The Ultimate Incentive natters on. Part 9

Dinah93

wendz86 wrote: »

I cashed my premium bonds in as i never won in about 18 years lol.

Hope you manage to find cheaper flights Dinah, did i see something on facebook about you booking flights somewhere else??

Haven't actually booked anywhere, just cashed in enough tesco points to book a flight to new york/dubai or somewhere. We're umming and ahhhing, really want to use them for New York, but do we take Grace with us or leave her with mum? I'm erring towards taking her with us in a baby backpack, she's so curious I think we could really enjoy it there, and a lot of what I've read indicates it's a great city to explore with young kids, but NIM is worried about taking her that we're just going to spend the whole time worrying about practicalities with her.

My cousin's do is currently looking like it may well cost about £2500 for the 5 adults and Grace, before we even look at things like outfits, food over there, wedding gift... it's a LOT. It's annoying really as for that kind of money we could have a lovely 2 week holiday in a villa with pool in Italy, but instead we have to spend 2 days on 3 boats, 2 trains and a plane to get to the worlds most remote island for 5 days, before spending 2 days doing it all in reverse - it's quite a hassle even without doing it with a baby to be honest. If we can get cheap flights to corfu it's a bit less of a gut wrench as then it's only a train this side and one boat that side, but at the moment it's about £250 each before adding on the trains and boats.

Birdie85

When are you looking to go to NY Dinah? Can kind of see both sides of the coin Re: Grace, it'd be great to take her but would you be spending all your time worrying about where you can go, is she OK etc; if you leave her at home would you be spending your time missing her and worrying about her at home? Is it OK to take Gracie on a plane since they're basically flying petri dishes?

As for your cousin's Do :eek: Hope you manage to figure out a cheap and easy way to get there!

Dinah93

Sometime between June and September. We can take her on a plane outside of RSV season, so end of april to early September is fine. We can take her in restaurants etc too then, so the only real worry would be getting her about the city, and finding restaurants that are family friendly.

Called up my OBGYN today, he's booking me in with his colleague to come up with a pre-conception plan. We're not ready to try again yet, but the appointment could take a few months to come through and then it'll take a few months to get on the right medications, so we figured it's right to start the ball rolling again and then if in 6 months or a year we decide it's right we're ready. It's blinking scary and exciting all at once to be thinking about going down that road again. First things first though is getting Grace's christening sorted, it's highly likely she'll be toddling up to the font!

Birdie85

Ah good news about Grace being able to go on holiday!

Lovely to hear you're planning a Christening too, I was going to ask about that actually.

And exciting stuff about the pre-conception planning! You do right to get the ball rolling sooner rather than later, hope you get good news from the OBGYN.

Dinah93

We're hoping the vicar who married us can do it, in the church where we were married, NIM is going to give him a call. Provisionally we're hoping for some time in June. Kind of has to be June or April and I think we're going to Ireland in April.

Tete_en_l'Air

I'm going to Ireland in April! Just booked my flights for the Great Ireland Run - exciting!

Is it your cousin's wedding you're talking about that's going to cost a fortune? It IS a lot of money for something that is also so hassley - would it be so terrible to use Grace's health as an excuse not to be able to make it? Or do you desperately want to go? Am jealous that you might be going back to New York, I want to go back already!

All this savings talk! :money:I have my ISA which I never touch (not even to put anything in lately ) and my other, 'accessible', savings in a normal current account which doesn't give any interest at all :eek: I should really move them to my ISA because it's not really UNaccessible, you just lose your interest for that month or something don't you? The extra I'd make on my savings for all the other months would outweigh that by far - such a case of lazyitis!

Cinny, my twopennuth, I would save for the sofa. There's always going to be something else you'll want/need while you're still paying that off - esp if you're TTC...

Dinah93

Yep my cousins, I do really want to see her get married, but not at any cost. I think £700 for the 3 of us is really the max I see as acceptable for going.

Everyone still putting their money away every Monday? For those on the traditional route it was £6 yesterday bringing the savings pot to £21.

I agree with Tete re sofa, it might not cost you more but mentally it's putting you into the mindset of having things before you have the money for them.

Tete_en_l'Air

Funny how you forget some things so completely and utterly isn't it?! (Monday savings) Haha!

wendz86

That does sound vey pricy for your cousins wedding. While you would like to go does sound like the money would be better spent elsewhere.

Tricky one with new york, would be more hard work with Grace but i agree that you might worry about her anyway while you are gone. How long do you think you would go for?

Kepp

Just jumping in on holiday talk - I'be just booked a week away in September. How am I going to wait that long?!

Dinah - I don't have kids so could be way off but I think taking her would be a great idea. It would be extra hassle but can just imagine how much a little one would love all the lights and hustle and bustle. So much to be nosey at! Is it possible to research family-friendly restaurants etc before you go?

Exciting for the Great Ireland Run, Tete! :j