Back in control...now to stay there!

stiltoncheese

Thanks Lubava. Some days I feel I am just muddling through, but once I finish work on Friday I think I can finally start to relax and wind down to baby's arrival. Will still have jobs to do but hubby will be off work so available to help me more

stiltoncheese

Working today, boohoo! From home though so not all bad. Sat at my laptop still in pjs haha. Will grab a quick shower and get dresssed when my son goes down for a nap I promise!

Won't get so much done today as I am working, but have got a load of washing into the machine so I will at least get that out on the arier when it's done.

Have checked my bank accounts, but will need to update YNAB later on my laptop as on work laptop at mo and can't install dropbox to it to access the program. Nothing scary jumping out though which is good

Ended up having a massive sort out yesterday in the end, so the bedrooms, kitchen and living room are all sorted (bar one final load of bedding to be washed later) and hubby hoovered the whole house when he got in from work. Just need to clean the bathroom and toilet which I might try and do when I take a lunch break so it's done and then we can just kep on top of things. Will be easier after Friday as both me and DH will have finished work for Christmas so he can watch our son while I do stuff and vice-versa.

My last baby thing arrived yesterday (feeding pillow) so I am confident I finally have everything I need for when she's born. Will need some more nappies, but I have 150 in already, plus tons of cotton wool ball so we'll be ok for a couple of weeks if she makes a sudden early appearance. Next week I am going to wash all her clothes and blankets ready. Will seem strange having tiny babygrows again as used to my sons huge ones now!

Right, better actually get some work done instead of talking on here

stiltoncheese

Well, I haven't managed to get on here for the last few days as it's been a mad rush to get everything sorted out for Christmas, finish work and organise last minute baby bits. All done now so I can finally relax.

Spent slightly over what I had budgeted for Christmas, but it was all out of my account so not on credit or anything. Most of it was extra on the food budget, plus some stocking fillers. Still have money in my account though and apart from some milk later on in the month, I won't need to spend anything else now so it can just stay there until payday.

Put in my overtime claim at work on Friday. Not sure it will be in time for this month's pay, but that's not a problem really. Was only going into savings anyway so not too important when it's paid. Managed to do 27 hours instead of the 30 I had planned, but it should net me roughly £275 on top of my usual wages. Should be due the £200 expenses claim this month though, so that can also go straight into my emergency fund.

Baby is due any time from now onwards really, so now everything is done and dusted, I am going to spend as much time as I can relaxing before she arrives and adds to the chaos. Still haven't quite accepted I'm having another one yet...it's like my brain is in denial somehow. Guess it will get a rude awakening when I go into labour!!!

Hope everyone has some nice plans for Christmas

SC xx

Aloofdragon

Hiyas lovely busy+ very pregnant lady, O exceptionally exciting times now, I was delivering my son at this very minute 25 years ago today he was due new years eve but was determined to come early.


I hope you have a fab family Christmas and Santa brings little one everything on his list and mum+dad some peace and rest before other one arrives xx Merry Christmas xx

stiltoncheese

Thanks Dragon

I haven't had much time to sit down and just relax before now as it's such a busy time of year. Will be nice to just chill out on the sofa for a bit now and take it easy.

Have a lovely Christmas too xx

stiltoncheese

Hubby finally wrapped his presents so everything is done at last. We are now just relaxing on the sofa watching Chicken Run as DS is down for a nap. Nice to put my feet up.

Not going to think about money now for a few days. Will still pop on and read a few things, but may not post much as there is no more spending to do for a few days and not much I can be doing that's moneysaving now.

Off to get a mince pie I think

Merry Christmas everyone

SCxx

MissShoes

Mince pie is an excellent idea :T

Hope bubba arrives safely, sending lots of good vibes!

Shoes x

lubava

I'm finished today as well. It feels so nice just to finally just chill. Watching Monsters university now with kiddies. Have a lovely Christmas Stilton with your family and all the best for new arrival. ����

stiltoncheese

Thanks Miss and Lubava. Hope you both have a fab Christmas too xx

stiltoncheese

Happy New Year everyone and hope you all had a lovely Christmas too. It has been so nice to take a few days away from posting on here and jsut enjoying family time. No sign of baby yet, so still plodding along getting more and more uncomfortable, but fingers crossed it won't be much longer!

Now for the serious & important bit...

Payday was yesterday so I have just done the mega funds transfer for the month. Managed to add £10 to the mortgage deposit fund, £200 to the emergency fund, £31 to my £1 per day fund and £40.40 to my 20p per week no fund (doing this one backwards, so have put in the December 15 amount whilst I am still on full pay, so I can pay in the smaller amounts when back on SMP). Also added £20 to my birthday fund pot, £20 to the MOT/tax pot and £10 to my holiday savings pot, meaning the total I have saved this month is £331.40

Feels GREAT to start the new year with money in each of my pots and to see my signature looking so healthy. Another loan payment goes out tomorrow which will bring my debt down to £643.20 and leave me with 4 payments to go. Total in my savings is £3875.06 now but some of that is earmarked towards tax next month, holiday and birthday pots, so I don't count it in my signature.

January always feels like a long month but I'm hoping that having baby soon will keep me so busy I won't notice it is long and will soon be payday again.

I have about 4 months of paydays now where I should be paid my usual salary as I will get SMP plus 50% of my wages. Then it drops to SMP only so will be in the region of about £500 p/m for 5 months. I will spend the next few months saving as much as I can into the various pots so I am covered once it drops and it should see me through to when I go back to work and pick up my usual salary again.

Love new years as everything always feels so fresh and you always seem to have a bit more oomph. This is the year I finally become debt free after having some form of loan or something for the last 15 odd years! Feels bloody amazing