MSE Parents Club Part 13

hammyhunter

Hugs Aless, we have had our fair share of bad nights here so I feel your pain! :grouphug:. It is very demoralising to be awake for more than half the night when your body is screaming for sleep!

searching_me

whose L.E.E on fb? they asked to be added to the group x

Becles

We don't use childcare. I went self employed so my hours are flexible and I work around my parents and Craig's work hours, so they look after Charlotte while I'm working.

I bought my house in 1996 which prices were much lower, so the mortgage is fairly small. I don't envy people trying to buy at the moment when prices and therefore mortgage payments are so high.

Don't think I could be a pure SAHM - my mind is always too active and although I love being at home with the bairns, I'd get bored mentally. Don't think I could work full time out of the home though, as I'd miss the bairns too much! Self employed part time is just the right balance for me between working and being at home.

Nothing planned today. Got to pop out this morning and do a quick job, then just going to potter on. No footy on tonight so I've bagged the tele to watch a film or something

Hope everyone has a good day today xx

redmel1621

Aless and Jenny

We basically fell into the exact trap you are (very sensibly) trying to avoid! Ds2 coming along meant that we couldn't afford childcare, we ended up with dh working fulltime, on paltry unskilled wages, and I did a couple of evenings and a sunday....unfortunately we had got ourselves into a fair amount of debt while we were both working (pre-children) and simply couldn't afford to keep up repayments on most of it once we had two children and a drop in income of about 10000pa We ended up days away from reposession of our house, fortunately we had managed to secure a sale and super quick completion which allowed us to pay off the mortgage and most of the debt. Not that I regret having any of my kids, but things have been hard, me and dh have been on the verge of divorce due to stress over finances, it is still a very hard subject to approach....as there is a lot of resentment on both sides about various aspects, although we have got through it somehow.

Jenny - I think as a few have said waiting until one child is in school before having a second is a good idea, there is only after school care to pay for, which is obviously a lot cheaper. As for taking them out of childcare while on maternity leave, yes definitely. I used to work in a after school club and the expecting mums always removed their kids while they were on maternity leave.....

Aless - You mentioned about debt repayments and general outgoings equalling 2k, you would simply need to re-negotiate with debtors/creditors etc. most credit cards/catalogues and similar have policy things inc with them that mean you can take repayment breaks. I did this when pregnant with K, my credit card allowed a year break while on maternity leave. With our debts, well, they basically had to accept token payments as we weren't even earning enough to go on a dmp or for CCCS/CAB to take on our case!! You wouldn't have to scrimp by forever, once both kids are in full time school, then there is more opportunity to work again.

EDIT - If you havr family locally then that could be one way to cut childcare costs....unless, like me, you have plenty of family nearby yet none of them even visit from month to month, never mind babysit/help out with childcare:(

Tigsteroonie

:hello:

*Reads back

*Wanders out of the Parent thread in search of other money-saving forums, as she's obviously not doing things right - renting, overdrafts, and both of us out of work.

searching_me

Becles wrote: »

Don't think I could be a pure SAHM - my mind is always too active and although I love being at home with the bairns, I'd get bored mentally. Don't think I could work full time out of the home though, as I'd miss the bairns too much! Self employed part time is just the right balance for me between working and being at home.

exactly how i feel ... id love to be SE but i wouldnt how or what to do all ive ever known is retail x

redmel1621

oh, oh, oh....I forgot to tell you my good news....11 days in, and I am only 2.5lbs away from my pre-preg weight:j That still leaves me 3.5st overweight, but, well:D

redmel1621

Tigsteroonie wrote: »

:hello:

*Reads back

*Wanders out of the Parent thread in search of other money-saving forums, as she's obviously not doing things right - renting, overdrafts, and both of us out of work.

Did I post this under the wrong username:o;)

Tigsteroonie

redmel1621 wrote: »

That still leaves me 3.5st overweight, but, well:D

Excuse me then for posting this under the wrong username

redmel1621

:T:T:T@Tigs

Isn't mse behaving strange:cool: