We used to have children, now we just have debt...

pink68

Hi, I've been a member of the forum for over a decade, and it is thanks to many of your diaries that I am not in even more debt than I am, but now at the turn of a new decade, and a lot of changes in mine and DH's life, it's time to tackle the £10K of debt we have on credit cards, then tackle the mortgage, then hopefully prepare for retirement!

This year our eldest officially left home permanently (having been at uni for 3 years) and our youngest started uni. So now, in term time at least, we are empty nesters!

But the kids education has turned out to be much more expensive than we had budgeted for (ok, we hadn't actually budgeted for it at all!) and hence the biggest credit card debts we have had in years.

DH and I are both in our early 50s and I in particular am desperate to work less, but having just forked out another grand to my son to help him cover his rent for the term (his maintenance loan doesn't cover it all) we once again have no savings.

I don't do New Years resolutions, but DH and I are both seeing our health start to deteriorate a little, so my resolution for the decade is to be debt free, mortgage free and ready to retire.

I do hope some of you will join me for the journey!

supersaver1000

Good luck Pink! Look forward to following you.

pink68

Thanks supersaver.

So today is back to reality, back to work after a 10 day break and I really don't want to go!
I work 3 days a week as an employee in one company, then do another day to day and a half working self employed. Although the self employed bit would be an ideal thing to take into retirement it's not really working out for me, it just takes up way too much of my headspace. If I could afford to ditch the client I work for today I would be happier but it basically covers the cost of my kids uni costs, however I am concerned that the financial benefit is being outweighed by the effect on my health that the stress has.

At the moment both the kids are still here, one leaves Saturday, the other Monday, and part of me is terribly sad they are both going again, but part of me is relieved that it will be just DH and me again for a few weeks. Give it a week and I'll be whimpering about how much I miss them but right now I just feel shattered, surely holidays are meant to be relaxing!

Checked the bank and my standing order to the biggest credit card has gone through, just need to keep my costs as low as possible this month to avoid putting anything back onto the cards, it's going to be a tight month, I'm aiming for £25 a week food costs for January as we have so much in the freezer still.

beanielou

Happy shiny new diary

pink68

Thanks beanielou. I love the Jane Austen quote on your profile page. I just LOVE Jane Austen!

So yesterday I managed to persuade eldest to cook dinner, but she had to make a trip to the shops for a few bits, so off she trotted with my purse. Who knows how much she spent...

I'm in a lot of pain with my hands at the moment, the physio diagnosed it as something with a long name and told me to rest my hands over Xmas, she said as I wasn't at work it should be easy. She obviously has never catered for 4 adults for 2 weeks! The pain last night was awful and woke me up at 4 am this morning so I'm just about ready for a doze at my desk now. I'm hoping once the kidlets go back to their own lives I can relax a bit more but it really has made me think more about the situation I'm in.

I want to work less so I can spend my time doing the things that make me feel healthier, but short of downsizing I just can't afford to at the moment, and I really don't want to move whilst the kids are still coming and going so much.

I HAVE to tackle this debt, we run a tight ship financially as it is, but spend too much in coffee shops and restaurants..... trying to get the balance right between enjoying life now and enjoying life in the future!

beanielou

Getting the balance right is so hard.
Did the physio give you exercises to do?
Suggest anything else?

pink68

Hi again BeanieLou
The physio did give me some strengthening exercises to do, and I have been doing them, but they've not helped so far. She said in the long run I can have steroid injections in the bases of my thumbs which apparently have quite a good success rate?? Problem is I'm largely office based, sitting at a keyboard most of the day. When I can get away from my desk I usually end up shifting boxes and files around, or putting the kettle on!

I actually started seeing the physio after a rheumatologist recommended it and told me I was fine, just arthritic (knee and hip problems). Problem is the rheumatologist has now dismissed me, but the physio reckons I should ask to go back again. Fortunately I've still got a good supply of the pain killers left over so I'm hitting those today. I could probably do with a week of binge watching the TV to get me better.

beanielou

Physio can re refer you to the rheumatologist.
I suppose the difficulty is that is you are using your hands all day at work.
Any way you could use voice recognition software for even part of the day?
A difficult one.

pink68

Lots of options to look at. I've been looking at rollerballs rather than mouses and better keyboards.

Not sure about voice activated but it's worth looking at. I fear 30 years of typing in numbers has finally got it's revenge! Thanks for the suggestion.

Been and done the weekly shop today rather than my usual day so hubby could push the trolley round. Eldest has left so just £45 spent. Not the £25 I was aiming for but I've bought enough cat food for the month and have meal planned the week, and the freezer is still heaving!

Had a good nights sleep so feeling a bit brighter today.

Blackcats

Hello Pink. Happy new year and good luck on your quest. Voice recognition software is really good. Your employer might be prepared to purchase it for you and any other adaptations.
£45 is a good shopping total to include a months cat food. My cats are soooo fussy. They will only eat an expensive brand, it has to be fish flavour and in gravy. They have forgotten that they are both rescue cats.

beanielou

£45 including cat food for a month~~wow.