Here I go again!

alimac23

And I'm back! DS1 born 6/6/12 and with it came a month of spending on things we 'needed' ( hmmmm), 2 months of living off savings (all gone now )and a month ahead of partial maternity pay before it kicks in properly in September! Pheww!

On top of this i have just had to pay my tax bill and the wedding pressie I promised my sis before I was pregnant ( this ended up on a CC cos I didn't want to back out). So zero progress made :-(. But now Junior, DH and I are starting to settle into our new life I need to get back on track!!

Once again I expect very little real progress THIS MONTH ONLY due to only half mat pay but will do what I can!



Aims for August:

1. At least 15 NSD's
2. Get through month with half tank of petrol that I have left
3. Onepoll surveys
4. NO spending on Junior!!!
5. Get brother in law to list some stuff on Ebay for me ( I still dont have a clue how Ebay works and have no energy/inkling to learn at present and he is happy to improve his rating)
6. Meal plan and use up cupboard contents as far as possible
7. No more spending on chocolate!!!!
8. Reduce electricity usage as far as poss ( wait til sterliser full, clothes drying outside or on airer, TV off during day)
9. Continue breastfeeding

That's all I can think off for now!

Paid 28/7, no NSD's so far: 2

Darkphaery

Congratulations It's fantastic being a mummy, but hard work too

Your aims for August are scarily similar to mine, especially numbers 4 & 7 but hey ho i only plan on being a mummy this once so am going to spoil her just a little

alimac23

Thanks Darkphaery! He is a wee gem.

Today:

THE GOOD

-made a small op of £0.82 to RBS CC (not updated until shows on account) to round off current account to nearest pound
- onepoll surveys totalled £0.25
-sent DH to work with packed lunch
- storecupboard meals
- washing drying outside on line
- no spends except essential Mr T online shop (including using £5 off evoucher)
- didn't use car

THE BAD

- booked a baby yoga class for me and my gorgeous boy, five wk course for £42 inc tea/biccies afterwards. Actually really excited about it, it will get me out of house and keep me away from the shops.

alimac23

Darkphaery wrote: »

I think you have to have a little treat along the way. If I didn't i'd be more likely to give up sooner and spend a lot more. I've made nearly £160 on ebay this last month, it's all being paid off my CC except £2.40 which i used to buy a book i wanted. In the grand scheme of things it's not a lot!
Good luck for juniors safe arrival take care

Darkpheary, is it baby clothes you have been selling on Ebay? I seem to remember you mentioned you were going to list some before? What is good to sell babywise? We have been given a lot of expensive Emile et Rose outfits which are gorgeous but just don't seem to suit DS. Also some are a bit impractical. Was thinking of listing those as I don't have any gift receipts ( hope that doesn't sound ungrateful- I would just rather get him something he hill get some use out of).

Today:

- a NSD planned - sitting in garden whilst DS naps, will go for a walk with pram later
- washing drying on line again
- DH away to work with packed lunch
- will keep checking for onepoll surveys
- storecupboard lunch and dinners planned
- not using car at all

Think that's all I can think off for today xxx

Skintfoodie

*subscribing* I'm 13 weeks away from due date and lurking on here at the moment. Congrats on the birth of your son and getting back into MSE so soon!

Darkphaery

alimac23 wrote: »

Darkpheary, is it baby clothes you have been selling on Ebay? I seem to remember you mentioned you were going to list some before? What is good to sell babywise? We have been given a lot of expensive Emile et Rose outfits which are gorgeous but just don't seem to suit DS. Also some are a bit impractical. Was thinking of listing those as I don't have any gift receipts ( hope that doesn't sound ungrateful- I would just rather get him something he hill get some use out of).

Yes it's baby clothes, mainly ones she had outgrown. I find good names like Next do really well so Emile et Rose should do really well Especially if they have tags or have never been worn. I waited until she was in 3-6 and then listed all her newborn and 0-3 at the same time, gosh what a chore

I have returned some things without receipts, it just depends on where they were bought. Also i've mainly exchanged for items in the same store so not a refund as such, so it may be worth asking after all you only have to do it once in each shop and you never know your luck

Just sold her Moses basket today as we're not planning on any more little ones so it seems silly to keep things like that. I have a memory box for her and am keeping special little bits but clearing out as i go, which may sound heartless but i just don't have the space and the pennies come in handy. Since we knew she was coming she got presents off family when we announced the pregnancy, when we found out she was a girl, Christmas 2011, being born, Easter 2012 and her naming day so there's a lot of extra stuff i have to find room for. I'm already planning space for Christmas 2012.

Hope you and little one are having a nice day xxx

alimac23

Skintfoodie wrote: »

*subscribing* I'm 13 weeks away from due date and lurking on here at the moment. Congrats on the birth of your son and getting back into MSE so soon!

Hi Skintfoodie! Our debt levels seem very similar - do you have a diary? Best of luck when the time comes! Being a Mummy is the best thing ever.......... although the sleep devripation sucks!

alimac23

Darkphaery wrote: »

I have returned some things without receipts, it just depends on where they were bought. Also i've mainly exchanged for items in the same store so not a refund as such, so it may be worth asking after all you only have to do it once in each shop and you never know your luck

i have done exactly the same. We got so much 0-3 than he would never worn it all. I exchanged it for sizes we needed to fill the gaps. Now we this and hand me downs i reckon we won't need much for the first year.... although it will be very hard for me to stick to that!!! We have also kept vouchers and plan to use these for his Christmas pressies

Just been for a lovely walk in the sun and coffee at my sister's. The best things in life are free!

Thanks for your replies x

alimac23

Today:

THE GOOD:

- DH to work with packed lunch
- onepoll surveys
- was out all day and had lunch and dinner at parents so v low electric use
- paid £0.14 overpayment to RBS card to round off current account to nearest pound ( sig not updated until all min payments out)

THE BAD:

- had to use car quite a bit today inc a trip into town 20 mins away
- bought a baby book on Amazon £8.42 ( I have a seriously bad Amazon habit that has to go, I literally look at the site every day and add stuff to my wish list!)

Looked more closely at my outgoings this month and realised that I will def only be able to make the bare minimum payments. Even this will leave us very short for essential food spends....worst case senario I can borrow from my Mum but realistically pride will mean I will resort to a CC if ness. Will try to live off storecupboards as much as possible and see how it goes.... Next month should be different - finally onto my full work maternity pay then!

alimac23

Morning,

A NSD planned for today. Taking DS to GP and need to pop into my work to complete some paperwork so will have to use car Then friend popping up for a cuppa and a chat in the afternoon. No need to buy biccies since we are both on a diet!

2 Onepoll surveys done whilst DS naps......I should really be using the time to take a nap myself! Will check again later in day to see if any more come up.

Hope the debt busting is oing well for everyone xx