Hugglemonster hits the debt hard!

savingholmes

Glad you had a good time away. It can give you a real boost.

hugglemonster

Good evening, on a night shift after a very busy day at races (running not horses). Actually competed today for the first time in ages, really enjoyed it but need to work on my speed!

Everything ok Chez Huggle, pay went in early and got about £200 extra in my pay packet but haven't seen payslip yet so don't know if it part of a month or full amount. Too be honest I think full month should be more so hopefully next month will indicate that.

Sent over £100 to dd school fees pot, now standing at £1100/£2600. I need to keep topping this up as payment is due before my December pay day so will be tight. 

I need to do a small amount of expenses for the month but the site is down.

I have volunteering in the morning then a sleep, then see my family member who has come for a visit and then I'm off for the week. I can't wait to have a lie in Monday morning! Tuesday I'm having my hair cut.

Feels like a really slow month and yet it's November next week. I think I'm just tired and looking forward to taking it easy this week.

H x

savingholmes

Congratulations on doing a run. Great you were able to increase your hours. Enjoy your time off next week. Getting a haircut should give you a lift...

How are you planning to bridge the school fees gap?

hugglemonster

Well the night shift turned into a bit of a nightmare, had to call for 2 ambulances but due to the wait one person's family ended up taking him in themselves and the other chap felt better after a few hours and I cancelled the ambulance on the understanding he rang if any change and he sees his GP this week. Fours hours of going up and down the stairs, plus not sleeping well before I started my shift plus all of that meant I was feeling really sick by 0500. 

When the staff came in at 0730 I asked to go straight home and had cancelled volunteering. I slept most of yesterday and all night. Feeling better today.

As I thought things are sent to try us, received an email from dd school this afternoon saying they are implementing a surcharge of £200 per term due to increases in costs that they are not able to absorb. So now I need to find £2800 by 13th December and then same again by April 2022.

I know this is a privileged problem to have so just need to step up and get it sorted. All extra income will go to the school fees pot including my pay from own business and anything extra I can find. I've sent over £30 from money I had saved from own business.

I got my payslip this morning and it confirmed that it was part of a month with extra pay so next month will be more. 

If needed I can move some money from the Xmas pot before pay day but it's not ideal.

So I'm going to use this week to trawl through the budget meal recipes and try to reduce our shopping bill for a start. 

I'm still going for a haircut tomorrow, needs must!

H x

hugglemonster

Right meals for the next 4 days, I've gone through the cupboards, freezer (which has also been defrosted) and fridge (which has also been cleaned).

Tues - Chili Bean Stirfry
Weds - Baked pots with beans & cheese, salsa salad 
Thur - Chicken nuggets/fish in batter or breadcrumbs, chips, peas, sweetcorn
Fri - Spaghetti & Meatballs, garlic bread

We have quite a few bits and pieces, plus dh made roasted tomato soup for tea just now and we have enough for lunch tomorrow. 

Shopping list is; red chili (will do for Tues/Weds meals), olive oil, green beans, brocolli, red onion (comes in pack of 3 so will be used Tues, Weds), kidney beans, 4 x potatoes, beans, cheese, spaghetti, pork & beef mince. Plus soap, sugar and squash.

We will need to decide what meals we will batch cook at the weekend right to go back to work/school next week.

H x

savingholmes

Ouch to the surcharge. Not what you needed after such a busy shift. Look after yourself too.... 

hugglemonster

So far so good, had my haircut cost £30 and looks fab, took most of the length off and weight (it's really thick!). Feel so much better.

Went food shopping, only added fruit and some prawn crackers to the list and managed to spend £20.56. Must try really hard not to do little sneaky shops, downfall is a bottle of wine which then turns into wanting snacks etc. 

I've booked the car in for a service next week, I have this money in the car maintenance pot. 

Just warming up lunch then will dig out all my pension paperwork and try and make sense of it.

See you later, H x

hugglemonster

Evening, the chili bean stir-fry went down a treat and have some leftover broccoli and green beans that I will par-boil and freeze for another meal. 

I logged in to an old survey account and was pleased that after just a few extra surveys I have cashed out £5 and it's already been paid, I've also requested some cashback money and therefore sent another £15 to the school fees account. Now standing at £1145/£2800. I'll send some more over when dh gets paid next week plus a bit when child benefit comes in next Tuesday.

Had a look through pension stuff, I've requested a transfer pack from one dormant pension with only £177 in it, also paperwork ready to merge 2 from the same fund (one current and one old) and then I just put in order my other pension from main job. I'll be left with the 2 pensions which are active. 

I'm going to have another look over my budget and see if there's anything we can save on, by February 2022 there'll be another £160 back into the pot each month which will be handy. Apart from food I'm not sure there is anything to reduce or get rid of but I'll still have another scan. 

It's chilly and very windy around here, I'm snuggling on the sofa with a blanket.

H x

hugglemonster

Having a lazy day, well lazy for me. I've still done a load of washing, swept downstairs and mopped the kitchen. I met dd in town as a top she wanted for her birthday only had one left so have purchased it early. 

Apart from that not much at all really. I posted my pension merging paperwork and have the transfer paperwork ready to fill out but I need to check whether my current pension will take it. 

I've done a few surveys and cashed out another £5, so dd school fees pot is now at £1150/£2800. 

I've had a look at my budget and as expected nothing else to save on except food, so this is my main priority. Food budget does include toiletries, cat food and cleaning products. I have the ingredients to make some toilet cleaner so must do that tomorrow. 

Right need to get the oven on for baked potatoes, have a good evening.

H x

savingholmes

How much are you expecting to be short? Knowing you - you will have a plan to address it.