Discount Duck’s Quest For Mortgage Freedom

Hazelnutty

Hi DD, I did my PhD part-time while working FT and having my DD - it was exhausting and even though XH was notionally supportive, I don't think he saw it as work. Do you think that might be a factor for your ex? Academic writing needs serious focus and sustained attention. It's not something you can easily do in snatched pockets of time. 

DiscountDuck

Wow HN, well done! What an achievement. 

My ex never saw my work as work, let alone my studies! He’s just too busy with his own stuff and so there’s no chance he will even take his normal contact at the moment let alone anything extra, it’s usual for him to cancel. I have no choice but to do it in short snatched pockets of time, it’s how I’ve had to do all the rest of it. I got a first on my honours degree and managed high grades on all the other masters modules but the dissertation is killing me. Hopefully these upcoming two days will mean I can make some decent headway with it that I can at least then build upon. 

DiscountDuck

In latest news, reducing stuff with sweeteners in it has definitely made my son a bit calmer and less wildly energetic than before. Yay!!! 

We went to stay at my boyfriend’s house for a few days as he’s about ten minutes from the Wirral coast. We have made the most of our visit, going on 2-3 hour beach walks every day and a trip to World Museum in Liverpool. It is a fantastic museum, even with the reduced displays - they have a one way system in place and there is a lovely park opposite where we had a picnic. My daughter was thrilled to find our first codd marble and a more modern ‘sea washed’ marble as well as lovely other pieces of glass and tile. We picked up a bag of plastic from the beach to do our bit too. People were generally great at keeping distance, but that may be because of the enormous German Shepherd 😂 he is the friendliest dog in the world, but he is big so people tend to steer clear. We would never have afforded to get away this year otherwise so were very grateful that we were lucky enough to do this. 

Ebay seems to have got pricey lately for kids clothes, I was expecting it to be cheap with so many people clearing out. I’m not brave enough to try the charity shops yet, as we are in Leicestershire and so with our nearest city being locked down I’ve not wanted to take any unnecessary risks. 

I’ve also noticed food prices rising recently and don’t know if I should stock up the freezer/store cupboards in case they continue to rise in the run up to Brexit, or if this is just temporary because of COVID-19 and they’ll drop again. It’s tough to know what to do. Our home grown spinach and beans are getting blanched and frozen which makes me happy, but we may be sick of French beans soon! 

I’m happy to have reached my target on the MFI3-5 forum, I am really proud of myself. I don’t know how much I’ll be able to overpay next year if food and clothes prices continue to rise, but at least I’ll be finished sooner than if I hadn’t scrimped and saved to get to this point! 

Hazelnutty

I'm really sorry to hear this DD. Does your university offer any remote support for postgrads such as virtual retreats? A group of favourite colleagues has been doing 2-hour sessions on Zoom, where we all chat for a few minutes and say what we're working on, then mute/stop video for about 90 mins then check back in at the end to say how we got on. It sounds like there's no way it'd work but it's amazing how it helps you focus.  Could you maybe set up a group with some peers if there isn't anything being run by your department or programme? 

DiscountDuck

I have got my cousin coming over on Monday night, she’s starting year 2 of a degree in psychology with the OU so I’m hoping we can be study buddies! My masters has a lot of psychology in it so I’m hoping we can keep each other motivated and be able to proof read for each other. I love your zoom idea - I may well suggest trying this to her as we are both single mums so regularly meeting might be tricky. Thanks for the super suggestion. 

Hazelnutty

Good luck You got this.

DiscountDuck

Thanks HN, I really hope I do. I’m not from the kind of family that takes education this far and I think I may have bitten off more than I can chew. Academia is as much about class and life opportunities as intelligence, and I’m bright but don’t have those other advantages so I really hope I’ve not taken out a scary student loan to then fail.

In brilliant news, both my kids got sent a Blue Peter badge for their poetry and art! This is going to save me so much money because there are loads of the places that I save and budget to take them to once a year or so where they’re now free until they’re 16! Incredible places I was saving to go that we’ve not been to like Jorvik and Dig in York, and places we love but are a bit pricey to do more than every 18 months or so like The Black Country Living Museum, Twycross Zoo and Magna Science Museum. Being freed up to pay for just me not the kids makes them so much more affordable for a day out so I’m super happy. We might do a caravan tour next summer in our vintage caravan, on a route to do all our free for the kids day trips all the way up to York or Wales and back! 

BabyStepper

I just read your diary and wanted to say well done for all your progress so far - you're doing an excellent job. I've just started trying to pay down the mortgage (at the same time as building an emergency fund) and I know how difficult it is. 

I've subscribed and look forward to cheering you on. 

Squirrelz92

Congrats on your children earning their Blue Peter badge!!! How brilliant knowing they are now eligible to visit places for free! You must be so pleased! On the education front, don't doubt yourself. You have just as much of a chance as everyone else to do well in life and look how far you have come already. One day at a time and you will get there! We are cheering you on!

South_coast

Well done on the Blue Peter badges 😀