URG’s - Enjoying Being a Mummy on a Budget.

fedupandskint

Hi urg,

Popped on for a read after seeing your name. I remember you from the 'buying no toiletries for 100 days' thread many moons ago. Well that part of my life is well and truly sorted out.

Good to hear how you'd life is going and I just wanted to say well done for managing things and I'm sorry to hear about your dad, if takes tine especially at Christmas time. All the best

urg123

Hello and thanks for popping in! it's lovely to see old friends.

I did love that thread and was planning to run the challenge myself again as I've got quite a lot of things that I don't use. I tend to stick to a small core set of items but have lots of other random stuff that I acquire thinking that I need it or that I would like to try! I ended up chucking a bottle of lotion as I react to it and it was already passed on to me.

Today will he fairly busy as we are having an event for DS hosted by his grandparents. we're also having a photographer come to take pics and family portraits which will be nice. I've got some time so will run around and do some tidying etc before getting ready to go. DS has a habit of knowing when I am dressed to go out and throws up over my outfit! I'm going to change just before we leave and take a spare outfit too!

today I will:
- pack DS change bag
- pack bag for me/DH
- one load of laundry
- put away dry items
- buy samosas from shop for party
- withdraw money for photographer

It's really raining right now. hope the weather improves.

urg x x

urg123

DS was beautifully behaved today and we had a lovely day over at the in-laws. He was given some lovely gifts and I hope the photos will come out nice.
Managed all but one item on the list - I didn't put away the dry clothes. I did manage to get an hour of ironing done and I really enjoyed it. I know I am sad - it's the only bit of housework I enjoy!
Tomorrow is fairly relaxed. We'll pop into a neighbour at lunchtime and we are having dinner with friends in the evening. In between I will:
1 - wash and hang out another load of laundry
2 - ironing - another hour and I should get to the bottom of the pile
3 - update spreadsheets as most DDs went out on Thursday
4 - clear one drawer
5 - aim for a NSD
6 - call aunt and uncle
7 - call friend
8 - check diary to see when I will go to classes with DS and email teacher
9 - take DS for a walk - weather permitting. He has been couped up too long.
10 - Chill with a book for half an hour

I'm sure I can add more to the list but hopefully I can get all of the above done!

Night

urg x x

Pippilongstocking

Hey honey hugs and good wishes for 2014 to you xxx

If you follow Buffy's grand advice you can maybe increase number 10 and have more book time :-)

Xx

Whatever you're upto have a good one :-) looking forward to the year ahead ith you all.

urg123

Back from a lovely evening with friends.

urg123 wrote: »

1 - wash and hang out another load of laundry DONE
2 - ironing - another hour and I should get to the bottom of the pile
3 - update spreadsheets as most DDs went out on Thursday DONE
4 - clear one drawer
5 - aim for a NSD DONE
6 - call aunt and uncle DONE
7 - call friend
8 - check diary to see when I will go to classes with DS and email teacher HALF DONE
9 - take DS for a walk - weather permitting. He has been couped up too long.
10 - Chill with a book for half an hour ABOUT TO DO

So not as much acheived as I planned. I woke up with a sore back. Not sure what I've done but I've tried to take it easy as it would be too hard with baby if it gets worse.

I did manage to download photos off my SD card and forward photos to my NCT friends. I also have set the meal plan for the coming week and we shouldn't need to buy anything extra this week.

I am worried about our boiler. It has been playing upfor the last few months and we hoped it had been fixed just before Christmas but it has been playing up. We had hoped it would get us through the winter but I am not convinced. Our finances were affected by a range of reasons last year so we are using savings so that I can have maternity leave. We aren't in dire straits but I really want to avoid getting into debt as our finances won't have much surplus when I return to work.

So, in order to try to avoid a catastrophe, I am going to try to save £2000 over the coming months as it is likely that the boiler needs replacing by the summer at the latest. Hubby is behind me with this so I will add this to my signature!

Right - I am off to read a bit of my book with a hot water bottle on my back.

Hope you are all well.

urg x x

Squirrelly

Just thought I would pop in and say Hi, good luck with the saving, boilers are one of those scary items a bit like cars that you worry about going wrong, but it sound like you are getting well prepared...I am impressed

Hope your back feels better soon x

urg123

Thanks Sqirrelly! I saved for my bathroom and was proud when i paid for it all rather than resort to credit. I am hoping i can acheive the same. What a horrible day! I was supposed to go to a mums and babies group today but it was cancelled so I saved the fee and today will be a NSD!

I had called the gas/electric company last week to increase the payments to £60 as they had set it too low when I switched. Today I got a letter saying thry were upping it to £95. I hadn't prepared for that and it will really affect my budget. I will call them to see If i can come to a compromise.

My back is still sore so have been resting. DH is home so he has looked after DS. We did get out briefly to get DS weighed and he is doing ok. Talking of weight - our scales have stopped working accurately and I have no idea what I weigh. I nearly bought a set from Amazon but it went up in price while it was in my basket. That'll teach me to procrastinate!

Tonight's dinner is pitta bread pizza - we buy our pitta in bulk and freeze them. Another cheap meal!

Hope you are all well.

Urg x x

urg123

Hello

I'm still in my pyjamas! DS was very clingy this morning. He is now happily playing under his playgym so I have managed to get started on my list. Here is today's list:
- call NPower to find out why they have increased the DD - DONE
- call company re toilet buffers - DONE
- call Lumie for reset info for my SAD alarm clock DONE
- make muffins with cranberries bought cheaply
- post cards for nephew and aunt
- hang up nappies that have been washed
- wash bedding/towels
- go for a walk with DS if weather holds out
- leftover pizza for lunch
- cook dinner from scratch
- deposit money in DS account if we walk into town
- clear tv table
- clear one shelf/drawer

Better get on with the day with a shower first!

Hope you are all ok.

urg x x

urg123

urg123 wrote: »

- call NPower to find out why they have increased the DD - DONE
- call company re toilet buffers - DONE
- call Lumie for reset info for my SAD alarm clock DONE
- make muffins with cranberries bought cheaply TOMORROW
- post cards for nephew and aunt DONE
- hang up nappies that have been washed DONE
- wash bedding/towels DONE
- go for a walk with DS if weather holds out DONE
- leftover pizza for lunch EATEN
- cook dinner from scratch DONE WITH LEFTOVERS FOR TOMORROW
- deposit money in DS account if we walk into town TOMORROW
- clear tv table DONE
- clear one shelf/drawer TOMORROW

I didn't do too badly. DS was very clingy and hungry today so didn't get as much done. DH is away tomorrow night - I've got a friend coming to stay so thankfully won't be on my own all night.

I really need to get on with the decluttering - this is what always gets left off my lists.

Very tired now so will head to bed to read a bit of my book before I go to sleep. I am also going to try and wake up earlier to see if I can get more done. Also got an appointment so can pop into town to run a couple of errands tomorrow.

Night!

urg x x

urg123

I'm not doing very well at going to bed early - I always seem to get my second wind at around 10.30 and I decide now is the time to try and dosome of those items I need to do on my to do list!

DS and I raced out by 10.40 this am for an appointment. We came back via town and I bought some water filters and did a tiny top-up shop. Although I really shouldn't shop on an empty stomach - the reduced Wensleydale was definitely a want rather than a need!

I did manage to avoid buying a coffee by being too late and then lunch so feel pretty good that I didn't waste money. I also deposited DS money into his account. I did look out for a new tin for the 2014 Sealed Pot challenge but couldn't find one.

I have decided that I will use some of my sealed pot money from last year towards the boiler fund. I am using Hypno's old tool of having squares to colour in to motivate DHand I so will colour in 3 for £60.

Tonight was spent with a friend who came to visit and for baby cuddles - we had a home-cooked meal and desert was some baking I managed to fit into today.

I'm out with some other mummies tomorrow. Should be LSD at the worst.
Right off to load the WM with nappies and set it for tomorrow, then read a chapter or two before geting in some sleep.

Urg x x