2022 - New Home, Same Problems

Steerpike88

After spending ALL of our money on our deposit and removals, and solicitors fees after buying our first home (yaaas ) 
We are £9k in debt. That seems fine, that seems reasonable. I thought we'd be able to turbo pay this debt off but it's just not happening.
I enrolled on an OU degree which is self funded, and I have to pay over £1k worth of nursery fees this month until DS2 gets his free hours next month so I can
finally finish off a few bits and and sort out the cupboards and old toys/clothes before I start my course fully.  We need to save up for next years fees too and we want 
to reclaim some of our parking space to make a decent sized garden for the kids this summer.  Of course I promised the kids a puppy too after we finally bought our
own house, but now I have no idea how I'm going to find £2k for a puppy. To start my frugal year this year A!di was closed on  New Years day so I had to go to the
Morris/ns with all the kids so that cost me £30 instead of £10 with them begging for everything 

Tiredbutdetermined

Congratulations on the new home!
We are in the puppy/dog dilemma too. My heart says yes but my head and bank balance are a firm ‘No’

Steerpike88

Tiredbutdetermined said:

Congratulations on the new home!
We are in the puppy/dog dilemma too. My heart says yes but my head and bank balance are a firm ‘No’

Thank you. I'd love to have a dog or two tbh, we have a cat so might agree to another kitten make amends with the kids but it's not what I promised. I even picked out the ideal breed and contacted a few breeders just to say we wouldn't be able to take a puppy on atm when they told us they'd have a litter before Xmas. Gutted. Nvm, sure it's for a reason it would have been awful to have a puppy in winter with all the kids indoors too lol. Maybe a spring dog? 
Hope getting a pup works out for you too!

Karonher

Are you talking £2000 to buy a puppy or for a couple of years' expenses? 

Steerpike88

Karonher said:

Are you talking £2000 to buy a puppy or for a couple of years' expenses? 

Puppies are crazy expensive atm. It looks like the price has gone down now since I last checked six months ago where almost every breed was about £2k but it's still insane. I see cocker spaniels for £800-1200 now but they were much more expensive last year.

Nonnadiluca

There are loads of dogs and puppies who need rehoming from rescue centres, just a thought.
Both our dogs are rescues, got at about 12 - 14 weeks old and are an absolute joy!!

Steerpike88

Nonnadiluca said:

There are loads of dogs and puppies who need rehoming from rescue centres, just a thought.
Both our dogs are rescues, got at about 12 - 14 weeks old and are an absolute joy!!

Thanks! I did look into it but loads of the larger ones won't really entertain it if you have small children. Although I'll have a phone around come to think of it. Maybe some local charities are more flexible? 

gwynlas

If you are serious about paying off your debt then you need to provide a complete SOA for help.
If you pander to your kids wants in food shop so soon after the excess of Christmas then I am not sure that you are,

poppy811

not not sure why you would contemplate a dog when you want to reduce debts. Any pet is an ongoing expense and commitment.  

TheAble

Yes, a lot of folks on here who have got themselves into bother do tend to have pets. Not everyone of course, and also not everyone with pets has debt problems, but I do notice it as a common thread. Dogs especially, I think are something you should perhaps only consider once you've got some proper financial stability.

Steerpike88

TheAble said:

Yes, a lot of folks on here who have got themselves into bother do tend to have pets. Not everyone of course, and also not everyone with pets has debt problems, but I do notice it as a common thread. Dogs especially, I think are something you should perhaps only consider once you've got some proper financial stability.

Yeah. I think everyone is right. I didn't think the move would cost as much and I'd rather do my degree and pay off debts than get an expensive dog. Just one of the things I wanted to have money for and now I can't really afford it atm. It's also just hard with small kids so I think I'll hold off getting a puppy anyway. I remember helping my parents toilet train their puppy and it was just a huge time commitment.