I've just worked out that if we can come up with an extra £250 per month...

In_Search_Of_Me

jacks have a chat with ceridwen on here - she knows all abou barter system and will be v helpful for you! Sorry to hear that things are tough at the moment..cant suss who is doing what or working what or who isnt!! Hope you sort the heater out...hows dosh getting on? hugs re mum.

Jacks_xxx

Hiya lovelies! :wave:

I don't really need this big font since I got my new specs but I don't feel like "me" on DFW without it!

Hmm...Update.

Ok first the big one: We're still debt free - not even an overdraft. Our credit ratings are still pretty good too. Hubby's is 995 and mine is 795. :j

Hubby's at college full time, I'm still working p/t, mystery shopping and selling our stuff on eBay and learning how to be a debt advisor at the CAB.

My son has got a lovely gf now, been promoted, bought a new car, and had a couple of payrises - so he's happy.

My beautiful daughter is in year 10 when she goes back to school so it's nose to the grindstone for her. She's Ok though. She likes learning. She was offered a Saturday job at our local hairdressers but she decided to turn it down because she's going to Uni and she thought it would be unfair to the girls her age who really want to be hairdressers.

Our cat is still with us even though he's older, (15) grumpier and fussier than ever! Bless him.

Mum's got two more chemos to go so that's good cos it's been getting a bit gruelling for her.

Hubby was getting contribution based jobseekers for the first 6 months which has stopped now but luckily we still have the unemployment insurance until next May.

Our DFW training has kept us in good stead. We have no money and no savings, but we also have no arrrears and no debts - and we're happy.

School uniform has been expensive this week because my daughter's needed everything except a tie really but she manages her own child benefit now so it all came out of that.

She's a bit gutted that just getting ready for going back to school has almost wiped her savings out - but that's just how it is. It's not as if any of it was optional.

I have worries about the future, but basically life's pretty Ok. We eat really healthily because we grow our own, shop in the market and cook from scratch every night. Hubby's become Head Chef since I've got more to do than he does! He does lots of shopping laundry and housework too. we all get enough sleep and plenty of time together so that's good.

Lots of my friends are having "redundancy babies" whilst they're having an unscheduled gap in employment anyway - but rest assured that we won't be doing that! :eek:

I'll try to be a round a bit more, but we sold one of the big computers and a lap top so it's more of a scrum for computer time than it used to be!

Love Jacks xxx

boredofbeingathome

So glad you posted an update Jacks and such a positive one too. Hope your mum gets through chemo ok . x

Jacks_xxx

Thanks Bob!

hypno06

Hi Jacks!! Things seem to be ticking along reasonably well for you - I hope Mum soon gets better.

I love the term "redundancy babies", btw.....Just think, in 20 years time, people will no longer say "I was a war baby", they will say "I was a redundancy baby"! Glad you are not partaking though :rotfl:

Keeping_Positive

Thanks for update Jacks Its good to hear things in general are going well. Hope your Mum well again soon.

In_Search_Of_Me

aww thanks for the update...fab to hear that the dfw ways have done you well...amazing how a change in circs focusses the mind isnt it!! Hugs re mum and chemo...a friends mil is going through it and its tough isnt it...very unselfish of dd too and at least gives her time to study and great idea getting her to manager her own cb!!

beanielou

Great news you are still debt free.
I am in awe.
Positive vibes for your mum.

Jacks_xxx

Cheers my lovelies, :wave:

One more chemo to go for Mum now so nearly over we hope.

Found out today that another friend is pregnant. She said she stopped taking the pill as soon as potential redundancies were rumoured at her place, and she was already expecting by the time of the formal announcement where they asked for voluntary redundancy candidates.

She's got about another fortnight at work! She says with no commute expenses for her, no childcare and the redundancy money they can manage on Hubby's wage for a couple of years - and if he gets made redundant too then they'll have another one!

I've directed her here of course. if she takes the MSE way onboard she may never have to go back to work!

Love Jacks xxx

In_Search_Of_Me

hows your mum doing jacks?