From debt to freedom...

lucielle

Sounds like you’ve had some lovely meet ups. 

L

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you SH. 

I’ve cut down on a shift at Job 2, so that I can take DS3 to a local firework display. He is still of an age to be excited by the prospect of fireworks 😄.

Yesterday we made some toffee apples. It has become an unexpected family tradition ever since I got to one year and just couldn’t afford or justify the expense of the shop toffee apples and I bought the ingredients and made our own! We’ve not looked back so it’s an annual tradition now! Also made some sticky gingerbread ( cake rather than biscuit). I only ever make it in October and November and we thoroughly enjoy it during this time!

Payday was last week and the mortgage went out on Friday. I’m now in the £140k bracket and hope to be down to £139k in January. The remaining debts seem to be a bit of a yo yo but plodding on with them.

Cherryfudge

I love Bonfire Night foods: I made sticky gingerbread too, and what was supposed to be parkin, but turned out nothing like the ones on the Internet!

You're smashing your way through that mortgage. Well done.

Spendless

I think you're doing really well. Once upon a time the divorce and having the mortgage in your own name seemed seemed a very long tunnel to go down but you got there. Now the remaining debt and the need for a 2nd income are  you going  through another tunnel, but  again you'll get there and I reckon it'll be a shorter time before you come out of this one.

Couple of questions/suggestions though. Is the kids Dad contributing financially? I'm aware he wasn't in the past  but now there's only 2or 3 that he'd be liable for paying rather than 7 or 8 would he be amenable to helping? Totally understand if you'd rather not go down this route though given previous incidences.  I also wondered if there was any chance for promotion where you work, which would increase your salary. I know a few Secondary school teachers who have taken on extra responsibility for x, y and that has given them a small pay increase but I don't know if that exists at Primary level.  

It's lovely that what was initially 'I can't afford this' experience has turned round into a fab family tradition of making your own toffee apples. 

savingholmes

You are doing well on the mortgage and re-balancing your life. I'd have as little to do with Ex as possible.

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Cherryfudge, Spendless and SH.

I like the way of looking at life as tunnels we go through. You are right Spendless, a while ago, just getting the mortgage and divorce sorted seemed a mountain to deal with. It’s good to look back sometimes and see how far I’ve come!

I don’t have anything to do with the ex. I keep him informed on things such as school matters to which he has a right to know, but I do it all by email or text so that there is written evidence. Quite honestly I don’t think I would get any contribution if I tried, judging on  past experiences.

Salary wise I think I’ve gone as high as I can without taking  on a deputy head type role which I keep a look out for but am not eagerly seeking if that makes sense.  I have been thinking a lot about how to generate some form of income to get these last debts down and make inroads into the mortgage and can only really come back to gardening and plants in some form. I have gardened  in the past and  find it quite relaxing but it’s striking that balance so that I don’t burn out or affect my health. I have planted up some bulbs to do a Christmas fayre at a local National Trust venue. I’m sharing a table with DD3 who has made some Christmas decorations.  I’ll see how that goes and think more over winter. I feel that there is much more that I could do with the allotment that could benefit not only food wise but also
income wise.  Much to think about.

Willowtree222

Could you tutor? X

lucielle

What about an honesty box for plants and baking?
L

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Willowtree222 and Lucielle.

Inhadn’t thought of tutoring because there isn’t really the demand for the age range I teach, although I do like the idea of Forest school type sessions so will keep my ears and eyes open for such opportunities. An honesty box for plants is, I think, a good way to go.

Yesterday was payday and I was amazed to find a pay rise backdated to September - very thankful as it means I can tackle some Christmas gift buying.
It also means going forward, that I have  a little more which I can use to build up the emergency fund again.

I had another iron infusion this week and have another next week so not out of the woods quite yet health wise but trying to pace myself more.

dawnybabes

Hope the infusions are helping.

extra money is always good 🤣🤣