Important update! We have recently reviewed and updated our Forum Rules and FAQs. Please take the time to familiarise yourself with the latest version.
From debt to freedom...
2.4K replies
215.6K views
Quick links
Essential Money | Who & Where are you? | Work & Benefits | Household and travel | Shopping & Freebies | About MSE | The MoneySavers Arms | Covid-19 & Coronavirus Support
Replies
It’s great to hear DS1 is enjoying his course. I can recommend stanly flasks, although they are a bit pricey, everything is still piping hot hours later.
Pay off £7000 -
Make £2021 extra income -
Thank you for the flask tip, I'll go and google!
EF £250 . SPC 039
# savings# £1026. Savings 2 £31.50 H2S £100.50
Your ex takes the biscuit to the next level.(as mildly as I could think of wording it!) I think informing the solicitor is good advice.
Hope your DD1 sorts out her flat situation. Even those wanting to move from halls, might find they've tied themselves to committing to paying the rent there. I think that was the situation I read on here (student board) a while back. Getting word out is def key, and fingers crossed they'll find someone.
Food shopping is def different when kids are away at school/college/Uni. My food shop last week, 1st one without DS was £17 cheaper and we have so much left over, my freezer is bursting at the seams! I think I'll be doing my cheapest grocery shop ever today!
Dinner was lasagne that I cooked yesterday so only had to reheat and serve. I've lit the first fire of the Autumn tonight, more in a mid to finish drying a couple of pieces of uniform. Just got to get a few bits ready for the new week ahead, then an earlyish night.
EF £250 . SPC 039
# savings# £1026. Savings 2 £31.50 H2S £100.50
I've been recording spending carefully and have paid off £70 off a debt on Monday which is a small but positive step.
EF £250 . SPC 039
# savings# £1026. Savings 2 £31.50 H2S £100.50
Yesterday was a little spendy as DS1 needed a fleece for college. He has quite a few field trips and needed something warm and robust. Thankfully he went straight to the cheaper option in the agricultural shop rather than the truly eye watering expensive option!
One if the DDs had a birthday this week, so we are out for a birthday meal tonight (Sat). I had ordered her a present online and paid a little extra on postage to have it delivered yesterday. The courier gave a window for delivery between 8am and 6 pm. Not sure how they expect any parent of school age children to be able to be around all day:huh:. Typically the 30 mins I had to nip out to collect a DS was the very time they tried to deliver. Apparently it has to have a signature and I don't have a full day off now until the 16th, so I've had to ask them to redeliver at work. One more birthday to go in a couple of weeks time. I never think about Christmas presents until the last birthday is sorted out!
I made the £25 overpayment to the window account yesterday. I had planned for it but not got round to ringing up, so that's now done. It should bring one of the double glazing loans under the £1300 mark.:) I've done a menu plan for the week and hoping that the food budget will hold this week. I seem to have had to pop to Mr T's for lots of bits this week, partly due to DD's trip but nonetheless I want to be resourceful with what we have this week and not spend anymore.
EF £250 . SPC 039
# savings# £1026. Savings 2 £31.50 H2S £100.50
I wasn't looking forward to last night's meal after the binning episode of last week but it was ok. I concentrated on the toddler. Bless him, the only time we go out for meals is for birthdays or if we are doing a university trip with DD1. I was explaining to him that we were eating in a restaurant. He looked puzzled and then said "Is it the juice and bed shop?" It took me a couple of seconds to realise he thought we were going to the Premier Inn place that we stay at when we visit DD1!:rotfl:
I took my elderly lurcher out for a walk before going to the meal and walking is definitely one of the best stress relievers for me. I had been feeling quite panicky but the lurcher and I walked through a couple of fields that gave us a view over the whole village and a fair few miles beyond which is always a lovely sight. I was much calmer by the time we got back
The meal wasn't as much as I had anticipated. We usually give the birthday child the choice of where we go and this child chose a place that had reasonably priced food:).
I have a couple of DDs coming out tomorrow but hoping for a few NSDs this week.
EF £250 . SPC 039
# savings# £1026. Savings 2 £31.50 H2S £100.50
You have inspired me to get off my bum and go walking today. I am going to make some time to do that even though it's miserable outside. I needed to do it yesterday and didn't so I'd best get on today.
Working hard to pay off my debt
Time to take back control
Apple and blackberry crumble and the first fire of autumn... idyllic.
I'm glad the meal went okay and that you're feeling better
The DDs, the toddler and I went for a walk this afternoon, just a circular walk that is local to us. It's good to go for a walk with the toddler because his sense of wonder at everything is contagious. He spent most of the walk picking up acorns and trying to fit them into the "cups" that had fallen on the floor. No about of hurrying would move him, til in the end I thought no, we all need to see the world with wondrous eyes, so we slowed down and noticed so much - the last few blackberries and elderberries in the hedgerows and the bright red of the rosehips. We noticed the seed heads of the campion flowers and the odd last dandelion. So uplifting to get out and simply be.
Happily all that walking meant no spending, so a NSD bagged at last!
EF £250 . SPC 039
# savings# £1026. Savings 2 £31.50 H2S £100.50