OrangeFairy~balancing a new full time job~mummy hood ~ and debtbusting!

wannabee_in_credit

((((OF)))). I'm very grateful to my biological clock for stopping after my second child, but I know that pain of wanting a child more than anything. You could make it work financially if you needed to, if that's what's stopping you having another. You should have a proper talk to hubby, get it all out.
And fingers crossed for you happy.
x

OrangeFairy

Hi Ladies.

Hubby admitted he would if I really wanted to. But I know this is due to him being worried that I might run off with the Postman to have a baby. I think it would be a strain on our relationship in his view. It's not something I would consider until the end of the year so ill just have to see how I feel then I suppose.

Been decorating DD1s bedroom over the weekend as part of her birthday present....costs more than I planned. It's looking good though. She want Ls a teenager style bedroom! So she has chosen orange, grey and black as her theme

We after losing half a stone in 2 weeks I put in a lb this week. I know I haven't been as good but I am surprised the odd treat has made me out on weight

I need to do some exercise!!!

Centerp@rcs in 2 weeks today! I can't wait!!!

Right time to get off the bus!

OF x

Happytogetdebtfree

Hi OF im 2 days late yippe but neg test arghhhhh :O temp still high fingers crossed xxxx

OrangeFairy

Hi all,

I am shamefully tip toeing back in.....

It has been a mad couple of months and none of it very MSE.

For DD1's birthday we redecorated her bedroom to be Orange, grey and black. It is so cool but in total it ended up costing us about £150. Then we spent £100 on presents (inc needed clothes) and her party ended up costing £120 so her birthday was the most expensive birthday EVER!

Money wise I am chuffed to announce I got a payrise This is really handy.

Debt payments are just the standard ones at the moment as we have had DD1's birthday and starting to pay off the holiday.

I really hoped to have paid off more by now so I feel a little deflated! Now I am focussed though and have the holiday amount stuck on the fridge and I will keep crossing it off as we pay it off....we need payday!

April also includes our largest amount of birthdays, 3 planned meals, easter, the kids One direction concert and Hubby is going clay shooting.

Being frugal is going to be hard.

Plans:

Eating cheaply- use up freezer and make veg soup for lunches
Sell items on Eb@y
Try and make small savings across the month
Stick to present budget!
Log all spends

Wish me luck!!!!

bella2121

Nice to see you back Well done getting the payrise

I bet dd was really chuffed with her birthday, it's things like that that we live for not constantly just paying debts and exsisting, we need times where we can live a little too

I've reduced my hours at work from 20 to 15 and will probably be about £80 per month worse off but it does mean OH is free to do any extra hours at work during the week, pluses in terms of work life balance it's the right choice for us.

Keep us updated in your progress and well done on your achievements so far, take care x

OrangeFairy

Hi Bella,

lovely to hear from you. Good news about your hours if that works for you better. I am finding it a struggle working 40 hours a week since only ever working 23hrs since having the girls. In all honestly I would like the opportunity to drop to 35 hours a week. This would help with the girls as I'd have a little more flexibility. But this is something I should do when we are debt free as I really want to get rid of as much as poss this year.

Nothing much in the way of news. I have made. Rough budget of the rest of the year and it is possible to be debt free before Xmas but that isn't catering for things that pop up and also paying for flights to Florida.

The great news is that we WILL be debt free before my 30th birthday

At the moment I am finding it hard to get motivated as I am concentrating on paying off the holiday. I'm looking forward to it but this pay check would have seen the end of my loan if we hadn't booked the hol. Now it will probably be end of month in July.

Recent money saving things:

Using up our freezer
Shop with £5 off voucher at Mr T
Sold £60 worth of stuff on eb@y which I paid off the holiday.

I have stuck a note on the fridge with the balance of the holiday on to cross off as it goes down!

It is so sunny here and I wanted to take the kids out after work. They were at a 5 hour tennis camp and felt too tired we are about to take them to my dads to have a sleep over and say there for the day tomorrow while I am at work. Hubby and I are using this child free time to go out for a meal- we have vouchers for our fave restaurant so we are having a free meal.

I hope everyone had a great Easter weekend. We got out for a long walk and found some geocaches and met up with friends and family. It was lovely though we had to spend money on two meals out which we could have done without!

Right off to get ready for my date with hubby............

mummytogirls

Morning OF,

Hope you and DH enjoyed your meal out last night... were doing the same tonight whilst DD's are at mils for same reason as you !

Re the working is there any option to work from home? I started doing full time last September and by the end of January it was apparent it wasnt working as I was stressed and tired and DD2 in particular was upset by it all. I now leave work at 2.30pm on a Tuesday and Thursday to collect them from school myself and then I work from home whilst they play out. It has made so much of a difference to us all I wondered if you could do something similar?

Your doing so well, keep up the good work!! xx

OrangeFairy

Hi MTG. I'm lucky enough that I finish at 2.30 on Thursdays and Fridays to get the kids from school. It means 7.30 starts on those days. I work two 9 hour days, and 8 hour day and two 7 hour days. To work 35 hours would mean I could stop to early mornings and leave at 4 on mon and tues.

I could technically work from home on the email side but not on the phones!

Right....money issues this month...ie things coming out of our 'free money'

Car parking for holiday £40
Extra present budget £40
Clay pigeon shooting £50
Family meal £30
Friends meal £40
Child care £28
One direction day out £50
Grr parking ticket £35

All things I could do without!

Need to concentrate on the little things.

Kept to £20 budget for my Dads birthday. One cousins birthday I have a January sale item already stashed.

Having cheap lunches. All time with the kids has been free outside. Made £10 on eb@y.

Really enjoyed our meal out last night. Lovely to have some time on our own . I hope you have a lovely night out MTG

Right off to put girlies to bed and chill



OF x

Choc-addict

I'm liking these date nights ladies. I think me and the hubby may have to have one soon!

OF - you are doing really well considering everything that you have on plus work hours too. Keep thinking of the bigger picture lovely and you will get there.

Each step is a step in the right direction....no matter how big or small....

Choc xx

OrangeFairy

Morning all!

I apologise for my absence. Been quietly getting on with things. Paying off the holiday and normal payments. It's been an expensive couple of months for one reason or another.

A little excited about our holiday in 3 weeks.

MSE things....

Lots of cheap days out with the kids Geocaching.
Ordered holiday clothes for my family to give me for my birthday on the 16th so save me buying them
Using up the freezer
Bought 2 Xmas presents in preparation
Buying local cheap veg from the farmer

That's me at the mo. just planning our holiday and my mums birthday this month- oh and changing our concrete hell of a back garden into something nice!
OF x