Drawing a line under the debt. Take two.

Queen_of_the_Hive

Drawingaline said:

I have managed to scrape together the funds to pay off my tax bill which will ease the gap we have in December's budget. Also I have picked up a couple of jobs for next month which will help. 

I have booked a holiday for next August and we are planning a few days away next May. Perhaps not the best time to be planning it, but the total for accommodation for the both combined is pretty low, amazing how being a family of 4 reduces prices rather than a family of 6! The boy will stay home with the cats.

Aw fabulous on the holiday bookings and nice one on the tax bill

Queen_of_the_Hive

Drawingaline said:

The girl is having ups and downs, but has been set her first project and excited to be back being creative. 

Last night was a down, today seems to be an up, she is just having a wave of proper homesickness right now I think.

It took me a long time to get settled at Uni, hope your daughter finds her feet and enjoys her first project.

savingholmes

Nice to have something to look forward to.

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Family holidays  for a large family are disproportionately expensive, lovely to have something to look forward to next year.
Hopefully, as time goes on, DD will have more up than down days 

Drawingaline

Went to see my girl in London at the weekend. Mainly so she could have a rant about people to someone 'safe' it seems 🤣 we also went to the Tate as preparation for her project. It was lovely to see her so keen about being creative again.

We had a chat about second year accommodation. It's looking bleak for our finances, I think we will have to lean on grandparents a bit, along with her getting a job at uni to build up her savings. The gap between her loan and accommodation costs could be as high as 5k, we really cannot find that. 😱 its quite a worry. 

The boy stopped making noises about uni once we sat down and looked at what courses were available. Nothing appealed, we looked at some apprenticeships and I think the idea of earning a salary tipped the scales! He knows he needs to pull his grades up though, he is perfectly capable of doing this, whether he will or not though, remains to be seen.

Otherwise we are just ticking along. Me and hubby have tickets booked to see a comedian at the local theatre on Friday, have persuaded him to have a meal out beforehand, so need to book something. Not to pricey, but something a bit different to fast food. The boy has booked the evening off work so he can be home with the small two. Will be nice to get out, really feeling like we just don't do anything atm.

savingholmes

Sorry about the finance struggles. 

Glad you have a night out scheduled. Sounds just what the doctor ordered - laughter really does help.

Drawingaline

It's been almost a month 😱 I just am feeling a bit cba with everything, I do come on and read, but don't want to keep coming on and being down, makes depressing reading for others I think!

Anyway, what has happened. Me and hubby went out to see the comedian, meal out at P1zza express, was a fun evening, ran into a school mum I know quite well so lovely to see other adults out without kids 

The girl came home for a few days and she caught up with some school friends ,was lovely seeing her having fun.

Everything is ticking along, have managed to save for the gaps in income for a few months, but need £350 for February which is what my December pay will cover. Obviously I will be off for Xmas, not getting holiday pay can be a pain sometimes.

We went out last night to friends, had a lovely time, woke this morning to discover a close family friend has passed away totally unexpectedly. A complete shock, they were late 60's, but not ill at all. Only saw them last week at a social event. It's hit a couple of other family members very hard, this person has been in our lives for nearly 40yrs, really hits home about making the most of the time we have.

Drawingaline

To add to the depressing stuff, the girl is in wobble mode, November, clock change, dark nights (we think she has SAD and is definitely a sun lover) always affect her. 

And the LA is being devious with the smallests echp and naming a secondary school. I thought it was all done, but they seem to be doing stuff they shouldn't be and amending stuff they shouldn't be and have sent me a new draft to add thought too, but haven't actually uploaded the draft so I can't do that and I have limited time, and it's just all complete crap when this was all done in April anyway. And dropped it on a Friday so have been panicking all weekend, and can't even see what they have changed on it as they haven't actually sent me a copy. I have sent quite a firm email and will be calling and following it up, and will get the school senco on it as well. Just all a load of extra stress.

savingholmes

Sorry about the stress. Not what you need.

Queen_of_the_Hive

Morning @Drawingaline, sorry to hear about your family friend and of your struggles at the moment. I haven't experienced a recent loss but I too have had a real slump and my anxiety was biting in October so I really can empathasise. Settling at uni took me a while to do at the time without all the additonal pressures students have in the current climate. Is there any items at home that she could take to uni that may help to bridge the gap between the two places?

The ECHP sounds like a nightmare. Hope this is resolved for you soon.

Take care of yourself and be kind to yourself.