Drawing a line under the debt. Take two.

Drawingaline

boxofpaws said:

We had a leaking toilet and replacing the flushing mechanism fixed it. It didn’t feel like it should, but it did. I mean surely, watertight is watertight no matter what mechanics are inside, but there it was. Might be worth a try? 

It was from the back of the toilet where the ceramic meets the plastic waste pipe. The silicone was all yellowed and shrunk. My awful thick application of new silicone seems to be working atm 🤞

Drawingaline

So hubby got paid. And his bonus. Bit less of that was available due to him buying a new expensive hobby item.

This last month has been a killer. I overspent on the 18th, and the food bills have been ridiculous. And I lost over £600 in pay. The bonus basically paid off the credit card. I had also saved up some funds for towards a future holiday (something nice but looking at 2024ish) and that has all gone. As has the Xmas fund I had started. It's been a shocker of a week.

So basically no spare money at all atm. The girl failed her driving test which means I have to keep paying for lessons and the boy is due to start in July. Luckily I have picked up enough hours this month to just be £80 down. But next month we are on holiday (at in laws) for a month so possibly won't have enough for May. And then May has three bank holidays and because one was moved I have planned a weekend away including the non bank holiday so four days pay lost. It all just feels a bit overwhelming atm. I will have tax and NI due (ok will have until Jan, but even so.) We owe £500 to tax credits and will have no award for next year to take that from and will owe some child benefit back too. 

However the sun is shining and the cats are loving being in the back garden, I have dried all my washing on the line this week and I am taking the girl to see the area the London uni is in next week. (Have squeezed some money out of the budget for this) and we are off to see a band in a tiny venue on Sunday. Only a year overdue and I love this band. Will need to Aly petrol and parking though.

Anyway whinge over, at least I don't have covid again (sister) long covid (friend) and have put some funds aside for an air conditioner which is something I have wanted for about a decade. Last July was horrific in out town house so have prioritised it. Just need to research and buy one now.

lucielle

Enjoy the band. Hope that next month is easier than it’s looking. 

L

Queen_of_the_Hive

Good Morning @Drawingaline, some months are just poop financially and sounds like your having yours now, it'll soon get better. The trips and band sound awesome though. I feel like I am in a fog and have nothing booked but equally don't feel bothered that we don't have anything booked which is not like me at all. Am just counting down the time to being debt free and then will think more about some treats.  

savingholmes

Sorry £ is so tight. Hope things pick up for you soon

Drawingaline

Well the band were amazing! Although there was some drama involving my daughter's friend, one of those things where we were telling her she would love telling the story in 20years time and it was a unique experience! It was a wonderful small venue and the support act were also brilliant (not always the case!) I can't wait to see this band again. 

Possibility of a new private job, going to see them later, so will have to decide whether I can fit it in, and let my boss know as it will cut my availability. But I earn more if I go through it privately. 

Queen_of_the_Hive

Good luck with the job 

savingholmes

Great news on the band experience. Good luck with the private work

Drawingaline

Looks like I will be taking on the new client privately. But not for a month or so. Boss has also lined up some new jobs for me. Crunching the numbers it looks like it should work out ok.

Took the girl into London to look at the areas the hard to get into uni is in. Also visited some of the halls of residence (outside and general area only) and she is feeling much more positive. We took the tube between the different areas to time how long it would take if she didn't get into the closest halls. Anyway she now needs to actually accept the place and reject the others through UCAS. In the next week ideally. 

One of her friends is also going to go to this uni but liked the look of one of the more expensive halls. We visited that area to take a look, may have been a bit stupid as the area was lovely and the halls much nicer. But they are £££. And as hubby says, its just for a year, so the cheaper ones will be fine. She can crash at her friends if she wants to go out in that area. But overall she is much more positive right now. Still terrified though. Just glad she has spent quite a lot of time in London as a teen. Also if she gets the halls she wants then my oldest friend lives three tube stops away which is nice to know.

Have sold a couple of bits on FB, think I may have priced one item a little low going by the amount of interest! But would rather that than overprice and have to reduce. Just wanted it gone. So have made the £40 I would be short next month. Which is nice. One has been collected and one is being collected later today. Also means our bedroom is done, bar a bookcase.

Drawingaline

Had a client cancel today due to covid in the house. It's the last day of March so annoyingly I will need to try and make that money back somehow. I sold some bits and got £40 which is great, but don't think I have anything else to sell right now (apart from a loft full of bloody Lego, but unfortunately it's not mine 🙄) I am pleased with how I have managed to claw back enough funds so I will be ok next month. Still tight, but have £500 for our week away, and hubby will chip in, and accommodation is free and in laws will provide some of the food. Also only taking the smaller two so cost of entrance fees to anywhere is better too!

Start some new jobs in the next couple of weeks which will help going forward. I need to put any extra aside as I want a set amount every month, rather than some months higher than others due to more work days or holidays. 

Having to stay up tonight as the girl I in London at a concert and hasn't taken her keys. She is getting a taxi back from the station, she seemed somewhat put out when I said I wouldn't be picking her up she can pay £15 for a taxi, welcome to adulting love 😂 I wouldn't be able to sleep until she is back anyway, but I am in my PJ's 😁 she has another London concert tomorrow too (seriously?!) So another late night for me. However she is booked off work this weekend and the boy is on evening shifts so I get TWO lie ins this weekend. First time in over a year 😱 so I can catch up on sleep then. 

Anyway off to find something to watch until she gets back.