From debt to freedom...

Sun_Addict

I’m terrible at accepting help, I’m fiercely independent and wonder what’s in it for the person offering so I totally understand you. Good news about the meter, hopefully it’s sorted now. 

Parkyp

 I find doing annoying jobs so much easier when you have some helping so you can chat away whilst working. 

Cherryfudge

That sounds like possibly the nicest water bill in Britain!

Steady as she goes with the two jobs... do the next thing on the list, then the thing after that. It's when you look at the size of the mountain that little steps seem futile but of course it's all the little steps that add up to a conquest.

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Lucielle, Parkyp, SA and Cherryfudge.

SA - fiercely independent is a phrase I’ve used to describe myself in the past!

Cherryfudge - Thank you for what you wrote. Have spent much of today feeling quite overwhelmed about gearing up to 60 hour weeks again but will keep your words in mind.

Met up with some colleagues for a coffee today before getting more prep done.  Got to 7.30 ish and decided that since this evening was my only evening off this week and Job 1 looms next week, I would seize the moment to go to the beach with the youngest 3. It was twilight when we got there but the sea was beautifully calm. We could see the lights of the lighthouse on the furthest headland and the light from the coastguard lookout station on the nearest headland to us. DS3 ran off some energy zooming back and forth on the almost deserted beach while the youngest DDs still asked for a simple running game that I think I adapted from a long ago PE lesson but has stuck as a family favourite and they all still want to play it now! It was good to grab some moments of tranquility. The beach is our nearest accessible by car ( rather than the closest which requires a 2 mile public footpath walk) and one that we have spent much time on. We remembered the New Years Day plunge, winter walks and the BBQs and summer days with friends and cousins that we have enjoyed this year. Good to take time to reflect and be thankful.

lucielle

That sounds like a nice end to the day.
L

savingholmes

Lovely end to the day.

HSL Don't want to add more pressure but are there any higher paying jobs you could upskill for and perhaps be able to scale back hours worked? You sound clever enough...

Spendless

That sounds a lovely trip to the beach.

Will the water bill credit 'just' make the next bill zero or might you have a credit balance? If so, what about requesting it back to put towards any outstanding debt?  

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Lucille, SH and Spendless.

Can’t believe it’s been 2 weeks since the last post. Since then, we’ve had 2 birthdays ( DD2 and DS3). Sadly I was at work on DS3’s birthday as it was the first day of term but we had a good time in the evening. DD2 wanted to do  a couple of specific activities on her birthday which were both lovely and made fab memories, but were quite costly. We each paid for our own participation, which for me was paying for 4 of us, which I didn’t mind but I hadn’t anticipated either activity, just allowed for birthday gifts. In the end I did ask the ex to pay for one activity for the younger DCs which I assume he did ( as we were all reimbursing DD2) as I simply couldn’t spend that much as I didn’t have it. As it was, it’s made this week eye-wateringly tight 😞.  On a positive note one activity was great...all but one of my children were there and it was fun. The second activity, which was a meal,  all of the children were there and I got through without feeling stressed, despite the ex’s presence - that is progress!

Honeysucklelou2

Today has been a quieter day which is no bad thing, as last weekend was extremely busy! 3 of the DDs have been shopping and are now at work so just the youngest 2 this evening. Very weird but I guess shows how things will be in the future. Some weekends will have combinations of children and busyness and some will be quieter.

Got to Mr T’s to get the weekly shop and am truly shocked at the continued jump in prices. I spent nearly £60 and only seem to have got milk, cheese, butter, eggs, sugar, breakfast cereal, bread and essential toiletries and cleaners. Am making apple Amber to tea tonight...great comfort food in Autumn but minimal cost as apples have come from the garden.

I’ve used £20 of my tips to go towards a debt which has now knocked that into the £400s. Little by little I can see progress.

savingholmes

You are making lots of progress - not least coping with Ex - and getting him to contribute.