The Ultimate Incentive Threadies go all out!

Birdie85

archersluck wrote: »

Birdie I'm so excited for your holiday! What's the weather like over there now?

Temps in the 30s, although there are lots of storm clouds Hopefully it'll just be the quick storms that are over and done with in 30 minutes!

I know what you mean about being unhappy about NIM getting to be at home all day with the LO Dinah, we're hoping that OH will be able to go down to 6 hours a day so we don't need childcare (I'll work 7-3.30 if possible and OH will do 4-10) which will be great but I think I'll struggle with him having all of the fun hours with the baby whilst I just get bedtime and cleaning up after the fun they've been having all day! Think we'll probably end up with both of us doing some version of part time... but we'll see I suppose! Plenty of time to think about all that, even though my Mum has already been test driving buggies! :rotfl:

ETA: Argh I don't want to even think about car costs! MOT due next month, tax due in November, insurance in Feb... grrrr!

Dinah93

We couldn't get by on part time wages, much as I'd love to be able to do that I don't think we are eligible for any WTC or anything either, although some people have said we might get it on the maternity year as our income would be so much lower.

I've also heard if you have two jobs, or one job and self employment, you get maternity pay from both, which is really worth looking into as it would be fab to get it off my main job and my business as it would mean we'd comfortably be able to take the full year.

Birdie85

Oh I didn't know that about the 2 jobs/2 maternity pays! Interesting!

The WTC thing annoys/confuses me, mainly because we're not eligible for anything and I think that's unfair! I want money!

We'll probably struggle a little on part time but we'll be saving a fortune on childcare so I suppose it's swings and roundabouts. Might be able to get away with OH doing part time 3 days a week and having the Mums look after the LO on his full time days as they're both keen to have one day a week with them. I'd really like to work 4 days though, going to push for that!

Dinah93

Childcare varies wildly from area to area, but in ours it seems to be £28-£32 for a days nursery/child minder 8-6 so it's much better off for us to work. I don't like the idea of putting my child in someone else's care no matter how good for 10 hours a day 5 days a week though - I feel like I'd hardly see them so struggling with that as not really sure if we should wait a few years until we can afford to go part time. We're a bit stuffed too in that my mum works and his is more than a little bit far away to help with childcare. At least my work offer childcare vouchers which come out of your salary pre-tax so that should help a little.

ruby_eskimo

You've all just reminded me I need to tax my car next month. Thinking I might just do it for 6 months as I will need a bit of extra cash if I end up moving. Worked out the budgets last night (it's one of my things I do when I'm bored) and me and OH would be so much better off if we lived together. With both our wages coming in, we'd be able to put away about £1000 a month towards the house and wedding funds with about £200 a week max for food and petrol and stuff (which is way more than we need). Just need to hope I get this job now!

What kind of thing are we thinking about for the October "challenge" Dinah? Is it financial or something else?

Birdie - OH loved the character breakfasts in Disneyworld, he talks about them whenever we have pancakes and keeps saying he really wants to go back. We've made a deal that I can go to Harry Potter World if I let him take me to a NFL game. He made me watch on on Sunday night and it was the longest 3 hours of my life! Hope you have a really great time!

OH asked me at the weekend if I'd had any ideas about the wedding. I have practically planned it all in my head but was so embarrassed about it that I couldn't tell him. He kept pressing me and got a little annoyed because I was hiding under the duvet! How did you (those of you that are married) deal with the whole "I'm a girl and I secretly love weddings, but don't want to freak out my OH" thing. I've always not really been interested in weddings, that is until it comes to my own!

Dinah93

Afraid I can't help you with that one Ruby, I was pretty terrified of our wedding and even had a small panic attack when I had to deal with the final hotel meeting without NIM and I just wanted to scream and scream 'what does it matter?!' to every stupid question about how we'd be announced, order of speeches, where the cake would stand in the room etc. NIM pretty much had to talk me into planning it, although I did like the magazines with all the pretty dresses in.

October challenge is a fairly open one. Basically anyone who wants to join in sets themselves goals for the month such as 'make 20 christmas cards' or 'clear lloyds credit card' or 'lose 5lbs' or 'make £500 in extra income'. Basically whatever you want to achieve in the month just to push yourself a little (or a lot). I'm certainly going to have a few strings to what I'm challenging myself to do (because hey, it's all about balance (in a really really focussed motivated pushy way!))

wendz86

Dinah93 wrote: »

Childcare varies wildly from area to area, but in ours it seems to be £28-£32 for a days nursery/child minder 8-6 so it's much better off for us to work.

You are lucky, ours is 43 a day!

Ruby - really hope you get the job, sounds like it would be beneficial all round.

starnac

wendz86 wrote: »

You are lucky, ours is 43 a day!

when we lived up north we paid £21 a day for a childminder but down here we pay £15 a day for the nursery. I was a bit gutted too cos DD goes to school now mornings as she's over 3 and I did think yay childcare will go down just in time for 2nd one but nursery have upped their prices so we'll still be paying the same amount even though she only goes half a day now :mad:

once I have the baby and my pay drops to SMP i'll drop her days in nursery cos we won't be able to afford it

Flower08

Afternoon everyone,

Not been around for a couple of days, mainly because I am so fed up of being pregnant now :rotfl:my feet hurt, im tired, not sleeping, been having pains and niggles for a few days and want this baby out!! Ok, moan over

All this talk of childcare costs is very depressing! Havent properly looked into it yet, but as I work on MW its hardly worth me going back to work. Will have to see what childcare costs we will be entitled to with Child Tax Credits. I definitely want to take the full year maternity leave though!

Oh and I would like to join the October challenge: my challenge is to get this baby out :rotfl:

wendz86

Sorry didn't mean to depress everyone with the cost of childcare lol.

Not long now Flower! Have you had any more growth scans?