Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally

Sun_Addict

Good that school is going ok. I do worry that a lot of people will slip through the net with these telephone GP/nurse appointments, some things need to be done face to face. Hopefully DH’s hip is nothing bad, better to get an x-ray to put your/his mind at rest.

beanielou

Og great news on DS3  

Onebrokelady

Great news on DS3 coming home 🎉🎉 I think the aerial people should have taken it away for that amount of money. I'm glad school went ok albeit with a few teething problems. I suppose it's hard to test out these new way of doing things without actually doing them and then working out the niggles 😊

Willowtree222

Glad DS3 is coming home.
I'm glad you got time with your sister, but sorry that it will be such a while before you get it again. Could you not build anything else in?
x

doingitanyway

Good to hear school is going okay.
Like you I have been enjoying time with my sister lately

HairyHandofDartmoor

Thanks everyone 🙂.

DS3 is back home for two weeks 🎉🎉🎉🍾🍾🍾🎈🎈🎈. We collected him on Saturday and saw his new house which is lovely (nicer than ours which makes me feel bad). They got the house for a cheap rent as the landlord panicked and thought no students were coming back this year, so DS3 and his house mates have a much better house for the same price as their previous house. The landlord must be glad they're third year students 🤣. It's so lovely to see him after such a long time and we chatted in the car all the way home 😁. I havent seen much of him since Sunday as he's a bit nocturnal and I've been at school, but I'm going to make sure I see as much as possible of him before we have to take him back to uni.

School is fine. I'm still trying to learn the names and faces of my new lunchtime class, but I'm learning a few names a day and I'm enjoying being back at school. I'm still wearing my visor at lunchtimes, not holding the children's hands and trying not to get too close to them, to protect me from catching the virus. The children look like they're enjoying being back at school with their friends. 

I'm really behind with the washing so I've put a wash on this afternoon and the sun had come out to dry it which is handy ☀️. It feels quite warm at the moment but I feel as though it may get colder soon and the leaves are starting to fall off the trees. I feel like I've had a good summer so I'm not really looking forward to the autumn ☂️.

DH doesn't have much work on at the moment so I hope I can pick up some more hours at school soon. I'm doing two days a week of TA cover and my lunchtime job, so I'm not earning as much as I would like to (the equivalent of three days a week paid work).  At least we're not spending much at the moment. We haven't been to a restaurant since February and I've only bought three coffees from cafes since lockdown (which is a big saving as I used to buy my Costalot latte every week). Luckily I have the fancy coffee machine that DS1 bought me ☕. We don't go anywhere that charges money and I can't remember the last time we went to the cinema or theatre. If I had any money to spare (which I don't at the moment) I'd rather spent it on improving our house or saving up for a holiday next summer.

When we collected DS3 we took our own food and drinks and only went in the service station to use the toilet. On the way back we bought one coffee as we'd drank all our own drinks, but overall there was much less spent on refreshments than usual. We ordered takeaway fish and chips to eat at DS3's house before we drove back and the petrol was about £70, so overall it cost £100 to collect him. It's worth every penny to see him and I don't want him to come on public transport as he might catch the virus and bring it home. We've had to lend him some money over the summer but he's going to pay us back when he gets his loan which should be in two weeks time. 

I hope everyone is having a good Tuesday 🙂.

beanielou

So pleased you have DS3 home   

teafor2

Hi HHD,  I can feel your joy that DS is home The house he's in sounds perfect and hopefully there'll be no leaks onto his bed this time. I'm sure all boys have the nocturnal gene of hamsters lol. £100 sounds really good for petrol, food and getting to have DS home with you   

My laundry basket is overflowing. I'm hoping for a break in the constant drizzle tomorrow so I can get some washing and drying done. Glad you've settled in at school. Hopefully some more TA sessions will come up and you'll pick up a couple more days. Do you mind me asking if you get paid as a TA3 now you've qualified. I have a couple of friends who have the TA3 qualification but the school only pays them at a TA2 rate and apparently some are paid at a TA1 level. Fingers crossed your DH's business will pick up again soon. Have a lovely time with all your boys. xx

Onebrokelady

Yay to having DS3 home at last, you sound so excited and happy 😊what a stroke of luck for him and his housemates to get a good deal on their house 😀

Willowtree222

Sounds like you're going to have a lovely time all together now.
Enjoy DS3 being home! X