continue mulling it over.

Payday today, so am hoping to get DD1's accomodation sorted and DD2's transport . I heard back from the college and they have said I can have a partial reduction based on my P60. This will mean a spend of £110 rather than £205.

Honeysucklelou2

Payday today, so I've paid for DD2's bus pass for the new term. I'm so thankful that it's reduced to £110. DD1 and I sat down and went online to accept her accommodation offer. I' d transferred £200 to her to help pay for the deposit. When we got through to the paying part, it had no figures in the box. I rang the uni to discover that new 1sr year students from the UK don't have to pay any up front costs/ deposits. The guy I spoke to was really helpful and apologised that I wasn't given that information last week. Lots of worry and emails back and forth for no reason!:doh:

Honeysucklelou2

The tax credits situation h taken another twist. I rang the helpline yesterday to see if an advisor could give me an idea of when or if any payments are likely to be reinstated so that I can budget and stretch my wages as much as possible. The advisor went through and said that no single claim was on the system and there was no record of having received it:eek:
I posted it by recorded delivery on the 23rd as a first class large letter that would have to be signed for on arrival. The advisor suggested getting in touch with a Royal Mail, which I then did. The online tracking shows that it left my local PO but it hasn't been delivered:eek::eek::eek::mad:.

I went onto live chat with a Royal Mail advisor who couldn't tell me where it was and suggested that if it hadn't been delivered by Tuesday or Wednesday, that I put in a claim. It's beyond words. I used the recorded delivery as advised by the first HMRC advisor I spoke to on the 30th July. If I have to request another pack, it could be another 7 weeks yet until I hear anything.:(:(:(

Thankfully my Direct debits left the account yesterday, so the mortgage is paid, window loan is paid as are the car insurance and road tax DDs. The £290 freed up from the loan has been used by paying the £110 bus pass for DD2. I've used £50 to get the other children ready for the new school year with pens, paints ( as 2 are taking Art GCSE), a memory stick and files for DD2. I used £40 to get bits and pieces for DD1 to get her ready, just things like can openers and a potato peeler and kitchen type things. Also spent about £70 on groceries to see us through the first week. I'll need to get shoes today for at least 3 of the children too and pay the council tax.

Spendless

That's a nightmare about the TC but in time it will get sorted. In the meantime you seem to be do wonders with the money you do have, so don't get downhearted.

helsbell

Honeysucklelou2 wrote: »

The tax credits situation h taken another twist. I rang the helpline yesterday to see if an advisor could give me an idea of when or if any payments are likely to be reinstated so that I can budget and stretch my wages as much as possible. The advisor went through and said that no single claim was on the system and there was no record of having received it:eek:
I posted it by recorded delivery on the 23rd as a first class large letter that would have to be signed for on arrival. The advisor suggested getting in touch with a Royal Mail, which I then did. The online tracking shows that it left my local PO but it hasn't been delivered:eek::eek::eek::mad:.

I went onto live chat with a Royal Mail advisor who couldn't tell me where it was and suggested that if it hadn't been delivered by Tuesday or Wednesday, that I put in a claim. It's beyond words. I used the recorded delivery as advised by the first HMRC advisor I spoke to on the 30th July. If I have to request another pack, it could be another 7 weeks yet until I hear anything.:(:(:(

Thankfully my Direct debits left the account yesterday, so the mortgage is paid, window loan is paid as are the car insurance and road tax DDs. The £290 freed up from the loan has been used by paying the £110 bus pass for DD2. I've used £50 to get the other children ready for the new school year with pens, paints ( as 2 are taking Art GCSE), a memory stick and files for DD2. I used £40 to get bits and pieces for DD1 to get her ready, just things like can openers and a potato peeler and kitchen type things. Also spent about £70 on groceries to see us through the first week. I'll need to get shoes today for at least 3 of the children too and pay the council tax.

That's unbelievable!:eek: Can you do it online to speed it up a bit? I hope you get it sorted soon, and that RM compensate you a huge amount

As Spend less said, you manage to stretch your budget a really long way, well done :T

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Spendless and Helsbell for the encouragement.

Spent last weekend, trying to get ready for the new term and making sure the children have everything they need. 4 needed shoes in the end, so £100 spent.
We had a birthday yesterday so tea was simple with lots of birthday pancakes and a big tractor cake. Life has got back to being very busy with the return to work and school. Am hoping for 2 NSDs this week, if not 3.

Made one eBay sale yesterday so will keep the money in PayPal until I know the buyer has received it and is satisfied and will use only to make a payment off a debt.

I harvested a yellow courgette and almost 1lb of runner beans on Sunday evening which was very pleasing.