From debt to freedom...

Mumoffourkids

My daughter made chocolate chip cookies last night and chocolate brownies today, she also made pizzas for tea tonight. I love getting children involved in cooking but I'm always the one that has to do the washing up!

Cherryfudge

Honeysucklelou2 wrote: »

Rock cakes, lemon and poppy seed cookies ( DD3) and double chic cookies

I thought they were stylish and elegant...

How lovely to find secret coves off your usual path! The sort of thing that happens in books.

Regency1

Hi Honey,

I have just read your whole diary and just wanted to say that I think you are doing incredibly well. From what you have written it sounds like you have 8 (?) children all of whom love spending time with you and their family and don't demand all sorts of things. Almost the opposite in fact, they understand that things are tight and actively try to help. And you provide so much for them - good time spent with them and lots of home cooking are things that a lot of children, especially maybe from families with lots of money, just don't have. And you do it on your own! You're like a super-mum!

The only suggestion I have regarding your debts is would it be worth applying for a low interest rate loan to pay off your double glazing loans? I know that it would still be a loan but it seems that at the moment you are mostly paying interest whereas you might be able to get a better deal where you are paying much more capital instead. You might need to check for penalties for repaying the double glazing loans early but it could be something to think about.

Anyway, sorry for the long post! I will subscribe to your diary to keep up with all the lovely stories of gardening, chicks, baking, walks on the beach and helpful children!

Regency

redofromstart

The date bars sound great, I'm off to rummage in my cupboards and see what I can find.

Honeysucklelou2

Hi Regency, thanks for such an encouraging post. I had wondered at one point about paying off the double glazing with a 0% credit card but not sure if paying by credit card costs more because of a surcharge, but definitely worth investigating. Thank you

I've had an unexpected day off work today, due to the weather. I have to say I enjoyed being able to wake up without the alarm! It has been snowing this afternoon which has settled, so the children and I got outside for a snowball fight. It was such fun. Teenagers are remarkably adept at aiming accurately and ducking to avoid any thrown at them. It really was a great hour or so!
I'm equally thankful for the warm fire tonight. We had toad in the hole and mash potatoes for tea. Today I made rice pudding in the slow cooker. Absolutely wonderful. It was simple to put in the slow cooker then leave for 5 hours. The children didn't quite share my enthusiasm so will only make half next time.

Cherryfudge

Just wanted to say thank you again for the date bars! DD and I have eaten nearly half a tray full between us this evening! :eek::rotfl:

I'm not sure I had the mixture quite right as it went very sticky but that doesn't matter too much as it cooked nicely.

Honeysucklelou2

So glad you enjoyed them! The mixture is sticky, so that the top shortbready part has to be scraped over the date part but it cooks well together.

Honeysucklelou2

The children are all home with me today as the various schools are closed. Hoping to get some cooking done. Friday is usually my day off so the day when I do a food shop but will have to see what I can get locally I think. I have lots of eggs as I did get some on Wednesday.

Payday was on Wednesday so most monthly direct debits and standing orders left the account yesterday. I had planned to make an overpayment from the money that is free from the council tax this month but unfortunately I have discovered that a front tyre has a slow puncture and the other front tyre has a nick in the tyre wall so the money will end up going on a front set of tyres. Given the mileage I do, I need the car to be safe. An unfortunate expense but necessary.

Honeysucklelou2

Yesterday was a lovely day. Usually the feeding of the chickens is down to me at 6.30am before school, but yesterday all but one of the children wanted to come too for the pleasure of walking in the snow! It was heart-warming to see DS1 carrying the toddler when he got too tired. The chickens were slightly bemused by the weather but tucked into the left over porridge with gusto.

I was able to get meat from the local butcher. Tea last night was lasagne with beetroot bread, followed by chocolate brownies. We also bought some sausage meat so DD2 could help make some sausage rolls for lunch today. I'm hoping I can get to the nearest town today but if not I have some fish pieces to make a fish pie in the freezer so we'll be fine.

Paid the water bill yesterday so £59 left the bank account ( quarterly bill, water only).

Cherryfudge

Honeysucklelou2 wrote: »

It was heart-warming to see DS1 carrying the toddler when he got too tired. The chickens were slightly bemused by the weather but tucked into the left over porridge with gusto.

What a lovely picture!

Cars can be expensive, can't they. Still, safe tyres are a very good use of that 'extra' money.