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

pandapaws

Hi Choca! For some reason I've missed your diary for a while!

I'm so impressed that you managed to keep the spending diary so totally up-to-date AGAIN! I did it for about a fortnight, but gradually stopped entering into it, and it seems to be something that's either all or nothing - no point entering a little bit of spending into it! Need to get back into it - thanks for the motivation!

Can't believe how much of your debt you've managed to get rid of! What will you do when you've finished? DH and I were talking about that the other day (obviously we're just a little further away from it than you though!), and I think I'll feel a bit lost! Everything at the moment revolves around saving money, paying things off etc. Will have to find a hobby - at least we'll be able to afford it!

I'm up for the next-Xmas challenge. Hoping it can be on this board - I rarely stray anywhere else simply because of lack of time!

Have a good week - how are you enjoying the time off now?

chocaholic110

I enjoy some days off. I think it depends on how much I do and if i feel I've "wasted" the day.

About what we'll do when we're debt free...I'm a bit scared actually - does that sound stupid? Hoping I don't start spending madly just because the money is there. Think will be sticking around here as a "staying DFW". The plan is to budget properly - so that so much money each month goes into accounts for car, holiday etc. Having said that, the first few months of debt-freeness will probably be when my maternity pay falls to £112 a week so probably can't save anyway - the challenge will be to remian debt free with a new baby and a small income!

How are you? Is it nearly scan time? You seem to have had to wait a long time!

pandapaws

Only another 3 days - this Thursday morning. You're right - it does seem to have taken AGES! Think it's because they're doing me at 22 wks for some reason - they did the same last time. Still, hopefully the slightly bigger baby will make it a little easier to see the important bits! I'm far more worried (although for no real reason) about this scan than I was first time round, as I think that once you've got a kid already you have more of an idea of all the things that can go wrong. But quite sure everything will be well, so not thinking about any of the bad stuff, and thinking only that I want to know the sex so I can start [strike]shopping[/strike] planning!:D

Isn't maternity pay a joke? £112 a week?! I'll only be taking the bare minimum 6 weeks off on 90% pay as I can't afford any longer - that's where it all went wrong last time round! I actually think it will be easier to cope if I'm working - I thought I was doing the right thing last time by giving up work, but in actual fact I found that staying at home with a screaming baby drove me round the bend and therefore probably didn't make me a particualrly good mother. I'm very lucky with the shifts I do, so will have loads of time at home and be able to pop home to feed etc on my breaks (if we can ever get moved!), but I just know I'll hear what a bad mother I am from the stay-at-home-mom-brigade, but I don't give a toss! Better to be relaxed from time away from home and be a happy mum than the miserable, shopoholic, debt-troubled mess I was last time round!

Lacking the motivation to get off my backside this morning. Are you doing anything exciting today?

chocaholic110

Ouch! Only 6 weeks? Having said that I went to university full time when DS was 5 weeks and thought nothing about it!

I do get a slightly better package than the basic maternity pay but not a lot. I think it runs a bit like

4 weeks full pay
2 weeks 90%
12 weeks half pay & SMP (which will be a few hundred short of normal pay but not over £1000 like it will be after that! )
21 weeks SMP (£112!! argh!)

though I won't be off as long as that. I start back the week before the summer holiday, kickstarting my normal pay back into action for the six weeks holidays, but only having to work for one week.


I didn't have my 20 week scan until 21 weeks and felt deprived; don't thihnk I could have waited another week! And the sonographer was still hazy about what it was but then I think she was just being awkward!

Not up to much so far. I have a MASSIVE parcel to send. Lugged it to my local village PO to find out the cost to be told they can't send parcels over 10kg. Drove to nearest town PO where they said it weighed 11kg and they also claimed my local PO was telling lies. The woman in the first PO also claimed the address label on the parcel I did send was too small (it's the same size I always useand no other PO has a problem!) and was just generally cantankerous (sp?). Guess who won't go there again!!

Other than that, i have a plan (well, i've had it for weeks without much progress) to sort out all the toys in the attic and cupboards for Freecycle / ebay etc to free up some space for the new [STRIKE]rubbish[/STRIKE] much wanted gifts that will be appearing in the next few weeks. Especially as DD has a birthday two weeks before Christmas and is having a footballing party to which the whole class is invited. Last time we had a full class party she ended up with 25 jewellery / jeweelery making / sticker sets. Mind you, i have visions of no-one coming to this one - the girls saying "I'm not going to a football party" and the boys saying "I'm not going to a girl's party!"

Sorry, I've rambled on for ages! I bet you wish you hadn't asked!!

chocaholic110

Also, should have said, I think when you have a baby, you can't win with some people whatever you do, so just block your ears and sing "La la la" if anyone says anything - it's your life, not theirs!

pandapaws

chocaholic110 wrote: »

Also, should have said, I think when you have a baby, you can't win with some people whatever you do, so just block your ears and sing "La la la" if anyone says anything - it's your life, not theirs!

Should have done that last time - I had a complete tirade at a woman who DARED criticise me for sending DS, 3 months old, to nursery one morning a week (which admittedly I did partly for a bit of peace and quiet, but mainly so he'd get used to other kids and being left without me). "Ooh, isn't he a bit young? Don't you think he just needs his mum at that age?" GRRRRRR! Wouldn't have been so bad if it wasn't his first day and I wasn't still feeling guilty about abandoning him with strangers. Funnily enough, I haven't seen her since! Goodness knows what she'd say about my 6 week return to work!

pandapaws

chocaholic110 wrote: »

though I won't be off as long as that. I start back the week before the summer holiday, kickstarting my normal pay back into action for the six weeks holidays, but only having to work for one week.

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
I love it!!!

My work doesn't believe in maternity leave, as they very kindly told me "we're pleased to inform you that you're entitled to full statutory maternity pay...". Gee, thanks, guys!

Good luck with the attic clearout - rather you than me! I'm still plucking up the courage to go into the kitchen!

chocaholic110

Ordered another £10 Argos voucher so along with the one I already have and the one I am expecting there's a game paid for for DS's Christmas list.

Also ordered another Boots voucher from Pigsback - always come in handy!

OK, stomach rumbling so must go eat lunch then start some sorting out. Done today's flying so everywhere clean, just organising to do!

Sea78

I did going back just before hte summer hols as well And with DS just before the half term! Menat it was less childcare as my mum came for that week so they didn't have to start at the childminder til after wards.

Bonus!

chocaholic110

Sea78 wrote: »

I did going back just before hte summer hols as well And with DS just before the half term! Menat it was less childcare as my mum came for that week so they didn't have to start at the childminder til after wards.

Bonus!

I do know someone who put her date for starting back as the first day of the summer hols but I haven't got that much nerve. It also means I get a week to gradually ease myself in as I am always nervous going back after a holiday, even half term (nightmares that I will have forgotten how to teach) so I don't know how bad I'll be after 9 months off!