WTBSEs 'Starting From Scratch' Savings Diary.

WantToBeSE

Thanks EM

yes, long term i need to expand, i agree. I just hope that people respond to my job advert. Its a pain because i cant guarantee 16 hours a week, which is what many people want.

The ad goes live today, so lets see what happens!

i am feeling a little bit happier today, as i have an unexpected day off. My client cancelled at the last minute, due to them being poorly. While i imagine i would normally be thinking of the money i am losing, i am just glad for a rest to be honest.

I have loads of house work to do, and admin stuff, but at least that can be done at a gentle pace!

atush

If you pick up the old cleitns and the new ones can you guarantee 16 hours? Will that mean they earn enough to get employers Nics? (will cost you money)

My only suggestions are the ones from earlier in may, ie look for eastern european workers and look near to MOD bases. Naval, army, air etc

JoJoC

Hi wtbse, how's things going? Have you found any new employees? How's business? How are your boys? Savings going ok?

I finally finished on mat leave on Thursday, so I feel like I'm able to focus on actually getting organised for this baby coming. It's only three weeks until my due date so I need to get my finger out.

I added a bit to the savings this month (£200) so that's good and I've been saving my £1 coins as normal so that's a little emergency stash too.

I'm hoping next week in.between hospital appointments to do some batch cooking for the freezer to get us through the first few weeks. Last time we ended up eating takeaways for weeks and felt awful.

My husbands boss told him yesterday that he was giving him a pay rise too because he's been pretty much keeping the company afloat the last few months. It's 50p per hour extra so it will all add up. He's also got a few homers in the pipeline that he's trying to get done veforw baby arrives.

It's all go!

How's everyone else? Still saving? X

atush

i remember when mine were born, the OH had to look after them while I cooked the dinner.

No take outs so saved that way, but we ate late if he came home late lol

JoJoC

For the first few days Atush we were so shell shocked that we didn't really eat. I was ill for six weeks after the birth too so my husband was doing pretty much everything.

I'm determined to make life easier this time in these little ways!

WantToBeSE

Morning All

Nice to see you Jo. How is your pregnancy going?

I havent added any more money to my £1K savings yet. But i have paid my huge tax and NI bill. Glad to have done that!

Unfortunately i have now lost 2 clients. 1of them was a big one as well, which means that i wont be taking on any more staff.

At the moment i am just going to concentrate on doing some hours myself, and once the summer is over, i will be advertising for staff and clients again. Its nice this way though, as i get more time to do the admin side of things.
It means a drop in income (not mine, the business) of about £700, but £500 of it was going back out in wages anyway.

My credit card has taken a bit of a battering over the last few months, so i need to concentrate on paying that off before i add to any savings.Its not much, so can clear it this month. Its only about £500.

Then i will concentrate on the savings again.

JoJoC

My pregnancy is going well thanks, only two weeks to go until my due date and I'm so ready for baby to just arrive.

Sorry to hear about you losing clients but glad you have a plan of action for the summer. It'll give you q chance to earn some cash and make plans for what your next steps are.

Good for you paying off your credit card! I need to do the same, although I think I have about £35 on it... I totally forgot the pin to my debit card when getting fuel one day so had to use my CC. I'll be paying mine in full this month too!

atush

Sounds like you are suffering baby brain lol.

I put nearly 100% of spending on credit cards (although they are paid in full each month) as it gets me cash back and free stuff.

WantToBeSE

I am in the process of trying to improve my credit, so pay for all food and petrol on my CC every month and then pay off in full.

I dont get any 'perks' like free stuff or cash back, as they are just credit building cards (Aqua Classic and Capital One).I am thinking that early next year i am going to apply for one that isn't a credit builder and see the good offers around at that time.

Had to pay the garage £300 yesterday for bits and bobs they found while doing a service. I knew there were a few things that needed doing though.

I am looking forward to the weekend! I am hosting a potluck at the local castle on Sunday, so that should be fun. I am just hoping for good weather.

So are you all ready for the baby now Jo? Have everything you need?

JoJoC

I think we are pretty much organised as we haven't had to buy much thankfully. We can't find part of the car seat though so might need to buy a new one of those ASAP. I'm totally nesting right now though and cleaning, organising and tidying constantly. Not too bad though since my house is clean!

I've been meaning to apply for the Santander 123 credit card for that purpose Atush but haven't got round to it. I want to put day to day expenses on that to reap the regards and manage my maternity pay as well as possible. I'll add that to the list of things still to do!