Second Time Lucky

amycool

Just snatching a moment to update.

Totally lost control of the money now! Forgot to apply for child benefit and it looks like you have to print the ruddy form out.

The school forms don't quite match our situation, the GP forms ask about alcohol intake (On a child's form??!), and we've just been told about an important meeting that OH can't possibly attend due to work.

And breathe. Feeling very stressed today. Decided a trip to the library would be a good idea but it was very stressful! I guess we have to just keep going until it gets better. I can't stay inside forever!

car insurance money still hasn't been taken so that's another thing to follow up. I think a list is needed.

It'll be interesting to see the food bill this month. Lots of trial and error and waste! The tap is often left on, but at least she can't flush our loo properly (it's old) so we're saving a few flushes a day. We also got a free plum the other day as she licked one and the kind lady let us keep it without paying. She probably thought we were poverty-stricken.

I better go and join them for lunch. Missing having time to read and write posts here but slowly getting used to being a mother. It's weird though!

debtfreeoneday

Some strange money savings techniques there, must try licking plums!

newgirly

Congratulations! What a journey , I hope you all settle in together smoothly

Muser1

Can't be easy getting to know each other and settled! I know it's hard but try and be firm with the food! Kids are clever little things.

Have you heard about kids am? It's cheap as chip kids films each weekend at local cinemas. She might enjoy that x

amycool

Hello MSE friends!

For the first time ever, OH is taking DD out for an hour, so I thought I'd treat myself to a little time on-line.

After the plum debacle, we bought a whole punnet and she'd polished them off within 2 days!!!

Money-wise, things have been quite cheap as OH has been home a lot so no massive travel bill. He's got one more week part-time then he's back in all week, which is terrifying.

I have no idea how much gas we've used - will no doubt get a shock when I do the monthly meter readings (no more weekly ones for me!). In fact, DD walks around in a sleeveless dress when it's 16 degrees so I could probably get away with not putting the heating on, but it feels a bit like abuse to let her play in a cold house! It's at 19.5 degrees so not boiling.

Got my last full pay this week so I should be able to overpay this month.

In life news, we're having some good times and some bad times, but overall it feels like we're settling down and finding out about each other. I still don't feel like a Mum yet but I guess it will come eventually.

Ooh, I got £36 cashback this week too, on top of the 123 account money.

Right, must dash!

debtfreeoneday

Glad things are feeling a little easier.. and glad you got some me time!

Thinking about you lots!

amycool

Thanks dfod!

I just did my meter readings. :eek::eek::eek:

Electricity is up by 25%, gas is up by 980%!!!!!!!

I know it's been cold and we've been in all day every day, but ruddy nora. DD refuses to wear a cardigan most of the time but she may have to learn how to.

The food bill is colossal as we've both been gorging on chocolate to get through the day and we didn't used to buy any. Somehow I'm still losing weight though.

It's very much one step forward, two steps back at the moment, but sometimes we get 2 steps forward, and that's nice. In a few days it will be a whole month of being a mother, but I still don't feel like one! It's very intense as we're both home together all day every day, and although I worry about her starting school, it should make things easier. Just 2 and a bit months to go! :rotfl: We had a lovely trip to the library yesterday (we get through so many library books) where I got to chat to my old colleagues for 15 minutes and it felt so good! Obviously we mostly talked about DD but adult conversation is nice.

OH's payday on Wednesday so we'll see if we can make a last big overpayment. I doubt I'll get a chance to call the bank to see where we're up to so it might be safer to make a small one, then in January when the 10% overpayments start again I can pay a chunk off in one go.

DD constantly asks, "Can I have...for Christmas". I hate advertising! Some of the toys she wants are £40+!!! Unfortunately, family have already bought Christmas presents so I can't ask them to club together to buy one waste of money present amongst the cheap and worthy ones she'll be getting from me. :rotfl:

newgirly

£40 , wait until she is a teenager you will be wishing she was still little!


I feel for you with the gas bill my dd (18) was complaining that she was still cold in a jumper indoors this morning, a silky thin jumper mind so I suggested a vest.:D

amycool

newgirly - I know, it will only get worse! I had hoped at 4 to get away with buying very little!

The good news on the gas and electric front seems to be that it's actually a 180% increase, which isn't so bad. I still need to look closely at the bill.

Some more good news - I hit my overpayment target for the year!!!!
:j:j:j:T:T:T
£6000 overpaid in 2015. I reckon I could overpay a little more without getting a penalty but I don't have the time or inclination to phone up and check so everything else this year will go into the savings and then will make a big (ish) overpayment for January.
No idea what the target will be next year. The child benefit hasn't started coming in yet and I haven't had my adoption pay yet so I'm a bit clueless.

Some more good news! OH appears to have got a £60 a month payrise, which I wasn't expecting. That should easily cover the increase in gas and electric, although it won't need to for a while as we're still in credit by £400.

I haven't been keeping an eye on the cashback and now I look, some of it seems to have vanished (gone to £0.00) but at least the Sky one is still showing, but not ready to pay yet.

Our outgoings for October were actually about £200 less than usual, so next month will be the first proper month I think as a 3 person family with only one earner.

On the present front, OH's work colleagues bought loads of lovely things for DD when she came to live with us but we thought they'd be a bit overwhelming, so I'm going to wrap some up for her birthday and some for Christmas. My family also seem to be going a bit crazy with gifts so even though she might not get the awful plastic Disney rubbish, she will hopefully still be happy!

Now I just need OH to take her out so I can do some wrapping and hiding!

debtfreeoneday

I've done that before, so do not fret about wrapping up gifts from others! Hope all is OK and you are all settling down. I'm sure if its colder in the house, DD will soon put a cargidan!