Single mum to 5, striving for debt free life

savingholmes

Good that you can get agency work when you need it and perhaps choose your hours more. 

The loft conversion sounds super fast.

Jill12

@Adeley, I am really enjoying the decluttering but by gosh I still have a huge way to go. It still does nt feel like any progress has been made but I know I have. Currently we are all sleeping wherever a space can be grabbed as the upstairs has been mostly consumed by the loft reno but I ll be sure to make sure everything has a place once we all have a room again. 
@Jellytotts, I donated and sold as much as I could. The cds and dvds were put up for free and they have been up and down from the loft so often to move on but I have never had any takers, everyone streams stuff now, they are like relics from a by gone era! So they just had to go.
@ayupmeduck, I am a district nurse, my income is made up of salary, child tax credits, child benefit, DLA for a kid and maintenance which is why the salary seems so good. I could not survive on my salary alone and support the kids. 
@savingholmes, agency work is the way to go if you want to work less hours and earn a decent wage.

Awake at silly oclock as my wee pee brain would nt switch off last night so stupidly I poured a glass of wine then all of a sudden the bottle was empty and I was asleep on the sofa. Now I have a sore tummy and fuzzy head- silly Jill . But most importantly the loft conversion is complete, the guys have worked like trojans the last two weeks and well I am just delighted with the final outcome. I still have painting and flooring to chose but that is the good stuff. The quote for the carpets was £1800 for 5 bedrooms, underlay, delivery, fitting and lifting and taking away the old carpets. I am probably going to go with the quote as have used the company before and really loved there service. So I will probably undertake the decorating myself and save the money that way. I can defo say that the loft conversion was the right choice to make. I am away now to grab an hour on the sofa and try to feel more human x 

savingholmes

Congrats on the completed loft conversion. Sounds like great value on the quote too. Enjoy decorating. Are you going neutral / bright or what?

Jill12

Many thanks @savingholmes. I completely agree on the value for money and defo much better option than moving. On the decorating front I ll be staying with the usual white, grey or magnolia. The kids can jazz their rooms up with posters and stickers. Also when did paint become so expensive!! I reduced the carpet spend to under £1000 and will recarpet the two larger bedroom at a later date. £1800 for carpets just seemed stupid. I have also chose not to do my own decorating this time round and have someone coming to quote today for the job. I am just a little time poor at the moment and dont need the extra stress of trying to fit decorating in round about work. 

This week is a long one as have to work the weekend and the kids school schedule is mental as we are going into the last weeks of term. Every night this week is either proms or school shows plus normal clubs. For dinner tonight I am taking the kids along to the local church where a three course meal costs... £2.50. I love this weekly visit, great chance to catch up with folk, good food and no washing up... just heavenly!! I feel this week my bank account is like an open tap as have started buying uniform for next term. One kid had a school trip that cost £200 for a week of camping delights. And sadly the children just seem to keep growing and need new clothes. Everything is just so expensive. 

On a positive I am on the count down to finishing up work. I am still in disbelief that I am doing this but incredibly excited at the prospect. I am completely aware the budget is about to plummet but I have ran all the figures and it seems completely doable, the only obstacle will be me and sticking to the budget, only time will tell x

savingholmes

Good luck with sticking to the budget.

It's a lovely time of year to have time off too.

Jill12

Another beautiful morning, conversion update. Carpets have been sourced and paid for, painter booked in to start next week. Needed new bed for kid as their high bed would not fit in loft. Picked up a small double for free from marketplace and it is immaculate. I also replaced another kids smelly bed with a marketplace find for £50. The beds are like new and I am delighted. The phase of decluttering is never ending and I think folk in the street keep sneaking things into my house . I am most defo a pack rat and my pile of keep for just incase will have to be addressed. However, even though life is incredibly busy I feel light in myself. I have managed to plan a trip to Canada in October to visit family. This will be my first international solo travel, have been around the UK on my ownsome but never abroad. Flight was £400, an airbnb find was a bargain at just under £400. I just need to source a rental car as Canada is so vast that a car is a must. Quotes for this are around £300. To put into context, a cottage on the Isle of Skye for me and 2 dogs in October was coming in around £1000 for the same week. 

I have submitted my NHS bank application which was very straight forward, I just need to get it approved so fingers crossed. Pay day is next Wednesday so I will sit down and write out a new budget. I plan to save my next two wages in their entirety and see if my plan for living without a wage actually works!! On paper it should but reality is a totally different matter x
 

savingholmes

Lots of lovely progress. Canada trip sounds amazing.

Jill12

Oh my this decluttering is absolutely soul sucking. Last night I tackled my bedroom that I share with my youngest. How much can be stuffed into a not so small space is beyond comprehension!! The wee one also had a high bed but after dismantling it the prospect of having to erect it again was too much so I flogged it on marketplace and replaced it with a second hand divan bed, another bargain at £35 and again hardly used. Love, love, love a bargain. Working this weekend and have planned a night out with friends on Saturday to chill out. The kids have been great with the disruption all these changes have caused to our daily lives. Staying on top of daily chores is proving difficult in amongst the chaos but I find doing the washing in the morning and tumble drying at least means we have clean clothes for the day. However, I have tackled my room. Lets say two weeks to this madness is over and I reckon I can just about cope with that x

savingholmes

Will that mean in two times you have your own room? Sounds fab. I bet you can't wait.

Jill12

Yes @savingholmes, I am now in my own room, with dressing room and ensuite! The last time  had the luxury of my own room was 20 years ago when I stayed at home with my parents. I cant wait to get it the way I want. But for the time being I am content with the one direction theme  . Yesterday I swapped three bedrooms around and hauled 2 double beds upstairs, one downstairs so my body aches a bit this morn. There is another large pile of rubbish in the living room ready for the dump so I will try and shift that today. Dare I say I marginally see progress being made, I ll try not to get too excited but I am sure there is some more clearer spaces than before. The haul of new school uniform has began to arrive, that is another source of anxiety, where will it all go?! Oh yes in everyone's own room for the first time ever- anxiety dissolving! 

I did manage out with friends last night for a few hours. Glad I made myself go out as had a fab time. Anyway, toast, tea, uniform currently tumble drying, and ready for a patient filled Sunday. Off Mon and Tues and I really cant wait. I am off to find my motivation and car keys, happy Sunday x