From debt to freedom...

savingholmes

Waves. Hope you are ok.

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you SH, Janb5, Spendless & Buffy,

Spot on Buffy - just juggling crazy hours at the moment! Job 1 and 3’s hours are fairly consistent but Job 2 is a bit all over the place. I get calls/ texts from Job 2 during  my lunch hours at the other 2 jobs, asking me to cover evening shifts  and because shifts have been a little thin on the ground, I haven’t liked to refuse, but starting to feel tired...!

I wish I could say that the extra hours had made a huge impact  on my finances but unfortunately they haven’t. I’ve had, what I think of as a hefty bill from the solicitor. The amount that had built up through all the months of procrastination has now gone so each bill I get now is hitting savings. I’ve also had a letter from the electricity company to say that the direct debit is going up next month, despite it only going up last month☹️.

The positives are that we are all well. I have been able to get out for walks for the last 2 Sunday’s which have helped. Last Sunday was a fresh breeze which had the fallen leaves blowing up through the stubble of the maize making quite a rustling sound as we followed the public footpath. I could feel that the wind had burned (?) my face! 

A little late but I’ve got some scented narcissi planted and some hyacinths. I’ve done some in pots so that I can put them at the garden gate.

I feel more at peace about Christmas. I will make it as wonderful as I can for the children that are here and for the others, if they choose to drop in. My lovely brother, that I haven’t seen for 2 years due to Covid restrictions is hoping to visit between Christmas and New Year which will be wonderful to see him and his family🙂.

janb5

So pleased to see your post...you were missed!

Any chance changing electricity providers?

Boo to the solicitors' bill.....

savingholmes

Hi HSL - Lovely to see you back.

I feel your pain on solicitor's bills and the long hours worked. You are being a fantastic mum and provider for your kids.

Glad you got to have a walk and have positive Christmas plans.  The bulbs sound lovely too.

Cherryfudge

You are doing an amazing job (jobs!) juggling all these things. I do hope you can get time for rest but a walk as you've described must in itself be refreshing and help keep things in perspective. No amount of bills or other hassles can change the power of the wind or the sound of the leaves.

I expect solicitors are used to being paid over time and you will get there eventually. You have been as provident as you can in building up a fund to lessen the impact of the legal bills and in paying off other costs. Electricity costs are going to be hard for too many people this winter.

It's great that you have your brother's visit to look forward to, and time with the children who live with you. The scented narcissi by the gate are an inspiration: I have a scented viburnum by mine which flowers through the winter and it's a blessing every time I walk past it. I love the smell of narcissi and planting them is a reminder that 'when winter comes, can spring be far behind?'

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Janb5, SH and Cherryfudge.

Cherryfudge - love that sentence you wrote...”No amount of bills or other hassles can change the power of the wind or the sound of the leaves”.

I was hoping for a lie in and had turned off all alarms but had forgotten that the elderly lurcher is tuned into the working day get up time and was asking to be let out at 5.30! Ah well, at least I have had some time to catch up on diaries here. 

Storm Anwen/Arwen - whatever it’s called,  is certainly here. Seems to be in a different direction to our usual high winds that come in off the sea. I’m glad to be home today and have no intention of going anywhere except to work later! 

DD3 has, after saying she was going to take a gap year, decided that she will apply for uni so has an open day today 😳. DD2 has volunteered to go with her so it’s a sisters trip! Just hope that it’s doable with the weather 💨 being as it is.

DS2 came round last night...it was good to have time to catch up with him 🙂.

Spendless

Glad to see you back, guessed it was the jobs keeping you away.

Ouch to the solicitor's bills. but looking for the positives, at least jobs 2 and 3 have given you extra cash towards it but more importantly you need your sanity and some closure and you can't put a price on that.

Best attitude for Christmas day, it will be different to other years for certain but can still be enjoyable. 

Hope the DDs are ok with the open day and weather. Mine worked a very long shift yesterday, Black Friday at a new p-time job in fashion retail, only finishing at 10pm and walking home where there was an amber warning. Relieved when she was texting me tbh.  

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Spendless. I have requested regular text updates on the journey.  I gave DD2 a contribution to the petrol costs as I’d be having to do the journey had she not volunteered and I’m thankful, with all the jobs, at not having to go somewhere else at the weekend!
That was a long shift for  DD. Will she get today off?

savingholmes

Hope the open day and travel arrangements go well for your DDs. Hope you find some time to relax for you too. Shame it's not really the weather for a walk.

Drawingaline

I have spent so much on petrol for uni open days the past two months. But decision made (just to actually get in now!) And I am glad I got to see them with her. 

Hopefully the legal bills will be worth it in the end. Get everything sorted so you can fully move on.