To remind myself how far I've come - my debt diary. - SOA added

lunar

Love those pictures, hope everything is going well and you are not to busy. I will chec in properly soon, i keep having to run to the bathroom and havnt been online much recently.

chocaholic110

Oh poor lunar, I remember that stage well!

Making the most of having two hands to type with. we seem to have inadvertently become the 70's parents from "Bringing up Baby" who have the baby with them all the time. He sleeps in the cot right beside us and we have taken to wearing him in a sling during the day so we can get something done (OH has him at the moment). He will lie for 10-15 minutes under his gym but he hates the swing, hates the pram and is the only baby I know who cries all of the time he is in the car.

A work colleague caught me last week to discuss whether I was going back to work full time. She has said if I wanted to go back part time she would like to job share with me. I think it would work out pretty well as we both have the same work and behaviour expectations and styles of teaching (I job shared when I first started teaching with an "old school"teacher who was at the end of her career and didn't care if they learned anything or even behaved and it was a nightmare!). Apparently since then the other teacher has mentioned it to the head who said she has other people to talk to so can't say yes or no but likes the idea. Mind you our head is a bit erratic so she may completely change her mind by then.

If I went to 3 days a week it would mean losing £12,000 a year income though but I think that I'd rather have the two days with Tom. I worked it out on the TES calculator and after pension and student loan deductions it would be £500 a month less, but after taking into account childcare payments it would only work out at £200-250 a month less - a small price to pay for a shorter working week, especially when you take into account that while I'm at school I end up working evenings and Sundays as well - not great for family life.

So fingers crossed for a 3 day working week from September!!

Other than that not much to report; my pay goes down to basic maternity pay at the end of next month so trying not to spend too much - not too difficult when your baby cries when you try going to the shops! Plus we've pretty much given up hope of seeling our house as all the estate agents are telling us there are very few first time buyers around Keeping it on the market, just in case - we'll see what happens.

Sea78

Hey hon - sory that Tom is so clingy - sounds just like William!! Eventually he started to sleep in the car, but it took months - I resorted to the sling just to get washing up, teeth brushing etc done. Hope it eases for you a little soon.

Sounds good with the job share- my dd has 2 teachers who do the same at her school and it seems to work just fine - they must work well together which is good and Sophia likes the variety I think! The pay drop isnt so good, but as you say, after all the other things factored in, it will not be that much difference, and lovely to have those extra days with Tom too.

Sea xx

hypno06

Happy Easter!!

I hope the 3 day week is a goer for you, and although you have a loss of income to contend with, you are now basically debt free so can presumably make ends meet much more than you could have done 12 months ago.

All that hard work over the last year or so has been very much worth the effort if you can now drop down a couple of days, :T

:EasterBun

chocaholic110

Sea78 wrote: »

Hey hon - sory that Tom is so clingy - sounds just like William!! Eventually he started to sleep in the car, but it took months - I resorted to the sling just to get washing up, teeth brushing etc done. Hope it eases for you a little soon.


Sea xx

Glad I'm not the only one. Somedays I feel like a bit of a failure that he won't be put down but some days I think what the hell, he won't be a baby for long and I'm glad of the time with him. Also my nephew died a few years ago aged 13 weeks and it runs through my head all the time that god forbid if anything were to happen to him at least I've spent as much time as possible with him. I hate thinking that (and haven't said it to any of my family) but it is a horrible thought that is constantly in my head - not that I want to wish his life away but i will be so pleased when he reaches a year old and I can worry less (though I'm sure another worry will replace that one)

Hypno - I love that Easter chocolate smilie - had forgotten all about it!

chocaholic110

Don't the weeks just fly by??

Quite a busy one this week - Tom had his first immunisations on Tuesday - he barely made a sound when they did it - strange child, stick two needles in his legs and he's quite happy, strap him in the car and he screams blue murder. Have you ever known a baby not like the car???

DD did the second cross country competition - the one for the people who'd come top in the first rounds. She did fairly well -18th out of 102 but only the top 3 go on to the national heats (thank goodness - she already does dance, drama, singing, football and gymnastics as well as school football and computer clubs and the local youth club - I'm not sure I can cope with another hobby!)

DS finally handed his options forms in. He was a bit gutted that the way they do it makes them choose between certain subjects. He was unhappy about having to choose between drama and triple sciences (using the extra lesson to do GCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics rather than the generic Science option). Not that he especially likes drama but they do get to go to New York in year 10 and I think that's what he was wanting. My purse is relieved he went for the sciences option though as the trip costs over £1000. Plus only 15 children in his year have been offered the triple science route, he enjoys science and it would have been mad to have missed it! He will be doing GCSEs in English Language, English Lit, Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, RE, History and Geography plus he's also doing ICT and PE but I'm not sure what qualifications they lead to It's all different to my day!

OH received news on his road accident a few weeks ago. He's been offered a drivers' improvement course instead of going to court. It means he doesn't get points on his licence or lose his licence (thank goodness!) but it does cost £160 and means two days off work :mad:

Other than that not much to report - finances are stretched. More or less every penny coming in is going out again and it's a struggle not to use credit cards. It woul be easier if OH began working away from home during the week again but I'm still not ready for that - I like (need?) him home every night. Maybe in a few more weeks...

chocaholic110

Just updating the Christmas savings...

Vouchers

£80 Argos vouchers
£13 HMV voucher
£15 Amazon
£24 Gift card Boots

Cash

£60 spent
£113.98 banked

Points

£164.53 Boots
£15 WH Smiths
£12.50 Nectar

Total £498.01
Total at end of February: £438.20
Total increased - £59.81

Not bad to have nearly £500 at the end of March plus I have a number of sites about at payout level :j Some might have to go into the daily finances though, especially with £160 to find for OH's driving course.

OH wants to go look at some show-homes today, not sure why as we're in no position to buy at the moment. Still - it's free entertainment!!

Snaggles

I've got to admit, I love looking at show homes...even though we have no hope of buying one!

Well done on your Xmas savings - your Boots points are amazing! :T

Loved the baby pictures too, he's gorgeous. :A

Sea78

chocaholic110 wrote: »

Glad I'm not the only one. Somedays I feel like a bit of a failure that he won't be put down but some days I think what the hell, he won't be a baby for long and I'm glad of the time with him. Also my nephew died a few years ago aged 13 weeks and it runs through my head all the time that god forbid if anything were to happen to him at least I've spent as much time as possible with him. I hate thinking that (and haven't said it to any of my family) but it is a horrible thought that is constantly in my head - not that I want to wish his life away but i will be so pleased when he reaches a year old and I can worry less (though I'm sure another worry will replace that one)

Hypno - I love that Easter chocolate smilie - had forgotten all about it!

Bi hugs about this - it's understandable to feel like that - I don't regret having William attached to me all that time - although now he's still being a nightmare!

More photos soon?

Sea xx

chocaholic110

bah, just wrote a huge long post with photos and lost it when i went to post it!