Getting a grip!

abba1772

Congrats on finding out your expecting how far along are you I'm 12weeks tomorrow

Will be subscribing to your diary if that's ok hope you are keeping well xxx

nicp60

Hi abba, thanks for reading (and subscribing!). I'm only 7+2 (but had an u/s yesterday which confirmed viability and heartbeat), but found out so early that it's already dragging lol!!

Still, am saving lots on not drinking! Also it's a great excuse to go through the spare room and wardrobe clearing out the carp and selling it!

abba1772

I feel I've mine is dragging in had my dating scan yesterday and baby is measuring bigger than normal so they've brought my due date forward by 5 days woo hoo lol xx

I'm also in the middle of clearing out cupboards and trying to sell stuff as we need the space as we already have two kids age 10 and 6 and like you this was defo a surprise xxx

nicp60

Woops, took a little break there lol!!!

The saving is going very well and I'm v pleased with our progress so far. I've made good headway into taking lunches to work too so I'm v chuffed with that.

DH still out of work, but I'm hoping that something will come our way sooner rather than later. Saving for months (for the first time in my life) just to spend it on bills would be really disheartening!

28+5 today and little one is well and truly getting ready to arrive! I'm racing through the house cleaning and tidying like a mad woman. I became convinced the other night (at midnight) that we had an infestation of clothes moths and so vacuum packed all out of season (and too small) clothes for storage and put anti-moth stuff everywhere lol!!

My little pots of cash are going really well - I'm so proud of myself! I currently have:

Bills etc: £14.98 (a week today is payday)
Stash fund: £1164.92
Xmas etc: £221.42
Car: £201
ISA: £212 (Some long term savings, but not going v well lol!)

Although I'd love to have £3k saved by the start of my mat leave, that's not going to happen. I have 4 normal paydays left before reducing pay, and theoretically I could be putting £500 a month into my stash fund and nothing else, but it'd be a false economy because when the car needs servicing, or someone has a birthday it'd have to come from the stash fund.

I'm probably still overspending a bit (well, I know I am in certain areas), but having savings and anticipating one-off expenses is such a turnaround for me that I'm still really happy!!

nicp60

Wow, just re-reading my old posts - I'd forgotten it took so long to get myself sorted and on track! So although I've been trying this new challenge since Jan, it's actually only been 5 paydays. Go me!

Meant to say as well, I've managed to pick up the following baby-related bargains...

Pram - bugaboo gecko RRP £650 - £100 ebay (excellent condition and definitely genuine)

Cot - Stokke Sleepi - really wanted one of these, I just fell in love with it ! Includes mini cot, mini mattress, conversion kit to bed. RRP £600 + mattresses - £240 ebay. Parents in law buying new mattresses as a present .

Brand new reusable nappies RRP £25 - £7 NCT Sale

Also been given the following as hand-me-downs, gifts, loans etc - 2 baby bouncers, swinging cot for MIL's house, playmat, microwave steriliser, some baby grows and a carpet for the nursery.

nicp60

Updated SoA:

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 2087
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 0
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 2087

Monthly Expense Details
Rent.................................... 595
Council tax............................. 107
Electricity & Gas combined.....154 Can't believe how much this is, but I always provide readings and I'm on their cheapest tariff.
Water rates............................. 25 Got the meter fitted - result!
Telephone (land line)................... 43 Sky package - BB etc included
Mobile phone............................ 26
TV Licence.............................. 12
Groceries etc. ......................... 150 Realistically, what we actually spend
Clothing................................ 25
Petrol/diesel........................... 120
Road tax................................ 0 In car account
Car Insurance........................... 32
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 40 Car account
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 100 One-off baby stuff each month
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 14
Contents insurance...................... 32
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 60 Recently upped this, as I was using £20 each month for the odd bday.
Haircuts................................ 15
Entertainment........................... 130 One date night (only until baby comes) and a couple of takeaways
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 100
Random lunches at work, whip rounds etc. 40
Total monthly expenses.................. 1820


Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 2,087
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 1,820
Available for debt repayments........... 267 This is pretty accurate tbh...
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 0
Amount left after debt repayments....... 267

Created using the SOA calculator at https://www.stoozing.com.
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using Firefox browser.

nicp60

July accounts:

Bills etc: £1199 (still £784 in bills to come out)
Stash Fund: £1544.92
Xmas etc: £281.42
Car: £241.22 (but car tax due this month)
ISA: £212.85

Woop woop!!

Nursery - new carpet (gift from relative who was moving house), redecorated (paint free from FIL who's a decorator), storage cupboard (free from a Facebook group), extra paint - bought from B&Q. Total cost of new nursery - £21.79 :D:D:D

Still to sort out:
Shelves for my little changing station
Drawers for nursery
Curtains
Chair for nursery

abba1772

You're doing really well unfortunately our newest bundle doesn't have his own nursery he will be sharing with his big brother lol but we seem to be ready for him I'm getting induced 2 weeks early but we are so prepared that our bags are packed for hospital and are in the car lol

I've just applied for my maternity allowance today so hoping to hear back from them in a couple of weeks as I'm now a self employed childminder xx

nicp60

Hiya,
Based on your sig you're doing amazingly!! And well done for having the bags packed - I haven't gotten around to that yet, but still 10 weeks to go. When are you being induced?

abba1772

They said two weeks before my due date so I'm assuming the 16th will get the official date on the 8th as that's the next date to see consultant xx

Not doing as well as previous years tho with the debt but with a baby on the way and a wedding to pay or next year money is tight but refusing to add to debt so least its still going down lol xx