Every debt this debt will go down

NeverendingDMP

So fairly strict spending today. Less than usual at aldi. Eating out of cupboards and needing to get back into menu planning should also help. 
Slight issue in that a school trip announced last week. Deposit paid and plenty of time to save the balance. Only this evening got another letter about another school trip within two months of the one already booked.  Both trips are expensive, one 200 pounds the other is over three hundred pounds. Can't do both and wouldn't tbh but peeved that we didn't know there would be two trips and so have the option of choosing before committing a deposit.  Feel it's bad planning so emailed school to rant.
I must add this is a primary school...

Sarahwithlove

UC is paid in arrears based on the previous months income/childcare expenses so you shouldn't end up with an overpayment like you do with CTC. Hopefully being on SSP will mean more UC and cost of living payment for you. I don't know who your TV etc is with but some companies such as B-T and sk-y apparently do special rates for people on benefits such as UC. 

NeverendingDMP

Sarahwithlove said:

UC is paid in arrears based on the previous months income/childcare expenses so you shouldn't end up with an overpayment like you do with CTC. Hopefully being on SSP will mean more UC and cost of living payment for you. I don't know who your TV etc is with but some companies such as B-T and sk-y apparently do special rates for people on benefits such as UC. 

Thanks that's handy to know. I'd rather not need to claim any if I'm honest but needs must and in the case of dh SSP it shows there is support in times of need so we are ever thankful. I think we might qualify for the first cost of living payment under the c tax credits we used to claim so if we get it it will be in autumn. That will be a nicely timed gift to go towards the energy price cap if we do. That and the 400 we all going to get would hopefully see us through to spring on our current direct debit. I'm paying 220 at the moment which would even out over the year on our current tariff. I'm assuming if cap goes up as papers are threatening we will be looking at 340/350 ish. Eeek. A far cry from the 125 a month I paid for last few years with avro. 

NeverendingDMP

Very hot weather forecast for the next few days isn't it. schools told us kids to wear  own loose clothing for Monday and Tuesday and that they will try there best. The way the school is built means all the classrooms have windows on both sides of each class room and they all open directly onto the playground. I do wonder if they will be able to maintain a safe temp with the amount of window they have or if they will have to call it and send the kids home. On the plus side all the windows and doors open properly and they have two dinner halls that are in the middle of the buildings that they could swap too if needed. Our plans over weekend are minimal. Takeaway tea as kids had good reports but otherwise no big costs for next few days.

jwil

That's crazy about the school trips! Hope you get a good response.

Well done on reducing the overdraft, £100 is much easier to get out of if you need to use it.

Hope all is ok this week with the heat.

NeverendingDMP

Sarahwithlove said:

UC is paid in arrears based on the previous months income/childcare expenses so you shouldn't end up with an overpayment like you do with CTC. Hopefully being on SSP will mean more UC and cost of living payment for you. I don't know who your TV etc is with but some companies such as B-T and sk-y apparently do special rates for people on benefits such as UC. 

Am with now TV for our internet. And can use them as and when to add extras such as films. Dh watches TV. Kids favour YouTube unfortunately and I tend to not watch much but will put on a documentary or occasionally follow a series. Glad u posted that as not many would know would they and its useful to anyone struggling 

NeverendingDMP

jwil said:

That's crazy about the school trips! Hope you get a good response.

Well done on reducing the overdraft, £100 is much easier to get out of if you need to use it.

Hope all is ok this week with the heat.

Thanks Jwill. I probably would have left the overdraft in place had you not prompted me. Not with the intention of using it but we all know how that story goes.

School replied and offered me the option of swapping my deposit to which trip we prefer. The one we had committed to is a pgl adventure type holiday Also aimed at being a leavers type break, they go after the year six sats and it's a farewell type holiday before they go on to highschool. The other is a trip abroad. I fear giving the eldest the choice would mean he wants to go abroad. (330 quid one) can't blame him but I think the adventure one would be more fitting. I might just pre earn him a letters coming but say any trips abroad are for highschool not now. One of the highschools he's been to look at runs a skiing trip in year 7, the kids starting there in sept have already been asked to start paying.... Words escape me...

NeverendingDMP

Gas and electricity just over 21 pounds for the week. Electricity was lower than usual but gas higher. Have had a few baths instead of showers so it's swings and roundabouts really. 

jwil

Eek, I can't imagine wanting to let my kids go abroad on a school trip before secondary school!  It's crazy, and asking parents for money before they've even started school is insane!

Well done on the gas and electric

Humdinger1

@NeverendingDMP just wanted to say I've read your whole diary and subscribed.   Congratulations on all the progress you've made; you'll get there.  Cheering you on love Humdinger xx