Our attempt at being MF!!

yukkibear

Hope you don't flake out too much later. I remember being awake at silly o clock when I was pregnant, it's so annoying, doesn't the baby and your body know you need rest NOW!

CathT

Me too! I did nap for a little while when DH got up before he went to work but felt worse for it. Just about to drop DD off ar nursery for a few hours as she still needs to go while i'm off.

I had big plans for the 4 hours but can't see a lot getting done. I can't see me being that tired when the baby is here (despite the hourly feeds) I haven't slept well for 3 years.

On a brighter note I am 31 weeks today!

CathT

I am totally confused!

I have been told that childcare vouchers cannot be deducted from SMP but on reading the policy it seems my employer have got around this somehow?. It's so wordy though! Anyone work in HR that can translate? I really don't know what to do for the best now.

CathT

Payroll confirmed that childcare vouchers can't be deducted from SMP but I'm sure the policy implies that they will deduct extra the months I get occupational maternity pay otherwise I would be getting more that people that don't get the vouchers get. I am just going to guestimate maternity pay on terrible figures and any more I get is a bonus! I could possibly reduce my vouchers as I build up credit but I will have 2 children to pay childcare for as of next June.

I have a dilemma. DH is terribly unhappy in current job and has an interview on thursday for a great job. However, he has just been offered another job!! Similar pay and a 40 hour week over 4 days. He first applied for a 4 day week when DD was born and it was great as they used to have days out together on his days off and he missed it when he went up to 5 days. This job is closer than current job, probably not open Christmas day but will involve him working evenings (till 9:30 ish). If he didn't have the interview thurs I would say definitely go for it as he's not happy, it's an extra £2500 a year with less travelling etc. He seems to think that he wouldn't work 4 evenings though due to needing to start earlier in the day. Anyway, he has gone to see the manager now to ask for a written offer and discuss terms etc. This job is for the company he has already left twice but is a different location and manager. I just think there's no pleasing my husband!

Froggy-G

Your OH just needs to stall the process with the current offer.. Let them do the paperwork, its gonna take them ages.. By then he will know if Thursday's interview has been successful or not..

Don't worry, all will go well..

Froggy

CathT

Thanks Froggy. If he gets job on Thursday it will make things much easier as he would accept that one. However if he doesn't I think he will accept the one he was offered yesterday. It just came out of the blue which is always nice for a job offer! I just don't know if we (mostly me) want him working till 9:30pm when evenings can be a challenge with 2 children and it's boring sitting alone of an evening! Anyone else's OH's work evenings?

However, it does have its perks so we will see. The manager is aware DH has an interview Thursday and is happy to wait. Like you say he has paperwork to sort out his end anyway.

Money seems extra tight this month but i'm not sure why? I think it's probably due to the need to constantly spend on food and petrol. We certainly don't have any luxury money. I have however sent another OP of £45.26 today made up of Onepoll and TCB money.

Off to midwife a bit later so hoping for some bump measurements. We are at the stage of alien like movements in my belly!

Also started using BP again yesterday so hoping to get some Amazon vouchers from there in the run up to Christmas.

I really feel I need to get inventive with maximising income but not sure what else I have time to do that is worth the reward? I daren't sell anything else!

CathT

Well BP is hard work, it makes my laptop run sooo slow!

Caught up on a few surveys today including Onepoll. Did lots of mini-polls on Toluna but every survey it took me to I was screened out of.

DH assembled DD's trampoline, best buy ever! She loved it and at bedtime came and sat on my knee and asked to go to bed. Hope it's dry tomoro so she can play on it again.

Measuring spot on for dates at midwife so not sure why I measured ahead previously? Also, I had a feeling baby had changed position and thought he might be lying across my tummy due to bump shape the other night. Midwife thinks he might be breech - grrrr. She advised I increase my iron intake again so I have doubled my Spatone, I really hope it works.

Other than that I am loving being off work, I think i will find my last 2 weeks of work quite a struggle. I am however getting used to being wide awake between 2 and 5am!

sarahevie

Four day week is good though - I tried to encourage my OH to apply for his job (in a different location) over a 4 day week he was having none of it.

CathT

sarahevie wrote: »

Four day week is good though - I tried to encourage my OH to apply for his job (in a different location) over a 4 day week he was having none of it.

Yes it was brilliant last time and used to save us a fortune in childcare. I have just got so used to DH being here in the evenings but I know not all fathers are at home at that time. Hopefully it would only be 3 evenings a week anyway. When I return after maternity leave I will have to work my 2 or 3 evenings opposite him. Anyway, he has his interview tomorrow so if he gets that it makes the decision easier!

Logged into Amazon yesterday to check progress on payment due to me and noticed someone had undercut me by 1p on my last DVD so I reduced it and it has SOLD! I think that's £50 I should have on the way to me in total now so that's a good OP.

CathT

Tried very hard with surveys this morning and even managed to do a few! I want to keep chipping away at them consistently so that I do get some financial reward!

I was nosing on 'grabbit' and noticed there was a 50% code for bodyshop and 25% cashback on TCB so I have done some Christmas shopping! I have managed to buy presents for my mum, sister and aunt for £22 before cashback. We simply won't have the money to splurge in November and December and I doubt I will have the time! I fully expect to have a little boy constantly attached to me till at least March! (Has anyone used baby slings?)

Hoping I can keep adding to Amazon and that will do for presents for DD and expected DS (not that he'll get much!) and DH and myself. One of my first memories of Martin Lewis is him on TV amazed that people don't plan for Christmas!

DD is asleep - the trampoline is completely wearing her out, possibly a little too much as she was quite grumpy before her nap!

Right - off to get the washing in and clean the bathroom.