Aligning the Stars

Star_Mummy_2

of Course

Star_Mummy_2

I can't believe it's wednesday afternoon already.

MrS is away with work until 8th, SC was sent home from school on Monday. I've hardly spent any of my notice period in the office with Holiday and WFH. Just 4 working days to go
Poorly children means I haven't left the house, so no money spent. I've run out of coffee and I am in danger of running out of milk too. I hope she is back at school tomorrow.

There really isn't much left in my account to see me through this month. About £60 after everything is paid. With that I need to sort out MrS's birthday- we are going to his sister to see her new house, then pub lunch, this will be a joint expense. I'll make a cake from stores. No idea on gift.
My nephew has a birthday too which means next weekend dedicated to visiting them and meeting my new niece. I'll take a small pre-bought gift for the baby, a card and probably a small bunch of flowers.

So £5 flowers for Sister
£20 present for nephew.
probably £20 cafe lunch when we visit...gosh it soon adds up.
might do an IOU for MrS....he will understand. We've had family death, ill health, new babies, exams, new jobs, work trips all to deal with in the last 3 weeks. If only he wasn't so hard to buy for...he genuinely never wants anything.... we did see some lovely vintage prints...but at £125 a pop they are just not in this years budget. I'll see if there are any cheap tickets at the local playhouse...

Star_Mummy_2

Hi folks,

I hope we we have all had a jolly weekend.
I’m sat in bed with a big mug of tea making plans for the week ahead.
It’s a big exciting week.
MrS is back from his work trip in sunny Florida (not jealous 😩), SC has her first ever residential school trip (how do they get so big so fast) and I have my last day at work on Wednesday. My notice period has just rushed by, I can hardly believe it.

todays plans look like this;
*blitz the house ( I cooked salmon last night and the smell in the kitchen has lingered 🤢)
* Take SB swimming.
* Pop to the supermarket to stock up on packed lunch stuff and cleaning stuff.
*remove any personal files/emails/browser history from my work laptop before I hand it back.
*meal plan.

I’ve decided starting a new job at the beginning of spring is actually quite nice. It’s a hugely symbolic of growth and fresh starts. I feel totally refreshed by the concept. My lightbulb on the debt busting and budgeting is more like a floodlight right now. My new salary is the size that I’m earning enough to never have real money worries, as long as I don’t go totally off the rails. This should mean I can budget to get a fantastic balance of debt paying, saving for the future, and enjoying the now.
All those things I never thought were possible 5 years ago, when I was single  parent on half the wage I’ll be on now, they are all suddenly possible.
I am slightly on the countdown to my first new wage (5 weeks 3 days) I should be able to budget properly then and step up a gear on smashing the debt.

There are a few personal things that make life easier too. My mum has suffered with a lack ofsense of self and her mental health all my life. She came out the other side of the menopause last year and bam! She is a whole new person, so full of life. I’m so proud of the changes she has made and I really love spending time with her now. Now she is happy she can be happy for others. For the first time in my life I feel like she is proud of me, she is so full of compliments and encouragement. She’s the Mum she always wanted to be. Gosh I feel a bit glassy eyed typing this 😢

Crikey! This is becoming a novel. It’s funny how an anonymous diary can get you to pour out. 
Have a lovely Sunday all.

Star_Mummy_2

Well I never.
CMS have only gone and deposited a payment into my account. I think it's only a weeks maintenance, but it is a start.
I've no Idea if this will be paid weekly or monthly. I'm just leaving it in my account for now until I find out what my final, part month salary will be for this job. I might need it to tide me over (i'll have 7 days pay from old job end of March, full salary mid April)
It's my last day tomorrow, rather mixed emotions but highly weighted to the positive.

Star_Mummy_2

So I’m technically unemployed for the next four days. SC is away on a school trip and I’m not quite sure what to do with myself. Ha ha
I’ve considered taking myself for lunch, going for a facial (I had an email with a “bargain” from the spa up the road), popping to the cinema... but they all cost money.
I have some wiggle room in this months budget but I know I’m going to get a tiny pay cheque this month so I’d rather be cautious. Mr S thinks I should just do what I want as “we” have plenty of money... am I becoming a money saving bore? 
Might chuck a few quid to the debt instead to keep me focused. 
The reality is as soon as the debt is gone my outgoings will be only 40% of my take home pay. That’s what’s keeping me going. When I get there I can give myself some more freedom. Focus on the bigger things, investment, property, once in a lifetime holidays...

enthusiasticsaver

Hope you managed to start your new job as planned? 

Star_Mummy_2

I did thanks ES. It has been a crazy week. Still struggling to make sense of everything. New job puts me on the Key Workers list so SC still can attend school which is a huge help. 
We are in a good position to get through this. I really do feel for those that feel like their world has come to an end. So many people are losing their jobs 😢

AdventureWanted

Hi, 
just wondered how you're getting on. Hope you're ok 😊

Star_Mummy_2

Hi all.

it’s been a while. 

My life couldn’t be much different.

I split with Mr Star in March- just wasn’t meant to be. We are still friends and he is still there for Starchild. She stays at his once a week and we honestly love each other just not in a happy ever after way.

I also made a major financial change and bought a house! Mr star helped with the deposit (which I’m paying pack over the next few years). It wouldn’t have been possible without his help- or the pay rise from the “new” job.

ive paid off all bar £2400 of credit card debt and things are pretty good. 

Still lock down 2 in isolation is hard mentally. I’m grateful that I can go into the office part time. 

Star_Mummy_2

Just for future record

net Worth £10,300
(House-mortgage-deposit loan-credit card +emergency fund+ car resale value)