Five year plans for my little family

ZoPig2016

Hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend.

DH is back at work so our magical summer is over, just me and DD most days now. She is much calmer and now sleeps through other than one feed. Wish I could go back 14 weeks to tell my brand new mummy self that we would get to this point eventually! So incredibly grateful to have had DH at home for seven weeks. The daddy-daughter bond is a beautiful thing.

Shopping back under control. Resisting the urge to buy more makeup. I've got a good set now I've replaced some rubbish or old bits. I never thought I would become a cant leave the house without my face on type, and indeed on days off with just me and DD, I don't bother - but I will admit that it gives me a real boost in confidence.

Bought a cheapy little notebook that will fit into my bag for food tracking. I am thinking that I will use what I learned from previous subscription to SW to help me eat better without counting calories and weighing everything. Life's too short for that nonsense. Bonus hopefully to weight loss will be eating less and therefore saving the pounds £ as well as lbs.

I have really had good use of the Fitbit. I've set a goal of 5000 steps a day which I can get most days when me and DD go for a walk with the Pram. We get out 4-5 times a week. Will miss conversation with DH but getting outside for a bit saves my sanity, helps DD go off for a nap and turns off the TV. So I pronounce that investment a success!

Done a workout DVD just twice. Hard work post partem but being extremely careful. Walking seems best atm.

Bank account switched, bonus due in a month. Otherwise done little on MSE front. Will keep up that expense tracking tho as it really makes me think.

Half pay wages came in higher than I thought. Deeply confused about the maths. I knew it wouldn't be literally half of what I usually get, as tax etc doesn't work that way but there's still 200 more Thani expected. Dubious - half expect the tax man to come looking for some of it later. That's where my emergency fund comes in though!

So rattling on. Still haven't ebayed by pile of stuff but I have gathered it into one place. That's sort of progress, right?

ZoPig2016

Spent yesterday furiously photographing everything after DH went into the loft, got piles of old, small clothes to get rid of. It will be a while until I'm remotely close to that size again so I think it better to flog it and have funds to look somewhat presentable now. Listed half of it already, chipping away.

Walked with DD, I find it hard to get her to nap. A walk is one answer, otherwise it's standing and rocking from one leg to the other. It's always motion that settles her and she screams like a banshee for a bit before she gives in to the urge to sleep. Grateful for any tips to help or reassurances that this is normal!?

Tracked food in my new book yesterday, hoping this will keep me on the straight and narrow. Planned lots of food next week that's free on SW and where meat was on offer or I can make it stretch for a leftovers lunch too. Resisted the temptation to buy any sort of snack food. If I want it, I'll have to go out for it and then I will have the walk to either guilt myself back out of it or at least earn some calories. NB for breastfeeding mums reading this - it's important to have extra H Extras and all syns to protect your supply.

So back on the MSE ways now :money:

ZoPig2016

What a day. looked after the small one, had fun making her smile. In between cleaned upstairs, listed more stuff on the bay of e, walked to the shop to purchase some bits left out of delivery shop, which also came today (big up David in the cabbage van) then cooked tea from scratch, washed babe and just finished watching GBBO. Also washed my big hair and made it less ridiculous! Success.

Much better eating today when a properly planned shop with SW principles in mind ordered.

My knees are all still full of relaxin and feel decidedly knackered. Wondering when that finishes?

EatingTheElephant

Well done on the listings and the food delivery

ZoPig2016

Another crazy day. Yesterday I cleaned downstairs, did three lots of washing and a driving lesson. Made dinner too - very nice salmon taboulleh.

Today I finished the bay of e listings while feeding a very hungry and grumpy small one. Some 70 items up and first one sold! Most are scheduled to start on Sunday. :money:

Tried to do some ironing he t barely dented the pile before small one lost the plot for the afternoon. Washe our sheets though, having a bath now while DH settles little pickle so I can enjoy clean sheets to their max.

Utterly knackered. Just hit an energy wall. Small one was hysterical so we went for a long walk to get her to map - spent the whole time looking at me and practising her goo's instead. Vastly overtired now, the little rascal!

ZoPig2016

Very MSE day today. DH negotiated down car insurance and TV deal, checked and renewed breakdown cover and reviewed all other heads of expenses to confirm they're all as tight as possible. Including bonuses to come from changing banks, we're up £530 this next year. Goes to show, I thought there was nothing further to be saved. Always worth a thorough interrogate.

Sorted forms to start savings for the small one. Decided after some discussion to put them in DH's name for her. We've gone for premium bonds for now (family tradition and bank accounts for her atm are rubbish). My thoughts were that we think we will another baby and so if there are winnings of a decent amount,we can then split them between DD and hypothetical baby 2 to keep it fair. If they were in her name then she would get them and baby 2 would be behind. Also while I will parent in the best way I can, we don't know at this point whether DD will be a responsible 18 year old who can manage a lump sum and not fritter it away or whether she would spend it fast on something frivolous. This way we can judge when the time is right to hand it over. Many thanks to Edinburger's diary for thoughts on this same issue with his DD.

Also working on getting to understand our pensions and plan how to ensure they're enough. I've been in such denial about retirement planning until now. I feel empowered having explored the issue and now feel much better. I consider myself financially savvy so being so in the dark about this aspect for so long is very out of character for me.

Onwards and upwards fellow MFW's :T

Moominmamma89

Hello ZoPig2016 :wave:

Just read your diary, we have very similar journeys. I am also struggling with trying to hit the 10,000 steps with my FitBit unless I get out with the pram for an hour a day which is getting harder now the weather is getting worse so may change it to 5,000 too.

zcrat41

Hi Zopig. That's a brilliant days work. We too keep any money for the children in our name. I wouldn't have trusted myself at 18 - and as my kids have the same gene pool there's no way I'm trusting them!!

giblet1979

Hi Zopig,
Really enjoying your diary and looking forward to reading more.
Gib xx

ZoPig2016

Thanks for comments everyone. I'm finding that I can hit 5000 most days. We are out and about in the Pram every day nearly, finding DD likes to watch the world go by then have a sleep, I get my exercise and get rid of any feeling of cabin fever. Helps us both.

Sold five things already, made about £50. Happy to declutter and make some cash.

Managed all my housework jobs with the small one last week except tidying up the garden. That and a good weeks eating have left me feeling much more in control.

Lovely neighbours gave us 4 baby gates too! Fab saving, so nice of them.

DD had some tummy time yesterday without losing it! Ah, progress.

Starting to feel the return to work in November looming. I know it's still ages yet but time is whizzing by. Shall miss spending all day with my new fav snuggle buddy!