Earthgirl gets back on track!

earthgirl

Of course - picking my brain - no problem, sure its in there somewhere!

Who would / How would they know if you did ms on maternity leave? is it really that strict??

Yes think you could do exam marking, but then again, how would you class them as kit days?

Need to find out more!!

earthgirl

Had a good few days - got plenty of niggly things done, and had another observation at work, for which I got the top rating for and an observation from a teacher from another school (why they'd want to watch me waddling around I don't know!) and also a pupil observed a lesson and made comments for the first time, which was wierd, but it went ok! I won't be in a rush to have it done again though, especially as I had to tell him off for eating in class as well! Bizarre shift of power towards pupils at the moment...

Anyway, I also had a letter to say that my documentation to pass to the upper pay scale was successful, which means I will get a pay rise of £2,500 approx in September, before tax (every little helps!!)

Practically everything in the budget will shrink my (or OHs) income next year, so I am glad we are so far along this mortgage free path now, and I think OH is really glad too (finally)!! I don't believe that I am 'owed from society' working tax credits, child benefits etc. but I had budgeted for them, so will have to look at my predictions again!

Anyway here's how far along I am with my list. Would like to get these things done quickly so that I can focus on impending parenthood!!

Income:
- list 10 items per week on ebay
- do small business work - this generates leads for OH to turn into income for us.
check maternity pay start date - does it really have to start the day before due date, and not on the due date?
- take old gold items to get cash
- cash in premium bonds only £100 (but haven't won anything for years!)DONE
- check out letter from company called national shopping monitor, where you scan your shopping for points.
-get boots points on one card (use for nappies)
-set up monthly rather that yearly tv license dd


Outgoings/ savings:
- plant more vegetables in garden
- continue saving electricy and encouraging OH to do the same.
- join up to imeasure
- give bg another meter reading
-cancel automatic home insurance renewal, and shop around (due 1st July) check we have enough money to pay outright.
- look at cutting my own hair, see if its possible (recently given brand new set of hairdressing scissors, will be useful for when I need to cut babys hair)
-Bring home things from work - cards, note books.
- complete tax return online before end october.


Other:
- collect prescription
-close 2 credit cards (affects credit score I think - I have 5 with no balance!)
- update calendar/tart alert.
- make dentist appt.
- at some point do a credit check to check all is well


Just some ideas of ways to up income after baby is born:
- marking exam papers?
- Tutoring in winter (not sure if this will be possible, will need to see nearer the time)
-mshops
-Website promotion (dad has mentioned he'd pay me to do this)
- Work for small business to up OHs income.

earthgirl

Hi All,

Well a busy few days as my to do list can testify!!

I have had a good amount of money incoming, and I need to update my budget. These have included 4 ebay items selling, profit of around £22, but will update this after posting. I also sold a scrap necklace for £64, and did a mystery shop for £5.

I have bought a plant for £4, a bit of grocery shopping for £5, and got oh some bargain pressies for xmas (total £60 for 2 lovely jumpers), and a posh tshirt for now. This can come out of my 'present' budget, which is looking healthy enough for this. The idea behind getting oh a tshirt is that its one more item that OH wouldn't need a wash put on for, and he two lovely jumpers are to keep him warm and keep the heating off constant in winter.

Energy use:

I have only done 2 washes last week, and 1 this week!! This is amazing, as oh normally tries to do at least 3 or 4.
I have used my energy monitor to work out where the appliances are in energy usage, and tried to explain this to oh and get him on side. Still came in to him sat with the lights on, 2 pm on sunniest day of the year why?

Anyway, I have another mystery shop next weekend, and 3 tutoring clients this week. I will post my ebay items tomorrow, bank my tutoring cash and update my budget.

Gutted about England but hey ho to be expected I guess.

cha97michelle

Exam marking - i did SAT marking while on mat leave and no-one said a dickie bird. But then again, i also didn't realise they could pay you for 10 days going in. I voluntarily went to the training days while i was off. Silly me. They knew i was marking and didn't seem at all bothered by it.

earthgirl

Thanks,

I think I will be able to do it as kit days, if I get invited back I only got one lot of feedback 'good' so I guess no news is good news!!

I have managed to sign up to shop and scan, so I am going to use this to same up for amazon vouchers as I have seen a new bit of kit that I'd like for my energy saving campaign - a solar charger for phone, mp3 etc, and can also be used through usb.

According to imeasure, I have used £12 worth of energy this week, on everything, and that is on the higher tier of the tarrif (the kind of standing charge bit) of the first 125kw/quarter, within the next 2 weeks we will drop to the lower tarrif, which will reduce our cost.

If we can drop below £10/week for energy use in summer, this will mean that we only use 1/2 of the money we pay in direct debit, therefore if we double or even triple our usage in winter we wont have to pay more.

twinklie

I want to get on this shop and scan business. I'm getting annoyed about the waiting now. Grr.

Hope things are winding down for you at your school. Try and take advantage of everything you can...you know you'll not get the opportunity again unless you have another little one.

earthgirl

Right after a rather longer sleep than normal, of at least 5 hours!, I feel a bit more refreshed and ready to think about what I have to do in the next 3 weeks before end of school, and then the further 2 weeks before my due date.

School tasks (to be done at school during normal lesson times - not taken home!)
- cover work for speaking exams
- clear in tray
- write yr 9 sow
-tidy cupboard
-finish file of work for replacement
- do some marking

Income
- find more items to ebay at weekend
- small business work
- apply for more marking positions for jan/ next year

Outgoings/ savings:
- plant more lettuce, carrots etc.
- complete tax return
-investigate child benefits, trust fund etc again
- complete 1st shop and scan
- go back through house again trying to find ways of reducing energy
- look at solar/ renewable energy chargers etc, and wind up radio.

Other
- credit check (2 weeks time)

Courgette

Hi Earthgirl

Just checking you've got the following:

• Tesco Pampers Hamper
• Sainsbury's Huggies mum and baby pack
• Bounty packs from Emma's diary - get them from Argos
• Boots Parenting club pack (although I've yet to get my free changing bag which is the only reason I joined)
• Hip grant - form from midwife

There's loads of other things around too but those see to be the ones actually worth getting. The Pampers and Huggies things both have mum treats in too

Let me know if there's anything I've missed! :money:

earthgirl

Thanks Courgette, I think I've got all of them, but haven't got any to add on to your list!

earthgirl

Well I don't feel like I've got anywhere with anything today! I have just been completing some speaking exams with pupils so that I am leaving everything ship shape for my maternity cover.

I managed to get my shop and scan set up last night, so I will do a shop tonight and have a go! I also packed my hospital bag, how scary is that!!

I will also do some small business work, and find things to sell on ebay, an hunt for more appliances to turn off!!