A new chapter, An empty nest, Drama school & Last year of Uni

Newstartforme

Some great news there Spendless and sounds like you are enjoying change of job . Lovely of your dad to treat everyone and also to remind us readers how far your daughter has come since the days of the ex , really uplifting post xx

Humdinger1

Wonderful news @Spendless! You deserve it; it's been quite the journey. Stability is a great help in managing finances and life. Love Humdinger xx

Spendless

Thank you both. In the early days making little to no progress on what then was CC debt, I almost abandoned this diary. Am glad I didnt.

Tuesday today so DD's rent paid. Last week's staff shortages meant someone changing their hols and fetching a new starter forward so as a consequence Ive lost hours this week (annoying but hey ho I gained last week). However this did mean that yesterday afternoon I was free to go with Mr S and my parents to see a 2nd hand car for sale in another city and have bought it - yay! . Id narrowly missed out on a car last week and was getting very fed up of being without one, so asked Dad who is the 'petrolhead' in the family to look instead. He found this one within an hour or two online. I wont have it for another few days cos garage is getting it ready. It's about £300 above my budget (inheritance from Nan who died 3 years ago), but we will pull this from elsewhere.

I started a bdays/occassions pot in my Monzo account. Initially I didnt think this way worked for me as we have a lot of bdays nearby early on plus I was trying to get ahead by buying in the sales so not always enough in the pot. That's another thing Im glad I perservered with as things are even-ing out now. DS birthday this week (and the dog's!). Have given son some presents in advance cos they fell into a 'need' category, a little cash to open on the day and hes coming back to us when he sources his want. Havent got dog anything yet but he just likes unwrapping presents. Bought Mother's day already using a combo of sale/staff discount items and should have enough in the pot for the next 2 birthdays.

Was planning a meerkat 241 trip to cinema later but friend is poorly, so am looking forward to a quiet and cheap/free day sorting house out instead, which is much needed!

Forgot to say parents put Nan's house up for sale yesterday. Expect board to go up this week. They feel more comfortable with an EA handling everything for them (I get it!).

Spendless

Friday and Ive added my fivers to my pot. Xtra rent is now at £120, lost at £55 and my own savings pot at £50.

I took advantage of my friend cancelling an outing earlier this week and instead took the time to sort out our conservatory. There was still Xmas decs in there, travel items left over from our hols (in Jan!) and Ive no idea how Mr S had any clothes left to wear to work cos I counted 9 of his shirts in the ironing pile! That cleared the following day for me taking all my clothes out of my wardrobe and going thru what I still wanted to keep. That identified gaps in my wardrobe, so yesterday after my work shift I used my staff discount to plug some of it.

DS bday earlier this week and we had family round for burgers and chips and a chocolate caterpillar cake (his fav since he was little).

Nan's house has sold! Yes in less than a week. Parents have had an offer on it, slightly above the asking price that they have accepted.

Honeysucklelou2

Wow, that’s amazing that your Nan’s house has sold so quickly…the housing market locally is very slow.

What a lovely thing for your dad to do in helping with needs. So thoughtful and kind.

Congratulations on your role being made permanent.

Spendless

Thank you HSL. Its been a long slog workwise but glad its now sorted. Yes so helpful to have a need paid for. Unfortunately I spoke too soon re Nan's house, the prospective buyer changed his offer yesterday to £10k less than he'd originally said. He only made the first offer less than 24 hours earlier! Parents have said No (I dont blame them!) The board hadnt gone up so there's been no time to test the market. Nan's house is a good sized 3 bed semi with a seperate (dining) room so ideal for a study etc and on a corner plot, so potential to extend. Yes some stuff is dated or decorated in a style that elderly ladies may prefer but liveable in whilst you put your own stamp on. Im not anticipating huge issues finding a buyer.

Today I get my car (hurrah!). I went for a walk yesterday with my friend, she showed me a 50p rail in the charity shop. I bought a dress from it, fits lovely apart from the sleeves are too long, Mum is alterating them. We then went to an independant coffee shop for a drink and hot cross bun. Got my loyalty card stamped and Im only one away from a free drink. Whilst in there I saw my parents walk past as theyd told me they were off to a DIY store at the other side of town, so went outside to ask them what they were up to and theyd come out to buy a birthday card - for my dog 🤦‍♀️ who is 7 today. We then walked back across playing fields putting the world to rights. I felt it was an enjoyable low cost trip out.

Spendless

Tuesday and DD's weekly student rent paid. I have 1 more week for this saved from my ;ast wages so because the following one will hit before my payday does it will be taken from the amount I have saved towards this.

There is a minor issue with my car (missing part meaning something not working) but the cost is going to be equal to (or worst case scenario not much more) than the petrol costs in driving it back to the city where I bought it, where I'm sure the garage would rectify it, it's just an oversight on their part. Annoying but not the end of the world. I rang my garage yesterday but the owners are on hol, they suggested taking it to their mechanic today, which I'll do later. Then I have a dental appt and another tomorrow - 2 sperate issues and more cost urgghhh think I'd rather pay for a minor car repair -lol.

Parents were correct to refuse the offer from the person who offerred £x one day and £10k less the following morning! They now have 9 viewers for the property over the next 2 weeks.

Spendless

Past 2 days, Ive had to spend on getting a part replaced on my car. Im sure the original garage we bought from would have sorted it, but the logistics and time involved in getting it across there and back were a struggle. Perils of buying outside the local area but we hadnt seen anything suitable nearby.

Dental bill, though I can claim most back thru my healthcare policy. Have been told that one tooth is past filling so my options are lose it or keep scruplously clean. Going to implement a new hygiene routine to ensure I keep my tooth as long as possible.

Parents are now upto 12 (I think) viewings of Nan's house. Hopefully all prospective buyers got a mortgage agreed in advance. It has lots of potential though so is suitable for the long term at what is a first time buyer price. Nan lived there for 75 years, so definately adaptable.

DD is coming home for a fleeting visit for Mother's day. Its her Easter hols but she has loads of rehersals to attend so will be staying in London for the most part. We still need to finalise plans for Sunday. Im not working - yipee (I did the last 2 and have the next 2 off) but over the next 5 days, I have 3 full time or almost f-time shifts. The money will come in handy.

I remain grateful for my staff discount as I continue to plug gaps in my wardrobe. I have bought underwear this past week, so I can get rid of the stuff past its best. My late MIL always refused to throw clean clothes away. If she spotted something on its way out shed give it one last wear before getting rid. This was in the days before recycling clothing points. Id only not wash something first if it was heading for the dustbin.

Spendless

Friday and the £s have left my account. Xtra rent is now at £125. Lost at £60 and my Friday savings at £55.

I am not working today and Mr S has booked a day off . This was initially to go and look for a car for me, but that is now sorted. Instead he is accompanying my parents to the EA as they need to take back a legal pack that he helped them fill in last week as they didn't understand it. I have realised that DD's bedroom isn't even sleepable in currently cos we have been using it as a dumping ground whilst we sorted the rest of the house. She's due back tomorrow evening and I'm at work all day so only today to get sorted and then leave Mr S to put things away (like suitcases and Xmas decs) whilst I'm not around tomorrow.

Sunday 4 of us are going to a Wildlife Park, it was free admission for me as a Mother's Day special. I intend to then ask my parents round for something to eat afterwards. I did comtemplate asking parents to join us at the Wildlife Park, my Mum would have got a free ticket too but I think it's far too large for Dad to walk around.

Spendless

Monday morning and I have a full shift ahead of me - Urgghhh. However did I work full time and I was doing that less than a year ago.

I received some lovely mother's day gifts including a new phone case, patterned so I can spot it when I put it down, unlike the last one that camoflagued into surroundings. A much needed mug for my workplace kitchen (the pool ones are grotty!), chocs and 2 lots of flowers.

After the wildlife park, we had my parents round for a meal of chicken curry with rice and Naans, starters of chicken wings and poppadoms and dessert of scones with clotted cream and jam. No mean feet considering we had to use air fryer, microwave and hob as still no oven. However that is being rectified by the end of the week. I gave Mr S 2 options either a repair was sought by a deadline date or we bought new. He couldnt meet the deadline date and I also realised a knob of the oven was missing, so this is one of the items being replaced by Dad,s gift of paying for a need.

I have pennies left of my own wages with the next payday towards the end of next week. We still (just!)have a 4 figure sum left of DHs wages but over 2 weeks until he next gets paid.

I could cobbe together a packed lunch for me this morning, of cheese and pivjle roll. S&V crisps, low sugar jelly and bottled water. Always helpful when that happens.

Right off to work now.