Sammieb's 'taking control diary'

sammiebmouse

Hello All!

Im back! Although a little bit sniffly -was so sad when my mam went back last night. I cried loads (I blame the pregnancy hormones;) ). We had an absolute ball though-really enjoyed ourselves:D

The scan went well-got to see her little face-and she's lovely (if i do say so myself!!:p ) Only 9more weeks!! Am thinking of taking my maternity leave in 5 weeks-and relaxing as much as I can before she arrives.

Spent loads while we were off-but wanted to treat my mam-she's really so good to all of us (have 5 sisters), and rarely get to spend time together so I dont even feel guilty re the money:rolleyes: .

Showed my mam the hamper for my sis-and she thought it was great-she's going to try get organised for xmas too-( we are always late, rushing around and spending money we dont have), so hopefully she can spread the cost a bit too.

OH has bought a new bike-the insurance paid out as the bike was a write off. Its a gorgeous bike(and I dont even like them!!) Its 2nd hand obviously, but in brilliant condition-low mileage, a bit of damage but he is able to fix it himself-so looks like all will be ok for when bubs arrives-panic over!:j Driving lesson went [EMAIL="!!!!"]!!!![/EMAIL] on monday-I was really tired-got really bad leg cramp during lesson and couldnt drive. Dont think instructor thinks im ready-but am going to book test-if i fail, i fail. I have paid out £400.00 now, and we have booked a two hour lesson for Sunday-at cost of £44.00-so i think she has had enough money from me by now-and maybe OH is right, that she is taking the p!ss!!:mad: (cant admit it to him though;) )

Payday today-so need to sort budget for this month. Will do it over the weekend as have left my book at home (where I record all spending-and can see what outgoings I have for month ahead). 5 week month this month-I hate them!!:rolleyes:

I've done a few bits so far this morning:
Paid ebay (bought my dad's xmas pressie-fawlty towers box set-he LOVES it)
Transferred some money into my 2nd account for credit card.
Pigsback
checked online account
added pics from scan to facebook (im a proud mummy to be )

Will do the following:
play lotto (and euro millions!!)
check petrol prices in area
check for money off vouchers/delivery for tesco
read through some of the posts for motivation/tips
Try to draw up list of spendings for last few days (last count 196.00!!:eek: )

Ok all, best get back and pretend to do some work!

Hello to Bowski-thanks for leaving a comment-I was laughing at the 'i will not read' part:D
Nice to know people read-and lovely to hear a few comments

Take care all xx

Glittermonkey

Have bought a moses basket on ebay last week -paid 11.25 for it, with covers,and stand-and its perfect-paid 15.00 for courier-but 26.25 for a lovely little moses basket and stand is good, dont you think? I'm impressed as its my 1st and ideally everything would be brand new for her, but realistically (sp?)-there isnt much point!! OH thinks im crazy, but its the new me

Most of my stuff for my DD was brand new and I really regret it now. For example, I paid £70 on a highchair and it is now sitting in my garage and waiting to be sold. A childminder was looking for one and I offered it to her for £15/£20 and she said she wanted to spend less!

Good luck with your new arrival and how great that you'll still get full pay for a while, that'll make a huge difference!

sammiebmouse

Hello All,

Hope everyone had a lovely weekend!

I didnt get up to much-was feeling tired on sat-so me and OH went to asda-got a few bits in-and a dvd-and just got settled for the night. Think I spent about £30.00 in asda, some money on parking and put £47.00 in car-had a voucher from tesco for 5p off-so think i paid 43.00 for a full tank so not bad.

Yest had to bring OH to collect van so some of the petrol was used (I budget for £50.00 for petrol for the month-but cant see it lasting this month as it was a long drive yest :rolleyes: )

OH was off with the boys for a race day-so he stayed in b&b, spent loads on petrol im sure and paid for the day on the track-i have no idea how much it cost him-we keep our money separate-and he wont even read MSE.

I did some cleaning last night and just chilled with feet up as not feeling fantastic (8weeks til due date!:D )

Feeling a bit better today-got some bits done (first time in ages!)

* Have paid rent through my account (instead of traipsing to the bank-so hopefully it will reach the landlords account!)

* Have paid council tax

* Have done piggyclicks (not much on it-but better than nothing!!)

* Have paid ebay-got some maternity trousers so hopefully they will be ok for winter as only have linen trousers at the moment!

* Have ordered some cookie cutters online-as my cousin is throwing me a baby shower next week and im going to do some little pram shaped gingerbread iced biscuits (so cute!!) <-(admittedly this isnt necessity, but cheered me up!:o )

When I get home I am aiming to:

* Allocate my money to my little budget boxes ( I have one for electric, driving lessons, rent, food etc)

* Make dinner for one (OH still away)

* Make lunch for tomorrow-hopefully have NSD-as did that demotivator and realised I soend over £2k a year on weekday lunches:eek:

* Put on a wash

* get recipe for gingerbread for cookies

* Find driving license so can apply for driving test (instructor not too confident with me-but have spend £444.00 to date-so will book it-tell no-one and if i fail, i can find out what i failed on-and try again-and if i pass-great!:p )

* Write up birth plan (gulp-time is closing in-need to get organised!!)


Ok all-im going to run now...will pop on later at home as OH has fixed internet (finally!!)

Have a nice evening all xxx

lucielle

The next few weeks will fly by. Hope you are getting time to rest.
L

sammiebmouse

Hi All,

Happy Thursday..been reading MSE for most of the day (not busy in work at mo).
Lucielle I finally got around to reading your diary-and am so impressed (and a little envious!). You are making so much headway with your debts, are forever busy making delicious food and sounds like your a fab mum!:T
Dont know where you get the energy!

Not much happening with me-haven't allocated my budget this month-account is all over the place-and waiting for dds to come out. Im sure my loans were to come out today but they havent -so will check tomorrow-and then my phonebill was changed this month due to o2 making some changes so the direct debit will come out on Sunday.
Will hopefully get into bank on saturday and pay something off credit card-have 600 sitting aside for it (i did have 1044.00 at one stage, but due to online probs I couldnt transfer and never got chance to go to branch so kept dipping into it:mad: )

OH and I went to tesco last night as had few twinges on mon and we realised we should at least get hospital bag sorted just in case!!

I paid the council tax and rent from my acc on mon-so OH was to give me 375.50, he's given me 300 so far. He paid for tescos last night 57.00-so i told him to give me £50.00-so I've paid my half.
Really wish he would just do a budget and allocate his money for shopping, bills etc-the same as I do-as its so hard to stick to a budget with him when we always pay half
Any suggestions on this?

I have a list of things done and to do for tonight (though haven't been getting through these lists lately, but still I continue to draw them up!!:rolleyes: )

My list is as follows:

* Pigsback
* Quidco
* Check online account
* Check o2
* Prepare envelope for OH as he needs to send payment for antenatal classes (he was supposed to do this weeks ago:rolleyes: )
* Get birthday card and if poss cheap pressie for sis in eire
* Find a recipe for gingerbread (lucielle-dont suppose you can help with this?:p )
* Swimming (first aqua-natal class at 19.00-scared but may enjoy -cost £6.00 though:eek:
* Check size of lightbulbs (want to change to energy saving)
* Find charger for mobile so I can charge in work
* Hang out washing
* Do another wash


Think thats enough for me-cant even see me getting it done-im tired just reading!!:D

Have a(nother) docs appointment tomorrow morning-really uncomfortable under right rib-but its like a constant burning and worsens at night-its actually waking me up-and have had to take paracetemol at stupid o clock at night-which doesnt help-and midwife didnt know-so got to see GP-fingers crossed he can help!

Anyway, better shoot off-have a 20minute waddle to get to gym once i get off train!

Have a lovely evening all...

Sammie xx

lucielle

Thanks for the comments. Aquarobics sounds good. I really fancy boxercise but its on my bad night which is Tuesday. Haven't got a recipe for ginger biccis but a hobnob one which is excellent. Not very good at biccis but these turn out brilliantly. If interested let me know and I will post it for you or have a look on the os board. Hope the GP gets you sorted.
L

sammiebmouse

Hello all,

lacking motivation and energy at moment so haven't posted!

Lucielle-im very sorry to hear about your mil-sending you hugs..

Well, il try pick up where I left off..

Aqua-arobics went well-really enjoyed it-and seeing all the other bumps-dont feel so huge in comparison!:j

Weekend was pretty non-eventful-though I am officially nesting. I am baking like a crazy woman and cleaning (not just tidying-but being a real 'monica geller'-and doing every nook and cranny) I was absolutely exhausted after cleaning all weekend -and didnt come to work yesterday. (I dont have any work on at the moment so office manager told me to take the day off, and I didn't argue;) )

Think the majority of my payments have now left my account-but its in a state budget wise! I have no idea what needs to be paid-what I need for the rest of the month. I really need to get organized again:rolleyes: .

I paid 600 off my cred card on ssat-so at least thats something.
Have booked my driving test-so thats £60.00 I hadn't budgeted for.
Had to buy remaining bits for my hospital bag-so that was another £30.00 or so (think I'm all sorted now)
Had to pay £10.00 for an ante-natal workshop for this sat-which OH booked and didnt bother paying for-so had to write out a cheque for that-and was meant to be posted ages ago (its now sitting at home-after leaving for OH to post on his day off last week...grrrrr:mad: )
I got rid of loads of clothes, toiletries, suits, boots, and books that I'm not using-gave to the 2nd hand shop-as im trying to clear out some space in our teeny flat before lo arrives).
I listed two pairs of diesel jeans on ebay-I bought them in TK maxx for 50 each and paid for them to be altered-then when they were done-I was pregnant and couldnt fit-so they have been sitting for awhile. (Does anyone else make stupid purchases like me? I still have some clothes with tags on-that I just HAD to have at the time:rolleyes: )
I bought some nappies in Boots as had a voucher-so we received a free nappy changing bag worth 19.99 with it:j

I've finished my youngest sisters Christmas hamper and bought a roll of cellophane on ebay which I hope will suffice. I will post some pics when its done. I got some more little bits on sat-and have started OH's mums basket, hoping to get most of them organized asap so I can enjoy Christmas without lugging a newborn round the shops!

Also, my friend who bought us the 3in 1 (its practically brand new Brittax), has now informed me that she wont be travelling over so we can pick the buggy up when we are home for Christmas -so we will have at least a month without it-and we obviously need the car seat more than anything. She has suggested I buy another one until I'm home-but it just seems such a waste of money-so I am trying to find a cheap courier service
Cheapest so far is £100.00:mad:

I have the baby shower on friday, and made some gingerbread prams (OH's mum gave me the recipe, but after tasting them-she obv didnt give me correct measurement for ground ginger-as can barely taste it!:rolleyes: Have also made my little white choc and dark chocolate choccies-they are so cute. I feel like such a loser getting them ready-but havent had much else to look forward to (god how sad do i sound??!:D:rotfl:

Doctor didnt sort me-told me its heartburn and prescribed gaviscon and if not better to come back-but I cant be bothered-fed up with them!:rolleyes:

Anyway, best get on and pretend to do some work-will try update my signature, need to see my loans decreasing!

Take care all-have a lovely Tuesday evening!!


Sammie xx

lucielle

How long before you finish work?
L

sammiebmouse

Hi Lucielle,

Im due 7weeks on Thursday-and think I will work up until 4weeks before-so three weeks left? I still have annual leave left so may take it sooner-am just waiting for my office manager to find out how many days I have-and then will see how im feeling.
At the moment, Im struggling in the mornings-dread the usual hunt for something to wear, then waddle to station before getting packed train for 40mins, but think I will go crazy if at home all the time?

What do you think?

lucielle

I think the nesting instinct is lots of pregnant women admitting to boredom and tackling that job they have never found time for. If you feel you can work longer and are happy to do so then do it. If you are planning to go back it will give you longer at the other side IYSWIM. Most first babies are overdue (personally had the gestation period of an elephant) so you could be looking at another 2 weeks.
L