From debt to freedom...

lucielle

It’s an expensive time but it sounds like you’ve got everything covered. 

L

Spendless

Party sounds great - I knew it would be.

Feel for you with the accommodation fees. The maintainance loan just has not kept up with rental increases. We've been paying it continuoulsy since 2018 and I deeply regret not thinking about it earlier. If I had we'd have saved from earnings, not completely relied on a windfall  we knew was coming our way, which has now left a gaping hole in what we once had and needs to be repaired   With that it mind, how much younger are the others still at school (2 I think?). Are you going to be in a situation where as one finishes a degree then the next one may be going? I'm guessing with youngest still having a birthday party he is still Primary school age and that you possibly still pay for childcare for him which will eventuially stop. If that's the case then I'd earmark this money once you stop paying for furture educational/accommodation costs. If any choose a different route - fab, but at least you'll have it saved. 

Willowtree222

Made me realise I need to get a lot more saving done for DD. X

savingholmes

Well done on the party. Commiserations on uni costs.

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Lucielle, Spendless, SH and Willowtree222.

Can’t believe so much time has passed since I last posted!  4 weeks ago DD4 left for uni…DD3 and I accompanied her on the train and got her settled in.  She has gone to a city so I found it very strange to be amid the hustle and bustle and was very glad to get back to my home county. It has taken her a bit of time to adjust from being very rural to city but has discovered such things as Uber!  Being on her own has also been a challenge as she is so used to being with and doing things with her siblings.

The rent I need to pay is due on 1st Dec and this is what has given me sleepless nights. I have tried to
up the number of shifts I’m doing at Job 2 but am also very aware of not wanting to push myself too much and end up ill like last year.  Mercifully I discovered that I am over £1000 in credit with the electricity company and am hoping that they will pay some money back to me so that can go towards the rent. 

Hopefully by March it will be a little easier as one debt comes to an end so that will be a little extra I can put towards rent costs going forward.

I’m increasingly aware of the need to be able to support my children and yet pay down the mortgage and save for the future and hope to utilise the allotment more, not only to provide food for home but go back to the plant and flower sales as I have done before. 

DS1 is moving away from the area in a few weeks time so adjusting to my family being a little more far flung. Good job we have the technology we have today to keep up!

We’ve enjoyed a bumper crop this year, from the apple tree in the garden so have been busy stewing some apple and then storing it in the freezer for future crumbles and pies. Have also made apple flapjack and apple cake which have gone down well too!  I bought 2 pear tree saplings a couple of years ago that  I have  had in big pots so have moved them to the allotment so that they can have more space to be planted in the ground.

Cherryfudge

It hardly seems any time since your oldest moved out... and now it's DD4! I hope she soon finds good friends, but the experience of looking after yourself can be a very empowering thing, so I hope she's really enjoying that too.

You have so much to juggle, but look how much you've got your mortgage down! You'll get there. You are wise to be careful of how much you take on, though I understand the feeling of wanting to do more to make things easier financially.

Spendless

Lovely to hear a catch up from you. I can imagine it was a shock going from rural living with loads of siblings to city life on your own. 

I always used to feel like that with termly paid student rent (which I guess this is) no sooner had I found the money and paid it then I was looking  to save for the next. Years ago I read a diary where the kids were at boarding school (huge military discount) and that poster used to say the same about fnding the school fees.  Im now in second year of finding weekly student rent, that too is a pain but I have a spreadsheet showing me exactly where I need to be at each month end. 

Getting your mortgage down by £10k in around 2 years is a fab achievement so Im sure you will find a way. 

I always love hearing about apple cake being made. 

savingholmes

I can't imagine having to fund so many kids through uni or life. That's a huge challenge and one you've risen to amazingly well. The allotment plan sounds great as it nourishes your soul as well as your body and purse. I'd avoid taking on too much pressure in job 2. Your DD4 will need to shoulder some of that burden too. It can't all be on you.

Willowtree222

Finding the balance is going to be hard. University is so expensive. 
X

lucielle

Glad the allotment has proved to be bountiful. Apple flapjacks sound amazing!
Hopefully the rent will be found. 

L