Drawing a line under the debt. Take two.

Drawingaline

Another disaster. Washing machine has been making a funny noise. Was really hopeful that there was something stuck in it, so called in a repair man. But no, it's terminal

Managed to get one from the shop that husband gets discount in. But annoyingly earliest delivery was Monday. A two hour slot is emailed the evening before, and I really need a washing machine. I only have two jobs on a Monday now and can possibly shift one if I can get someone to pick up the kids on Tuesday instead. Hoping it ends up being after 4pm rather than the daytime.

But £340 I can't out my hands on right now. Hubby's has put it on his cc and will pay it over the next two months. Money is just slipping through my hands atm.

Drawingaline

Omg, the car. I am sick to death with it. Warning light has come on again. Still running OK, so basically going to ignore it. There is also a recall for some part that I keep getting letters about. But have literally no time to get it to the garage. May ring and see what they suggest. Wouldn't have to pay for that but still need time out from work.

Has a meeting re the possible job. Anyway I start 6th Jan :eek: two days a week. Need to break it to my boss that I am dropping down to two days. Feel guilty, but the whole point of doing the course was to change direction. Its only 10-15 hours to begin with and I need a couple of weeks training with the bookkeeper, but it is a saleried position, and working from home so less reliance on the car, and less petrol. But a big change.

Honeysucklelou2

Exciting times...well done on embracing the opportunity

Drawingaline

So told boss I am dropping to two days from Jan. I may move some clients around so I am still doing the ones further out, but I enjoy doing them so it may work out OK. Going to meet up next week for a chat about it.

Drawingaline

Really cold tuesday morning, had to scrape the car, started it and warning light had disappeared :j honestly no idea what it is on atm!

Signed up to a free month of prime, and basically done most of the kids Xmas shopping. Popped into the toy shop today to get something for the smallest and need money from mil to get his big present but the girl is done. The wierd one is almost done and the other two are also nearly done. Neices birthday gifts all done, one neice Xmas present is done, ordered something for my brother, mum gave me an idea of something she might like, and will pop into the book shop for vouchers for my dad tomorrow. Feeling quite smug tbh :rotfl: I am sure something will bite me on the bottom at some point.

Boiler still not fixed, part is here but the entire boiler needs taking off the wall to fit it. Going to cost more :(we can still get it to work but it needs fixing. Hoping to get him back next week. Also emailed an electrician to fit some lights. Must chase that as he was working away and said I would contact him this weekend once he is back.

Have a long long list of stuff to do tomorrow. Including taking the three boys to town for haircuts. May be interesting.

Drawingaline

Electrician booked for 13th. Be nice to have a working main light again.

Booked theatre tickets for all of us in Jan. Got a decent deal, six tickets for a West end play for just over £100. Weekend before my birthday so will get hubby to pay for a meal out after I think.

Plumber is finally coming back on monday and really really hope this is it, although there is a crack in a plastic overflow pipe with a small leak. Have let him know, will see.

New washing machine is not working right so have a hotpoint engineer due next week. It is working, it just doesn't get enough water in to rinse properly so gets stuck and I have to set it to spin manually. Annoying,it either hasn't been installed properly or there is a proper fault. I will be asking for the installation fee to be refunded if there is something wrong there. I have installed waing machines myself, I paid this time becasse of my arm. I can't uninstall it and pull it out to check as it's twice as deep and heavy as my old one and my arm can't do it. And hubby is useless at this stuff. Also don't want to fiddle incase it has been installed wrong so I have comeback.

Mil is down for the weekend so we have happy children. She has given us cash for xmas and we will go and buy a bike for the smallest as that's what he wants from her. She can wrap the girls present as I have that, but the other two are a bit harder.

Anyway, on track, time sheet has gone in, only earnt just over £500, so half as much as normal. Asked to keep on the helper I have on a Thursday and Fri until Xmas, mainly so I can fit in physio and other things I need to get done in the next few weeks. But will mean a lower pay in Jan too.

Drawingaline

Just realised that I have had this diary for two years! Not sure my debt free journey has been that great tbh. But when I look at the amount we have spent on the house and car in that time without increasing the debt hugely I feel better. We will get there.

Most of the xmas shopping is done. A couple of gift cards to pick up and a few more bits for family and Xmas food but otherwise done. Feels good. No decorations up here, I like the month to be in double figures. Hubby would have them up on te first and I would never stop him, but he cba to sort it so it will be next Fri 13th. Have an electrician in fitting new ceiling lights so don't want to do it until they are in. I hang a lot of things from te ceiling, no nice coordinated effort were, more like an 80's grotto :rotfl:

Financially I have not been great with the snacks. I am finishing earlier than normal as have help, and am earning less, but spending more. All accounted for in ynab, but erythibg is looking low. Am actually looking forward to the new year. New job, although my pay will stay the same, am definitely going to look at my pension, will have to brave the pension board for advice I think :eek: I am sure they are lovey, it's more my own ignorance I am ashamed at should also find out soon if the smallest Dla claim will continue. If it doesn't there will be a significant drop in money. I spoke to the mil as she will no longer be paying out for drama and dancing, so will see if she will put some cash towards te girls tutor. I am keeping him on until Easter, then will ask him to change to tutor the boy instead. It's expensive but tee girl said it has really helped her. She thinks she got a 5 in her mock for maths which is a pass, so fingers crossed for her actual exams.

From Jan we have yr11 mocks in March, yr10 mocks just before Easter then actual gcse's from beginning of May :eek: the girl has her photography mock today so is stressing massively as she doesn't like the last lot of pictures she took. She will get her topic for her gcse in Jan so will be prodding her not to leave it until the last minute like usual. She is getting two new lenses or xmas so hopefully that will help. She also gets her gcse business results next week, she still has another chunk of coursework but this mark will state if she needs to resit the exam or not. Hopefully it's OK and that is one final exam out of tee way.

Anyway children are stirring so best begin the day.

Drawingaline

So, my Xmas present is another new washing machine. Whatever te engineer did to it didn't fix the glich and then I couldn't open the door and get my cleaning cloths out :eek: there was no manual override, I was not impressed no one could tell me how I was supposed to get out the things I actually need to do my job :mad: and if I forced the door it would invalidate any warrnetu until I pointed out it was broken anyway. I finally managed to get the door open by endlessly switching it off at the plug and frantically pulling the door to try to catch the split second it unlocked for as the power came on :rotfl: anyway £130 later I am now getting the bosch machine I originally wanted but decided was too expensive. Delivery on Thursday, hubby at home as kids off due to election so easiest delivery time. But no machine until then :eek: went out drinking to a friends on sat, took a load with us :beer: :rotfl:

Finances are looking awful tbh. Jan is going to be lean. But all presents bought bar two, and food pretty much done. Just fresh stuff and have £80 set aside so fingers crossed its enough.

Work is going OK, keeping the person helping me until Xmas, so less money earned, but it just makes it all easier tbh. Boss still hasn't clarified properly which jobs I am keeping after Xmas, but tbh I am leaving that at her feet. She can deal with it.

Signed contract for new job. Beginning to feel real now. :eek:

My course is nearly finished, exam in Jan. Been practicing past papers. The week I missed is still the bits I trip up on. Which is annoying, but at least I know what I need to revise. Will take xmas week off, then will be spending the following week going through my work.

Anyway time for the small two to be in bed.....

Drawingaline

New washing machine in, I love it :rotfl: when they took the other one out there was a huge kink in the hose behind it, so that was the issue! Why the engineer didn't check that I don't know.

Boiler still not fully fixed and is now back to doing what it was doing originally, so another new part must be needed, so going to have to ring him again.

Had some electrical work done today, new light fittings and finally fixed the bathroom extractor fan. Budgeted for so no surprises, but nie to have a light fitting in the lounge, the old one broke in August :eek:

Tree went up today, so not the front room looks like Santa's grotto. Took ages and always takes loads of cleaning afterwards. And I am stupidly tired as onl

Drawingaline

New washing machine in, I love it :rotfl: when they took the other one out there was a huge kink in the hose behind it, so that was the issue! Why the engineer didn't check that I don't know.

Boiler still not fully fixed and is now back to doing what it was doing originally, so another new part must be needed, so going to have to ring him again.

Had some electrical work done today, new light fittings and finally fixed the bathroom extractor fan. Budgeted for so no surprises, but nie to have a light fitting in the lounge, the old one broke in August :eek:

Tree went up today, so not the front room looks like Santa's grotto. Took ages and always takes loads of cleaning afterwards. And I am stupidly tired as only had two hours sleep as watching all the shenanigans on tele last night :eek:

Anyway, off to have tea, will hopefully update over the weekend.