Making the future happen - museumworker's MFW diary Pt 2

icklehelen

Hi MW :wave:

Tilly has just mentioned you in her diary so I thought I'd pop by and ask how the BLW is going (and life in general)

Hope you're well?

ickle

CathT

museumworker wrote: »

What I don't have time for unfortunately is the selling of the things around the house but if it comes to choosing between making a couple of quid or an hour quality time with the kids the latter is currently winning!

Hi MW, this makes total sense doesn't it. I have been completely stressed with the clutter in the playroom and selling things is really time consuming. I have filled charity bags this morning as the satisfaction from everywhere being tidy is more than what I would get from making a few ££££'s.

Good luck with the BLW, how time flies though!

museumworker

Long time no write! Hello everyone, and thanks for popping by in my absence. The last couple of months have just been crazy - great, but crazy! We had numerous weekends of celebrations for OH's 40th, a family 60th and 20th wedding anniversary, our first family city break together, the fanciest meal EVER at Marcus Wearing (my treat to OH), a wedding, a hen do, settling into nursery, interview for promotion at work, and lots of other family type stuff going on can't write here! I know that we've had lots of quality time and experiences, and when I get time to catch my breath will really look back and cherish these times. .

However, times they are a changing in MW towers. DS will be one next week - and I will be returning to work, on a 30 hour pattern. I have silly amounts of leave to use, so starting with a 3 day week for the first three months.

I do feel sad to be finishing my mat leave, and having less time with the kids. However, especially the last few months with no pay we've realised that we can't guarantee our financial future quite yet on one wage. We have spent A LOT of money - and I mean TONS! It was inevitable with so many celebrations going on, but it has meant that returning to work is something I know I have to do.

I am hoping once have a pay packet or two under my belt to get our finances back in order - top up the savings we've dipped into, and restart our OPs which we've had to pause for a few months.

In terms of finances, we're using the (subsidised) workplace nursery, I've applied for an interest free season ticket loan, and both of us are registered for childcare vouchers, the max we can get. We had about £900 of vouchers in OH's account so at least we can afford to pay the first couple of months whilst we get ourselves sorted.

On better news, we went under £155K last month .

BLW is going fine, although he got a bit spoilt when I was away and now expects to be fed with a spoon! I am trying to encourage him to use the spoon himself, although he prefers his hands. Not sure how much he'll get to pursue that at nursery, but am sure in a few months he'll work it out for himself.

Cath T - wow, so close to sub-£100K :j! Can't imagine how that must feel!

museumworker

£45.58 OP made today, account tidy mainly from Ama$on sales .

Have sold some of DD's old dolls things for £12 on faceb00k group - being collected on Sat. That'll be another OP, and a bit of decluttering.

Extremely tired after 550 start this morning. Going back to work is going to be tough! Any tips from working mums?

CathT

Wow you have been busy and making the most of your leave. Going back to work is never easy but hopefully using up some annual leave will help make the transition easier. I've been back a year now and have no idea how I survive working full time with a nearly 5 and 2 year old! However, my DH (also works f/t) is fantastic and I think that's how we manage

CathT

museumworker wrote: »

Cath T - wow, so close to sub-£100K :j! Can't imagine how that must feel!

It feels fantastic! Should hit it in September There was a time when I thought you would get there before me despite you having a much bigger starting balance.

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

Sometimes it is good for everyone to relax the moneysaving a bit if you can afford to. You can then refocus with renewed vigour, and enjoy the challenge.

All the best to you all,
Squirrel

museumworker

CathT wrote: »

It feels fantastic! Should hit it in September There was a time when I thought you would get there before me despite you having a much bigger starting balance.

:rotfl:no chance of that now!:rotfl: Yes, we started off sprinting but maternity leave and childcare is meaning we're going to have to trot along now for a while

Secret_Saving_Squirrel wrote: »

Sometimes it is good for everyone to relax the moneysaving a bit if you can afford to. You can then refocus with renewed vigour, and enjoy the challenge.

All the best to you all,
Squirrel

Exactly, I am actually not too stressed about money at the moment. After a couple of years of extreme :money: I have lightened up on finances. We're not maximising every penny but we don't have that much headspace to do so- and our priority is enjoying our family right now. We're still trying to shop carefully - around about £70 a week spend at the moment, which is a lot more than some on here, but a lot lot less than most. Was at someone's house a few weeks back when their online delivery came. £160 and I couldn't see enough to make more than 4 main meals :eek:! We're putting £300 pm into savings, £210 pm into shares plus topping up both our pensions so I think we are still just about holding it together!

Payday for me - not sure how it was worked out as didn't see pay slip. Have agreed for OH and I to go back up to £150pm each pocket money. £650 put into house account dragging us back into the black with no further raids on our ISA this month (and luckily OH gets paid next week!)

DD recovering from an operation, so a quiet day at home today.
Have put on a spiced fruit loaf in the BM to use up some store cupboard supplies. Washload on. Plan to list a few things on our local fb selling group, some clothes of DDs. I also need some plain ts for work/in general, so when OH gets home am thinking of popping to Mr S to use vouchers we have.

museumworker

£66.01 OP made today, made from share dividends and a transfer round up.

OH been paid, and I have had some sort of salary payment. This month we have two camp holidays for DD to pay for, so don't think can stretch to any more OPs at the minute, but hoping to stretch our finances a little. OH has his 'spare' paypacket in the next month or so, and our FD savings scheme due to mature so should be able to top up our accessible savings.

museumworker

A quick update for you all!

Have made OPs of £3.87, £7.27 and £54.69 in the last few weeks - made up of interest from savings and a small Ama$on sale. I made one of my biggest sales there ever last week - a CD for £60!! After postage and deductions we have about £49 on its way which am very happy about.

Have had a lovely summer with the family - a family adventure week and time camping with friends too. :j

Back at work and struggling with dark mornings, long commute and tiredness. DDs 11+ exam is on Sat so there is some extra stress there too. Plus I had some tragic news about an old work friend that has really upset me too.

On the plus side, OH has landed a fantastic new job, which he will start in December. It is a promotion, managing a team for the first time, with a lovely line manager and a great company. Oh, and a pay rise too . Very proud and happy for him.

We do have some financial hurdles to pass this autumn - we need to repay car loan to his work, and owe them 4 days of holiday to be repaid. We do have some contributions to a share scheme to be refunded, but I think we will have to dip into savings too. We also need a new tumble drier as one which came with the house finally given up the ghost, to have our boiler serviced as the heating doesn't work, and hopefully get the repointing out the way. Oh, and the small C word too...

Savings are looking healthy after the maturation of the FD 8% - now have £5k in instant savings and £4k in an ISA.

Am clearly very far behind in my OP projections, and there is no way can reach £6k at the minute - will be delighted if reach £2k at this rate! However, it is looking like next year we will be in a much better position - possibly as little as 5 or 6 years to MF!!! I am planning to kick start my diary in the new year with new targets and much more regular posting. Until then I am focusing on decluttering the house and staying sane... easier said than done!