Little By Little...

redmel1621

There is a forum on here for it hun:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=41

I hope that works. If it doesn't just scroll down the forums and it is near the bottom.

redmel1621

Just reporting in

I had my interview yesterday (I hate interviews) and then stressed all evening waiting for the F*off phone call. I eventually got the call at 5.30pm and the first words I heard were "I'm pleased to offer you..." :j I could have kissed her down the phone lol. :A I am ecstatic to have got the job. I will be on 10k more than I am now (because it is full time), although it will be a LOT more work and a LOT more stressful.

Dh is still in work currently,:beer: but I'm not sure how long this job will last. He is getting a lot of hours in at the minute, although he won't get his first pay until next Thursday and we're pretty skint until then.

All in all things are going well.

No extra payments off anything yet, but once Dh gets paid we'll see where we stand with everything.

ImpulseSpender

Just de-lurking to say congrats on the job offer!! Fingers crossed your OH gets some more long term work. You're doing a great job of managing your debts and making payments.

Chrystal

Great news that you've been offered the job :j Hopefully DH will also be lucky and find something more permanent - fingers crossed.

GlendaSugarbean

Congratulations! Fantastic news

redmel1621

Thanks all. I am really pleased.

Dh is also more on board with getting debts paid off, so he has agreed to do 13hr days all next week. If he does get the full week in, I think we will be able to clear 2-3 of the smaller debts and reduce our monthly outgoings by £132pm Once we are paying less out per month we will start overpaying the higher interest debts. All the debts we aren't paying interest on can wait as long as they need to.

No idea how long this job of Dh's will last, but he is keeping in touch with people he knows in other companies in case he needs to move on.

I have a plan; I just need to money to implement it haha.

NelliePie

Congrats on the job! Just a word of advice for going full time - pack your own lunches and snacks. It takes time to be prepared but it's so much cheaper than buying your lunch every day.

You seem to have everything under control so well done

[Deleted User]

Congratulations on your job offer xx

redmel1621

NelliePie wrote: »

Congrats on the job! Just a word of advice for going full time - pack your own lunches and snacks. It takes time to be prepared but it's so much cheaper than buying your lunch every day.

You seem to have everything under control so well done

Thank you. Yes, I will definitely be taking my own lunches. We all do this already and although it probably costs in the region of £6-£10 a day that is still far cheaper than all of us buying lunch at work/college/school. I think I worked out it would be more like £25 a day if we all bought them out. That is a significant saving as it costs a maximum of £50 per week, instead of £125 per week.

I've been allocating jobs out to the kids that they will do starting from after half term. I will definitely need help once I go back full time.

My son is off to uni next year and despite the last year or so being adamant that he is staying at home, he is now making noises about moving away. I'm torn about this. In some way s it will be great for him, but in other ways staying at home makes so much more sense financially.

I really don't know what to advise him. I can see the pros and cons of both options, but it ultimately needs to be his decision. I'm gong to sit down with him on Monday and have chat with him. His application has 12 weeks until it needs to be in, so he can't spend too long deciding.

ImpulseSpender

redmel1621 wrote: »

My son is off to uni next year and despite the last year or so being adamant that he is staying at home, he is now making noises about moving away. I'm torn about this. In some way s it will be great for him, but in other ways staying at home makes so much more sense financially.

I really don't know what to advise him. I can see the pros and cons of both options, but it ultimately needs to be his decision. I'm gong to sit down with him on Monday and have chat with him. His application has 12 weeks until it needs to be in, so he can't spend too long deciding.

I went to uni in 2010 and moved away because I had to but I did have a handful of friends who attened the local uni and stayed with their parents. LIke you said staying at home would be better for him financially however moving away gives whole heap of independence. Have you worked out how much he is entitled to from Student Finance? When I went I could only get the minimum due what my parents earnt whereas I had a friend who got £7000 a year to cover his rent etc. It wasn't easy for that friend to cover all expenses but if you asked him if he'd live away again he definitely would. Your son could always get a job, he won't be in uni 9-5 every day, chances are he'll have more than enough time to study, work part time and socialise especially in 1st year. I wish my parents had taught me how to budget my money though, its great as an 18/19 year old when 1500 lands in your account but then realising you need to make it last for 3/4 months.

I also had friends who lived out in 1st and 2nd year and then went back home in 3rd year to save money and knuckle down for final year. My advice would be to live out in halls for 1st year but definitely check what your son is entitled to with student finance.

EDIT: You've probably also thought about this but make sure he gets a student bank account. Having an interest free overdraft of 1500 literally saved me so many times.