From debt to freedom...

Dakota_Rose

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81955506#Comment_81955506

This is just happiness in a post. Thank you for sharing 😊

Cherryfudge

That Easter egg hunt sounds great fun! I'm sure play is good for all of us (my evidence is how much fun I have playing with very young children).

And tea on the beach - of such things are dreams and memories made…

savingholmes

My DD is now almost 23 and this is the first year she's not had an Easter egg hunt… I think there is something magical and playful about continuing these type of traditions.

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Dakota Rose, Cherryfudge and SH.

Had a lovely couple of days here…over the weekend we celebrated DSD2’s birthday with a cinema trip. It was very much the children’s choice of film…one of those that makes the adults come out and ponder if there was actually a storyline!!

The evening was so beautiful that I got the children out for a stroll to our local woods. There is a small wood between the village we live in and the next village. At this time of year the bluebells are like a carpet. The fragrance of the bluebells and the accompaniment of the birdsong as we walked was just so wonderful. The hedgerows on the way back were full of colour with violets, primroses, early campion, wild garlic and stitchwort. One of those walks that every step was delightful.

Yesterday was spent partly being a taxi and ensuring that DSS got to the right places at the right time! Youngest DD, DS3, the DSDs and I met up with my parents and went for a walk along the canal. My mum’s mobility is not great so the towpath was ideal for being able to push her in the wheelchair. We saw ducklings swimming with their parents and marvelled at the speed at which the ducklings can travel in the water.

Spent some time in the garden as well, sowing cauliflowers, courgettes, lupins and Florence fennel. I’ve not tried growing fennel before so that should be interesting. At the allotment I finished weeding a section and planted a small rosemary plant and got some onion seeds and carrot seeds in. The coming couple of weeks are all over the place in terms of shifts at Job 2, so am trying to get as much done as possible on my nights off!

DSD1 alerted me to an offer she had seen at B&M - 3 fruit bushes for £10 so spending yesterday was on this offer - 1 blueberry bush and 2 Autumn raspberry plants. The blueberry bush has been planted and am planning on getting the 2 raspberries in tomorrow.

Honeysucklelou2

A quieter day yesterday mostly spent on work prep for Job 1 and then a shift at Job 2. I did have an hour in the morning where I did a financial review. I used to do them every month and fill in my hundred square to reflect any changes. To my shame I hadn’t done one since October 😳, but good to see progress to date. I also planned the next few months in light of changes to the electricity direct debit and ongoing costs for DD.

Spendless

Are you still on Easter hols from job1 HSL? Schools here are back.

Glad youve got to have some family time. Theres a canal runs at the end of my village. I love doing a walk with a friend along there, very good for confidential chats, as you can see who is in front, hear who is behind and no one else can be at the side - haha.

Always good to update a financial review. See what youve acheived and what future plans need to be made.

Has DD found student accommodation for next year yet?

savingholmes

The walk sounds beautiful as ever you have a lovely way with words.

Well done on the financial review - hopefully it gave you a lift.

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Spendless and SH.

Yes we are still on the Easter break and go back on Monday but we didn’t finish until Maundy Thursday!

DD had an email last week inviting her to apply for a second year place in halls which she has done. She has requested a different halls building though. We had looked at all kinds of options such as large towns outside of London and commuting in as the student accommodation costs are £200 a week cheaper but this offer came up so she is going to be in halls again. At least I know we have covered these costs this year and she is in walkable distance of her uni.

Yesterday was a mixed day… got some more seed sowing done. Sowed some zinnia seeds which I have tried once before but they got demolished by slugs. Hoping these will take well. Also did a third sowing of peas.

DH has given me an Easter gift of a huge shelving unit rather than an Easter egg, so that I can get more growing room in the porch than I currently have, so we put that together. I think I can double growing space and still have shelving left to store pots, tools and compost 🥳. Did a shift at Job 2 in the evening…seem to have a run of shifts this weekend as people are away so trying to pace myself.

Cherryfudge

Ooh, I would love big shelves to grow things on! I think you will make better use of it than I would, though. Have fun!

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Cherryfudge.

Did a lot of hours in Job 2 last week which wasn’t ideal for the first week of term. We’ve had a relaxing day yesterday. The weather was glorious so we went for a picnic to another part of the county. DH’s friend has an orchard there so we has our picnic surrounded by apple trees in full blossom. It was wonderful! DD1 lives quite close by so she and DSIL joined us. The children all played together well beautifully.

The lanes nearby have huge hedgerows that were covered in wild garlic, stitchwort, bluebells and campion - an exquisite mix of pink, blue and white. It only happens for 2 or 3 weeks a year so important to appreciate it! Only spend was the petrol there, picnic food and an ice cream at the end of the day.