Moving onwards, the family home and making it MF. LP diary pt2

SmlSave

Look after yourself hun, no lifting anything that seems too heavy.

The different route for your DH sounds like a good thing, are you both thinking about it? My DH stopped doing lates which meant 10% less income but I generally have a much less stressed DH and we see more of our friends now.

LilacPixie

I personally think he should go for it... he is paranoid with maternity leave, larger mortgage etc that we will struggle. It might sound a bit against the whole MF principle but my SMP is only for a few months, once i'm back at work we have surplus income of about £600 a month. so it may be that for 4 months the credit card is not paid off in full for 3-4 months so for 2011. Mortgage overpayments will stop for a few months and probably no holiday away but TBH with 3 kids I think too stressful anyway.

I think the improvements in family life mean its worth it plus if OH is home and i'm back working I have a bigger earning potential than he does

SmlSave

I think the improvements in family life mean its worth it

Great minds work alike

gratefulforhelp_2

LilacPixie wrote: »

Cath TBH I don't feel like this is it, sounds weird but i'm too calm.

You can't be too calm, its what kills pain best.

LilacPixie

SmlSave wrote: »

Great minds work alike

I am very focused and determined. I think we need to look at the bigger picture and most important thing is. I also feel we have alot of wastage and un-needed spends both one offs and regular spends. Prime example yesterday i was sore etc etc. we have chips, fish finger, chicken bits etc in freezer. We also have some bunk meals like curries bolognese etc and cupboard of things like pasta, tinned toms, rice etc. So what happened oh you we spend £20 on a dominos pizza delivery.

I really think a bit of harsh budgetting, cut backs to wastage then we can manage to cope quite easily with a smaller income.

I go on about this alot but if you look at not only this board but the DFW board other families are managing on alot less with a lifestyle that is no worse than ours but with alot less wastage

SmlSave

I totally agree with you LP.

*hangs head* last week it was a curry takeaway for us and this week I've got a kindle But I feel secure that we're not spending money we don't have/can't pay back within a year and that should DH lose his job we could still cope with stopping all the wasteage spends. i.e. takeaways, lovefilm etc.

sarahevie

I'd recommend an hours cut doesn't seem a lot of money really. My OH works five mins from home and it's fab knowing he'll be home by 5.45 - we also have lunch together most days. The kids love it and when they are giving me hell it's lovely for daddy to tell them off :rotfl:

KimmyCustard

Yup I agree as well, we do have take aways when we're off together, go out for lunch etc. We have friends over and even though I cook, we have wine, beer, puddings etc etc.

But I also do feel we have to have a 'life' as well, IYSWIM? Continually saving, not spending, cant have this that or the other makes me feel quite down and as though we dont have alot to look forward to. Although we're not going on a holiday this year and I would rather pay off our credit card debt (about £2k), I do like to have take aways, meals out etc to look forward to.

I do take a packed breakfast and lunch to work so no money is spent on food whilst I'm there, same for DH.

Yay - youve packed baby's bag! :T

LilacPixie

I think half the issue is OH wage structure. He is salaried plus he gets a bonus depending on miles travelled, units carried and how many drops. His salary is 19k so thats guarenteed, only thing is instead of needing to leave depot at 5am to reach aberdeenshire for 7 he would be local so would leave depot at 7 because his first drop would be literally 300 yards from depot. He has done that run to cover for holidays before and he leaves at 6.30 and home for 2 ish compared to leaving 4.30 home at 4

Lynn11

Hiya Not sure if you have tackled changing utility supplier yet. I live outside Glasgow and we were with Scottish Power in our old house (2 bed semi) and monthly payment was £110 and creeping up. We moved to SCottish Hydro to £90 for both. When we moved in June last year to a 3 bed detached we stayed at £90 per month, but last month as we had a large credit we are now down to £70 per month which I really pleased about.

Scottish Hydro are not on the comparison sites but you could speak to them. I have heard bad reports about Npower so I personnally would not go there.

Its fairly easy to switch as they utility company does all the work for you.