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

Jo_R_2

Argh - I am struggling!

Am having my only 10 mins sit down for the morning (apart from sat having breakfast!) Have been rushing round whilst DD2 at nursery and baby now napping (as is the usual) and am faced with more housework still to do later on.

Think any playtime with the littlies will have to be this afternoon for a little while. I just want to be able to see a teeny bit of respite at one point during the week - it may be that OH's mum will have baby for the afternoon on Weds but not a guarantee, and I will still have DD2 with me anyway.

My thoughts are turning to the summer holidays as I know things will be difficult. Later on I will be drawing up a plan of the summer holiday weeks, in the meantime I have picked up a flyer for DD2's nursery holiday club which is rather cheap (£10 for a full day IIRC) and I need to call up the children's centre to see if they have arranged their summer activities yet. I will then go on to arrange the weeks, hopefully I can have the majority of the weeks filled with activities for a handful of days for all the kids, can put DD2 in holiday club for a few days here and there, and I shall be asking my parents with the hope that they will be able to help out.

In today's money matters, I need to book DD2 in for the extra hour every morning until term ends (for which ex is going halves), for which I should be able to pay my share on Thursday when my money clears from my savings.

Pinky15

Hope you manage to get some respite - I worked out the other day that in 2 years I have had 2 full days away from the children - no wonder I am sooo tired all the time lol.
I am similar to you in my summer holiday approach. I try and plan activities in advance and make sure each week we are busy doing something otherwise it is an expensive nightmare. I wish we had some holiday clubs nearby - the nearest is the next town and for my 3 to go it would cost £80 per day:eek: - not very MSE?
I keep my sealed tin especially for summer hols treats and it is nearly full so this should help with the ice-creams and extra drinks etc x

beanielou

Been to PO, but 2nd class Im afraid.
Try & take it easy.

Jo_R_2

Gawd I must be doing something right - my sister came round yesterday and one of the first things she said was how tidy the house was! Think she was looking at next door or something LOL - no seriously made me feel like I can ease off a little now on the housework.

Have changed the routine a little - been driving DDs to school then nursery. Not my ideal but timewise it's great - has meant I get back a whole half an hour earlier. Have been clearing the table and pots into the kitchen right after breakfast which means I can whizz round then relax a little when baby has his nap, and feel less pressured in the afternoon. Don't think it'll make an awful lot of difference in terms of fuel costs as the distance really is negligible but will keep an eye on it.

Money should transfer from savings tomorrow. Hate feeling so skint but it does amaze me how I can manage on relatively little pennies should we need to - I suppose it shows how easy it is to be frivolous.

Beds are becoming more and more pressing for DDs' room. They're both sleeping in the bottom bunk and the room gets terribly hot in this weather, and they've both said they'd like a bit more space (although they like sharing.) Was worried about offending OH who made their bunk beds himself (fixed ones to the wall) but he basically said he'd feel the same if he were them!

Ideas include buying brand new separating bunk beds and using them as singles for now - pluses = each gets own space and can use current mattresses which brings costs down, plus can obviously use as bunk beds later, minuses = cost and uses up more floorspace.

Secondhand an option, it's just finding some really.

Another option I did consider is a double for now, both get their space but saves floorspace. Not sure really.

Jo_R_2

Money from savings cleared into my account. Can now go and pay nursery what I owe them which is one thing to tick off my list, and pay school later for the trip next week for DD1 and milk money/snack money and the like.

Got to dash to go and pick up DD2.

Jo_R_2

Feeling quite organised this evening.

Have the kitchen cleared, all breakfast stuff out ready for the morning, and kids' outfits laid out ready for taking DD2 to nursery for an early start tomorrow at 8am.

Have paid school for trips and milk money, but not nursery yet as the secretary wasn't there last time DD2 was in. Still waiting to hear if we can get any funding for putting DD2 in an hour earlier in the mornings, however it turns out DDs' stepmum has gone ahead anyway and paid for half of the extra hours up to the end of term - a nice gesture but might not be needed. Have got the money put aside just in case but should find out in the next couple of days.

Already have a mental list of pressing things needed for next month and wondering how am going to juggle everything! It's DD2's birthday and she is all set on a party in the soft play area of a local pub - it could be do-able if I can do it on a very small scale so I will enquire about prices tomorrow but have explained I can't promise anything.

I also desperately want to get my cc down to under 1k in July. It should come under after the minimum payment, even with the interest (am on a LOB of 6.9%.) Have been debating doing a balance transfer but with me not actually earning I don't know how it stands, although Tesco were happy to take my income via Tax Credits and other money and base things on that.

Jo_R_2

Good morning so far - DD2 off to nursery early, made things so much more relaxed!

Had chance to catch up on housework I didn't have chance to do last week (putting away a mountain of laundry) and sorting dinner out early so things will hopefully be fairly relaxed come teatime.

Doing a casseroley-stew thing for tea, using meat from the freezer and Quorn pieces for the veggies, I do two separate pots and stick them in the oven together as they both fit on the top shelf. Should use up lots of old vegetables as trying not to top up unless absolutely necessary.

Need to book online shop for tomorrow or Weds - might end up being tomorrow as hopefully OH's mum is having baby on Weds afternoon so will have to take him round and afternoons are the only time I can really be in for a whole two-hour slot. Just going to book that in a min.

Need to check at nursery if I still owe any pennies for snack money/breakfasts/lunches over June, if so will pay up as have money for it on me and want to get it out of the way.

Still not heard if got any funding for DD2's extra hours so will explain to nursery that I *do* want the hours, can they pencil them in anyway and if not heard by Weds then I'll pay for them myself.

Jo_R_2

Paid up at nursery for snack etc for all of June, plus heard that we did get the funding for the extra morning hour so DD2 can go in at 8am every day. Is very much more easy and relaxing doing the morning routine and has that good knock-on effect into the rest of the morning meaning I'm getting more done and more time to hae a sit down is also welcomed:D

Booked an online shop only for OH to tell me he's skint til payday (Friday as he gets paid weekly.) Cancelled it but realised this morning the money I put aside for DD2's extra hours is going spare so will use that (put aside £40) so going to brave a visit to Asda later - maybe - taking kids to the supermarket stresses me out hugely plus not sure how the bump will cope with walking round the supermarket so might just pick up the essentials - though realise at the local shops this will cost a little more - not sure yet.

Hayfever is killing me - been using the Beconase spray but my eyes are bad - wear contact lenses and don't have glasses at the mo so eye drops out of the question for now - going to tolerate it for a few more days to see if it eases once effect of spary builds up but otherwise will have to phone doctors again about it.

Jo_R_2

Sent DD1 off on a school trip earlier, lathered in suncream and with sunhat and plenty of drinks, only for it to cool right down - now worried they'll get caught in a downpour or similar!:eek:

Not much happening financially, it's the inevitable ticking along until the money comes in and the new month starts. Will hopefully do my July SOA by the end of the weekend so I can see what's happening, and need to plan DD2's birthday present (and party:eek:)

Going to put some stuff on ebay this evening, clothes I haven't worn for ages stuck at the back of the wardrobe. Should hopefully raise some funds for buying new maternity clothes (surviving on a very minimal maternity wardrobe atm!)

Need to pick up a couple of bits and bobs for tea, have about a fiver left out of the £40 I have been using, some of it has gone on food (most really) and the rest on snacks for DDs and school trip pocket money. If I get time will book an online shop for some point in the next couple of days.

SAHMto2boys

Glad you got the nursery funding, that must be a big help. Will your DD still be there by the time baby comes?

Did you get your stuff on Ebay? I've been adding my bits and everything has got watchers and one already has bids so I'm all motivated now to get some more stuff on. Wonder if I could flog DH on there? LOL

I too am just waiting now till payday, already started my budget and whats going where - feel like I've already spent it before DH has got it in.