The Ultimate Hard and Fast debt clearing mission

Dinah93

No, you have to pay upfront for the full course, avoid people dropping out as it's always fully subscribed. I think she only takes 10 or 11 people per class.

He's done first aid before, I haven't for about 10 years, but apparently baby first aid is completely different to adult first aid. I wouldn't feel comfortable teaching him though, I've got a shocking memory and would be worried I'd get it all wrong!

I'm worried he'll be as distracted by the baby as by me, what if it gurgles/cries/squarks?!

starnac

If it's lack of concentration that's NIM's problem do you think the ADC would help solve that?

Maybe he just needs more practice??

Dinah93

My dad has said it should make anyone more aware, NIM doesn't lack practice he's been drivign almost daily for 5 years. It's sort of the opposite issue, he's overly confident because he is a good driver generally and a ridiculously good parker, so he sort of doesn't pay as much attention as a newer driver who is terrified. Plus he is still a bit costly to insure, so I'd like to bring that down.

kavics17

Dinah93 wrote: »

Whoop. Just got my lottery money out the work fund for the year. £27..clearly it wasn't our year.

Mattress - argument for getting a new one: Our current one is mouldy. £350ish
Baby First Aid course - could save our child's life, and it's the only one on a weekend until May, and I'll be too big by then. £37.50 each.
Car service - the car is making a weird noise £90ish
Advanced Driving course - NIM is not the most observant lately and I'm scared of him driving the baby and I'm sure it will pay for itself through reduced insurance and not having to repair other people's cars. £130ish
NCT course - the one I'm struggling to justify most. I hear it's really good on the social aspects of having a baby and it would be a good way to calm my complete fear that I may kill the baby. £200 or so for 15 hours
Pregnancy pilates course: The only one in my area, I'm hoping it might ease some of my aches and pains and give me a bit more energy. Haven't booked this though as I'm a wuss if it snows and won't want to go out the house! On the plus side it is at 4.30pm so wouldn't actually be leaving the house, just stopping on the way home. Downside it means parking on the busiest high street on earth at 4.30 on a Friday just after all the schools get out. £59 for 6 classes.

Help my thought processes girlies and ralph-parties. Are these sensible spends or should I cut some of them? None would take us further into debt, just stop us paying more off.

Dinah,

New mattress, I would have said no 2 months ago but we changed ours at the beginning of Nov and I can't believe the difference. Go for it, you spend sleeping third of your life (well,not really but close) so make sure that your mattress is a good one. I have asthma and haven't had any symptoms overnight since we changed it, I don't even want to think what was going on inside the other one. If yours is mouldy, than yes, go for it.

As for First Aid course: yes, yes and yes. Don't spare the money, go together with NIM and do it. I work with children and believe me, it's worth every penny, I do mine every 2 years (recommended is every 3 but by the end of year 2 I feel I forgot most of it, not to mention things change and the course is a good way to find out the new guidance). £37.50 each is not much, I did mine for £115. It was a 6hr refresher one in London, the cheapest I could find 6 months ago. I would go for another one around the 30th week of the pregnancy, close enough to birth but not too close to it.

NCT. I would go for it and not only because of finding other mums in the same situation but because of thinking ahead in the future. I would want a nannyshare once I'm back at work and through NCT I might be able to find other mums with similar aged babies who are interested. I know it's £200 but I think if you are in an isolated area/don't know many other couples than it's a great idea (not to mention NCT sales: you will be able to find out where they are, everything is much cheaper there without the hussle of ebay, and sell your own stuff afterwards).

Pregnancy Pilates: depends. I would start with swimming first and if it's not enough for back aches/etc than I might sign up for Pilates. It's not about the cost for me, it's about going there every week, I might not feel like than would feel guilty not going and spending the money. With swimming, it's PAYG so no guilt feeling if I don't want to go/can't go.

But what I def buy: pregnancy pillow:o.

Sorry,not pregnant yet but did my research ages ago:D.

Birdie85

starnac wrote: »

If it's lack of concentration that's NIM's problem do you think the ADC would help solve that?

Maybe he just needs more practice??

^^^ Agree! FIL did the ADC a few years ago and still nearly kills us every time we're in the car as he's easily distracted by the fact that there are people in the car as he's used to driving alone.

kavics17

Sorry, can't comment on driving, I haven't driven for 9 years and not planning it for another couple either. Living in central London has its advantages, no need for car.

Dinah93

Thanks Kavics. I'm on the look out for a pregnancy pillow but like so many things in the baby stores I'm completely baffled by choice and end up leaving empty handed.

I do want to swim, I'm a bit wussy atm as I'm kind of embarrassed by the baby podge and don't feel comfortable in a swimsuit. Hoping by Christmas it will be a defined enough bump to brave the lycra. There is an aqua natal class near me (sadly my new office is 40 mins one side of my house by train, and the class is another 15 mins the other way) which I might try in the new year, but may see if I can go to the new pool near where NIM works in the meanwhile. I wonder if there is a website that ranks local pools by water temperature?! If not there should be! Can't wait until I have a little person big enough to take to the kids afternoons at the pool with all the inflatables and balls and things.

I'm with you on the first aid, I read a story the other day about a choking baby and the mother saved its life. She was the first to admit that like me she wouldn't have known what to do until the course, and I just think £75 is pennies for the peace of mind that the baby is safe with either of us.

My dad did the ADC, he made a fair few friends through it and he's a very good driver. I don't know if it improved him that much, but it has cut down the insurance costs so got to be worth a punt.

Birdie85

Well you clearly want to go ahead with everything (for good reasons) so as long as you know it's not going to send you further into debt then go for it

Dinah93

Lol I do and I don't, I just think there is a good argument for everything and certainly the first aid and driving course I would always blame myself if we saved money at the expense of safety. The pilates I may decide against, the NCT it looks like you can pay in instalments so might do that as well. I know they joke most mums to be buy every gadget and piece of equipment going so they feel prepared - I want to go on every course going instead!

Dinah93

Dinah93 wrote: »

To do
1. Finish tidying study
[STRIKE]2. Get fitted for maternity bra[/STRIKE]
3. Send new house card to auntie
[STRIKE]4. Email mums cousin to tell her about baby [/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]5. Do Wed MS report [/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]6. Do Sat MS report [/STRIKE]
7. Christmas-up the house
8. Wrap remaining presents
9. Ask dad for propane torch and soldering iron
[STRIKE]10. Tuesday wrap anything sold[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]11. Friday wrap anything sold[/STRIKE]
12. Post November money update
[STRIKE]13. Get NIM to call desk man to come pick it up. [/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]14. Take coat to dry cleaners[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]15. Call past car insurer get NCd sent[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]16. Cancel hotel chocolat offer[/STRIKE]
17. Get NIM to call 02
18. List the last box of stuff in the conservatory on Amazon/ebay

No worries on the list tbh except for the last item, that box is pretty massive.

Potentially this month we need wheel balancing, a new mattress, new glasses, we've already repaid £100 for a bike which isn't on the debt spreadsheet, Christmas food and a few presents, some maternity clothes and most definitely some bras.... I can see this being another miss the target month

Aw CRAP. I forgot about wheel balancing and glasses. Glasses are certainly waiting until January.

I do love my optimism that the list should be no issue. I really should have made every even numbered item on the list 'nap' and then I might have got part way to looking like I had made good headway into the list!