From debt to freedom...

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Drawingaline...I feel the same about skiing trips but the historical ones I'm keen for the children to go on.

I'm always conscious too, that I can't afford holidays so school trips are the children's only way of experiencing life outside the county ( unless it's to pick up DD1 from uni!). The good news of today is that I had an email from the old solicitors who are returning £300 that I still had on account with them. It means I could use £100 of it to pay the deposit on DD3's trip as that has to be in before Christmas . It certainly makes one trip look more manageable.

Another crazily busy day at work today. DD2 has offered to do my Christmas shopping for me ( the physical shopping, not the paying:D ) She is highly organised and had bought and wrapped all of her gifts by mid November. She is horrified that I have done so little :.

Honeysucklelou2

I ended up working an extra half day yesterday which wasn't brilliant:(, another lock myself in the loo day. After work, I raced around to catch the mobile van version of the bank with which I hold my Christmas savings account. Although this bank has unhelpfully shut many branches, I discovered, it does at least do this mobile service. I was able to get out some money. It's not a lot because I can only save a few pounds a week, but at least it has paid for my godsons' presents and I have half of it still to use on presents this week.

I had an hour to myself (!) and went to the village Christmas carol singalong. Unfortunately the toddler was not happy and was brought to me after the hour! It was good to have a little time to sing some carols.

Lots to do today, both in home and work terms.

Honeysucklelou2

Yesterday ended up being lots of driving around between picking people up and going into work for a couple of hours to get a few bits and pieces done.

I did get started on getting a couple of presents and got my godsons' gift posted. I still have a way to go but feel better at having started. Even saving those few pounds a week has certainly helped.

There was only enough time to do one batch of cakes so did chocolate orange muffins which I have to say came out really well, flavoursome and light! I need to do a lot more baking this morning to get those tins replenished!

I actually got to bed before midnight last night but got woken by the elderly dog at about 1.30. I didn't get back to sleep until about 5 which isn't so good. I spent more time mulling over the house situation and looking at mortgage calculators. One of the other considerations to throw in is that things need doing here. A new bathroom is looking more and more essential after the puppies have for the third time attacked the side of the bath. Carpets are also getting quite worn, so either way, are likely to need replacing in the New Year. It's useful to have time to think in sleepless nights but still lots to consider.

In a surprise move the ex has suddenly made contact with DD1 ( having contacted her once since she started at university) and seems to have made plans to pick her up despite us having plans in place. DD1 struggles to be in the same room as him ( to the point of panic on occasion) so I'm really surprised. When I rang her, it turns out the ex had offered to pick her up, but in his mind it's a done thing. The suggestion has now been made that we both go...:eek::mad::(. If he is trying to make amends with DD1, I'm glad he is trying but it seems to be another case of ploughing through any plans I have made .

Honeysucklelou2

We've had a quiet day today. With the exception of going to the allotment to feed the poultry ( and give the dogs a run while there) we have hibernated for much of the day. I cooked chicken cobbler for lunch followed by flapjack and then made a batch of meringue topped mince pies.

Intending to spend the rest of the evening near the fire and catch up on marking and writing Christmas cards. A NSD :T

WannabeFree

Your baking always sounds so good :A

Hope you manage to come to a decision with DD that makes you both happy. I wouldn't be happy him keep trying to mess up your plans either

Hope you get a good nights sleep

x

Cherryfudge

That does sound like a 'point scoring' exercise on your ex's behalf, and if your daughter doesn't like to be in the same room as him, perhaps she'd be best going with you. I hope you can all sort something out.

Honeysucklelou2

A busy couple of days at work which have not been happy :(. Real confidence slaying days :(

Only 2 more days to go, then hopefully off to collect DD1 from university. Today has been spendy. I've paid the last £250 of nursery fees for this term, then spent £13 on ingredients for the class to make an edible gift for Christmas. Topping up the firewood is still taking a fair amount of money too but I have been able to supplement this with some old coal that I discovered was still in the coal bunker thing.:T

crazy_cat_lady

Almost there HSL. You have got this!

Cherryfudge

Nearly finished now - hope today is better.
Well done for finding the coal - presumably still dry and useable? I'm still getting used to the price of firewood, but a log fire is wonderful.

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you CCL...hurray, have got to the end of term!

Thank you Cherryfudge. Yes,to my amazement the coal is dry and usable which has really helped to supplement the wood situation.

I finished work on Thursday. It was a strange day, glad to get to the end of term but sad to say goodbye to a colleague who has been so helpful and kind. The last 3 weeks or so has been a real struggle, so I'm glad to have a break and tackle things anew in January.

Yesterday I went to collect DD1. Its lovely to have her back home with us. The ex continued with the games up until Wednesday, claiming that DD1 wanted him to collect her. I rang in the end, to see what she wanted. I was quite happy to step aside if that's what she wanted but she was adamant that she doesn't want the ex to know where she lives, which gave me the strength to be quietly assertive and tell him we were sticking to the arrangements that DD1 and I had made in September.

I've spent some money today -already!- getting the last few presents. I've not been very organised this year. It will be lean this Christmas but I'm trying to help the children in various ways with driving costs and trip costs, so the leaner Christmas will have to suffice.

The first solicitor's refund happened, so I have used some of it to help pay for Christmas and some of it to pay the deposit for DD3's trip. I can pay in chunks for the rest of it, so will try to allocate an amount weekly to manage that.

Off to plan the food shopping and menu for the next few days!