From debt to freedom...

Spendless

Cherryfudge wrote: »

Hope the warning lights turn out to be nothing much... always worrying. And how annoying about the puppy inoculations! If I remember rightly they aren't even your puppies.

Not only are they not hers,she's been looking after them and DD2 has paid her Dad £300+ to keep one. I admire your restraint HSL in not digging a big hole and buying a nice bush to mark his plot! I'm only glad that this is an ex you tell us about and not an OH, as I'm sure you know what advice we'd give, thankfully you already did that!

You saved me money this week with a comment about the quiche. I was reading just before going to work resigned to buying lunch to the works canteen not having time to make sandwiches or a salad, when I saw your post 'remembered' we had some (shop bought) quiche in the fridge, a slice of that with taking pots of coleslaw and potato salad and some salad leaves and I got a 'free' (well already paid for) lunch.

Fantastic news about DS1's job. :T Can this lead to an apprenticeship or does he still need to look at going to college? Def handy when they start earning their own money, wish we'd been more insistent with our DS. Already told DD that once her brother is at Uni, we will be starting with a monthly allowance that we expect her to cover most things with, as am sure it will work out cheaper than me constantly giving her money.

Honeysucklelou2

I'm glad the quiche post helped Spendless!

You're right, the puppies are not mine but I seem to be doing the majority of feeding and cleaning up after them. I noticed that the ex took 2 of the children out for Sunday lunch today so am more resilient in thinking that if he can afford that, he can afford to take the pups to the vet.

I'm not sure about DS's job. He is working in a very busy kitchen as a kp. I guess it could well lead to a catering apprenticeship. I'm just glad that his self esteem has been boosted by the kitchen manager being happy with him. He hasn't found school an easy experience.

Well the rest of this weekend has been taken up with work stuff. Very frustrating when the sun is out and the garden positively beckons, not to mention the beach. Ah well, the summer holidays are approaching fast...!

Honeysucklelou2

We had the summer pudding tonight with some cream...delicious. I still have quite a few of last year's blackcurrants that really need to be eaten up quickly as this year's crop will ripen soon! I was given some gooseberries yesterday so have been researching gooseberry cake recipes. It will either be that or a crumble.

Today was a NSD bringing the June total to 5. I had to be a taxi service this evening to pick up children. DD5 wanted an ice-cream but because I'd left my purse behind, I simply couldn't. Perhaps this is they key...I need to leave my purse at home so that I can't just nip in for something and come out with lots more.

Honeysucklelou2

We had the summer pudding tonight with some cream...delicious. I still have quite a few of last year's blackcurrants that really need to be eaten up quickly as this year's crop will ripen soon! I was given some gooseberries yesterday so have been researching gooseberry cake recipes. It will either be that or a crumble.

Today was a NSD bringing the June total to 5. I had to be a taxi service this evening to pick up children. DD5 wanted an ice-cream but because I'd left my purse behind, I simply couldn't. Perhaps this is they key...I need to leave my purse at home so that I can't just nip in for something and come out with lots more.

Honeysucklelou2

Whoops! Didn't realise I'd posted the same thing twice.

Kitten868

Oh my word HSL every time you mention your ex I hate him more and you don't even slag him off. How you stay so calm I have no idea. Where did dd2 even get £300 for it!? And how do you charge £300 for a non-inoculated mongrel anyway? Or am I not remembering right. Fancy charging your own kid for a dog you don't even care for.
Well if they are worth £300 and I'm an idiot get selling! The deposit can cover jabs etc and you're the one who can prove they've been socialised and trained.
I hope he's taken the mother back now.
You are such an amazing mum. I don't have your energy with just two. I'm sure all your puddings taste amazing. Keep up the great work! Oh and how brillisnt EE coming to the rescue. I'd send it recorded for sure. Then that's a big stress off your plate. Hows the lawyer hunt going? Xxx

Honeysucklelou2

The £300 were her saved up wages from her part time job. Yes I did insist that the mother dog was taken back as I can't, or rather won't, risk the dog attacking the children. Unfortunately she comes back with him on Wednesdays when he feeds the children and tonight she attacked the female puppy again. I don't really want her brought into the house.

I have an appointment this week to see a new solicitor so hopefully will have a clearer idea of the future.

Kitten868

Well done you! That's all brilliant! Xxx

Honeysucklelou2

I've had a very busy couple of weeks at work, lots of things to get done and tick off before the end of term. Last week was a logistical challenge as DD5 had a school camp to attend and DD4 has various activity days at her new school, which required her to be in different places with the necessary equipment. I just could not do the journeys to these places as it clashed with work so had to ask for help from other parents who very kindly stepped in.

The camp cost a little more than I'd hoped, as when we were packing up I could not find the sleeping bags. I'm sure I bought 5 or 6 a few years ago, when we all went camping to visit family. I eventually found one but. It was on the boys' bedroom floor and looked like the puppies had been all over it. There was no time to get it washed and dried before morning so I ended up doing a supermarket dash to see if I could get one there. Fortunately they had some, the really thick ones were half price, so ironically the cheapest I could get. I was frustrated at having to spend an unbudgeted for amount.

The visit to the new solicitor was helpful, so now awaiting transfer of my file from the old solicitor. It looks like I need to get my finances in as healthy a place as possible so that if I need to apply for a mortgage in my own name, the finances look as good as they can.

I picked about a pound of blackcurrants from the allotment on Friday. I need to spend a week there to get the weeds under control.

Honeysucklelou2

The coming weeks are going to be a tight squeeze as I have to pay for the balance of DD4's camp, new uniform for DD4 as she transfers to secondary in September ( and is a totally different size to the others so no hand me downs available) and the balance of this month's nursery fees.