From debt to freedom...

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Spendless & Willowtree222. 

We finished on the 19th and go back in the 4th so hoping to get through this run of shifts and then focus on getting g prepped for Job 1. This evening the manager of Job 2 contacted me to ask if I’d like to do 4 shifts a week regularly. I have thought about it but am worried about trying to do that every week. If it’s a holiday from Job 1, it’s doable but not in termtime. Added to which most weekends we spend time with SO and his children and this proposed 4th shift would impact the time together.  Sometimes it is having to strike a balance between debt/savings and health and family time.

savingholmes

Going with a 3 shifts max plan sounds best then

Willowtree222

Completely agree about balance. Four shifts is great extra money, but not for your health and well being. I think you know the answer if it impacts family time. 

Spendless

Fab he asked you but I think you've already discovered it's too much. Impacting negatively on your physical and mental health and any downtime you get   is likely to have a longer lasting effect than any extended time it takes you to pay back debt. 

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you SH, Willowtree222 and Spendless.

I spent a good half an hour carefully wording a response to the manager from Job 2, thanking him for offering me the shifts, but explaining that in term time it isn’t possible. The new rota pattern out means I’m keeping me 3 current shifts which is enough.  I worked last night with DD2 which was a good shift but we didn’t finish until 2.30am so have ended up having a lazy day today. I didn’t wake up until 10 and needed a restorative nap this afternoon to feel fully functional!

We did our annual dip in the sea when DD3 finished work this afternoon. It was low tide so we had a run across the beach before we hit the water. I confess I was not brave enough for a full swim but I went so far out and splashed myself with water! DD2, DD3 and youngest DD, along with DD2’s bf managed a swim! Needed the nap after the sea plunge!

Today has been a NSD- May it be the first of many this year!  I did get a tip
from my boss at Job 2 for working last night which I will split tomorrow between savings and debts.

Happy New Year one and all.

savingholmes

Some great new goals in your signature. Well done on the swim. Looking forward to seeing what this year brings.

Cherryfudge

Happy new year! I think you're wise to say no to another shift, but the fact he asked you shows you are someone whose work is valued. 

dawnybabes

I think you made the right choice, doing the 4 is impacting everything else, so 3 seems a good number. 

Spendless

You've done the right thing .Does this mean you will/might get 4 shifts in school hols? If it does I'd see 4th shift wages as something additional and instead of spreading across the various pots allocate  that additional days wages solely to something eg debt, EF, xmas, family fun your choice 

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you SH, Cherryfudge, Dawnybabes and Spendless.

I’ll still be called on for days we know will be busy for instance if there is a big birthday do or a stag do but otherwise it’ll be 3 shifts a week. A good idea Spendless, thank you, to allocate odd 4th shifts to something different.

Direct debits came out yesterday so so £240 in total has gone out on debt repayments. I’ve received £40 in tips from my boss at Job 2 for working the NYE shift so an extra £20 has gone on a debt repayment and £20 to the savings envelopes.

I did have some time on New Years Day evening to  just sit and think over the last year. The wins have been finishing paying the home improvement loan, finally getting the  mortgage from a joint interest only to a single repayment mortgage. In the 5 months I’ve been paying it, I have paid off £3800. I know that seems a small amount but I am so delighted that it’s going down after years of frustration in not being able to make significant overpayments because of the amount of interest being paid.   If the ex had signed the forms when he was first sent them, I could have cleared another £3K by now but I can’t change his actions, just be thankful that the courts sorted it out.  Just before Christmas I got the decree absolute or whatever it’s current name is. It’s taken 7 years since splitting up but finally got there. I feel thankful to go forward into 2024 knowing that the  major battles are done.