Hugglemonster hits the debt hard!

savingholmes

Great that your expenses are finally authorised. Well done to paying the most off ever in such a short period. Hope your DH gets good news about his salary and bonus. My DH is hoping for a decent payrise this year but we'll see. Unions are my place are also arguing for a nice payrise but it seems unlikely that they would win in the current economic climate - all we can do is hope.

hugglemonster

Well what a strange and uncertain time we're living in! Everything has been put on hold for the foreseeable just like everyone else and hope this awful thing can be managed and we can get back to some sort of normality and support our friends, family, businesses to pick up the pieces and get going again. 

So where are we? Well at the moment the kids are obviously off school, they have been doing a mixture of school work, playing games and playing in the garden, they're absolutely fine. DH is still having to work but is now working different times to the other person he shares his office/lab with, he has been getting frustrated with groups of lorry drivers who have been congregating outside the building!!! I'm working from home until at least the end of May, my annual leave was meant to be going to recce lots of places for my big run in September but of course that couldn't happen. All our sport is cancelled and we can't plan anything but we can still support the clubs. 

My brother has had a mild dose of the virus but luckily is well and has gone back to work (they make medical equipment).

Financially we're ok for now as I will still get paid, I wonder how long dh will be able to keep going as at some point they will have to cancel all but essential construction work I would imagine. This period has taught me some very basic things about being smart with our money, it's like another lightbulb moment, we don't need half the things we think we do, we are so careful with our food, we need an emergency fund! In some good news dh has had a 2.5% payrise starting April 1st and will get a bonus of £996 before tax in his May pay packet, he needs a new computer and the kids need shoes and going to try to use some to pay a bit off the debt.

Debt is nearing into the £8k's, I transferred the overdraft on to my 0% card so need to reduce this, I feel bad about phoning the bank to reduce my overdraft as they are so overwhelmed at the minute so need to be strict and stay within budget.

Today is my Mum's birthday and my parents anniversary, we will take round some cards and celebrate from a distance!

Stay well, stay safe, stay at home!

H x

savingholmes

Glad your brother is okay and that your close family is too. It is a weird time. Definitely not a time to be without an emergency fund. Good about the payrise and the bonus. Good to be reducing debt. I wouldn't ring about the overdraft at the moment - they are 'drowning'.

pennywisepoundstupid

Morning Huggle, good to hear from you.
Good news that your brother is ok and DH bonus and pay rise will come in handy.
Take care and stay safe xx

hugglemonster

Trying to keep cheerful but dh has now been furloughed on full pay but he is really worried about being made redundant, I've said we'll just have to play it by ear and just make sure we cut down on spending and will keep his bonus in the savings account just in case. I'm trying to do surveys to keep topping up the emergency fund and when I get paid my expenses I'll split it between savings and paying off a bit of debt.

I had a letter from the car finance bods and it seemed that my extra payments were just sitting in credit on my account and did not automatically change the payments, so I've requested for it to be added as a partial early settlement and it should reduce some of the interest plus it will reduce the term by 3 months.

Feel in a bit of limbo which I'm sure most people do so trying to keep busy, we've done lots of cooking and cleaning and chilling out too. 

Not much else to say really, just need to keep going!

H x

pennywisepoundstupid

Hi Huggle, I have my fingers crossed that your DH isn't made redundant, life is so up in the air at the moment, plans can't be made and normality seems like a distant memory.
Take care and keep smiling xx

savingholmes

Hi Hugglemonster - good that he is getting 100% of pay and that you have some time to save / plan. Hugs though - it is a tough situation to be in. Does he like his current job? Has he got any projects / passions he's always wanted to explore?

hugglemonster

Isn't it funny how the days seem so long whilst we're not as busy as usual but the weeks are flying by, still ticking along and have treated the kids to a new game each both cost £3.95 so not a major expense to keep them happy and they're good kids.
DH is trying to keep busy so as not to dwell on the job situation, it's the waiting game that drives him to distraction but if and when any news comes in I know he'll be looking for work straight away. Definitely not afraid of a bit of hard graft! HI does like his job but not what he thought he would be doing, his passion is the Outdoors but that's not an option at the minute.

Doing well with the budget in general as less expenses going out, we got a veg and fruit box delivered and it's lasted up for 2 weeks so I'll order another at the weekend. Struggling to find packs of yeast at the minute, we want to make homemade pizzas at the weekend and some more bread. I might ask friends if they've seen any in the shops. 

I need to pay some money towards the credit card but trying to stay in the black in my current account for the first time in ages, I might leave it until next pay day and then phone the bank to get rid of the overdraft completely therefore taking away any temptation to dip back into it!

Hope everyone ok, H x

savingholmes

Sounds like you are coping well with everything. Unsettling times for all.

pennywisepoundstupid

Glad your keeping well Huggle and a little treat for the children is nice.
Good idea about the overdraft.
Have a lovely weekend and Happy Easter xx