The Secret of Getting Ahead is Getting Started

Jox

Happy new year!
Made it through 2020. 
Was very fortunate to be paid all year and to be able to stay at home with my son. Family and friends have all been well, we've been lucky 
Here's a financial summary of the year:
Debts: Jan 2020 £8,404.26 Jan 2021 £9,902.82, increase of £1,498.56
Husband's debt: Jan 2020 £4,115.58 Jan 2021 £5,414, increase of £1,298.42
Savings: Jan 2020 £4,581.75 Jan 2021 £12,369.35, increase of £7,787.60
Mortgage: Jan 2020 £218,160.35 Jan 2021 £210,520.48, decrease of £7,639.87
Didn't do so well reducing the credit card debt, but the Hargreaves Landsdown ISA has done well this year, wish I knew more about investing, will have to do some research.

bigsteve85

Hi Jox, I hope you and your family had a good Christmas and new year under the circumstances, your doing fantastically with all your finances but it would be so much easier with more assistance from your husband, can you not transfer some of the bills to come out of his account therefore taking the strain off yourself? I don’t know how you do it so patient and helpful 

Jox

Hello! Thanks for your comment You're quite right, we should be more equal but there's some reasons we're not, I'm employed and get the same amount every month, he's self employed and we never know how much he will get paid, he didn't work alot during the lockdowns.
I'm more money saving and care more about finances and savings and he's more of a spender, he has about 10 coats and I have 1 thin one from 7 years ago, he has a lot more shoes than me too!
He drove through 3 closed roads on one day (they were only just closed as part of a Low Traffic Neighbourhood) and he got 3 PCNs, I got them all cancelled, he probably would have paid them, £65 each.
We're not a great match but have been together 13 years somehow, I'm probably more of a mum figure to him!
Thanks for saying I'm patient and helpful, it's true I am but I can't help it, I need therapy! I did actually have 2 zoom therapy sessions last year and I came to some conclusions but nothing really changed.
There have been some heavy times but life isn't easy for anyone and I'm grateful I have my son, friends, family and home and am getting paid at least which has been amazing.

Jox

Oh I'm being made redundant, working on the details with work, time for changes this year

Jox

Still working on the redundancy details with work, it's not finalised yet. I've been at my job for over 12 years, does anyone think I could ask for a month's salary for every year I've worked plus notice period and holiday pay? 
My husband has a credit card and I've been paying the minimum for him every month, I've just noticed the interest free period was up last April and interest has been added every month! I've done a balance transfer to a 0% interest card for 25 months. So annoying!

joedenise

You're only entitled to one week per FULL year worked over age 22; under 22 it's only half a week!  That's the minimum but hopefully your employer will pay more than that but it really does depend on them how much you would get.  You might be able to negotiate a month per year but don't bank on it!

Jox

Thanks, they've offered statutory and enhanced and 3 months notice pay and holiday pay, but I was wondering if anyone had negotiated more, and wanted some advice from someone who has

joedenise

As you've worked for them for 12 years they have no choice but to offer you 3 months notice as that's the law (well 12 weeks).  Good luck with negotiating, sorry I can't offer any more assistance.  When I was made redundant my employer enhanced the redundancy to a month per year but had to work out the notice period which was horrible but worth it for the extra payment!

Jox

Thanks, that's good you got a month per year, not great to work the notice period, I won't need to work as the UK office is closed and I'm the last employee remaining, end of an era!

Jox

I'm finally redundant! After close to 13 years, time to look for another job.
I'll be receiving some redundancy money which should last a few months, would be great to pay off my debts with it but I'll keep paying the credit cards off as they are on 0% deals for now.