2026 - consolidation and calm

jwil

Hello everyone! Thank you for thinking about me 😍 I didn't realise it was so long since I'd last posted! All is ok, life just has been very busy and I don't feel like I've been home very much and when I have, I've just been exhausted. Hopefully things will get a bit quieter now. I've still been doing my PADs, but I'll have to go back and calculate how much I've done since I last posted, plus work out the car balance.

I'll do a proper update later or over the weekend 😊

jwil

PAD (Payment a Day)

Today's PAD - £2 (plus catch up of £141)

Jan - £172

Feb - £203

Mar - £143

Apr - £67

May - £108

Jun - £155

Car balance Sept 25 - £11,031 - now £7,433

jwil

PAD and car total updated :) Within the PADs are a couple of survey cashouts and my £100 NW payment which I split between the car and PBs. I managed to get a new 0% deal for the cards so I haven't had to start paying interest, with the exception of the fee, so that gives me more breathing space to get that balance reducing even further :) DH sent his payment to his CC. He's starting to look more closely at his finances too which is progress.

DH has taken the kids out today so I have the day to myself :) So far I've just been doing housework and made some cakes for the kids, but I think I've just about done enough so will take some time to do what I want to do now. They shouldn't be back until this evening, so that gives me a nice break.

DH is trying to get on with things as I blew up with everything the other week. Fed up with doing everything, with the house not improving, the clutter, and all the usual. His visit today is to pass on some things so that's good. He's now packaging and posting his ebay items as I said I didn't want anything to do with it any more. I pulled off my listings, and will decide what to do with the items. I'm just fed up with dealing with 'stuff'. I'll have to show him how to do the listings himself at some point, but it's better at the moment.

I had my couple of days away at the conference and the hotel was amazing! I had a huge room, with a massive bed, 6 pillows 😆. Gutting though, there was barely any time to spend in it, as the conference was 9-5.30 and then we had to be back down for evening stuff by 7. If I'd been on my own I would have sloped off the evening stuff 😂 The food was great too. Definitely how the other half live! It was full on though and hard work peopling all the time. Apparently we got upgraded rooms because I was talking, so there was one benefit to that.

This week I've been out at another conference, just a day though and local, and I wasn't speaking thankfullly. I've also had loads of external meetings, and I got my long service award for over 20 years, so it's been a hectic couple of weeks and I don't feel like I've been home much.

We've been out at the weekends too, including going fruit picking, and taking my car for a run on the motorway to see how far we can really get with it. Much further than I had in my head, so that's good.

Me and the kids have been to the dentist, so another hefty bill. Both kids are going to be referred to orthodontics, thankfully on the NHS even though our normal dentist is private as we can't get an NHS one. It's at least a 2.5year wait, so no hurry there. Little miss will definitely need braces but it's on the fence as to whether little jwil does.

jwil

I lost 4lb at SW this week which is amazing but sadly it's just getting off the last couple of weeks gains. I'm having a fresh start though and re-read all my books last week. It's a year today since I started, and I'm just over 2.5st down which I've been since the end of last year, just gaining and losing the same few lbs in the meantime. I'd love to lose another 2.5st this year, even if it turns out I only lose weight in the summer and then maintain over winter 😂 It would be amazing to be 5st down. I've been trying to pick up the walking a bit more as well, and feel much better for doing it.

jwil

I spotted that there was a 20% off on TU at the moment so have made a start on next year's school uniform. I try to carry over as much as I can, but there's definitely some bits that will need replacing.

I've had leftovers from yesterday for lunch and tidied the kitchen so now I'm going to chill for the afternoon.

It's very black out, and we've had a couple of showers so I've had to put the sofa blankets in the dryer 🤦‍♀️

Humboldt

Gosh @jwil you have been very busy. When I think back to how I juggled the needs of a family, full time job and house, I just do not know how I did it. Glad you got a bit of time away, even if it was for work. You are doing so well with everything, including the weight loss. Sometimes we just need to take a moment to acknowledge our personal and professional accomplishments. Enjoy your downtime this afternoon.

Dakota_Rose

You’ve just reminded me about the TU sale! Thank you ☺️ that’s my first batch of uniform bought for next year.

beanielou

You have certainly been a busy bee. Well done on 20 year service award. Glad you are keeping up with SW. I certainly lose much better in summer. Great debt reduction.

jwil

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82041946#Comment_82041946

Thank you. It's nice to start feeling a little more free as the kids get older.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82041960#Comment_82041960

Glad it helped! It does make a difference.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82041963#Comment_82041963

Thank you :) It's definitely easier to lose in the Summer.

jwil

PAD (Payment a Day)

Today's PAD - £2

Jan - £172

Feb - £203

Mar - £143

Apr - £67

May - £108

Jun - £157

Car balance Sept 25 - £11,031 - now £7,432