A pound stretching maternity

Katzen

Excellent charity shopping MrsS. The charity shops near me are rubbish! But we do live near some nice towns so maybe I need to pop over to them a bit more often, could really do with a new coat but with an ever-growing belly I think I'll have to wait until next year now!

MrsSave

I live in a small village with 1 charity shop. It has some good bargains at times. The local town where I do most of my shopping has lots more but I find them far more expensive and very rarely step in them!

I had a rubbish night sleep last night. I'm at the symptom spotting stage of pregnancy now and I'm analysing every little twinge, change in bump, change in appetite, etc. It's funny how pregnancy starts and ends the same way - symptom spotting. Am I pregnant to start, and then am I about to go into labour/in early labour at the end! I think I need to relax a little more!

We've got a busy couple of days. The local town are switching on the Christmas lights tonight, so will be heading there. Taking ds to see Santa tomorrow, as well as watching a parade and then I'm supposed to be going out for food tomorrow night. I will be doing nothing on Sunday!!

I think I'll take ds to soft play this morning. He loves it, it only costs £2 and it means all I need to do is sit and watch.

MrsSave

I am getting so nervous about maternity pay. I still haven't heard anything from HR. Pay day in 7 days and it should include my first 2 weeks of maternity pay. I have emailed HR asking them to confirm that everything is in place for me to start as my maternity leave is now starting. Waiting another 7 days to see if they've got it right or not is too much for me!!!

MrsSave

I've had an email back saying that the letter is on its way to me so I should be receiving it soon. They also said that everything has gone through with payroll. :eek:

Quick chill out at home now and we'll be heading out to see the lights being turned on.

Katzen

Still keeping fingers crossed for your mat pay, I never trust things like that until the money actually arrives.

Enjoy the lights! I love seeing all the pretty lights everywhere

MrsSave

Monday morning......and I don't need to get up for work :j

It has been a busy weekend. I received my letter from HR confirming my maternity leave. It officially started yesterday and they have confirmed that I will receive 90% pay (from when I worked pretty much full time) for the first 6 weeks. :j

There were a few different things on this weekend to take ds to, such as seeing Father Christmas and fireworks, and Christmas lights, etc. I was supposed to go out Saturday night with friends for food, but cancelled as I was too shattered. Yesterday was then supposed to be a quiet day, but I finished sorting all the baby things, made sure ds's bag was packed ready for when he stays at his grandparents, and finished cleaning/sorting all the kitchen cupboards. We can actually see what's in them now, instead of knocking a dozen things over every time we want a glass!

I then wanted to clean the oven, but dh wouldn't let me because of the chemicals! I'd bought an oven cleaning kit a couple of weeks ago, so he put the oven trays etc, into the bag and will finish cleaning them tonight.

Ds is at mil's today as usual. He loves spending time there, and it gives me a break so we're going to keep that going whilst I'm off. I may spend the morning catching up on tv (especially I'm a celeb.....I'm a few episodes behind already!!!).

louby40

Ooo I'm so jealous. My first son was born on December 10th - 10 days late!! I loved being on maternity leave, very happy times.

He'll be 17 next month so that time feels like an age ago. Enjoy your day and rest up!

MrsSave

I've been feeling super tired all day today, even after an ok-ish night sleep last night. Now it's bedtime though, I'm feeling far more awake! Typical!!

I'm off to Tesco to do the food shop tomorrow instead of getting it delivered. The reason is that our cupboards are full and all we really need are a couple of fresh bits to top up. Also need nappies for ds (he woke 2 nights in a row asking to use the toilet, but hasn't since!). I've got £20 for the shop, but hoping to not spend more than £15. It'll be the nappies and the orange juice that cost the most. Orange juice is the only craving I have during pregnancy, both times. I drink far too much of it, but figure things could be worse!!

The Tesco shop will get me and ds out of the house for the morning, before ds heads to school. Ds brought a letter home from school today stating what he needed as a costume for their Christmas play, and thankfully it couldn't be easier. He's playing a child in pyjamas!! He needs pjs and slippers!! I have a feeling this will be the easiest year ever!!

I've had another payout made available from topcashback. It's only a small amount this time, but it all helps! I've not looked at any surveys today, which is unusual for me.......shows how tired I've been!! One poll is over £30 now so I'm getting there slowly!

MrsSave

I've been super emotional today! Every time my mood changes I start wondering whether it is the start of something. :rotfl: I've probably got a few more weeks of wondering though!

Our Tesco shop came to just over £16. To be honest I threw in a few things that weren't on the list, but it is still under £20 so I'm happy.

3 days until payday. Day after tomorrow I can see the amount in my pending transactions. :eek: I'm just seriously hoping they get it right! If they do, I may treat me and dh to a curry (extra spicy of course :rotfl: ).

I've pulled out a load of 'Christmas craft activities' from under the bed this evening. I can start doing them with ds during the mornings if we don't go out anywhere. Tomorrow we'll either make a wooden Christmas tree, or some paper chains!! I picked them all up in the sales at the beginning of the year, so they were all really cheap.

Dh bought the rest of our Christmas gifts today. I just need to wrap them now and we're done :j

MrsSave

24 hours until I can find out how much I'm being paid :eek:

Laundry day today! I will use the tumble dryer for the towels. We're also going to make some Christmas paper chains. If I remember correctly, I bought the pack from Mothercare for 20p instead of £2 in the sales. Might hang them up in ds's room then (far too early for any decorations downstairs!!!).

Slow cooker dinner tonight, teriyaki chicken. Should be enough for tomorrow as well (especially if I bulk it out with veg!!).