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

Spendless

Happy Easter everyone

On Thursday after work DH drove to pick DD up, sleeping o/n in the area and returning with DD the following day. A 5 hour trip each day due to Easter traffic instead of the usual 3.5. 

I'd already accurately guesstimated their arrival on Good Friday to be around 3.30pm and helped by my Mum there was a buffet prepared with 21st table decs and a cake,and family and friends in attendance. In DD's excitement she didn't even notice the gifts that had been put to one side and we said to open early due to her going away. We bought her a (refurbished) laptop because her own had broken and she'd been struggling with her Uni work because of it. We looked into having her old one repaired instead but that was more expensive to do. This was a complete surprise to her, she had suggested either (costume) jewellery especially rings or perfume as she thought she didn't have any. As I buy suitable gifts throughout the year when I see an offer, I'd  also been able to get her a ring as part of an offer when buying other items for myself and during the de-clutter of her room, I spotted 2 perfume bottles where the top had come off. This has happened on my fav perfume too and I solved it by buying a travel  atomiser where you can fill from the original bottle, so bought the same for DD and there was a discount for buying 2. This meant she got 2 perfumes back for a fraction of what buying a new bottle would have cost  Other presents received from family and friends were largely travel related;  travel jewellery case, zipped sunglasses pouch with coin pocket, money including Euros for her trip and an overnight bag in one of her fav brands from her Godmother. An item desperately needed and has been taken with her.


On Saturday  me and DH dropped her off at the ferry port for her trip. Yesterday her 21st birthday we heard from her sporadically during the day. She sets back off home later today arriving back tomorrow morning.

Yesterday me, DH and my parents went out for our lunch, to a chain but I'd been sent a voucher valid for Easter Sunday which I was surprised at for 40% off main meals. Was glad to do that after the prep of the last few days.

Now it is April, there are 4 months incl this one when we still need to pay off debt. 5 months today we should be debt free. Later this month I need to pay DD's final rental instalment for this academic year. Though I have 'bits' of money to still collect in from various sources, it's invariable that I'm going to be short and have to use savings for the shortfall. I think though what I'll do is treat it the same way as the car insurance, borrow from savings , pay it back over the next few months and have it paid back in line with the other debt but not include it in debt round ups. 

De-cluttering had been put on hold this past week, but today's plans are to do the tops of one larder type cupboard that seems to have all random stuff put up there and the top of one wardrobe. That will leave kitchen cupboards and 'the hallway' as areas to do next weekend. After that I wish to return to 'paperwork' as the area to do over several weekends and have thought through some ideas to stop DH wishing to throw away my important info! . Once DD is home the last area will be the conservatory. It's likely all her Uni stuff will end up in there over the summer so no point doing anything until then anyway. We are definitely seeing a difference in the house now.

Spendless

Spendless said:

On Tues PM I saw an email with a job I was interested in, applied and within an hour and agency contacted me. The job was temp for a month, 4 full days and min wage I said I was interested, then despite chasing I didn't hear anymore till this morning. The job had changed the spec, now wanting someone with a qualification I don't have. I talked to the agency about how difficult I had been  finding it, looking for work. They told me they'd been extremely quiet with not much around and a contact at another agency had said the same thing. So this is what I'm up against currently. I'm kind of relieved to know this and that 'it's not me, it's them' because I was truly thinking it was me. So with that in mind I'm putting job hunting on hold next week till after Easter. It is DD's 21st over the BH weekend and we are doing a family buffet for her on Good Friday and I think just put my time and energy into that.

Yesterday I got a statement through from an old ISA with a rubbish interest rate (1.2%). It has £80 in, I'm going to withdraw it and  also use that money towards DD's rent as well. Tonight/this weekend we are going to look at all accounts, move any interest/cashback money out and see where we are with DD's rent and also pay the CB CC. DH WFH in an (enclosed) outside space. I've been tidying some of the area today (before he wants to throw away more important documentation!) and have found 72p, one is another  picture 50p - still not kew gardens lol, that will go to DS. The rest is going in the coin purse! 

On Fri 22nd I said the bolded bit. Early last week I took a call asking if I'd attend an interivew for a job I'd pretty much forgotten I'd applied for. Said I would then got the heebie jeebies about it because an email told me that the interview would be in a format I'm not keen on and don't think I'm any good at. In my head I composed a reply rejecting the interview but I decided (with a push from one or two) to attend. Thought it went ok but still didn't really expect anything from it, but was glad it had been a positive experience. In the last hour I've been offered the job! I start tomorrow (my choice). It is local-ish, a short car journey/a long-ish walk. I was thinking the hours are more than the last place but they're not you just don't get as long an (unpaid) lunch break. It is a temporary role not sure how long for but may lead to permanent. I don't care tbh, just relieved to have something.  

Sunshine_girl2

Well done Spendless on your new job. Sounds like DD had an excellent 21st Birthday. Fingers crossed all goes well for your first day. 

Honeysucklelou2

Congratulations on the job news. Hope you have a really positive first day.

  Easter Sunday was a birthday here too!!  Happy 21st to your DD!

enthusiasticsaver

Well done on the new job. 

peb

So pleased to hear about the new job 

dawnybabes

Congratulations on the new job 

Spendless

Thanks All for the good wishes.

The place is nice and friendly. It's temp for (ideally) 3 months and see what happens after that. Really nice being  only a short drive away.

Yesterday would have been a NSD if my family hadn't beaten me to the fridge for a can of pop to take to work and I ended up paying £1 for one from the vending machine. 

I get paid on the same end of the month date DH does, which will make juggling the money around easier. 
 I'm over £600 short of DD's rent which is due 8 days before payday, but this will be borrowed and paid back. I *might* still take the 'bits of payments' to reduce the amount, but I'm not totally sure.

I have work uniform for the first time 5+ years so can put my own stuff away. DD has returned to drama school. Plan for weekend is just organisation;  food, house etc.

Spendless

Yesterday got a letter  from the AA saying that the payment details they have are no longer valid. This must have been set up on a CC that has since been cancelled. I hadn't even realised it was set up this way, so glad they couldn't just take an annual fee without me realising in advance! Not sure it's worth having at the minute. My current job is a few mins drive away (and walkable if needed) and I don't go that far beyond that. Now my mechanic is back the car needs to be checked over by him and a decision made about if/when I replace it. I think the membership was set up a few years back when I worked further away. One to discuss with DH today.

I went grocery shopping and have bought plenty of stuff suitable for packed lunches for myself and DH to take in his car fridge.

DD went back and forgot to take the money she received for her 21st birthday with her, so now wishes to spend some of it., so we need to send her the money across and bank the actual cash into our accounts.  There's also some educational expenses coming up which we currently cover so need to go through each item and decide who is paying for what. All drama schools do an annual  collaboration of their own students work  - think freshers week meets Edinburgh fringe, so some are going to fall into a grey area of costs.

When I came home from work on Friday DH was upset, because  family members (not our kids) had been making unreasonable demands on his time. He did speak to them about it, but since a, it doesn't surprise me in the least and b, I suspect  they'll try it again as has previously happened,   I have insisted that  all of next weekend is kept clear for us and the dog. I've suggested somewhere with an entrance fee, but we'll take a picnic to limit costs. Admittedly if I hadn't returned to work I'd have probably made the same suggestion but to somewhere foc. 

The £100 min we pay to the remaining CC is pending to go out tomorrow. Since DH savings accounts were changed over he now pays the savings towards them at the beginning of the month, so really I can tell you where we are at early in the month now, but I still have things like interest being applied on some savings accounts mid month, the CB CC that we pay in full each month to work out and this month pay DD's  last rent instalment for her current digs, so will keep the monthly round up same as previous. 

Spendless

Woke up and then got up too early - which is annoying now I have a working day and  week ahead. 

The £100 minimum amount that we pay monthly to the 0% CC has gone out. This leaves us with £8205 outstanding CC debt with £6000 worth of savings to pay it off meaning the  (CC) debt stands at £2205. Really happy with how much this has reduced by.
 (as per prev post will do a full roundup to include the other 2 debts later this month)

Sorted out DD's birthday money, she'd wanted to spend some, so we paid from our bank acc and have taken the equiv cash from her (from money put into her greetings cards)  DH then said to me instead of putting it back into our joint account  for me to keep it to oneside and use towards DD's rent. I put these notes into my coin purse. Upshot is I have £1400 in my bank account towards this bill and a further £160 in cash in my coin purse. I intend paying this in at the post office on Tues when I have an earlier finish. Just realised as I'm typing this, some is in change not sure the PO will accept even if at correct denominations - Hmmmm might need to juggle around here. Will look after work tonight. Anyway it means I am exactly £400 short for DD's rent and exactly 3 weeks to find it - will see how I get on.