I continue to be a part-time employee, working 3 days a week. To be honest, some weeks thats all there is for me to do. As projects get completed there is a lull between that I sometimes have to hunt for things to do to keep busy. Not a bad thing, I'm not used to it is all.
Kid 1 returned to the nest as finding out 2.5 months without a job makes it very difficult to pay rent.
When he moved home, before he moved in we had a "Come to Jesus" meeting. I laid out expectations and conditions that I had, and if he couldn't live with them, he could live elsewhere.
Turns out he did mature in the 8 months of living with a landlord and roommates. A much cleaner, neater and considerate version of himself. After a long job hunt he landed a decent $18.75 an hour for the rest of the summer. After 3 weeks, he's tanned, broken in his steel toed boots and put some callouses on his hands.
His car however was a problem. Fully paid for, but killing him with repair bills every month and then it was something new each week! A piece of junk. I had bought him new tires in the fall (I could't sleep when the snow started, worried non-stop about him driving!). Then for Christmas a gift was a CAA membership so that he could get that stupid car towed to the garage when it quit on him.
He's been looking for something else since March and this past weekend found a gem at a local dealership. Exactly what he wanted.
For the last 5-6 years anytime I had kid expenses that the x had to split the cost with me, I put what he paid me into a separate account. So essentially I paid for the full amount and put his contribution into savings. I also added into it anything that the older 2 had to pay me back for. School amounts that were too big for the credit card, trips for kid 2 etc. I have built up this account to several thousand. Out of this account I helped with a substantial down payment. Then at the dealership my kid had to apply for a small loan. I was there to be a co-signer if necessary. The finance person was asking all of the regular questions about place of residence, existing monthly payments, then credit card. My kid has had a credit card for 3 years, they have upped his limit twice, but his card balance at the end of every month is ZERO. The finance man stopped writing and clarified if he used his card. "Yes, but I never buy more than I have cash on hand and I never carry a balance. My Mom said to never get into debt with a credit card"
He looked at my son and told him that he never hears that from people his age, he is being very smart with his money.
Because he has only been full time for less than a month, the finance person thought it wise to have my information available for the loan submission.
The usual questions, then house value, then who holds your mortgage? Nobody.
"Wow, I don't hear that very often".
In the end, he was accepted on his own credit information, mine not required. The handshake at the end of the deal was "You taught him well Mom"
He ended up selling his old clunker privately the very next day for $1200 more than the dealer would give on trade. Then he kijiji'd other things he had laying around. Payments are covered for many months!
The loan has no pre-payment penalties. He graduates from university next April, god willing there is a job waiting. At least he can drive himself to work with a reliable set of wheels!
The good things: first day of summer!
Sun shining
A little nest of pretty warblers off my deck
Feeling more like my old self some days (after 5 years)
Things that suck: some bugs ate every single leaf off my rose bush!
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