From debt to freedom...

savingholmes

Ouch to all the birthdays. Well done for how hard you continue to work and provide for your family.

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you SH - appreciate the encouragement.

Yesterday was a lovely first day of the holidays and DD4’s birthday. We had a pancake breakfast and then a picnic at a local NT property. DD4 has suddenly got into history and wanted to have a wander around the house.  Just one day out makes the NT subscription worth it as we have the single parent family membership...was very thankful for that. It was so relaxing having a picnic in the NT garden and enjoying the chance to just be.

In the evening the older siblings that had been working during the day met us on the beach. Having most of my children in one place was wonderful as it happens so rarely these days. 3 partners of the older children came too so we were quite a crowd! The ex came for a couple of hours and for the first time I wasn’t stressed to the hilt by his presence.  Walking by the sea was wonderful, hearing the movement of the waves and seeing a beautiful sunset made for a lovely evening.  Most of the children/partners came back for a film which was a relaxed ending to a lovely day.

Today I’m at  home just catching up on jobs that have been undone while I’ve been so busy during the term. About to attack the weeds in the garden!  Job 2 have paid me this morning which has gone to absorbing the cost of the birthday treats of yesterday. Payday for Job 1 is tomorrow so need to plan every penny really carefully.

Have a good day everyone!

savingholmes

Sounds like good family time. Glad things are improving 

Cherryfudge

That sounds like the sort of day memories are made of. I posted some old photos of mine as children yesterday and it had them all talking - it's lovely to hear how they remember things! It's so nice too that you now have the partners as part of the tradition. I treasure my children-in-law (if that's what you call them), we are enriched by them and I know they have good memories of our family gatherings too.

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Cherryfudge and SH. Cherryfudge, I remember you writing a couple of years ago about how partners become part of the family mix and it really struck me then...I’m thrilled and thankful that they all get on well. DS3 commented the other day that he has 4 brothers. When I expressed surprise he named his 2 older brothers and then DD1’s fiancé and DD2’s BF...thought that was lovely.  DS2 and his gf split up a few months ago, which meant it was awkward, if not impossible for her to continue to live at the ex’s house and since her mum threw her out last year, she has ended up here. She came on the birthday day out too and it’s been like having another daughter, so thankful that as a bigger group, it has worked well.

Yesterday was payday from Job 1. I have cleared the credit card and just need to ring the bank and close the account down completely. That leaves me with 1 window loan and 2 other debts to clear. Given that I started this journey with 6 debts, I can see progress, albeit slow.

lucielle

Sounds like a wonderful Birthday and lots of memories made.
L

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Lucielle.

Checked emails and had the MSE Credit club reminder in so have checked the balances remaining.

Window Loan 2 - £701 ( Next payment is due out on Monday so should reduce that to £675)

Debt 2 - £664

Debt 3 - £2900

2 seem close to being able to clear. I know that if I can focus on it with determination, I can get them down as I did with the first window loan and with the credit card that has just been cleared. It’s keeping that determination going with the financial demands of family life.

Spendless

You seem in a much better place HSL both financially and mentally. How kind to take in DS2 ex as well. Help her to help herself though to see if she can be found accommodation. If her Mum has kicked her out I don't know if she'd be classed as officially homeless, though I think you said she's originally from elsewhere in the country. If so it might be her home town that has the liability to help her.

savingholmes

Well done on getting rid of 3 of your 6 debts. Even the ones you have seem pretty justifiable - window loans and the like. You'll get there.

Cherryfudge

Honeysucklelou2 said:

Thank you Cherryfudge and SH. Cherryfudge, I remember you writing a couple of years ago about how partners become part of the family mix and it really struck me then...I’m thrilled and thankful that they all get on well. DS3 commented the other day that he has 4 brothers. When I expressed surprise he named his 2 older brothers and then DD1’s fiancé and DD2’s BF...thought that was lovely.  DS2 and his gf split up a few months ago, which meant it was awkward, if not impossible for her to continue to live at the ex’s house and since her mum threw her out last year, she has ended up here. She came on the birthday day out too and it’s been like having another daughter, so thankful that as a bigger group, it has worked well.

That's lovely! Both the extra sons and the extra daughter! Good that they all get on too.

Well done on clearing the card - and the others are nearly in reach too. You are amazing.