Keeping on the Straight and Narrow...

savingholmes · 14 April 2023 at 11:42PM

I'd want the SL gone

sashybo · 15 April 2023 at 11:39AM

My student loan is just silently increasing in the background as I don't earn enough to pay anything towards it. 😩 I do get the occasional amount taken off if I earn a very good wage i.e. have several overtime shifts or a few double time days but it doesn't even touch the interest!

I try to ignore it as it drives me mad, I may go back to full time work once the kids are older but I dread to think what my loan will be at by then. We're not in the position to pay anything towards it just now due to all the other debt!

DancingInTheRain · 15 April 2023 at 12:54PM

Thanks both.

I think if there was no chance of the loan being paid off for many years then we'd try to ignore it, especially as you say Sashy, with having other debts but while DH and I are in a decent position financially at the moment I can't shake the feeling that we should be doing something to have more impact while we're in the fortunate position to do so. The outcome would be circa £98 back in DH's take home pay so in effect, that could be used to pay back whatever method we use to pay off the student loan and then once it's gone, it'd be like having a pay rise.

Speaking of potential pay rises, DH has just applied for another job on a different department where he works. If successful, this would be a pay rise of around £2k per year plus more scope to WFH meaning a lot less spending on fuel too.

£15.48 made from cashback and pro!ific since my last post so have sent that to the student loan.

We're due to spend a chunk of the additional borrowing money on home improvements next week as the new garden fence is being installed, we've also got a plumber coming to install a new radiator in the boys bedroom and then we need to order all the new wood work for the bedroom too. Then we just need to book/ co-ordinate the joiner, decorator and carpet fitters and we'll be there. Slow progress but we're getting there, it's going to be a lovely room for the children once it's done.

savingholmes · 16 April 2023 at 10:49PM

It will be great once the work is done.

DancingInTheRain · 19 April 2023 at 5:55PM

Tiring week this week, how is it Wednesday evening already? Work very busy for both of us and the boys are getting used to being back in the school routine. DH is office based this week, Mum was going to do some after school childcare for us but is unwell so we're just juggling as best we can, thankfully I'm on top of my routine tasks at work and not too much ad-hoc stuff this week so I'm just about managing. House is untidy as none of us can be bothered, the weekend can't come soon enough!

Positives on the money front - £10 earned from Pro!ific sent to the Student Loan, cashed out a £10 Ama$on voucher from SnapMy£ats and another £5 voucher from M!crosoft Rewards. As we've been so busy we also haven't spent any money since Sunday, I did however use some personal spends to buy a meal deal from the local T£sco today as I needed some fresh air so used that as a purpose to go out, a bit naughty but very nice

Life positives - DS1 got offered a place at the preferred junior school we applied for so he is very excited to start his new school in September, especially as lots of his current classmates/friends are also going to the same school

DH has also secured an interview for the job he applied for and the new fence is in progress, it's a fairly big garden and the ground has needed a fair bit of prep work so slow progress but progress nonetheless, it should look great once it's all done.

savingholmes · 20 April 2023 at 10:28AM

Sorry about the childcare issues. Great news on the school place.

DancingInTheRain · 28 April 2023 at 4:16PM

Another hectic few days has passed, I am SO ready for the bank holiday weekend!

DH had a good interview but the job went to someone who had a bit more relevant experience so he's not too disappointed.

My job has just been 😱 not enough hours in the day but I'm satisfied I'm working as hard/effectively as I can, just so exhausted.

Mum still unwell so we've had a couple of days of juggling WFH and the children but got through it.

The fence is finished and looks awesome, the garden is much more secure and looking much bigger now that it's got a clear border, the kids have enjoyed playing out after school and I'm happy knowing they're safe out there.

The big money news is we've paid off DH's student loan! 👏👏 We've wiped out our general savings to do it but have the additional borrowing money should an emergency arise so we should be okay.

This month's 'free money' will go to rebuilding the savings.

The credit card balance is at £5720 but still on 0% until October so we have time to reduce the balance before getting another balance transfer or paying off a chunk from savings, will see how next 6 months play out

The boys bedroom renovation takes another step forward next week as our joiner is finally available so that's another step closer too.

But first... A (hopefully) relaxing weekend! 🤞🤞

Hope all's well with everyone else, need to spend some time catching up on diaries amongst the relaxing 😀