The Best Is Yet To Come

slm6002

I do feel quite proud actually.  At the time i thought he did more around here when things went wrong, but really he just faffed around.  The kitchen light played up again at the weekend.  I spoke to dad and he reckoned it was the bulb.  45 min later and a click and collect from local warehouse and it was mended.  Just me with a little help from DS.  I text dad to say done and he was shocked it was all sorted.  Before XH left it would have taken at least a week living in the dark before he looked at it.
I have some work to do today, then we have a zoom activity with band (chocolate mug cakes - think i will join in).  About to buy DS some new clothes as he is living in the same thing day in day out, or PJS because he has grown again!

Four_Seasons

Go girl! you are an inspiration well done.  Have a good week.

Eager_Elephant

What a great anniversary to celebrate!!
A few days ago I was 1 year divorced from my ex husband - shame I couldn't go out to celebrate!!

With your tax credit OP is that just your half? If couples split you can request the debt is split 50/50. I did this with my ex and he now pays back via UC and I pay my half via s/o. Makes it fair on everyone.

caeler

Well done @slm6002 on finding some time to reflect on how well you’ve done. Don’t under estimate your achievement. Such a tough thing to recover and move on from. 

I like to keep my monthly bills neat and tidy (and as low as possible!). I tackled the phone recently which has slightly offset the increase in energy. Nothing of course will offset again ctax increases sadly! 

slm6002

Thank you everyone - I am nowhere near over the whole thing and still care very much for the man I married - its like he died.  I however do not like one bit the new person he suddenly became and am very angry at him.  
EE congratulations on the anniversary of divorce date - I hope you had a little treat even if you couldn't go out.  The tax credit OP was halved when he left and it was obviously my fault they were chasing him - tried to say they never got the amount right and its just one of those things, but think he thought I must have stolen his money and not paid them back or something ridiculous.  I worked out I have £63ish left.  I can either have 3 month months paying the £25 - less on month 3, or pay it off now.  I would like to pay it off as I am still holding onto the very very small chance I can get a mortgage.  If I can show I get the £25 extra each month, that's a little more income to the pot.
Caeler my next job is to see where I can shave a little more off my bills.  I recently changed phone/internet provider, but electric and gas needs looking at.  At the moment my c.tax is reduced because of the benefits, but not sure how long that would continue.  Each month they look at my wages and the UC's and see what I need to pay.  Because I don't earn a consistent amount each month it changes each time. Sometimes I owe them, sometimes they owe me.  I must take a look and see what the account says - might be due a refund.
I cant remember if I mentioned but DS's laptop died in the middle of his maths lesson a few days ago.  I contacted the school as he had already been offered one, but as ours was working we declined.  Today I got a phone call and was able to go and collect a brand new one.  We are really grateful for their help.  It will keep him going until they return to school and at that point if it needs to go back (I think it will) then we will need to look at a new one for him.  Due to his dyslexia he is moving to more and more work being completed on the laptop, so he will need it for homework.
OK I am off to do some work work

slm6002

I have just paid off the tax credit over payment, so now universal credits will not have this deducted and in theory income will increase.  I looked at the energy company and I am surprised that overall in the year we have only used an extra £8 in combined gas and electric compared to previous year.  I know XH is no longer here, putting the heating on as and when he likes, and I guess not so many clothes to wash but I didn't think it would make that much different.  We did get rid of the fish tank that had pump and heater going 24/7 but again didn't think that took much energy either.  I guess all the little extra bits that we saved have gone onto extra laptops being used all day and extra heating as we are home all of the time.  I need to do a comparison still, but glad I don't owe anything and have money on my account to cover the cost so far.  It will therefore be easier to move if cheaper elsewhere.  I am definitely getting to the point where there are not many other areas that I can reduce the costs.

caeler

There had to be something nice to come out of something so awful. X I’ll take a lower energy bill any day! 

slm6002

Having said the heating bill is not too high the other day, today is freezing.  I am under 2 blankets doing my work and supervising the kids schooling.  They however seem to oblivious to this and have no socks on their feet - we don't have carpet downstairs so it gets cold with nothing on (another thing to be rectified if we are to stay here).   Heating will go on shortly for an hour just to warm the place up a little.  For now I also have the cat nearby for extra warmth lol. Tonight for dinner is sausages, mash and beans I think as its lovely and warming and a favourite around here.  As we didn't do a online shop this week, we are slowly starting to see the freezer get a little emptier. I'm sure we have plenty to get through before we are anywhere near starving lol.  Have also been doing a few surveys today so a few more pennies to add to the pot.  When I get to £10 I cash out and immediately get an Amaz@n voucher which I put away for Christmas.  All the little amounts help.  I also got £5.39 back from TopCashB@ck today from previous purchases.  This money in my bank has been trf to the emergency fund.

slm6002

I have just had a lovely treat through the post.  A friend has sent me some flowers totally out of the blue, no occasion, just because.  She has been there for me all through the last few years, both good and bad times.  I know her from up at the school as she used to walk her granddaughter to and from school everyday.  We started talking and have been friends ever since.  I don't know many of the mums up the school as I have always stood with her even though none of my children are in the same year group as her granddaughter.  She now doesn't need to walk her to school, but comes up anyway just to have a natta before and after school.  She is a good friend.  I feel blessed 

Gem2889

Hello, just caught up on your diary and wanted to say well done on everything you’ve achieved 👍🏻

Lovely news about the flowers 💐 
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