Queen Bee fighting for her Hive!

Queen_of_the_Hive

So we have another budget statement to get our heads around and how this will impact me and my family. I was worried, am finding myself as a "JAM JAM". The last few years have been just about managing but now its just - just about managing. The line getting more and more blurred.

This autumn I'd applied for three Christmas jobs which I can appreciate is a low number but hence the last of three rejects was ironically recieved today. Which was no big suprise but just a sign of the times.

Will do a longer fuller diary later....

Drawingaline

How are you getting on? Miss your updates 

Queen_of_the_Hive

Drawingaline said:

How are you getting on? Miss your updates 

Hi @Drawingaline, thank you for taking the time to prompt me to update my diary. It is well overdue. I'm keeping well and muddling through. I need to catch up on your new diary too

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello diary,

Its a bleak Sunday morning mid Feb, with spring around the corner and Valentines coming up in a few days time. The last time I posted a diary entry was pre Christmas. How time flies!

So Christmas was lovely, the kids were spoilt. I normally put some money aside with the 1p savings challenge but last year I didn't do this so come December my credit card was melting but it was all paid off from salary and savings. Current position is debt free and have been since July, the only debt is monthly credit card spends which are paid in full. This position am trying to maintain alongside the cost of living situation.

This winter was tough for us, as has been for many families. We've done as much as we could to manage our energy, water, food and general spending and we made it through as best as we can. My wearable blanket and my partners old fleece jumper he was getting rid off have become welded to me. Together they are warm enough to 'heat the person' and I've discovered a bigger appreciation for warmer areas such as the swimming pool area when the kids are having weekly lessons.

There have been some big bumps though that we are working through, our landlord just this week sent the now common communication that the rent needs to be increased by 30% in this years annual review. My reaction was utter devistation as this could split up our little co-parenting community with ex H & his partner & mean a big move for us. We've negotated a reduced amount but still a big leap for us on top of everything else & expecting this will haunt us this time next year. We've also had major problems with leaks to our little business premises which has wiped out the fledgling pot we had. The problems are not yet fully resolved. 3 water leaks, two to the outside of the building and one to the inside. The inside one is fixed & damage recitifed but the outside ones are still to be resolved and this is a concern. The damage inside is clear to see and can't be made good until we know the outside is resolved. So all in all its not good and quite a worry. But we are doing our best to keep spirits up and not let the bumps break us.

So that is the negative out of the way, I do believe everything is a balance and I also have some wins too. These are small but still important especially in this current climate.

So we became grandparents again, my partners son had a baby last month. They live overseas and we really want to visit them sometime soon. The cost is going to be serious cash but in January myself and my partner started saving for it. We are using the 1p savings challenge method and hoping to be able to add a compounding £10 a month about. We have set up a little savings account and so far added £10 each to the pot. We'll add £20 each in Feb pay etc till the end of the year if we can. I'll track on my progress bar for a bit of motivation.

In January I was watching some finance YT videos and felt inspired and 'safe' that I could increase my pension & LISA payment amounts for this coming year. So again, its not big amounts but something.

In my spare time I try to pick up surveys and studies and have been earning a few quid each month doing this. Its more of a top up but am having a bit of financial 'fun' trying to grow the amount of money I have and investing this in an Innovative Finance ISA. Am trying to grow some different income streams. This is growing slowly in baby steps but still a win.

Due to current climate and my own financial circumstances I've been forced to evalute where every penny is coming in and going out like most on here do. Its a pain in the bum and rather wish I could just be free to spend, but this is working and helping to get through difficult times. So its a message of hope to keep going. 

This week is half term, the kids are with their dad part of the week and then with us for other part. We are going to try curling which am particularly looking forward to & have a trip to a museum planned. We'll be taking packed lunches and making most of the free stuff but also just excited to get out and explore.

Queen_of_the_Hive

Happy Valentines Day 2023!

There is lots of love in the house - actually there is just me up and ready for work while OH is sleeping from his night shift. No actual plans for valentines day but we'll just enjoy it anyway.

So yesterday was monthly accounts review. Happy to report was in the positive for January. Mostly gains from the stock market but some small wins from Investment ISA and some interest from savings accounts which have benefited from increased interest rates. Also pleased to see my pension has increased a bit in value too. I've also made a bit of a change to my money targets. For as long as I've been seperated from ex H i've been saving for a house deposit and life just hasn't gone my way and in a bid to simplify i've removed all targets for reaching my high amounts needed for a house deposit. I'm still saving and the desire has not changed but I think a dose of current realty was required. Its actually really nice to be a bit more free from it esp with the current financial crisis.

This month am trying to have a relatively quiet month spending wise and make the most of free or cheap activities. Have a bit of a bucket list of places I'd like to visit with the kids. High up on the list is some of the London parks and Hampton Court Palace. Def looking forward to it being a bit warmer to take picnics outside again.

Have a nice day.

Queen_of_the_Hive

Yay its Friday!

Everyone is still sleeping and I woke too early but its meant i've had the chance to jump on the computer with no interruptions which is fantastic.

So in the Hive this week i've had my annual review at work. These things always make me feel a bit unsettled but was happy with the feedback and the meeting. Need to finish off some bits on the report before submitting it.

The kids love football and being on a very minimal budget, going to a football match (prem style) is just not an option. However this week I was chuffed to say I have bought some tickets. This is for one of the womens prem league games. The kids don't know but they will go nuts when they do. Its not teams we normally support but its was too good an opportunity for the price. £35

Its very quiet on the surveys at the moment. A couple of years ago I had registered on about 4 different sites but stopped doing most of them and stuck to one. The one I was using has gone quite quiet at the moment so this morning I took the chance to re-look at the other ones and see that as I was part way to getting paid I should pick these up again.

Today we are going to try an activity which is completely new to all of us, this should be a lot of fun. We are going to try curling. It was recommended by a good friend and looks excellent.

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello Sunday,

Curling was a big hit! So much so the littlest wanted to do it yesterday! Hopefully its on again next year. 

The kids were excited about some game update thingy being launched yesterday so we didn't put our plans for the day into place. It means we saved a little bit of £ on the planned entrance fee, travel costs and potential mini spends in the cafe. As much as we normally take a packed lunch with us on these outings we normally end up buying something from the cafe. Little one is very persuasive! Estimate savings £25

Went to the gym, did a bit of housework and generally just relaxed at home. We enjoyed watching the final of the m@sked singer. Bought a punnet of strawberries and that was it. We needed something for the business which came on my credit card but was reimbursed straight away.

Will likely take the kids to the local park today for a kickaround, need to do some more cleaning and some other chores at home. I have mushrooms to use up so going to make a mushroom soup for me during the week. OH hates mushrooms so more for me!! Yay.

I need to sort out my MSE footer, its quite out of date and add this years financial goals to my diary.

Queen_of_the_Hive

Signature finally updated!

So after having big dreams for saving for a decent deposit on a home. I've finally come to the earth shattering realisation this just isnt going to happen unless something drastic happens.

So this year I've changed my thought processes and going for more realistic goals. Most of which I was already doing last year, just trying to grow them further.

1. After the shock from the landlord we really need to get off the renting rollercoaster. I have some very tricky circumstances but we are investigating whether we could get a small mortgage and then we will see what we may be able to buy.

2. We are trying to save for a future trip to visit family that live long haul. Using save 1p a day challenge as a starting point. Both myself and OH is doing this. We have £10 each saved for Jan and planning to put aside £20 in Feb onwards...

3). I've had a bit of financial fun trying to grow an investment stock and shares ISA to compliment the other ones. I'd really like to get to 1k by the end of the year. We'll see how it goes as I recycle the money invested and income from surveying to cover this so we'll see. Currently have £555.56.

4. Knowing we are likely going to be moving in the next year or so we really need some cash to cover the endless list of things. I've invested most of my money so this will be an essential pot. Am using the money I recieve from the rental property to put into FD regular saver paying 7%. Have £600 saved so far.

5). After working so hard to pay off the debt post seperation there is no way I can go down the debt route again so this year I don't think we will be having a holiday as such. Just making the most of where we are and our little holiday rental business when it is not booked.

Happy Sunday

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello Sunday,

Woke up wayyy to early! 4am ish

So this week has been a strange one, due to ExH plans we swapped days for having the kids so everything happened at the beginning of the week and the latter half of the week was pretty quiet. Normally I find these kind of times quite hard as I do miss the troops but have kept myself busy with some necessary jobs. I had a big pile of stuff to get out of the house, some clothes and books to school for respective sales and I now have a bag of unwearable clothes to also get rid off. I believe there is a clothes recycling bin near a pretty park nearby, so planning to take the clothes to the bin and then enjoy a sunday stroll around the park which will be nice. If I get super organised I should make up a flask to enjoy a cuppa while there.

Friday night was a spontaneous trip to the pub to celebrate my neighbours birthday and i've been making good use of the gym.  Our side hustle is keeping me busy with various admin tasks too.

Financially this week, doing ok although had an unexpected spend on a secondhand bike for one of the kids. Its his birthday in June but we found someone selling a bigger bike with gears and so bought for £130. Hope he likes it. We don't have a car so use bikes regularily so worth buying a bit earlier.

Went food shopping yesterday and spent £18 my share of split bill. Hope this lasts until next week.

Have defrosted some beef with the plan to make a curry for OH for work today / tomorrow and I'll have some tonight. Yummy.

Have added £9.39 to Investment ISA from Prolific. Hope to be able to do another £100 investment soon. Have £64 in the pot and due other payments soon.

This coming week, we have an appointment with a mortgage advisor to get an idea of how much we may realistically be able to borrow. Keeping everything crossed it goes well.

Been enjoying catching up with some diaries for inspiration.

Humdinger1

Standing by for updates @Queen_of_the_Hive! It's impressive that you are looking the facts in the face and planning accordingly.  My crash course in reality came about over 10 years ago, paying off 140k of debt.  Feet on the ground can be scary after living in cloud-cuckoo-land but it is satisfying.  As a divorced and remarried mother of 1 (now at uni), your co-parenting arrangements are riveting.   Onwards and upwards love Humdinger xx