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

Fidelia

Hope you had a nice relaxing weekend HHoD, as far as you could with 4 men to look after at home. Wishing you a good week at school.  Is it half-term next week for you?

I lost track a bit (very late to find your diary and may have skipped some of the very long but fascinating catch-up, sorry) but have you managed to resolve the situation with your energy supplier?  The last I recall you were paying off arrears and couldn't switch but the time seems right to get on some sort of fixed tariff with energy costs apparently about to rise. Could you use some of your EF to pay the arrears if you haven't already?  I know we all like the security of an financial safety cushion to fall back on but fixing a cheaper tariff seems like an 'emergency' at the moment.  Martin was talking about energy suppliers recently but I didn't take much notice as we're on a good 'fix' at the moment.  Good luck, as I know you're  reluctant to put your heating on.  Personally I'd rather be warm and not eat (or eat cheaper/less) but we're all different thank goodness.  Take care xx

milann

Hope you’re having fun in the snow at school. It’s been disappointing here for the children as it’s snowed but only the finest covering which has froze solid. Not enough for a snowman. I’ve enjoyed watching it fall but pleased I don’t have to go out in it.

HairyHandofDartmoor

Sun_Addict said:

Yes definitely celebrate your debt free anniversary, anything you can celebrate at the moment is a bonus. I’ve been with my employer for 21 years 😱

milann said:

21 years is a good time with 1 employer SA.
Hairy those 2 years have flown by. How long have you been doing the extra cover that must be the best part of a year now.
I’m  glad all the finances for dh business are sorted. 

Bet you’ve enjoyed having ds at home although if everyone is at home...I bet it gets crowded at times.

beanielou said:

I think you should suggest it to the HT 

Thanks all of @milann
 21 years is a long time @Sun_Addict
Thanks @milann Yes I've been doing TA cover of some kind off and on (but mostly on) for five terms. It has gone quickly in a way but I also feel I've been at the school for a lifetime.
Thanks @beanielou . I think I will.

HairyHandofDartmoor

Fidelia said:

Hope you had a nice relaxing weekend HHoD, as far as you could with 4 men to look after at home. Wishing you a good week at school.  Is it half-term next week for you?

I lost track a bit (very late to find your diary and may have skipped some of the very long but fascinating catch-up, sorry) but have you managed to resolve the situation with your energy supplier?  The last I recall you were paying off arrears and couldn't switch but the time seems right to get on some sort of fixed tariff with energy costs apparently about to rise. Could you use some of your EF to pay the arrears if you haven't already?  I know we all like the security of an financial safety cushion to fall back on but fixing a cheaper tariff seems like an 'emergency' at the moment.  Martin was talking about energy suppliers recently but I didn't take much notice as we're on a good 'fix' at the moment.  Good luck, as I know you're  reluctant to put your heating on.  Personally I'd rather be warm and not eat (or eat cheaper/less) but we're all different thank goodness.  Take care xx

Thanks Fidelia . Yes we need to look into switching energy providers at halfterm. It is half term next week .

milann said:

Hope you’re having fun in the snow at school. It’s been disappointing here for the children as it’s snowed but only the finest covering which has froze solid. Not enough for a snowman. I’ve enjoyed watching it fall but pleased I don’t have to go out in it.

Thanks Milann . Unfortunately we haven't had any snow, just icy cold winds.

HairyHandofDartmoor

I've been so cold at school for the last two days that I've been glad to come home and get warm 😨. We haven't had any snow but we had bitingly cold winds that just cut through you no matter how many layers you wore. It was hard at lunchtime being out for over an hour in the cold 😨😨😨. I wore a vest top, a short sleeve tee-shirt, a long sleeve tee-shirt, a cardigan, my thick winter coat and gloves, but I was still hopping from foot to foot to keep warm. It was really miserable. One of the teachers came out and said if it's too cold for the children you can bring them indoors. No mention of if its too cold for the staff come indoors 🙄. In some ways I think the staff are colder because we don't have the energy to run around and keep warm. So I think if it's that cold again today I might take the children indoors. I don't think I can cope with a third day of it.

School has been fine this week, apart from the cold, although some of  the children are getting more and more challenging with low level disruption in the class. They are aware that most of the children are at home and they resent being sent to school. Also having all the vulnerable childen in one class isn't a good mix as they wind each other up. Normally they tend to be shared between classes so any one class isn't unbearable! Ah well it's nearly half term and many of the children are lovely and rewarding. 

I think I may lose half of my TA cover as one of the TAs I'm covering for was dropping hints about wanting to be full time again. I will lost £400 a month if she comes back full time, but it's her job and she's entitled to. So I was feeling quite depressed about it last night 😥. 

However I'm going to try and be positive and not be too negative. Something else may crop up and if it does happen then we'll have to enconomise even more. 

I hope everyone has a good Wednesday 🙂.

milann

I can imagine how cold the playground was....I actually said to dh One of the advantages of been off sick meant no playground duty in the cold.One of the children I cover at lunchtime when I’m in likes to head for a gap in the bushes and stands inspecting the leaves and bark for hours on end. The child has send and this is the shut down and reboot time. So whoever is with the child just stands nearby to make sure they’re is safe. It’s freezing and a tad boring but when  they’ve had enough comes out and then runs and runs around anywhere......if a door is open can quickly sneak inside and run around the corridors. So 1-1 is needed. But on a cold day it gets very cold.
I hope you manage to get more hours if these hours drop. Somebody will eventually leave and hopefully you’ll fill the space.

Sun_Addict

That’s disappointing if you lose some of the TA cover. I’m sure it won’t be long before something else comes up for you though. Children don’t feel the cold like we do. There was a boy running about on the park across the road yesterday with short sleeves on 🥶

beanielou

Oooh not long til half term.
Boo to the TA cover 

doingitanyway

Sorry to hear about the TA cover...

elizabethhull

Gosh, £400 a month is a lot to lose if that happens.
Keeping my fingers crossed for you. Let's hope you can get a good deal with a new energy provider that will help.

DD2 has always been like me regarding the cold, and had to borrow a jumper for school photos as she never wore one !