From debt to freedom...

Spendless

Re the student costs, bare in mind you can do various different ways to help. It doesn't all have to be save every penny upfront. You can take student's loan and add to it for the student rent and then ask student to use their savings/get a job as their living costs. The rent may be termly, monthly or weekly so not needed to be found all at once. 

Ouch to the MOT but as you say a necessity due to where you live. Would starting an emergency fund to be ring fenced for car only reasons  be a help for the future?

I thought exactly same about blackberries. It used to be later in August before they were ready here. I've recently discovered 2 plum trees both on my street, never noticed before which makes me wonder if this is for the first year they've borne fruit. 

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Spendless.

As soon as DD gets her results and we know for certain where she is going, I will contact the accommodation office to find out when these payments are due.  

You are right, a car account would be a good thing.  I need to think about how much I can save monthly…that would help.

We picked 4lb of blackberries yesterday in all.  Made a second batch of blackberry muffins for DSS to take back to his mums with him. The rest I intend to make into blackberry curd.

Today has been more clearing and painting the inside of a big walk in cupboard as a preparation for shelving. Having a break in the garden as I type before doing my shift at Job 2. It is good to feel the sun on my back after a day painting inside and to smell the scent of the sweet peas in the breeze.

NSD today 🥳.

Honeysucklelou2

More more painting done yesterday in preparation for new shelving to be built so that the cupboard contents can be stored in a more organised way.

DS3 and I had a good cycle/walk on a local trail that runs alongside a river. It was so calm and peaceful - the hedges full of blackberries, elderberries and rose hips. I did take a pot to collect some blackberries but the elderberries were a little out of reach.

Job 2 wages have been paid in cash this week-usually it’s by direct bank payment. I still have a wage slip showing tax paid etc so all legit but just odd. Had to pay in so that bills could be paid. I’ve kept a bit back to use through the week. It is better in some ways using cash as it reinforces you can only spend it once and makes me think about best choices.

Cherryfudge

That is a bit strange about the cash payment. Perhaps one to keep an eye on.

As ever, your season is ahead of ours: the elder berries aren't nearly ready and the blackberries are motoring steadily along. It's such a good year for fruit! Do you make anything with hips and haws? I see them and wonder every year if I should pick some but I don't know what I'd do with them.

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Cherryfudge - I haven’t used hips or haws as yet although I recall reading that rose hip syrup is a good source of vitamin c. 

More blackberries were picked in Sunday afternoon. DS3 was keen to cycle again by the river and DS1 and his gf joined us. His gf had never played pooh sticks before on a bridge which shocked me, so we educated her forthwith! I have seen more if DS1 this year than I have in the previous 3 which I am very thankful for. Walks like this are doubly precious.

Yesterday involved quite a bit of driving around to complete various tasks, one of which was to take DD1’s dog for a lunchtime stroll while they were out. Normally DS-I-L works from home but has been called up for jury service. Thankfully it fell in the school holidays so I could help out!

feeldaburn

Honeysucklelou2 said:

Thank you Spendless.

As soon as DD gets her results and we know for certain where she is going, I will contact the accommodation office to find out when these payments are due.  

You are right, a car account would be a good thing.  I need to think about how much I can save monthly…that would help.

We picked 4lb of blackberries yesterday in all.  Made a second batch of blackberry muffins for DSS to take back to his mums with him. The rest I intend to make into blackberry curd.

Today has been more clearing and painting the inside of a big walk in cupboard as a preparation for shelving. Having a break in the garden as I type before doing my shift at Job 2. It is good to feel the sun on my back after a day painting inside and to smell the scent of the sweet peas in the breeze.

NSD today 🥳.

Just a note - let DD work out when rent is due and manage her money/budget. Obviously it’s very kind of you to help but she should be the one contacting the accommodation. 

Spendless

Did you hear from any of the others why the sudden change to cash payment for job2? I agree its one to keep an eye on.

We were always the ones who knew  the student rent payment dates because we've always paid the full rent cost ourselves. 

Enjoy the rest of the hols. Its beautiful weather but I could tell the Autumnal nip in the air this morning as I walked the dog. I have such a poor sense of smell over anything else but can correctly identify weather smells - weird! 

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you feeldaburn and Spendless. 

Results came in, she did well but was a grade under what she needed but the uni offered her a place anyway. Result is one happy daughter.  We have now applied for the accommodation so are waiting to hear further. 

Paid in cash again this week but got a payslip through the Sage app so I know tax has come out. Just very weird…am hoping they will get it sorted before the new term starts because I won’t have the time to get the cash paid in because we are dependant on the Post Office  to pay cash into the bank as all our banks locally have been closed. Our PO  only does Mon to Fri 9-5, so completely impractical in term time for me to get money paid in.

Enjoyed a bbq with DS1, DD3, DS3 and youngest DD.  Weekends are delightful in being able to have more time to spend with whichever combination of children are here!

BalanceBy50

I just wondered if you were being paid in cash by job 2 as they are hospitality, I believe, and maybe receiving a lot of payments in cash? It will cost them to bank the cash as a business so it maybe easier for them to pay you in cash?

Glad you are enjoying the holidays, as someone who also works in a school it is great to get such a decent break! Xx

Spendless

Congrats to DD (I forget what number 4?)

I was going to say if job2 continues to pay in cash could someone pay in on yr behalf. Then I realised you need yr bank card with you and banks (and presumably post offices) these days dont allow you to pay cash into someone elses account.

Can see this has the potential to be an awkward one. Can you ask why theyre doing this at work? Any other way round it eg do you do your grocery shop in person, if so can you pay for that in cash instead?