From debt to freedom...

Honeysucklelou2

Spendy day today as the balance for the camp was paid (£165) and new uniform had to be bought from the secondary school at a special new starters' evening. I had to get one of the smallest sizes possible for DD4 and have spent £80 on jumpers, a tie and the sports uniform. Even then I didn't get all of the sportswear as DD3 offered to give her sister her old waterproof sports top and she said they rarely used the socks anyway so wasn't worth getting. That's two of the expenses paid for that I needed to do. Just got to clear the rest of the nursery fees before the school holidays start.

I'm starting to feel a little edgy about how I'm going to keep the groceries spending at the present level over the summer holidays. As it is, since DS left school, I've come home from work to find cereal gone and various things from the freezer. Obviously he needs to make himself lunch and snacks through the day but perhaps not quite in the quantities that he is getting through at the moment!!

Kitten868

Hi HSL I so thought I'd responded! No matter how tight you always make it work. I'm sure you'll get there. The uniform is making me wince! I never understand how they work out the sports kits out - and as your dd says they never get used!
What about selling the puppies? If you use the money to pay for the kids that's more than fair xxx

Spendless

I have the same issue with a teenage son and food. We've tried portioning stuff up in a separate bag/container with a label saying 1 portion. Don't know if that's any help. :cool:

Honeysucklelou2

That's a good idea Spendless, to portion it. DS2 is starting to show similar levels of appetite! When the holidays start I'll have more time to keep the tins topped up with baking but I can't quite keep up with them in term time!
The good news tonight us that the place where DS is working have offered him an apprenticeship and he's thinking about it...hurray!!!

Selling the puppies is tricky as DD2 has already paid her Dad for one of them and none of the children want to lose the other.

Cherryfudge

Well done to your DS!

Kitten868

I knew you'd get stuck with all those puppies! I have no idea in terms of managing teenage boy appetites. I imagine even locking the doors wouldnt get you anywhere. Cheap cereal?

Honeysucklelou2

Cheap cereal is a good idea, Kitten868. It's one food that both older boys turn to first. I try to get Mr T's own brand of weetabix and shreddies in a bid to fill them up.

Today DD2 was home so she wanted to go somewhere and do something. We ended up taking the puppies along a nearby river walk. DD2 has now saved up to inoculate the pups but asked me to contribute £20, which I did. I would struggle more to pay vet bills if they fell ill through not being inoculated, if that makes sense. It was quite weird today going out with these puppies. They are at the very cute stage and I can see how their presence is helping DD2. She is quite introverted and it's often hard to know how she is feeling about things but I could see her enjoying these pups today and yet I felt quite detached from them.

Spent a lovely evening on the beach. It's starting to get busier now so lots of people on the beach until late. The tide was going out so we're gained extra beach through the evening!

Honeysucklelou2

It's been a busy couple of days. I've been trying to get the house a little more ship-shape after the busyness of work over the past few weeks has meant it looks a little neglected. I've been able to get 4 loads of washing through, particularly in a bid to get DD4 packed up for school camp. This camp is not under canvas but actually in a city, to give the children a taste of urban life. It'll be interesting to see how she gets on. Unfortunately the trip has necessitated getting a pack of leggings as hers all seemed to have holes in or she had grown out of them.

On Saturday it was the school fete. I felt obliged to go but set a budget. My lovely dad gave me some money for the children to spend so they weren't pestering me for extra money that I simply don't have.

Today, I have also had time to catch up with a bit of baking. One batch of salted caramel muffins and a batch of brownies are in the tins!

Honeysucklelou2

A letter arrived in the post today, from HMRC. Amazingly they have written to me to explain that they are going to apply notional entitlement to my tax credit claims from last year. If I have understood it correctly, they have offset what they say I owe, against what I would have received, had I informed within the month of separating from the ex. Hopefully this means that, since I have paid back over £2k since December, they won't need to take any money from me in the future. Hurray:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j

Thank you so much EE for explaining the notional entitlement and posting the link to the article, so that I understood it more. In the event, a letter to HMRC was on my list to do as soon as the term finishes, but HMRC beat me to it!:eek::T:T:TI've been in quite a sense of disbelief and relief tonight!

Cherryfudge

Excellent news! So pleased