Earthgirl gets back on track!

Courgette

Brilliant :T Enjoy tonight :beer:

cha97michelle

Sounds like all is going really well this week. Some good potential for over earnings there.

twinklie

Which exam board have nabbed you honey?

earthgirl

WJEC - And I didn't even apply so I can't work out why they contacted me! Anyway I get a hotel, and pay for the training, and a reasonable amount per paper, and it should be a straight forward one. It fits in quite well, as my exam tutoring clients drop off, I will start the marking.

Anyway, here to report that I had a lovely day with OH, we took a picnic to the beach, and then had some friends over and it looks like we are heading for a cuddle on the sofa, so thats great!!

Last night was great, food was lovely, and nice to have a night off and not worry about my budget for a change.

Spoke to my godmother who is going to send us a cheque so I can get a superduper mattress for the bump, so I've ordered that (and got £2.40 cash back, it all helps!), and neigbour is going to give me a chair to put in the nursery.

Although I have had a declutter took some stuff to the charity shop, and got a bag together for ebay, I haven't actually listed them, so I think I'll do that next weekend.

It really worked having my "big" work challenges on here, so I am going to do it again! Those in red I will try to finish this week:

- collect in SOW from student. Keep chasing! - have set him a deadline of 2 weeks.
- write year 9 sow
- finish year 10 sow DONE!
- Create folder and hand in pay forms
- year 11 - put in past papers and revision booklets for copying. DONE!
- file resources
-tidy cupboard
-create file of info for my maternity cover
- Create website
- collate dept. assessment pieces for last term 1/2 done -waiting on others

Other things to do this week:
Banking/money related tasks
- chase refund from life insurance company DONE
- get oh internet banking set up
- check xmas presents bought, re-adjust present budget and set up direct debit.
- check credit score, contact bank about any problems with this and any interest charged when they failed to set up direct debit
- check old isa rates and move if necessary
- get boots points on one card.


Non banking tasks:
- list items on ebay
- collect library book
- collect furniture from neighbour DONE


At some point!
- print off loads of tutoring resources
- collect card to use for card making
- stain shed and patio furniture

earthgirl

Hi All,

Despite feeling a bit icky today I pushed myself a bit and managed to get two things done already off my work list! Now I can concentrate on the pay forms, which will be another weight off my mind.

I have 2 tutoring clients tonight, so I might be quite tired later. I have a chilli ready to heat up when I get in, and then I can just veg.

I suppose being too tired to do anything, and read diaries, means I save on electricity!!

earthgirl

Hi All,

just a quick update to report that I have collected two wonderful sturdy chests of drawers, another storage unit and some lovely lamps from my neighbours who are going their seperate ways. Only problem is with the lifting I have aggravated my back a bit, so I need to put theleccy on to warm some water for a bath! Feel bad about this, but can't sleep with back ache!

I have also managed to chase a refund from the lifeinsurance company, and they have paid back the right amount, just over £40. This is good as the electricity bill will be higher next month, before we more to a cheaper company (estimated date 15th May )

I have 13.50 in budget to spend on fuel, and £10 for food, to last 11 days.

I need to get a couple of condiments, and fruit and milk and eggs for that period. Hope Mr A has some cheap fruit! Someone at work is going to bring me in loads of rhubarb so that (stewed) will be one of my five a day at least!

cha97michelle

Take it easy with your back. All your ligaments will be starting to loosen and you could do yourself a nasty injury if you are not careful. Anything you hurt now in pregnancy might take a long time to heal, so no more lifting ok? Look after yourself.

Only speaking from experience. My right knee is very dodgy after i damaged it in PE when a young teenager. I re-aggravated it just before i did my PGCE when i twisted it walking in the peak districts then had no choice but to walk on it rather than rest it and it took months to heal. Then when i was pregnant, it went again, and it was so bad i couldn't kneel down to change my DS1. It still gives me gyp now.

Michelle's orders to take it easy as you have enough strain on you already.

You are so disciplined with that £10 budget. I think i would spend loads more than that. You will just have to be really good with what you pick. Are you near Mr M shop? I got 4 kiwis for £0.30, and also sliced mushrooms, and a swede at that price when i shopped last week. No idea what this weeks offer is but i am hoping it will be similar. My kids can eat a lot of fruit and veg once they get going.

Is it worth getting in some tins next month for when you are at the end of the budget, or some frozen veg? Not ideal but it keeps you going?

ETA - when i am at the end of the budget i buy some skimmed milk powder and make it up into milk to keep in the fridge. That works out cheaper. I got a brand called fivepints as it contained enough for five pints, and even though i made it up to instructions i got 8 pints out of it so really good value.

earthgirl

Thanks Michelle, this is my first month really sticking to a budget ever! so I welcome your tips. I am enjoying it though!

Managed to get 3 bags apples, 1 bag pears, grapes and milk from mr A for £3.85. 12 eggs from the farm for £1.50. This leaves me about £4.73 for next week. I need to get salad, more fruit and milk, ketchup, salad cream and mayo . I can't wait for my salad leaves to grow!

I can give myself a wee bit more cash as the water bill was £4 cheaper than normal, at just over £6/month.

I didnt manage to get my pay forms handed in but I am almost there. I was really tired this week, to the point where I really had to drag myself out of my chair at work to get anything done!

I have been working at home though, general filing and tidying, and I sorted out my drawers and was amazed at what i found!! I had loads and loadsof little testers and free samples squirrelled away and so many old toiletries. Apart from toothpaste, i really don't need to buy anything for me the forseeable. I have started using the little samples of things already.

I had a really early night last night, and was up early. I have cleaned and baked bread - didn't used the breadmaker just did it by hand, and it turned out really well!

I have peeled and chopped the potatos to make 3 fishermans pies for later and for freezer. We are going to be without a kitchen for a few weeks at some point next week, so fingers crossed my freezer microwave and toaster can sustain us on our budget!

I have done a couple of washes as I fear we maybe without the machine for a while as well. My soap nuts have arrived and I am really happy with them, but can't get OH to use them, he just needs a bit of convincing

So still to do this weekend:

- list items on ebay DONE FINALLY!!
- small business work
- finish off banking tasks
- prepare loads of food for fridge DONE

During the week:
- renew library books DONE
- take cash and cheques to bank DONE
- make OP (think I will put it straight into new isa rather than OPing though)

Work:

- Hand in pay forms
- year 9 SOW
-find out about existing /create yr 10 cw stationary. DONE
-Chase assessment marks from other teachers, and SOW from student teacher

earthgirl

Hi all,

Had another great day, someone at work gave me the car seat I need to see the bump upto 2 years, which is great,as I would have had to buy this around xmas. I was also given another travel cot, which i can leave at MILs - saves on petrol driving it up there all the time!

Budget is going really well, I have overspent as predicted on sauces etc today, but the low water bill means I am actually a whole pound under budget! ( nsds presumed until Saturday )

My kitty has risen a little due to quidco cashback payments validated, and I paid in cash and cheques to the bank today so when they are cleared (thursday) I can make my OP (or payment into isa).

Just got a few work tasks still outstanding. I want to get everything done so that I can have a bit of peace and quiet, before I start with the marking at the end of may.

Oh my dig in seeds finally arrived, two sets actually! So they are ready to take to the glass cupboard at work to germinate. Everything is growing really well can't wait to start eating the produce.

Right off to relax, collected lotsof new books from library today too!

SmlSave

Hi EG

Well done on staying under budget!

I don't think I'll be getting BBC seeds now as my friend got his but mine haven't arrived Apprently there was a huge demand and they've run out Me thinks MS users may have helped there