From debt to freedom...

Spendless

Are you still baking HSL?  I remember you doing that in the early days to fill ravenous stomachs. I suspect you have little time though nowadays with 2 jobs.

Years ago I had a job as a stock controller/buyer for a cash and carry. It had an antiquated recording system and I used to have to input the price the item was bought at and the current selling price in writing in big sales books from sheets of paper sent to me from the London HO. The 90s a recession came and there were also major roadworks close to our store as the city council implemented a new traffic system that went on for several years and affected people's driving routes. I noticed that though the price of the goods coming in remained static, the selling price kept going up. I mentioned it in a meeting to the Manager, who was concerned about the footfall we were losing (our customer base was independent stores and they in turn were struggling for business). My manager concluded that our company was 'chasing margins'. It was the first thing I recollected when the COL crisis first happened. As I've personally come across on a handful of times items (non-food) where they have 2 different price tags on, I very much suspect the same is happening today.

So with the above in mind, here's a couple of things I've done. Look for PM goods. This was a tip my Mum gave me last year, if it's price marked it can't be put up to a different price the following week just 'because...'  Yes it'll go up once the PM stock has all been eradicated but till then. Some items have gone under the radar, (admittedly not much!) possibly because they're not that popular. Yesterday I bought some sardines in tomato sauce they were under 50p (from memory was 46p) for a tin weight 125g, the tuna I bought even though a multi pack worked out more and also has a drained weight of 120g. This was in Aldi but I've noticed the same in the mainstream supermarkets too. 

savingholmes

Glad the solicitor was reassuring. 

Best of luck with beating the rabbits at the allotment. Glad DD is helping with things like the paint. You work very hard to keep a roof over their heads. 

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Spendless, Lucielle and SH.

Yes I still bake a lot but not to the extent I did. It used to be a daily batch of something but these days I tend to bake on  Sunday and it often lasts us for half the week. SO’s children like a couple of the cakes I do so I try to have some ready for the weekend when they come over!

First day of the week done in both jobs. Thankfully quite quiet this evening so back at a reasonable time.

Honeysucklelou2

It’s been a very busy bank holiday weekend! SO has been an absolute star and helped me so much. By Autumn last year, we’d packed a van full of rubbish left behind by the ex, and took it to the tip ( anything left after a date in Feb 22 I am allowed to dispose of as a I see fit according to the consent order). Over the weekend I have been shocked to realise how much stuff the ex had outside. We loaded up 2 huge trailer loads of wood, some of which was so rotten it was disintegrating  as I touched it. We also cut down a shrub that had got quite big and this has allowed us to see and get at more of the rubbish that had been left. The amount of space that is now available in the garden is also surprising but gives me a blank canvas to start again. I thought I’d be sad to see things change but I haven’t been. I’m so thankful that the rubbish is continuing to leave the premises and  that little by little, it’s becoming a distinctly different home to the one the ex left.

Payday for both jobs was last Friday. Am feeling a
little apprehensive about the budgets. I had hoped the remortgage would be done by now and I’d have a clearer view of monthly expenses. I’ve ended up paying over £1000 in legal fees in the last month with more set to come. I know it’s just a necessary cost at the moment but still a huge amount.

lucielle

Keep plodding HSL.  Sounds very productive having a good clear out!
L

Cherryfudge

How lovely to have more garden available! I expect you're making plans.

Legal fees are significant. Hopefully you are coming towards the end of them, and will then have that money to put towards yourself, your home and family.

savingholmes

Sorry about the legal fees. 

Good you are reclaiming your garden and you have help from SO.

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Lucille, Cherryfudge and SH.

Enjoyed a lovely Coronation weekend. I didn’t think I’d  be able to watch the coronation but I went to SO’s house and watched it with his mum which was lovely. On Sunday I had a small trip away overnight with DD3 which was both memorable and fun. Only cost was the petrol to get there and 1 night at a P inn which was very reasonable compared with the costs I’ve had when visiting DD1 at uni.

SO has continued to be an absolute star and helped me to clear more at home. The space created has really opened up the garden, given more light and scope to plan from scratch. I hadn’t realised it was so big an area!

Today has been a significant day, the results of which means the mortgage process should be back on track. Just have the transfer fees to
pay for LR and hopefully then en route to completion of the remortgage. 🙂

Cherryfudge

Wow, this sounds exciting! Prayers for all to go ahead.  

Humdinger1

Wonderful @Honeysucklelou2! Can you go into any detail?  Sending you luck for every good outcome love Humdinger xx