My how times have changed

roxy7699

Afternoon,
decluttering of the bedroom was completed yesterday, have some general tidying to do.
Woke up quite late, OH was here last night and leaves very early for work, it did coincide nicely with LOs feed though although took me an age to get back to sleep. He's really going through a few issues at the moment and work are not helping either. They are always disorganised on the busiest days. Will try and remain cheerful and chirpy and not do anything to rock the boat.
Don't think I will venture out today, maybe as far as the communal bins lol.

roxy7699

Just popped out to Wilko to get some storage boxes and didn't think to measure the up - I will be going back tomorrow.
Living room looking like hurricane Roxy went through and I can't blame the big one as she's not here or the baby as she doesn't move yet. Most of it is ironing.
Spent yesterday on Swagbucks, I wish I had found it sooner as I seem to be able to get points up quite quickly.
Trying to decide on dinner tonight, I have a meal plan but haven't really stuck to it so it is all out of order. Thinking chicken with creamy penne from the book.

mfmaybe

Have subscribed! Will catch up properly later but sounds like you've had quite a journey!

roxy7699

Well dd1 came back friday, I dont think she's stopped taking since. Meanwhile dd2 hasn't stopped eating.
Have spent the weekend on swagbucks, toluna, nectar adpoints and the usual mumsy stuff.
Can't wait for payday not that maternity is much or in in need of it (budget works) but I'm in need of a note book update and to see what can be done where for Feb. Still have a credit card to pay down.

roxy7699

I've been bus decluttering the living room today. Managed to get the contents of one indoor cupboard sorted, wrapped and put into the outside cupboard. This freed up the indoor cupboard for Tiny's swinging chair, play mat and made a corner or the room look alot neater.
Have been doing bits of work to try and bring in some business - will see what transpires.

My swagbucking has got me my first £5! Yay, think I should pay this into my rent when it comes through as I am slightly behind.

mfmaybe

I've seen swagbucks merntioned on a few diaries, but haven't really looked into it yet. Well done on the first payout.

roxy7699

Swagbucks is worth a go, I do find it a little time consuming but am on maternity leave so have it. I think if I concentrated on it by itself for an hour though it would be fine. You watch vids, complete surveys, play games, do searches etc for points which you can then cash out. Its worth reading the thread. er

Tiny starts nursery next week at the tender age of 5 months and while I have paid the first month I realised I have stupidly spent the next months buffer. Tax credits does cover some but of course it comes in arrears. It has gone up so much in 11 years.

Off to do an intensive budget, I know exactly what comes in and out but I need to see how I can make this work.

roxy7699

So I budgeted and panicked, technically I should have the money depending on a few factors such as food and petrol so I'm not too concerned. Tax credits will go up next week so that should be a little buffer, unfortunately I don't know how much they will go up until it happens.

I downloaded Microsoft money which is something I used to use many moons ago. I put in all my incomes and expenses and put it all in the register through until the end of Feb. This way I can see what I should have available at the end of next month and can keep track of spending that way. OH has assured me that we will be fine though.

Last month I got a distressing call from boss (auntie) to say that she is unable to pay me for the month. It created flash backs of being unpaid for three months last time and then being made redundant. Worse as it's only the government SMP that I would be getting. Anyway I spoke to my mum (her sister) who was p'eed to say the least and she paid me the equivalent for the month on the understanding that boss would have the money in January for me to pay back mum.
My mum also decided to loan money to her sister to avoid the same thing happening again, she has done it to her advantage really in the form of a no interest loan. So she pays x amount every month until she can pay back the full amount or something along those lines. I would add that if I wasn't working for her there is no way that she would do this.
Fast forward to today, the day before pay day and I have phoned auntie/boss to fill her in on the little bit of work that I have been doing (to try and help the business) and she broke some more news.
She can't pay now until the 15th at the latest.
I'm beyond shocked, she has had a huge 10k loan from my mum and she still can't afford to pay us for last month or this month as a client hasn't processed an invoice in time.
I called my mum, who is away on holiday and thankfully she can help me out again.

Just when you think you are becoming independent, at 30 lol, despite moving out at 18, !!!!!! comes back and you still have to fall back on mum and dad. At this rate I might just have to tell my two to go straight to nan if they need saving. I can do basics but I can't do the superhero stuff.

Today Tiny and I were up at the hospital for her dermatology appointment. Her eczema is quite bad and the consultant wasn't too happy with what he saw. He agreed that the hair loss she has suffered is far beyond normal baby hair loss. Think, her hair line has receeded to the centre of her head where she has a small line of long curly hair. She then has a patch missing to the crown of her head. Followed by soft straight hair and then the usual patch at the back of her head where is rubs off from lying on things.
He has said it is alopocia (sp) but that it is quite rare for a baby so has tested for any autoimmune issues. Along with allergy testing for a variety of things as she cant have normal milk without breaking out in a rash. Blood taking didn't go down well at all, we had screams before the needle even came out the box. I'm used to it from the big ones hospital stays with asthma and a nut allergy.
We came away with a new assortment of ointments and creams - I am getting close to being able to open a pharmacy.

Big one has the dentist tomorrow morning, it feels like its about 2am, we were all in bed about an hour earlier than usual. My brain however is still ticking.

Tick tick tick.

x

roxy7699

Hi,

Dentist went well, not back for 6 months - we are usually a three month family. Big one is feeling a little under the weather though (half her class got sent home yesterday). She still went in to school as she was adamant that she wanted to take part in football. They beat an undefeated team.

I have man flu lol, it must be that as the sniffles don't usually phase me but two naps in two days is not like me at present. Everytime I blow my nose the baby !!!!!! herself and I have to resettle her - debating the tissue up the nose trick.

Lovely mother bailed me (well sister) out again this month. She came back this evening and transferred money to cover my bills. It came with a statement that she think she will make their paths cross in the next few days while she is local. The annoying thing is that auntie didn't really seem very apologetic about it this time.

My hands seem to be giving me some problems this week, which is worrying because I'm not really working - just carting a baby around - you should see my biceps lol. Hoping its not ME returning as that is how it started last time then moved around my body. Not sure how OH will handle it if it gets as bad. Positive mental attitude, it's prob just the man flu and my hands unused to working after being on Mat leave for 5 months - that and too many late nights.

Off to find a strepsil and a bowl of cereal....

roxy7699

Man flu subsided to normal Roxy sniffles, although the baby still panics in her sleep at every blow. Hands are also alot better so hoping they were connected...the knee bones connected to the...

Have been in bed since 9 on the lappy sourcing leads again, having to put it onto word as everytime I type in my excel sheet it freezes, dies and looses everything.

Dad called me yesterday and said that he thinks that Auntie will be bust before the end of the month. The issue here is my dad has a very good set of senses and tends to be right, when he's sober.

With thanks to one of the lovely people I follow I have managed to convince oh to squirrel away £40 a month for his car tax and reminded him of the MOT and service that will be due soon on his car.
I am going to work out what I am not budgeting for such as the car tax and see what I can put aside myself. It wont be anywhere near his amount.

Think I am going to go for the no spend days challenges again and perhaps a payment a day. Although that one is not so good until I know of the situation with the tax credits.

Tiny starts nursery tomorrow, part time with me for the first day. How scary, she will love it I'm sure once she has stopped looking for me. She still cant quite accept when I leave the room. With my new found time I will continue to work, have a lovely soak in the bath uninterrupted everyday and perhaps a snooze. People really do not appreciate how you can do nothing by yourself with a young one. I for one had forgotten it having an 11 year old big one.

I should have the money for nursery in march but won't have it until the final few days. I do not want to be in a position where I have to pay them late. That would feel like I am going back 10 years.
I went back to work at 6 weeks with the big one and while this has been fun and pleasant, enjoyable and rewarding I think Tiny will thrive much more in the nursery. It will allow big one and I an hour or so together each night. I'm missing her already.

Better get some sleep as big one has a study club at 8 - not amused but glad she wants to go.