Dilemma, Dilemma, Dilemma

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello Tuesday,

Quick trip to the city was just the kind of boost I needed. Day in the office was good, we had to do some team building exercises and some of it was cringe worthy but really glad to have gone now.

Many thanks @peb & @debtfreewannabe321 your words of encouragement are greatly recieved. I have spreadsheets but haven't done an SOA. Is there a specific program to use for doing one? Well done to your sister, that is impressive. We have so little spare cash to put towards the debt its hard but in some ways I can see from the frugal habits so far this year the debt is not as out of control as it has been. Easter holidays start in a few days time and we will be making the most of cheap or free activities. I'd bought some easter crafts to do last year which we didn't end up doing so will definately get those out. OH was having major treatment this time last year so Easter was quite a blur except from endless visits to hospital. Also love making easter chocolate egg nests and an easter egg hunt so these we will do.

Friend I'd confided in has been lovely, she's sent a couple of check in messages and let me know she'd found the birthday card she'd written to us last year. We had a good giggle today.

Tomorrow is last working day of the week and I have lots to do. Def not enough hours in the day at the moment. Thursday is up early and back to the city for another quick 24hr trip. We are booked into a hotel we stay at quite frequently and I think our booking means we have free breakfast on Friday morning. Will do the cheeky thing and stock up on fruit and rolls for my lunch on Friday.

debtfreewannabe321

Morning! Haven't got time for a long reply, but I think most of us use this, https://www.lemonfool.co.uk/financecalculators/soa.php

It's worth taking the time to do it. You don't have to post it here if you don't want to but good for your own benefit to get everything on there. Then there are snowball calculators that will help with debt repayment. Hope work goes quickly for you today ❤️ so you can have some nice days in London 🤗.

Queen_of_the_Hive

Morning! Many thanks @debtfreewannabe321, will take a look and give it a go :)

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81936188#Comment_81936188

Queen_of_the_Hive

We have had a mini panic in the hive today. An innocent comment to OH to check whether his pension has come through… he checked and was only paid £18.58!! A LOT less than we expecting! So after a few frantic phone calls it transpires the pension he thought was wrong was actually in fact an extra unexpected payment on a different pension in relation to tax! Expected pension is due tomorrow. Wish us luck!

Honestly I am learning all about retirement finances through my partner!! Hoping these learnings will prove beneficial when needed when my time comes!

I've also given OH a challenge to reduce his overdraft down by £50 by this time next month and we are calling his bank to reduce his limit down.

beanielou

That must have been worrying. Good news on OD. I found it one of the hardest to get rid of.

Queen_of_the_Hive

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81937252#Comment_81937252

Aw thanks Beanilou. I have to push OH to make progress on his debt, he's a bit of an osterich with his head in the sand! 😂

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello Saturday Morning!

2 trips to the city completed and the kids are home with us for 2 weeks.. so happy!! No big plans just enjoying time together and hopefully some better weather. Tomorrow we have my mum & stepdad coming over for a delayed mothers day come Easter sunday roast. They will be bringing over my 4 year old twin nieces so tomorrow will be a wonderfully busy home. We are having an Easter Egg hunt. We have a gammon joint currently defrosting.

Today I need to do a bit of meal planning and a top up food shop esp for tomorrow. Also need to get little chocolate eggs for the egg hunt & the kids need to pick their chocolate easter eggs.

Queen_of_the_Hive

Ok so I now have my list of whats in the freezers currently. We bought a chest freezer in our old rental that totally changed our shopping and eating habits. Would be lost without it! Have taken out turkey mince to make into a healthy spag bol for dinner tonight. Will use the list to make a meal plan for the next two weeks.

Have also been paying some of my bills. Finally got paid a correct salary. Its still not quite right I think as they seem to be paying me the same as I was recieving last year even though I'd bought two days holidays last year. Haven't bought any extra this year. I need to put in my expenses for work trip last Monday. This is about £120 and will go straight back into CC. Had notifications for a couple decent cashbacks being approved. I should cash these out and add to EF. Will take a look later.

We had a bit of bad luck with OH's holiday let yesterday. Most recent guests have broken the bed base of one of the double beds and didn't let us know 😕. Housekeeper reported it to us 1.30pm ish, OH went to investigate and determined bed must be replaced. Next guests arriving at 3pm. Local bed company came good, they delivered new bed base at 4pm. New guests were really lovely and could see OH was doing his best and they helped as best as they could too. I was still in the city so couldn't really do anything. We are ever so greatful to lovely guests, not as pleased with other guests but this is the risk taken and actually we haven't had many issues. Extra expense for the bed base, could definately have done without that.Will sort out with OH when he comes home from one of his routine hospital appointments today how he's wiggled the money around and we do our account corrections.

beanielou

The absolute cheek of some people.

Queen_of_the_Hive

White Rabbits!

It a miracle…. woken up to all debts paid off and money in the bank……. !

If only…. ah the joys of April fools 🤣