From debt to freedom...

Spendless

How through the children are you with learning to drive if it's not an ideal car for that? I think one finished yr11 last week, so would be able to learn within the next year or so, do the rest follow on or have you then got a big jump and it'll be several years before you have to consider driving lessons again? I agree it would be a risk though, considering how frequently you've had an unexpected bill jumping out to say BOO at you.

I always wonder that about weeds too. My parents had one growing on a paving slab and I couldn't work out how it had done that either. Sounds like half term has been a good week for tips. 

savingholmes

Glad you have savings. Beaches sound awesome

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Spendless & SH.

Spendless - After the current learner, I have another turning 17 next year, then a couple of years for the next learner, then bigger gaps for the younger 2! My lovely dad suggested an HpI check which I did and it turns out the mileage on the proposed vehicle, at the last MoT, is a little higher than I’d been told...

A very busy night at job 2 yesterday, so am taking time to have a quiet read of the diaries and a cup of tea before heading off to work again this evening.  

£40 paid off a debt today which all helps to get the figures down. I had hoped today would be a NSD but one of the younger DDs is making things for a charity event, so I ended up spending some on materials to help her.

Tomorrow I will have to get my mind in gear for job 1. Today has been spent in the garden and some time at the allotment. The gooseberries are growing, still small at the moment but should be ready to harvest in 2 or 3 weeks time. Lots of weeds to battle there so hope to go again at the weekend. I have the last few nettles to get out of the back garden before I can start turning it over and getting rid of the weed roots. I’ve rediscovered the old Belfast sinks so will plant those up tomorrow. More tip runs over the weekend should ensure the garden looks better still by Monday!

Drawingaline

Would love a Belfast sink planter. My aunt used to use them as feed troughs in her stables back in the 80's before they became the in thing to have in the kitchen!

Spendless

I think then I'd be inclined to recommend a No to the new car. It might be ideal in some aspects but not all. If you were in sight of the jump of the last two and some years before they needed to learn then that might be different.  Gooseberries, you've reminded me how delicious they are, will make sure I get them when I can.  

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you DAL and Spendless.

Today is pay day from Job 2 today and thanks to a couple of extra shifts I’ve been able to make a £50 extra payment on debt 4 which should mean that it comes into the £2600s bracket🙂. I’ve also banked £26 of tips which I’ve split into £15 of savings and an £11 debt repayment. The tips savings now stand at £75 which is a much healthier figure than a month ago.

Today has been fairly productive but mainly in doing work for Job 1 in order to get ready for next week. Most rooms have been hoovered so just a bit more cleaning to do and I hope that I can spend most of the weekend outside.

Honeysucklelou2

Felt really tired yesterday (Sat)...only thing I can think of is balancing early morning starts to take DD1 to work, with my evening shifts. Last night I worked and took home £8 in tips which I will use to pay towards a debt. I’m hoping that every little bit helps to get the debt figures down and gone.

Parkyp

Morning, I’m not surprised your tired you’re always on the go. Hopefully today will be a ittle more relaxing for you 

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Parkyp.

A mixed day but have been grateful to get out for a walk. We headed for a quieter, less well known beach. The tide was in by the time we got there but there was still enough rocks and sand to be able to clamber down and walk. DS3 enjoyed his hunt for treasure ( various coloured rocks). Youngest DD practised her stone skimming while DD1 tried various photography techniques to get a photo of a wave just at the point of breaking!  The walk there was beautiful. The path leading from the beach to the field car park area was like a meadow today. We saw many bees and butterflies visiting flowers and stopped to watch one bee carefully visit each individual flower of the foxglove. The blackthorn has its leaves now while the first of the honeysuckle flowers poked out between the blackthorn leaves. The foxgloves looked like soldiers standing upright, guarding the path. At one point we saw 2 rabbits sitting across the path, nibbling the grass at the side of the path. As we walked we could hear the call of the wood pigeons and the song of the sky larks.

On our return home, I cracked on with chicken cobbler for tea, using some gifted vegetables to accompany the meal. DD1 made some cupcakes whilst I got some flapjack done. At least there is a choice of cakes for packed lunch boxes😋.

The week ahead looks challenging...

Parkyp

I was off on holiday last week, not really feeling like work today. Ive just read about your walk to the beach and it’s lifted my mood by  visualising it all. 

Mmm 😋 nice cakes.
hope the week ahead goes well.