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

earthgirl

Sounds very organised! Good luck x

museumworker

Hello all, lovely to see you. I probably sound more organised than I am! I haven't gone into too much detail about the bits of money saving that aren't going as well (food budget, what's that? ), mainly because I'm in a 'whatever gets you through' mentality at the minute. I haven't mentioned my crazy cushion spree have I?

Recording an OP of £1007.01 for July . Could possibly have done more, but we're now using a CC with rewards, and not sure how much we owe on that this month. We've already had £15 worth of vouchers, and another £15 due in October (minimum), just from OH work trips! I also won £10 of vouchers yesterday on DD's cadet's raffle so have a little stash for Xmas.

Plus we're on target OP wise, and have definitely decided to go for big holiday down under next year. As that's the year my maternity pay will drop/stop completely I'm keen to ensure we do have some excess funds in our savings to draw upon.

DS put in nursery today so I can avoid pulling any more muscles. Having breakfast with DD before school, and then back to bed for me. Have a couple of books from the library waiting for me .

Oh, and our mortgage balance is £139,400 (exact figure upstairs and will update later!). Hello, £130xxx's :j!

Courgette

Amazing OPs! Well done!!! :T:T:T

museumworker

Thanks courgette . Took a walk to local CS and they were having a clothes sale. Bought two breton style cotton tops, one loose knit jumper and a pair of toast pajamas for me, and 16 items of baby/toddler wear - all for £8! Don't tell OH though as I had to carry it home, and meant to be avoiding lifting so don't pull any more muscles .

My library book is The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin - anyone else read it?

tootallulah

Your overpayments are brilliant - well done you. Oh those north London charity shops..............be still my beating heart. Isn't it great to see the sun?

museumworker

It's pretty much hit and miss weather-wise here for us Toots, I did get caught in torrential rain on the way back from the charity shop! I do love a London second hand shop, not sure how we'd cope without them!

Have just gone full circle and been through DD's wardrobe, for its annual purge and restock. Along with other baby clothes, have taken 3 bags to charity today.

We wrote a list of what DD needs for her wardrobe and took her on a shopping trip, she loved it and was so appreciative as we rarely go shopping. I know she needed everything we got, and especially as she did so well on her SATs, and won an award at cadets, she definitely deserved it. £75 spent on clothes, we also drove to save me the bus journey (£7.50 ) and had lunch and ice-creams (£26 :o). Not a cheap day, but DD over the moon, and I know now that she has clothes that fit and suit her, and that it was a special time for her. Very tired now though, after 4 hours out - how can people go clothes shopping every week?

tootallulah

That sounds like a lovely day out for the two of you, nice to enjoy some shopping together.

museumworker

Thanks Toots! It felt like a complete blow out, but am sure (excluding uniform) we normally spend less than £150 a year on clothes for her. Wondering what other MSE types spend on their (clothes conscious) kids!

Courgette

No clothes conscious kids here I'm afraid but £150 sounds perfectly fine to me.

When are you due. Must be imminent really. I remember just before ds3 was born getting really stressy because ds2 didn't have new boots for winter and dragged the whole family out to the shops. Obvious priority in the middle of August!

museumworker

*puts winter boots on urgent shopping list*

Due tomorrow. No signs whatsoever of little miss making an appearance, apart from aches and cramps at night which stop me from sleeping... have had them for 3 weeks though! Getting v fed up, especially as DD 2 days early, DS 5 days early, had convinced myself she would come earlier still! As long as she's healthy...

V proud of myself as finally got a builder round to measure up for repointing back of house! Yay, go me! This is on my list of jobs for this year that HAS TO HAPPEN! I've another two numbers to call, so will do that (or delegate to OH if baby comes ) next week. It's been harder than I thought - the property boom here means there's few tradesmen free, so getting someone through the door does feel like an achievement! Also got him to quote on front of the house, stripping paint off brickwork. I had some quotes about 18 mths back but they were ridiculous (like, £6K!), so put it on hold. It's not urgent, but if the price is right we may well get that done this year too. *Excited*