From debt to freedom...

janb5

Any time you have a dip in mood just read over how your family are rallying around to help and your descriptions of your sunsets are just magic!  Keep on writing!

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Janb5 for the encouragement 🙂.

Yesterday (Wed) was my last day of work for the week and the term. I celebrated by going for  a walk on the beach, a can of Pimms and by signing up for the MSE Academoney course. I’d made myself wait for the end of the CPD course, so am looking forward to getting stuck into that course. DD1 has signed up for the course as well so we’re going to learn together. 

The walk on the beach was refreshing. We went to one of the closest beaches but not until 8.30 ish, then stayed until the lighthouse lights came on. There were more people on the beach than last week but much more opportunity for social distancing than during the day. I was so tired on my return, I fell asleep before I could drink the Pimms so that treat will have to wait until tonight!

Last week, I forgot to say, I dragged myself into the 21st century and signed up for internet banking. I’ve always been very dubious about banking online and if I’m honest there is a bit of me that still is, but the automated phone banking I was using was taking up to 20 mins to check balances and recent transactions. I was pleasantly surprised to realise that I could see all account balances at once on the same page!

janb5

Hi....I haven"t heard of the MSE Academoney course....what is that.
Well done for venturing into internet banking.  I've used it for about 10 years now and it's so much easier to see all accounts as a glance.
I also use Starling for my grocery and personal spends.i like its instant totting up and 'pinging' after a purchase.  I put £x to cover all groceries for the month keeping my direct debits in the other account.

Drawingaline

Gosh, I didn't think people of my age didn't use internet banking (assume you are approx my age 😂) but then I have always used it. I worked for the bank I have my main account with back in 2001-2007 (call centre) so I got used to being able to check my banking while there!! So maybe that helped as I am a complete tech novice and have to get my daughter to help me send documents and photos to people, bit banking I am fine with 😂 

It's amazingly easy (in my eyes) and I check it every morning and reconcile to my ynab when I have my coffee. 

And my app phobic husband has his two banking apps. I think they are the only apps he actually has on his phone 😂 he hates apps and always used his web browser, so for him to have actively downloaded them is huge!!!

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Janb5 and DAL - I confess I’m a total Luddite when it comes to technology but I’ve had to learn so many tech things during  Lockdown like Teams, Zoom, even doing short videos and putting online for my class, that online banking didn’t seem quite so scary☺️. My older children were despairing of me not being with it!

Jan - the academoney  course is one that Martin Lewis has collaborated on with the Open University. It’s free to do and comprises of 6 units and covers everything from budgeting to mortgages and savings brought to pensions. I’m pretty clueless on savings and pensions, not that I’m  in a position to add to savings at the moment but I thought getting some understanding might help with future financial planning. You have to create an account with OU but the course is free.

I need to catch up on house jobs today. So much has been neglected while finishing off work stuff!

janb5

Thank you for the advice HSL- will certainly look into that.  Also I suspect other people havent heard of it so that will be helpful to other people on  MSE.
Any update from the solicitor perhaps?

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Janb5 - progress is caught surrounding  mediation. Basically the ex has said he can’t use technology to conduct mediation meetings but will come to a face to face meeting. Since we don’t know when that will be allowed to take place and I know full well that he has the app necessary to do a technological meeting, I feel it’s a won’t cooperate rather than a can’t cooperate. I’ve pushed for mediation via technology or the piece of paper I need to go to court, so it’s left that the mediator will contact the ex....on their return from holiday.

Yesterday was a truly lovely day...DD1 had her celebration cream tea in the garden. The weather, unfortunately wasn’t as glorious as the previous day but nonetheless we had a good time. We put up a gazebo to keep off the worst of the mizzle  and fixed balloons to the frame, so it gave an air of celebration. DD1 had made a mountain of cupcakes and was delighted with the graduation themed cupcake toppers 😀. DD2 made some chocolate eclairs and I did an iced carrot cake. The older DDs has clubbed together and bought scones, jam and cream so it was a feast in the end! We had invited a couple of friends but they came at staggered times which worked out well as it meant we could give undivided attention to each guest when they were here. The mizzle held off at the times we were in the garden, so all in all a super day. The icing on the cake, if you’ll pardon the pun, was that DD1 found out her degree grade which was fabulous news🥳😀🥳🤩.

janb5

Yay . what fabulous news for DD1 and it sounds as though it was a wonderful celebration. How glorious!
Par for the course with Ex but there is evidence to support your suspicions.

Cherryfudge

Congratulations to your DD! How exciting, and what a lovely celebration!
Your ex is definitely being obstructive. Have you told the mediator that he has the app? It might help your case.

savingholmes

Glad your DD had a good graduation! My DS got his degree certificate and transcripts through this week.