From debt to freedom...

lucielle

Hope you get the all clear!  How's the garden doing?  I've managed to kill the lettuces but everything else is clinging on
L

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Lucielle.

The positives - DS3 and I had a negative PCR test  and we have no symptoms so only one more day of self isolation left 🙂.  I was able to save £50  of Job 2’s last pay to add to the Help To Save  bringing the total to £400. The back garden has no nettles left in it 😉. The cosmos has started to flower in the most beautiful colour ( will try to add a photo). I have had time to get a few tasks done for Job 1 and DS3 and I have had some quality time together. All he wanted to do was play outside with his playmobil and a bowl of water, making up the most imaginative stories. That was lovely to have the time  to be with him.

The not so positive - feeling 😔 from not getting out to walk everyday and my emotions are like a see-saw at the moment, trying to adjust to the new situation. I’ve  seen DS1 once, DD2 pops in most days. I seem to have their dogs by day ( not a word to me about it) and they disappear again in the evening. Just 😔😣😖.

DD1 has decided to experiment with making ice-cream this week, utilising the mint from the allotment to make mint choc chip ice-cream. It was different to shop made, quite a refreshing taste. We now have  salted caramel flavour to try once it’s set in the freezer. I’m looking forward to getting out at the weekend so that I can gather some elderflowers and make elderflower sorbet.

I have dipped into  savings this week, in order to be able to buy some basic tools. I have 2 screwdrivers, a Stanley knife and a hand saw but it’s not really enough to complete some household jobs that need doing. I was gutted to dip into savings but I thought it was better that than adding the cost to a credit card. I still need to get a 2.5 litre can of paint to tackle the living room. So glad I bought a home maintenance manual with some gifted Christmas money a few years ago. I’m hoping that the manual and YouTube will be useful aids to getting the jobs done!

I did email the solicitor re the current situation and am awaiting a response.

Cherryfudge

That's great about the negative tests. Not long to go now. I'm sure the being stuck at home is hard, but I can see you've turned it to good purpose.

I would imagine the new tools will save you much more than they cost you, so consider them an investment. It's worth having the right basic tools because it makes things so much easier. Once things open up again it may be worth going to car boot sales for things like old screwdrivers, chisels, mallet, garden tools. I love the one with wooden handles and it's nice to give them an extension of useful 'life'.

Are the children expecting you to pay for the dogs' food? I'm sure they are in the early days of working out what it's going to mean financially for them but it may be worth considering.

Well done for getting the email off.

Parkyp

The simple things kids love playmobil and a bowl of water 😀. Glad freedom day is approaching for you, can’t wait for a description of your next walk. Well done getting the email sent off, best to keep your lawyer in the loop . 

MeandO

Oh I wish I lived near you HSL2, i have a plethora of tools from my Dad and Grandad that I could have lent you. Good idea about the car boot sales for tools, but also maybe ask if anyone has any spare they are getting rid of for free on a local selling page? It's worth a try. x

savingholmes

I too wish I lived close enough to help. We have lots of things that could usefully find a new home without us missing them. Glad the test results have been normal. Hope things improve soon.

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Cherryfudge, Parkyp,  MeandO and SH for your kind words.

Freedom today as our 10th days was yesterday. First trip is to Job no 1 to catch up and be ready for next week and then a shift at Job no 2.

Cherryfudge - that is a good idea to look at car-boot sales or Facebook. The dog situation is odd. Two are now here with me but 2 keep appearing and disappearing without a word from anyone, which is starting to get a bit disconcerting because I don’t know if the dogs have been picked up or escaped from the garden. I have mentioned it to the ex and relevant children with little effect thus far. Food wise, DS1 and DD2 both buy food for their respective dogs when they were here. I usually keep a decent amount in for the elderly lurcher so there is some here.

Money is going to be very tight for July - I did check the council help but you have to be in  receipt of one of certain benefits which I’m not. Hey ho! I’ve had to get some extra items this week for one DD who is on an outdoor adventure session for a  couple of days. Hoping I can be very economical on the grocery side this month.

Cherryfudge

I'm sorry you aren't eligible for help from the Council. Hopefully now being back at both jobs will mean you get some good tips that will ease things a bit.

It's not very considerate of them not to let you know when they have taken the dogs, and not very thought-through either as you could reasonably assume a missing dog was with the owner whereas it might have wandered off.

Parkyp

I think the isolation benefit is very unfair because it’s means tested based on your income.  They only problem is while your isolating you will not have that income. Not everyone has savings in the bank to fall back on. 

janb5

Do you have a bartering system in your area?  I think it works on the premise that someone puts your shelf up in return for a cake or babysitting.  i.e. whatever you can offer.  No money changes hands.