HappyCamel's MFW while SAHM journey

happycamel_2

So Santander are idiots and have reduced the monthly payment following the £1000 OP despite me telling them to reduce the term. They have also sent, individually, a load of letters saying "thank you for your recent payment of £xxxx.xx it will reduce your payment by £xx.xx" so I guess someone sat pressing print before plugging the numbers in!

I'm not going to argue with them, the reduced payments can get cycled round the OP pot for now (we won't get to the limit this year anyway) and then next year I'll try to make one big OP then spend the year building our savings back up. We have some of DH's share options maturing so that's the OP fund.

I'm also going to get a valuation on our old S&S ISA. Last time I checked it was performing poorly compared to the market so if that's still the case I'm going to pull it and OP or offset it once the offset is open. We only had it because we reached the OP limit at the last house and I wanted to mimic the higher mortgage payment after our move to check we can afford it.

happycamel_2

I've got just two days left at work, Monday and Tuesday next week :j

Today I'm home with dd on my own, tomorrow DH is home on an admin day so we're planning to sneak out in the afternoon to take dd swimming. He does have all his expense claims and stuff to do but I'll prep a lot of that today to free up tomorrow.

Sadly one of DH's relatives died so we have a funeral to go to next week. I'm really hoping it isn't Wednesday as I have a antenatal consultant appt that I can't move but we aren't close enough family to influence the date. Fingers crossed for me please.

Right, I'm home alone today with lots of jobs to do so I'm going to use this to keep on track:
1) visit Santander branch to put in funds in new 123 account in case DDs go it ahead of salary moves. done
2) reset Sant Internet banking which has been blocked for some reason done
3) prep DH's expenses Done
4) send a load of emails catching up with people
5) clean fridge done
6) meal plan for next 4 days and shop done
7) order household items from JL (new rug, table cloth etc)
8) change beddone

happycamel_2

It's my last day at work today. I can't wait to spend some more time with DD but I'm a bit scared of being lonely at home and of coping with two small children and all the housework. DH works long hours and commutes for 3 hours a day so although he's willing there isn't that much he can actually do to help.

The switch to Sant for our current account is under way. I have enough in that and in Natwest (our current main account) to cover direct debits coming out of either account this month. I will close the NW joint one once all the DDs have been moved.

DH got his iphone5 last weekend. The salesman tried to put him on the next tariff up even though we had written on the paperwork the one we wanted. Luckily I spotted it before DH agreed.

We've discovered the Quidco app where he can "check in" and get small amounts of cashback for being in or near stores. That covered half our car parking while we picked up the iphone and he's amusing himself with it. I've challenged him to earn back the amounts he spends on iphone apps (he doesn't spend much but it would be great if this was cost neutral).

Don't shoot me for the complete turnaround from post #1 but I'm thinking of paying the full 10% OP on our more expensive mortgage this year. If we don't pay it before 31st Dec we can't carry it forward and we can afford it, I could take it out of an ISA which isn't getting anything like 4.99%. The liquidity aspect worries me a bit but realistically we have plenty and it's just paranoia on my part. Also I think I'll use it to reduce the monthly payment rather than the term, that can be recycled back round the OP pot and means if we can get our necessary payments down to £1000 a month by OPing and offsetting then it will really help with coping on just one salary.

happycamel_2

It's my first proper day as a SAHM. My mum, who has been looking after dd while I work full time, went home this morning.

Dd has just gone down for a nap and I have a friend coming over in half an hour so I'm cooking a quick lunch and organising my to do list. I've booked the hotel for the weekend and DH is phoning tonight to check the arrangements for the funeral on Monday. I've booked the hotel with Avios and found that Ikea is 5 mins away and does breakfast for £2.50 (as opposed to £15 at the hotel). I'll get restaueant discount vouchers from MSE for dinner.

I've had a tidy up and put the washing on. I need to make a few more phone calls and send some emails today and meal plan from the freezer and cupboards to make do until we leave on Saturday morning. We've got sausages, hash browns and veg tonight but I'm not sure what to cook for tomorrow yet.

I'm determined to start joining the fly lady thread on the OS board but not 'til next week, my mum has left the house really nicely so there isn't too much to do right now.

happycamel_2

We got back late last night. The trip was ok apart from taking DH's dad out to dinner. We chose a gastropub and the food was good and they were great with DD but FIL complained throughout. I wanted to say "you aren't paying for it and you can leave if you want" but managed to just keep quiet. He really is the most miserable, judgemental bore. He even complained about the food being too hot!

Anyway, rant over. We got some bits and pieces in Ikea but spent Saturday with family and Sunday just wandering around town. Yesterday was the funeral and wake and a long drive back. The hotel upgraded us to a suite so we had loads of space for the travel cot, which was great.

I've been struggling to access an S&S ISA because they changed our address on the system so we failed the security checks. They've finally written to the address on the system and it turns out its our old house, which we now rent out and thankfully the tenant has forwarded the letter so now I can get it all sorted. Then I'm liquidating it and getting to the total allowed OP on our more expensive mortgage for the year.

I'm starting being an MSE flylady today. I've done a load of washing, unpacked the cases, been to Tesco and made pastry rather than buying it. I need to make some cakes for tomorrow, when I'm visiting a friend so I'll do that next while DD naps. I also need to do some ironing.

happycamel_2

Right, someone give me a kick up the bum. I did quite well yesterday, washing, unpacking, shopping and made a pie for dinner. Today I've been to a toddler class and now I'm just sat on the iPad while dd does some colouring.

Time for a list:
Clean kitchen
[strike]Sort washing and put away non ironing[/STRIKE]
Ironing
[strike]Make lunch[/strike]
[strike]Make dinner[/strike]
Call S&S ISA people
Fill out Natwest form for DH to sign

happycamel_2

NSD yesterday. Might take dd to the park later if the weather stays nice, it'll be too wet over there at the moment.

Today's list:
[strike]Clean kitchen[/strike]
[strike]Call S&S people[/strike]
Get hair cut - booked for 0930 Saturday
[strike]Ironing[/strike]
Start DH's tax return
Paper filing
[strike]Meal plan and shopping list[/strike]
[strike]Fill out Natwest form[/strike]

happycamel_2

NSD yesterday but I need to order some Christmas and house stuff on the internet today and go in to town.

Today's list:
[strike]Post letters[/strike]
[STRIKE]Paper filing[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]DH's tax return[/STRIKE]
Take DD to park
Email a few people
Repair hem on DH's trousers
Repair hem on my winter coat

Agreed with DH that we'd hit the £10,813 max OP on our more expensive mortgage this year and aim to do the same next year. This year's OP comes from the savings we've built up while we've both been working full time. Next year's will come from the S&S ISAs and DH's share bonus from work.

happycamel_2

Jobs list for this week:
Take DD to park
Email a few people
Repair hem on DH's trousers
Repair hem on my winter coat
Finish paper filing
ironing
John Lewis order
Lakeland order
Clean kitchen
Tidy bedroom
Do final overpayment of mortgage
Check Natwest balances and close down joint account
Close s&s ISA

happycamel_2

Didn't achieve anything on the list fully yesterday, will try again today and update as appropriate.

Baby is a lot more comfortable now it isn't breech but it was very painful when it rotated on Saturday. I'm 36 weeks today and it's really dropped now so I think I have less than 4 weeks left. Dd arrived at 39 weeks, I think this will be similar or earlier.

I'm a bit annoyed today. My parents lived with us to give us free childcare while I worked full time (I'm very grateful for this, it's saved us loads of money and I think it was much better for dd than being in nursery). But, they brought their dog with them and he's left behind fleas which are now biting us so I've got to get the place fumigated (it was about £200 when we had it done at our last house after he stayed for a weekend and that house was half the size of this one). Also, I have to (ironically) stay with my parents because I can't be exposed to the fumes and neither can dd so I have to do a 200 mile round trip. That's £70 in fuel (I have an ancient X5) and all the effort involved not to mention being 100 miles from DH and the hospital.