DFB35 Diary

DFB35

Just jotting down some bigger expenses due out of next pay day:

We will have the Easter holidays so obviously more spends there... Me and hubs are taking a week each from work.
The plan so far is have two spendy days and three free fun days each, weekends are the same as usual with no extra costs.

For my spendy day I want to take the kids to London and go to the Shard, also there will be a Shaun the Sheep trail, where we can walk around the city and spot Shaun's . Will take a packed lunch but will most likely treat them to dinner (mc Donald's haha). This will be expensive, kids travel, shard tickets (I'm really hoping they will do kids free during holidays, they did for the February half term- so there's hope). Dinner.
For the second spendy day I was thinking local farm with attractions, but having a look discovered that they are doing a Shaun character day in May so we will go then.. There is a "sheepish theme" emerging haha.. My little boy really likes it at the moment and already seen the movie with dad .
So not sure what I'll do maybe bowling, so about 20.
Free fun days will be park, visiting friends and family and doing NOTHING day (with working full time I need one of those where we don't leave the house - don't get dressed days, I'm thinking Monday )

Hubby hasn't thought about his week, if he doesn't want to do anything in particular I will suggest cinema and swimming for his spendy days.
Seems unfair that I'm getting a london day out hehe... But he doesn't like heights so doesn't want to go to the shard anyway

Then... It's husbands birthday is April, so will need to budget about 100 for this.

Me and daughter are due our haircuts - 37 for both.

And my boy needs some jeans, so about 15.

Hard to estimate, but I think about 300ish for all of the above :eek:

So very spendy April on the cards at the moment... Last easter we went to butlins so this year a lot cheaper obviously, but still doesn't feel very MSE arghhhh.. I will see how I go if there any cut backs to be made I will.

lcc86

Hi DFB35,

I believe employers have to by law make flexible/part time working allowances for parents and carers (although someone please correct me if I'm wrong). I'm not a parent but I was looking to cut down working a couple of years ago to accommodate studying for my degree. Unfortunately my employer had no legal obligation to accept my reques, but I'm sure from what I read the situation is different with parents. Always worth a look to see if it's still the case.

DFB35

Thank you Icc86, I will look into this, but have heard this might be until a child is 5 years old. But fingers crossed! X

DFB35

DFB35 wrote: »

Just jotting down some bigger expenses due out of next pay day:

We will have the Easter holidays so obviously more spends there... Me and hubs are taking a week each from work.
The plan so far is have two spendy days and three free fun days each, weekends are the same as usual with no extra costs.

For my spendy day I want to take the kids to London and go to the Shard, also there will be a Shaun the Sheep trail, where we can walk around the city and spot Shaun's . Will take a packed lunch but will most likely treat them to dinner (mc Donald's haha). This will be expensive, kids travel, shard tickets (I'm really hoping they will do kids free during holidays, they did for the February half term- so there's hope). Dinner.
For the second spendy day I was thinking local farm with attractions, but having a look discovered that they are doing a Shaun character day in May so we will go then.. There is a "sheepish theme" emerging haha.. My little boy really likes it at the moment and already seen the movie with dad .
So not sure what I'll do maybe bowling, so about 20.
Free fun days will be park, visiting friends and family and doing NOTHING day (with working full time I need one of those where we don't leave the house - don't get dressed days, I'm thinking Monday )

Hubby hasn't thought about his week, if he doesn't want to do anything in particular I will suggest cinema and swimming for his spendy days.
Seems unfair that I'm getting a london day out hehe... But he doesn't like heights so doesn't want to go to the shard anyway

Then... It's husbands birthday is April, so will need to budget about 100 for this.

Me and daughter are due our haircuts - 37 for both.

And my boy needs some jeans, so about 15.

Hard to estimate, but I think about 300ish for all of the above :eek:

So very spendy April on the cards at the moment... Last easter we went to butlins so this year a lot cheaper obviously, but still doesn't feel very MSE arghhhh.. I will see how I go if there any cut backs to be made I will.

Been feeling MSE guilt ever since I've posted this

Lots of nice plans but honestly not very MSE, had to remind myself we are in 17k debts

Ok what I will do is think about this for awhile, think of the ways to make it cheaper, for example on my week just have one spendy london day and the rest free fun days. Hubby can still have two as they won't be that expensive...

Can't really cut his birthday, he's moany about watching money as it is and 100 is a cut back from the usual..

Maybe won't bother with haircuts in April Xx

DFB35

To all mummies out there

Xx

mummytogirls

Happy Mothers Day DFB .

I wouldn't worry about you having a couple of big spends in the Easter holidays, you are being mindful not to spend loads on the other days and the kids won't be kids for ever.

Fingers crossed for DH's employer being reasonable. I think the childcare act thing is only until they're a certain age which is silly really as children at say 8 aren't old enough to be left alone! It should be until at least secondary school age.

Hope you have a lovely day xx

lubava

Happy Mothers Day DFB!. Read your whole diary and subscribing. You are doing great. Don't beat yourself up about Easter holiday spends. You have done it all sensible way and know exactly how much it will all cost. Just stick to it now. I hope childcare issue will be resolved soon. I know how difficult it is to manage as I I have 3 kids. Luckily my current work is flexible enough for me to work around hubby's hours and we currently manage. But my work is not paying a lot and I'm looking for more and will need to look at all the options. So I feel your pain. It's very difficult if you have no family around to rely on.

DFB35

Some good news re childcare As we would only need half hour to an hour until one of us is home, my niece has kindly offered to pick him up and stay with him at our house until we get home. I've not considered asking her before but she's 17 and is sensible and keen to help. Will give her some babysitting money and a lift home as part of the deal . But this is a back up option, the first option is still for hubby to reduce his hours..

With this in mind and the relief I was feeling (that hubs job won't be under threat) I did something very un MSE oooooppppss!

Just been feeling down about the kids and no holiday in the summer so I have booked the theme park I mentioned a few posts ago.. It's not MSE I know but it will make the kids so happy and giving us something to look forward to. This cost 300 and we will stay in the hotel in a themed room with the view, with a swimming pool and sauna at no extra cost so will feel like a break for hubby and I too
This also will include some animal meet and greet and two days at the park so sounds fab!

To balance this un MSE behaviour I have paid 300 of the loan 1, this brought the total to 5,595 and the predicted pay off day to Nov 16 and total DFD to Nov 17 (snowballing)

Phew now getting this all of my chest I'm off to update my signature... This holiday/ extra payment means we no longer have savings, but with the next pay day not too far away I should be able to replenish it soon. Have 260 left until pay day x

Aaleigha

For cheaper days out check what museums are close to you where I live we have a toy museum and a teddy museum one on the Romans as well most museums are entry by donation so just give what you can not what you think you should give
Before you go get the children to do lists of foods for a picnic and then get them to prepare and pack everything much cheaper than eating out

DFB35

Have been thinking of being more MSE for these few days before pay day... Budgeted 40 for dinner with sister and some bits to get so she can take them to family when she goes (in another country)... Now Im planning 10 for little gift and 20 max for dinner and if I can get her to pay for something I will! I will tell her something like "I've got 20 what's your budget for tonight?" I'm sure it won't go down well... But I'm fed up for paying for everything for her! Yes she's 18 and having tough time but she's young, fit and healthy and should get a job!

Then the night out with work... I'm thinking of not going ... Really don't feel like it. And my work notorious for getting as drunk as possible and I'm just not into this now. Don't get me wrong I used to love going out having fun but lately I'd much rather snuggle on the sofa hehe - so boring but very MSE

The thing is I know they gonna moan about it, so if I really can't get out of it (ie no one else is not going so I will stick out like a sore thumb) I will spend 10 max. Even less if I can.

So this is my plan for the two unnecessary spends coming up.