Jo_R's debt-free diary, slow and steady progress!

Jo_R_2

Aw thanks you two I'm wide awake at the mo as had a hefty sleep (LOL) after putting DDs to bed and woke up about 10.45pm:eek:

Feeling better, managed to eat some tea earlier, that was after OH's mum offered to have baby for the afternoon which was a great help.

As a result of the sleep, haven't managed to get April's SOA done but can work on it tomorrow. Realised we haven't had the water rates schedule of payment for the year through so I have no idea how much the DD will be that is due to come out tomorrow. Not sure how I overlooked it so will give them a call tomorrow anyway even though it should show up on my online banking.

Need to phone up the local children's centre to see if there's any holiday activities on for next week. The hols are actually two weeks but DDs go on holiday with their dad the second week so just need to sort the first week.

Thinking of cancelling our holiday booked for September, we were looking forward to it but I should be about 39 weeks' pregnant so not so sure it's a good idea, even with my history of 3-week-late babies!:D We were thinking of a long weekend somewhere a bit earlier on, we're not sure yet if we can claim as I bought holiday insurance when I paid for the holiday so might check that out as well.

Jo_R_2

Checked online banking and can't see the water rates DD yet - bit concerned so will give them a call in a bit. Tax Credits have gone in a day early, oddly enough my budgeting means this lot of tax credits is actually for May - this is because of the 13 payments, IIRC it's May or June I have my "spare" 13th payment of Tax Credits, I believe it may be this month I have my "spare" Child Benefit payment, it's detailed in last year's diary so need to just check that.

Edit: I have down as 30th April is spare TCs and 1st June is spare CB though the TCs payments went a bit crazy this last month so need to double check the dates on those.

Phoned children's centre earlier and have one activity booked in for next week, next stop is to check local library this afternoon (prob pop up as only 5/10 mins walk from our house) and see what they have going on.

Went for a walk this morning with DD2 and baby to the Co-op, it's a 20-min walk usually but it took us about an hour and a half there and back:D The sun was shining, kids were happy and I felt really quite happy, though slightly bittersweet as I keep thinking how I don't "have" DD2 to myself for much longer before she starts school in September. I'm very fond of our walks and chats in the morning and I'll miss them lots:(

Downside is I spent nearly £15 on bits we needed to top up on. Now, I didn't go crazy and did a little list, but the Co-op isn't the cheapest of places to shop:eek: I really need to sort out our shopping and get some kind of strategy to stick to that's realistic - I feel stuck between knowing I should have the time to sort this out as I'm at home, a budget that seems to be increasing month-by-month, the desire for homecooked food which is something I've always done really, and knowing how tired I get, especially now with baby on the way. Plus an OH who, considering he's so svelte and toned;), eats quite frankly like a horse - no, make that about 10 horses, all day long!

Pinky15

Jo - you are doing sooo well I know myself how hard it is too look after little ones when you feel ill - its the worst. Gone were the days where you could just take t your bed eh?
Glad to hear you are feeling a bit better there is nothing like a bit of sunshine to cheer us up - lets hope its lasts lol.

Jo_R_2

Yeah I must admit that I do feel slightly bitter that if OH is ill, he takes a day off work and takes to his bed whereas I don't have that luxury:(

Phoned water board yesterday, it seems for some unfathomable reason the letter I should have got outlining the monthly DD payments has been scheduled but not produced. The upshot is I should be getting a letter soon, and they have shifted the payments to start from May instead of April apparently at no detriment to me (or so they assured me anyway.) Means the 56.67 I usually budget can be thrown at the Tesco cc.

I still need to complete my SOA so that should get done tonight - I seem forever behind with these SOAs so far this year!

OH 'propositioned' me last night (his words:D) about a van at work that's going cheap - apparently it's a good runner and he wants to convert it. I still think he's creating a lot of work for himself - particularly given we're run ragged at the mo with the kids, his work and he's still working in his spare time (yes he is today) to finish the conservatory at his mum's house.

Was properly annoyed earlier as he insisted on having a lie-in (with the bribe that I could have one tomorrow), when I knew what he'd do is lie in for ages, then curse himself for lying in so long, and rush round getting ready then straight off to his mums and we wouldn't see him until this evening - which will probably happen again tomorrow and Sunday at least:mad: Sometimes recently I feel like the only time we spend with each other just us is when we're asleep!

Jo_R_2

Starting note to self: watching 'Four Weddings and a Funeral' does nothing for my wistful notions of getting married!

Seriously, it has been on my mind again, not sure why as when we decided to postpone from this December to focus on everything else going on around us and saving up, I had only thought about it in passing. Who knows? Stupid really as me and OH have been having a bit of am ever-so-slightly rocky few weeks, I suspect pregnancy hormones are partly to blame but I am guilty of occasionally getting caught up in romantic notions of how relationships/men 'should' be and being disappointed when things don't quite live up to it:(

I also keep browsing houses to buy on rightmove... It's gonna be a few years yet before we're in a position to buy but I keep looking anyway. I'm feeling slightly peeved due to something OH was talking about a few days ago... When I was asking him how he'd feel me taking on a nursing course and us handling me doing unsociable shifts on placements for a couple of years, he said being the mum of small kids does mean that people do have to take jobs such as supermarket cashiers etc working evenings/nights when they're young.

I took his point but it made me feel incredibly trapped:eek: Tbh from what he's said previously I didn't think he'd got a problem with me going back to study once DD2 started school - I suppose really he hasn't, I think it's the shifts that bother him.

I'm not sure what the answer is. As far as I was concerned, we have enough support to be able to call on family for help if we needed it, it's not a constant pattern of shift work over two years - ie I won't always be in placement, and as I would be doing a number of placements, it would be safe to assume that not every one would be unsociable hours. I know he hate, hate, hates renting, and truth be told so do I, which is partly why I wanted to get into studying and then a job asap, to be able to save up for a deposit and have a decent chance at applying for a mortgage, which we can't do as much of as we'd like with just him working.

*shrugs*

Jo_R_2

Wow it's been a week since I last updated!

Been busy with the kids, both DDs are now off on hols til next Sunday with their dad. Still awaiting the 'we arrived here fine' phone call but guess I'll have to wait for that!

I went clothes shopping yesterday - all by myself (gasp!) - to search out some maternity clothes. I'm about 16 weeks, and whilst my usual clothes are mostly noticeably tight around the waist, I'm in maternity no-man's-land because I don't have a big enough (if at all!) bump to wear maternity dresses or tops yet.

I did however pick up a bargainous Red Herring dress in the Debenhams Blue Cross sale for half-price which I am wearing now as it fits me as I am and will accommodate growing bump.

Also did a bit of spending in Asda today and picked up a hoodie, jeans and t-shirt for baby (he's still 'baby' until he starts walking as far as I'm concerned!:D) and a couple of school blouses each for DDs. My downfall with DD1's school stuff is not being prepared enough in advance and finding it a real task to get what I need right before the new school year starts in September in the right sizes so was planning on doing it bit-by-bit especially with DD2 to buy for now!

My confession (which is turning into my regular monthly confession I am noticing!:o) is I still haven't completely finalised and printed out April's SOA:o:o:o I want to keep on top of things this month, all my receipts are waiting in my purse so just need to return to it, go through and double check, print it out, then tot up receipts and running totals.

I also have a list of things to do around the house whilst DDs are out of the way:D I'll prob post it tomorrow but hoping to be v. organised and plough through it whilst I have the time!

Pinky15

Oh you naughty girl sort that SOA out!:D
Wow shopping on your own how exciting - it rare I get to do this too but oh my what a treat. The dress sounds lovely!
My lot still have another week off but I have lots of Msaver ideas, walks, parks - it is amazing when the sunshine opens up possbilities which dont involve sheltering indoors! Here for a fab summer!!:)

Jo_R_2

I must admit it is lovely when DD1 is off during the hols, I really like finding stuff to do, going off to the children's centre, things going on locally, and really liked the last summer hols, it's so much more relaxed than the day-to-day rushing about when school is involved, having to keep to timetables and all that!

SOA all done, printed out and receipts totted up and running totals adjusted. Water rates have been factored into SOA but due to their (ahem) ineptitude in not sorting out our DD, I now have that payment spare which will go toward the CC - tried to transfer it last night but it wouldn't let me as they were having system maintenance or something like that so will do that in a bit.

Main aims for the day are to
a) finish washing up (LOL living life on the edge me!:D)
b) assemble something cupboard-wise for tea without buying anything from the shop (thinking tomatoey pasta with vegemince or red lentils)
c) compile an online shop (hate going to the supermarket for food shopping!:eek:) and
d) put away all of DDs' clothes into their new chests of drawers.

Jo_R_2

Re: above aims - I think it is safe to say each one of those is partly done, the story of my life LOL!

Just having a break, baby was tired of "helping" me put DDs' clothes away and a bit cross so he's having a nap whilst I tried to finish my online shop - which again got interrupted halfway through when he woke up from his previous nap! I do need to return to it later with a more accurate meal plan right up til next Monday when I will need to do another shop.

I noticed when we popped into Asda yesterday that the couple in front were buying a stereo, one of the ones I had my eye on a while back. I just checked online and they're doing a sale and the model that appears to be the next spec up from the one I originally liked and was consiberably more pricey is in the sale at practically the same price, so I bit the bullet and bought it. About time! Need to transfer the money over from savings.

[Deleted User]

Hi Jo,

Thought I'd pop in and say hello, sorry not been about for a while it's been hectic here.

Congrats on your pregnancy

Catch you later xx