From debt to freedom...

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Cherryfudge and Janb5,

Now back home after a very long drive! The weather has been absolutely glorious so we all headed to the beach yesterday. We discovered a new path to a favourite beach, that DD3 has found out about through her new job. We can use an NT car park so it’s free, then a quick stroll down the path and we were there. 

Payday was yesterday so the bank account figure looked healthy until the direct debits came out today. All the bills have been paid so am thankful for that. I’m saving on petrol at the moment because I’m not having to do a commute for Job 1, but probably spending the saving on extra food as the children seem to graze more. 

Spent £34 on Tuesday for DD4’s provisional licence so as soon as that comes we can get started on her driving. 

Feel like I am now starting to unwind and enjoy the time I have with the children. DD1 is coming over for the weekend so lots to look forward to!

lucielle

Ah the dreaded driving lessons!  My cars clutch thanks me that those days are over. 

L

savingholmes

Glad you got to rest

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Lucielle and SH.

The weekend vanished in a blur of shifts at Job 2, a couple of which were really busy. DD1 and her bouncy puppy came for the weekend too. The puppy is huge but still in that delightful stage of being playful and curious. I also got some gardening done so felt positive for having chance to be outside.

I have spent a little money on summer holiday type things. Have booked DS3 onto an intensive daily swimming  lessons for a week type course. One of the things I fall down on with working full time is being able to take him to things like swimming lessons because they tend to happen so soon after school, that I don’t have time to finish work, drive to his school and then to the pool. Hopefully this will help to improve water confidence and swimming. Have also spent about £20 on a cinema experience at a local manor/ garden place. Have never been before but thought we could enjoy the whole experience of walking to it, enjoying the film and pizza lunch and walking home. 

Having some challenges with youngest DD, which is causing some stress but plodding on at the moment. I joke that I thought I knew most things about parenting teenagers having done it 6 times already…I now conclude I know nothing!!

Direct debits have gone out so the mortgage is tantalisingly close to moving into the 141k bracket. Another £190 paid off remaining debts.

savingholmes

Well done on the mortgage progress. 

I feel you on the parenting woes. Each child is so different.

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you SH.

Hard to believe that 2/3rds of the summer break has gone. I’ve enjoyed being able to spend time with my children in various combinations. Getting all of them together at the same time is a Christmas challenge I think!!

I’ve done quite a few shifts at Job 2, covering holidays for others as well as my own shifts.  Gardening has taken some time too, just in cutting back overgrown plants and tidying up the garden.

Finance wise, it’s not so good. I had a letter yesterday to say that in the tax year 22/23, I was overpaid in tax credits by £2,500. I’m a bit puzzled by this as I was awarded £10 a week in that financial year, so I could understand an overpayment of £520 but not £2,500. I need to query it with HMRC, but after me
last experience with them in 2017, I’m not confident. I don’t have tax credits now and didn’t apply for Universal Credit when it changed over, from tax credits. The upshot is that, since I don’t have £2,500 sitting in an account anywhere, I’ll have to do a payment plan to clear it. It feels very much like one step forward and two steps back.

The forms for the financial consent order were finally returned signed so I think I have got to the end of the divorce paperwork. It’s taken 5 years to get sorted out what most couples get done in a year!

Spendless

Glad youve been enjoying some time off and spending it with family.

Eeeek to the potential overpayment. Have you kept any award paperwork sent that year? During a recent paperwork clear out we found an ancient award but  going back a lot earlier than 2022 so i know they did used to send a paper copy out. If you get no joy with an explanation, what about trying to get an appt with somewhere like CAB whilst youre still on summer hols or ask on the benefits board on here.

At least divorce is sorted now. Unfortunately for you I dont think it was ever going to be a quick process. 

Willowtree222

Glad all the paperwork has come in now x

dawnybabes

That’s not good about the over payment - good luck getting to speak to a person 

Cherryfudge

I hope the tax amount is an error on their behalf. Could it be anything to do with either the divorce or you having two jobs? I remember being taxed at the wrong rate because my main job was listed as my second job, but I don't know if that still applies.

Thank goodness you now have all the paperwork!