Drawing a line under the debt. Take two.

Drawingaline

Been too long again! Am currently on our Scotland trip. Sat by Loch Lomond in the rain :rotfl: it is basically. Rain tee whole time we are here I think typical after the ridicules of the last week.

Money wise not doing so good. Had to shop for various uniform things this week, all quite expensive, hoping my mum might pay for a couple of items.

I have enough money for this trip, have anotr boat trip booked and paid for, so just need money for food and the local aquarium.

Anyway off to search for a toilet for the smallest now :rotfl:

Drawingaline

Back from our trip. It was amazing. We went to Iona and then on a boat trip. Iona was lovely, but the little two basically had a massive fight te whole time we were then, not the nice spiritual experience I was hoping for :rotfl: but the boat trip was awesome. We went to an island and saw puffins, and saw seals on the way back. But the best bit was seeing two dolphins :j just mesmerising. And the weird ones face when they crested, worth the sea sickness I endured :rotfl:

Was a cool 13c with quite a bit of rain, although we had a glorious morning at the beach on Sunday. But it was so nice to sleep under a duvet,, and feel chilly, and eventhe rain was nice. So glad I didn't take the tent though, the first night was pretty stormy even in the static caravan! Drove staight home yesterday, took 12 1/2 hours (this included the ferry) got to love a hire car, don't have to think about taking it carefully :rotfl: we had a Nissan Juke, it was horrible :rotfl: looks huge and was tiny inside, liked the reverse camera and that was it. But I like hiring cars as it gives me experience of different driving experiences and at least I know I will never buy a Nissan Juke now

Quiete day today, its 30c here, I am suffering after being cooler for a week..... But in good news I came in on budget.

Drawingaline

And in make news, car has had a full service and aircon re gassed. £170 total, all budgeted for. Now need to save up for brakes and cam belt over the next year. Brakes within 2000miles and 4000miles, cam belt is due at 10years, so next August. I save £50 a month but the first lot of brakes will be Oct time so may need to up to £70 for sep and Oct as only £50 left in car maintenance atm. But this it he first time ever any kind of car work has not been put on a credit card :T

Drawingaline

Had a spend day at the weekend, went to a local country park, we don't go often as its pretty expensive to get in, but normally good once we are. Splash park and train rides etc. But it was so so hot. Hubby was struggling and the smallest was horrifically behaved! I made sure we had a day at home relaxing after our trip, but I wanted to spend time together before we were both back at work. In hindsight should have left it tbh.

Back to work this week. Bleugh.

Money wise we are doing OK. Food shopping done, still have £900 for our week off, wondering about booking somewhere to stay, we shall see.

Drawingaline

Went to London with tee girl for our theatre trip. Had a lovely time, a bit cooler and we walked more (usually use the tube a lot but it was too hot) so saw more. Did overspend as went to the Oxford Street primark and picked up some bits for the girl but all needed.

42nd Street was awesome, such fun! Now trying plan some other theatre trips, seems a shame not to go more regularly seeing as we can get into london for £25 adult and child.

Today I have taken the little two to a trampoline park to burn off some energy. Tomorrow we have a bbq to go to, the weather looks horrendous, did the same last year for the same bbq! Either way it will be fun, and free food, can't argue with that!

I got paid, normal loan payment lined up an £50off cc, but going through our commitments I will have around £700 a month going of the loan and £150 off the cc. Hoping to really go for it and get them cleared ASAP so we can start getting the house ready to possibly sell. Needs some work doing to the outside and a bit more cosmetic work done inside. Anthem September next year decision time remortgage or sell? Big decision!

Drawingaline

So been looking at our finances for the coming months until 2019. Barring any major emergencies we have nearly 1k to be put towards debt a month:eek: getting a buffer in place for my self employment has been key. I will be using around £200 for this month but shouldn't need anymore until Xmas, with around £80 going into it before then.

Anyway if I am really aggressive and go for it we will be debt free by march :J atm I am feeling inspired and I know that can wane :rotfl:
Starting next Friday when I get tax credits £121 off the credit card, then when I get paid in September round £500 off the loan in addition to the normal payment.

Drawingaline

Been a spend weekend lol! Beginning of our week off as a family. Went cinema yesterday with three of the kids. I got tickets through hubby's work so were discounted, but still around £40 with them and sweets.

Today we went to a steam fair about an hour away. The kids were free and I wanted to go to te museum where it was held anyway, so this meant that we could do it eery cheaply. But omg at the food costs. We will be doing McDonald's and picnics for the rest of the weeks outings!

Planning a trip to a theme park on Tuesday, and may head to Brighton tomorrow. We used to live there an like to go back occasionally.

Drawingaline

So ha a lovely week off with the family, even if the little two were pretty badly behaved! Went to a steam fair at an open air museum, went o a model village (my husband loves them :rotfl:) went Chessington (cost quite a bit, but got tickets through husbands work so did save) then went to see in laws in lincs. We had a day trip to Skegness, went to the quarium and the smallest was awful, then went to the area with the rides and actually they were all so well behaved. I was worried, especially after how the small two were at Chessington (was just too big and too many queues for them there) because there were no queues and the rides were much smaller they coped much better.

Back to work this week which has been hard. Gettin up at 6.30am after a week of lie ons has hurt :eek: and my waking insomnia is back, keep waking in the middle of the night and struggling to go back to sleep. It will pass in a couple of months but is always hard while it is happening.

Car failed mot on Tuesday. Am having the work done and retest today. £200 whchh is frustrating as nowhave no money for the back brakes and after all the milage I last week they need to be done at the beginning of October at the latest really.

I used money left over after the week of to pay of the credit card. I cleared out my Xmas funds and am planning on replacing them when I get paid in September so have no slack to get any extra from anywhere. I also have a really strict payment schedule to clear the last 6k from the loan by Feb. I will figure it out, boss has a couple of extra jobs for Saturdays in sep, probably around £60 so will put that towards the car.

We were awarded dla for the smallest which is great. However only for 18 months then reapply. Am assuming becasue we don't have a diagnosis as the weird one had dla awarded until he is 16?!but tha

Drawingaline

But that extra is going to help get debt free sooner, then I will try and save some of it into his isa. So hopefully a lean four months or so then we will around 1k a month free!

Mumoffourkids

That sounds like you packed a lot into a week off!! I feel really bad that I haven't taken the kids out this summer holidays but I have been working and childcare for the holidays has cost an extra £688 on top of nursery fees so not much room in the budget for days out. I think next year I might do what you did this year and take a week, not go anywhere but do days out!

Was the model village Beaconscot by any chance? I haven't been there for ages but we used to go all the time when I was younger as we lived so close to it!

That sounds like a plan to clear the loan by February. Once that is gone, just think of the money that you will have as extra!!