No longer in use

crazy_cat_lady

Good news about your dad - I'm pleased to hear it. Plus the little bonus of the back pay was lovely to see. I haven't had my pay rise this month so I'm hoping for something similar before Christmas.
I'm in local lockdown here in the north east. I've made the decision that I'm not risking visiting my parents at the moment because I wouldn't be able to cope with the guilt if I unwittingly passed anything on. It's heartbreaking because family is everything to me (and you too I reckon) but needs to be done...

MeandO

Yes, you’re quite right CCL. As difficult as it is they’re at their most vulnerable now and I just couldn’t forgive myself if I made their struggles more difficult for them. They would not survive this virus. 

We are now in lockdown too. 😫 Although day to day things aren’t much different for me as I don’t have family or many friends nearby and don’t really go out much, it means I can’t see OH and will be spending half my week alone when DS is at his Dad’s. I live in a different county from OH too so am not even allowed to travel to see him outdoors, I’m feeling really down about it all tbh. I also can’t view houses as the area I am moving to is also in a different county from where I currently live, despite being only a few miles away so that’s thrown a major spanner in the works. I am allowed to cross the county to take DS to school though and battle through the groups of parents and kids that are all walking down the same narrow path to school though, it seems daft. Totally fed up.

MeandO

I've freed up another £50 to send to the premium bonds on top of the £25 standing order, so there's £725 in that account now. Total savings of £5040. Hopefully I'll be able to add more to the pots when the tax credits and child benefit are paid.

MeandO

It’s been another one of those weeks. DS broke and dislocated a bone this week, it was horrible seeing him in so much pain but he was so brave. As a result, he’s off school again now for a while meaning I’m back to juggling work, home schooling, looking after the little patient and trying to find us a new house. Life’s never easy is it. 

CB is paid tomorrow and tax credits on Wednesday. I know I said I won’t be paying any more of the mortgage off atm, but I’m going to throw a bit at it to get it down into the £96k’s just got make me feel a little better. 

My Lloyd’s saver matures in around 10 days, after which the promotional interest rate ends and it drops to 0.01%! I’ll be withdrawing all the money (around £1500) and transferring it to the Premium bonds account. 

It’s wet and wild outside here and I’ve put the heating on for the first time today. The one good thing about this house is that it’s a warm house, so only really needed it on for a little while to take the chill off.

Not much else to report hope everyone’s having a nice restful Sunday. Xx

enthusiasticsaver

Oh my goodness what a month you have had. I was hoping to come on and see your house move was progressing but your poor parents and DS. Very tough for you too being so far away from your mum and dad and in local lockdown. 2020 has been a dreadful year for lots of people not least because of this awful virus. Good that your dads cancer is treatable though. I would focus on saving rather than overpaying the mortgage at the moment. 

MeandO

Thank you for popping by enthusiastic saver. No, it's not been a good year at all, but as I reminded DS this morning we are more fortunate than many so I'm trying to stay positive (but really praying for life to improve soon). 

I took your advice and sent an extra £75 to the savings this morning instead of a mortgage OP. I'll do the same when the tax credits are paid too. As tempting as it is to knock those numbers off the mortgage, I think you're right with regards to saving at the moment.

enthusiasticsaver

MeandO said:

I took your advice and sent an extra £75 to the savings this morning instead of a mortgage OP. I'll do the same when the tax credits are paid too. As tempting as it is to knock those numbers off the mortgage, I think you're right with regards to saving at the moment.

I think that is sensible with the economy the way it is now and you in the process of moving.  Having good cashflow is crucial and once things calm down again you can always OP your mortgage then. Fingers crossed your mum and dads health improves soon. My 2 year old granddaughter broke her arm a few months back and it was in a cast for a month.  Kids soon recover though so I am sure your DS will be back to normal soon. 

MagicCat

Sorry to hear about your poor DS hope he's better soon. It never rains but it pours (quite literally at the moment!) as my nan used to say, I know the feeling. Your savings and overpayments are brilliant though, well done and hope things improve for you soon.

MeandO

Thank you both. x
It goes from bad to worse - had notification that DS’s class all need to self isolate for 14 days due to a positive test result.Thankfully, DS hasn’t been at school for a week, but we still need to isolate for another week, so his fracture clinic appointment and 2 house viewings have had to be cancelled. He won’t be back at school for two weeks now though. I’m just thankful he’s well and hope the affected person manages to fight it off easily.

Tax credits have hit the account today so I’ve sent another £200 to the premium bonds, bringing that account up to £1,000 now. I’ve topped up the grocery and spends budgets and removed the £50 I had in the petrol budget as we won’t need that now this month, we can’t go anywhere!

More remedial work was done on this house yesterday by the developers so now all the known issues are fixed for the new owners - if they don’t get fed up waiting for me to find somewhere. I’m doing my best, I really am.
The builders are now working next door and it’s extremely noisy, not the best week to be stuck in the house. 

MeandO

I've ordered some Christmas presents for DS today, a spend of £60 taken from the gifts account. He's at an age where it's difficult to know what to buy him, so I've picked a few things I hope he may like. 
He's cracking on with his online learning at the moment after a rocky 'pulling teeth' start this morning. Home schooling and working at the same time is not easy.