*sigh* this may take a while

ohdearhowdidthathappen

We went ahead with the Merl!n passes in the end, now we need to make sure we get our money's worth out of them  
Kids excited about it 

Debsnewbudget

There was something on moneybox on radio 4 today that I only caught the end of, but I thought of your daughter.
it was saying there are major changes coming to student loans but only for those starting uni in 2023, not this year. Apparently they will pay a lot more money back than if they go to uni in 2022.
might be worth investigating.

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Thanks Debs..... I heard something about that too, they're upping the age limit of when you pay to too I think.
She's decided not to go to uni for now (if at all), wants to try and find an apprenticeship instead or a work based route.  Think she just wants to get A-levels out of the way, have the summer to chill and recover and hopefully come up with some kind of direction!

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Out for lunch with some friends today, which will be nice. 
I'm doing a 4th shift this week too, so a full time week.  I need to get firmer really, my direct boss is lovely and really struggles with staffing.  When she asks me to do extra, I find it hard to say 'no', but then when it comes round to it I really regret it 
From now on, I'm sticking to the 3 shifts a week maximum, any more than that really tips the balance and I get tired and stroppy

mark55man

maybe try and find a day when your manager isn't desperate to fill some shifts and just reinforce that you are not going to be saying yes over 3 shifts.  Its always more difficult to say no when there is an actual shortfall.  better to set the ground rules so she doesn't ask (or at least doesn't ask you first), and when she does ask you know that its desperate or there is some obvious reason why she needs to ask.

good news about the merlin passes, sounds like a fun summer ahead - we invested in some good quality drinks cups so we could have the first "must have" coffee for free - although we do love coffee so much also take our coffee machine on holiday with us.  3 coffees a day for 3 of us - our £40 machine (which we already use daily) saved 3 (people) x 3 (cups) x£3.00 (cost) x7 days saved £170 in a week 

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Yeah, good plan, I need to set some ground rules.
Not a coffee drinker myself, but DH is, he loves his pod machine... tempted to buy him a snazzy bean to cup machine for his upcoming birthday, but completely clueless.  I can see why you take yours on holiday with that saving!

mark55man

I think we have the same pod machine, although there are many.  You can get from Ne5pre550 a collection pack of all their flavours - which could be a good present if he likes the convenience of the pod.  Then you can get individual packs of the ones he likes best.

We L1dl pods - as they are 30% of the price of the original and maybe 80% as good.  Plus nothing beats getting up early by the seaside with a 20p coffee before the shops are even open.

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Yeah, he has a Ne5pre550, the one for the bigger pods.  He does the monthly subscription for it, loves it!
Will take a look if L1d! do a dupe of the big pods thanks

Boss asked for some extra shifts in April (over and above the 1 extra one a week I already do)... I was very firm and politely said 'no' and am pleased I did She took it ok, I feel for her as she's getting pressure from every direction. 

Finances are looking decent so far this month, trying to keep on track as a few big birthdays coming up!

savingholmes

Well done on saying no 

lucielle

I have a Nespresso and found the Lidl pods didn't work
L