The second hurdle - Nichelette v the huge mortgage

Nichelette

It's Okay I'll probably grab this tomorrow when I'm in the office 😂. I'd honestly snack on mushy peas given half a chance. DH always gives me more when we have them.

Merlin's_Beard

Well done on the MCR tickets! Ithink sometimes it does us good to go off and pretend to be 20 years younger again!

Nichelette

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81933631#Comment_81933631

I agree! Look what orange man has done to my moving fund 🙄. I'm not bothered because it's a longer term thing, but it's not the first time he's has caused this. Kids money is holding up better because of the time it has been in there.

After the 1st I'll take some money from PB's and OP mortgage with it.

Nichelette

Got a bit of insider knowledge today. Looks like redundancies coming soon. Is a bit scary in current job market and I am worried about getting something new with limitations of kids, but I know I need to go, and tbh even if I didn't want to they'd legally have to keep the person on maternity leave anyway so wouldn't have a choice.

Am a bit torn as will present a catch 22 with DS2 nursery hours as to qualify we both have to be in work, but if I can't find something new in time I'd lose his place and think it's highly unlikely I'd be able to get another before he starts school. Obviously with no childcare I couldn't work. I could just keep him with me, but he's clingy enough, and if he doesn't go to preschool I think he'll be a disaster when he starts school. I'd be happy to have him part time, but he does need the socialisation and routine before he starts school. Even with 15 hours funded it would still be £400 a month for 2 days which is still a lot to take from DH earnings if I don't have an income. I am maxing out TFC account (currently have 2.3k in there). If I can stockpile enough that could be used to contribute as qualification is based on working at point you put it in, not when it is spent. Other option is negotiate to put off until person on maternity leave returns on 1st April which removes that issue as he will start school in September, but I'm there longer when I'd rather not be. Suppose that's the most sensible option though...

I asked chat GPT what I could do as a job as I have no idea really. I don't want to be a team leader again as it's entirely the wrong job for my personality type, but ironically I am good at it. It mentioned mentoring which might be a good shout as I'm sure I could teach others how to make a good job of it.

Will see how it goes I guess. At this point I'm grateful we've paid enough of the mortgage off to afford it on one salary as that's what I wanted when I first set off on this journey. I know it won't be the easiest, but I'm sure we will manage.

Jessy103

Sorry to hear about the possible redundancy and hope you get the outcome you want x

debtfreewannabe321

Will your redundancy payout be enough to help ease any fears and perhaps take some time with kids and find something else more aligned to you? I stayed home with my kids (worked as a childminder) and took them to social things all the time on the cheap - library singalongs and play centres as well as things run by local sure start centres etc. so they were all well socialised when they went to school and I got some time to sit and talk to other parents.

I hope it all works out how you want it to.

Nichelette

Thanks. It will be slightly over 20k assuming it happens. It's about 8 months pay, but it would last longer as I'd obviously be more frugal if I didn't have a job. I still want youngest to go to preschool for a couple of days at least which is where a lot of the cost comes in, as even with 15 funded hours it's still about £400 a month. He's due to start school in 2027 so 18ish months.

ladysummerisle

Does the school have a preschool? Mine just went to 15 hours there and it made the perfect transition. (Admittedly I wasn’t the SAHP but still).

Are you also absolutely sure the person on maternity wouldn’t jump at the chance of redundancy too? It’s a possibility.

Get your LinkedIn updated and hope to be headhunted!

Nichelette

It does have a preschool but I think I'd need to be applying for a place now (or possibly already). It had actually crossed my mind before because it would be easier having both in one place, but nursery is incredible compared to a room in the school, and whilst it would serve the same purpose I don't want to disrupt his routine as I have a hard enough time dropping him already (though he often wants to stay at the end of the day - make sense of that 🫠). I still have a while as nothing has been mentioned yet but may consider later depending on circumstances.

I'm 99% sure my opposite would want to stay because she has a big mortgage, but worse case in that circumstance is we're financially stable for longer as we'd still have my income.

Ironically after last winning £25 in September we've won £100 on PB's today 😂. Almost like a little pull to stay lol. Anyway, 5.6k removed to pay off mortgage when it arrives. Will save us a bit of interest. We still also have moving fund cash buffer. Mortgage rates are shocking atm so considering us lucky was sorted when it was as first lower payment went yesterday.

Have about £900 until we get paid on 15th plus the £250 for IOW. Got another lidl voucher so stockpiling dishwasher tablets and bits to take advantage of. At least if I have no job we'll have clean dishes 😂.

South_coast

I was so disappointed to actually have to pay for dishwasher tablets this week - it's been a while since they had a free W5 voucher 🙄!