Apple muncher's number crunching

apple_muncher

So, I have my focus for the next 24 months Not spending money! But until I know just how much is in my paycheck this month, then I'm at a bit of a standstill.

Regular paid things for me: counselling (110 = 2 sessions); gym (39) - monthly. Random: union fees (100? annual), headspace (50 annual)

Regular paid things for pip: school (880); dance (~150 per half term); bouldering (~130 per half term + any drop in sessions); youth stuff (~32 monthly); lamda (120 per term)

However, no utilities, car stuff, house stuff, groceries, travel, holidays... included here.

Yesterday I bought gig tickets for dd and me to see Cavetown next year. A good price but still came to over £50 and doesn't yet include travel/parking...

Now I'm earning less (I reckon it'll be by at least £600) it's gotta be tight. A challenge. Previously when I've cut down spending, pip was very cheap to run, plus we had the money coming in but chose not to spend it rather then not having the money coming in.

Aaand, I really do feel like this is my final year of working where I am. Whether I move elsewhere or do something different, I do not know yet.

Enough wittering. I have Romeo + Juliet hwk to help with. And y11 books to mark.

f0xh0les

My DS3 is just starting his GCSEs  ~well I-Bac as the school has really pushed them into it this year~  and so it is A Xmas Carol, R+J, and An Inspector Calls for the third time round. At least I do not have to buy any more books or study guides or DVDs as I have them already.  Dull Dull Dull. At least there is a Muppet version. Can you imagine a muppet Othello?  

Sounds like money is going to be tight, but with the reduced hours of work, come other opportunities. 

apple_muncher

Pip's place do the IGCSE for many subjects with a bit of AQA thrown in for good measure. Dh is good at finding bargains, so he's always put on the case!

R+J is what is being done in drama - I think it's an edited down/schools version though (but I'm not telling pip that!). Picnic at hanging rock seems to be one for lit - it's heavy going, full of meticulous descriptive paragraph pages...

Pip and dh are going bouldering in a bit so I'm going to go outside and have a waddle around. My step count is pathetic so far. But at least Harry and Luna have their respective glasses and scar. And 1 Harry has a cloak and scarf and has been stuffed and sewn up. 10 figures. 10 sets of eyes. 10 cloaks to attach. 10 scarves to knit and attach. 2 scars. 2 glasses. 2 spectraspecs. 10 leg dividers to sew...

f0xh0les

10 leg dividers??  ooh er! Public (wizard) school eh?

apple_muncher

Pip and dh did not go bouldering. But I still went and waddled for 30 mins.

I've started having a look at what we're spending. Starting with me, of course. I downloaded the past 3 months of my account and have colour coded different categories. And I have realized that I really should do it for the past 12 months as each month is so different. I'll do some more tomorrow.

It is so lovely not working today and also knowing I'm not working tomorrow either. I feel less frenetic about getting things done, be it for work or things like laundry.

Today I took pip to school and went straight to counselling. Then I dropped the car home and walked to the gym, did my exercise, nipped to liddle and got the tram + bus home. I'd done 12k steps by 12 o'clock!

apple_muncher

I actually had to almost argue with pip yesterday to convince them about them the sense and logic of going in late this morning! But they eventually agreed with me. Then at night, they burst into tears when they realised that I have to go to work today. So I'm also going in late! I hope that a couple of extra hours of sleep will help at least for today.

I booked an A level seminar with the bfi yesterday (not the BFG!) and they charged me the 'home school' rate instead of the school rate as there is only 1 pupil attending. So lovely!

12 months of spending from my personal account and our Joint account have been printed out and coloured in according to what the transaction was. Now I just need dh's credit card ones. He always goes through them and writes on them what they were for, which will be very handy for me. Then I can be scared by the total numbers...

Karmacat

You keep such a good eye on things, I bet you'll be fine.  I love the thought of you colouring-in the print-outs, thats really excellent  

apple_muncher

Thank you, karma. I don't feel in control of things. Yet. But I'll get there.

Off to school again, on a Sat! Ugh. The head who last year announced that we wouldn't be doing any more open mornings on a Sat obviously had a change of heart...so in we all go. To be honest, I think they're much better than having things during the day in the week, as weekends tend to be when parents aren't at work! But I do still begrudge the loss of my own weekend time...

apple_muncher

Out at 7.20am; home at 1.50pm. ooph.

pinkypig

Hello Apple, I’ve finally caught up with your diary after a long period MIA 🙄
Well done for checking your spends so thoroughly- such a good idea.
Enjoy your reduced hours, you’ll find the benefits far outweigh the reduced income.  I wish I’d done it sooner.  As Foxholes said, it makes time for lots of other MFW activities not to mention saving your sanity.
Best of luck with the new term, I’m behind with my assessments already 🙈😂 x