A pound stretching maternity

hannahroberts1985

Hey Mrs Save,

Glad to see you back. Exciting times with a new career path on the horizon. Good Luck with finding something that suits. It's such a mind field with childcare and fitting it all around your family with it costing an arm and leg in childcare isn't it. Xx

MrsSave

Thank you Hannah. Definitely exciting times!

Today has been a low spend day. Took ds2 swimming, but my mum came along and paid so didn't cost a penny. My only spends were £1.75 in co-op. We finished the bread at breakfast time and I bought a bottle of Pepsi max cherry, my new favourite!

It's ds1's birthday soon, so I need to go through and look at what I've got for him. I'm pretty sure we've bought everything, just need to get wrapping paper, a card and then the last minute decorations.

I'm not planning on leaving the house other than the school run tomorrow so my purse should be free from use!! I took out 3 20ps this morning and popped them in a sealed tin I've got. I'm trying to out away any 20ps I can find and will open the tin just before Christmas. I'm worried about opening it and only have about £2 or something in there!!

Pismo

Hi MrsSave

Just found your diary and trying to work my way through it now. Congrats on the change of career!

I'm in, almost, the same position as you as due to start maternity leave mid October (at 36weeks). Our current debt totals a whopping 25k and I doubt were going to make much of a dent in it whilst I'm off. However I will settle for not increasing the debt any.

Pismo x

MrsSave

Pismo wrote: »

Hi MrsSave

Just found your diary and trying to work my way through it now. Congrats on the change of career!

I'm in, almost, the same position as you as due to start maternity leave mid October (at 36weeks). Our current debt totals a whopping 25k and I doubt were going to make much of a dent in it whilst I'm off. However I will settle for not increasing the debt any.

Pismo x

Congratulations on the new baby! Will s/he be your first? I've had 2 maternity leaves, and that's when I struggle most financially. Good luck on paying off your debt.

MrsSave

I applied for the part time job I mentioned a few days ago. The closing date is the end of last week, but I received an e-mail from them yesterday with additional questions before the shortlist. I've answered that, so it's just a waiting game on that one. I have sent off my cv for another job as well, but I'm not hopeful at all with that one......not enough experience, but always worth a try.

I'm not sure if I mentioned that I was studying whilst on this maternity leave (part of where our money is going, but I see it as a long term investment). I've got 2 exams next week, so spending most of my free time studying at the moment.

I've ordered a food shop to be delivered Saturday morning, and it's one of those weeks where lots of things are starting to run out so lots of different bits being added to it. I'd love a cheap shop week soon!!!

hannahroberts1985

Good Luck for your exams. I hope your giving yourself some time off to relax this weekend.

Food shopping is sooo expensive isn't it! I find I run out of one thing then before you know it you've made a list for a full food shop when you didn't even realise you needed it! It's not as easy to just scrap anything together when you have kids to think about feeding is it. X

Pismo

MrsSave- this is my third (but only my second maternity leave as wasn't working the first time round). Maternity leave wasn't so bad last time but that may be because we were just using the credit cards as well.

I'm also at the wanting to do something different career wise - I only graduated 4 years ago but I'm worn out in my current job. Can I be nosey and ask what you're studying now? And are you enjoying it?

hannahroberts1985

Do you have a diary Pismo? I have three weeks left of mat leave and am returning with nearly £4000 debt cleared and £2000 saved where as last mat leave I was creating debt. My diary is the main thing that's kept me on track. X

MrsSave

Pismo, I've decided to train in accounting and I'm 100% loving it!

I have a job interview in a fortnight's time for a job in finance that would fit in great with the boys/school. The only issue (well half an issue) is that it is part time. The reason is that it's an issue is money, the reason is that it's only half an issue is that it means I get to spend more time with my boys and time studying. I've been sitting going through finances to see if we can make it work. I do a little self employed work as well, and would love to be able to do a little more for some extra money.

I've created a spreadsheet listing the money in/money out and trying to see where we can save. I don't want our boys to suffer because we're struggling. I love spoiling them at Christmas and their birthdays and intend to continue doing that (within reason.....we don't spend an absolute fortune). I want the boys to be able to do some activities such as swimming, etc. I *need* a haircut, etc etc. By adding it all up, it's doable......just. My husband gets paid weekly, so some weeks there are 5 pays. Those months will mean a little towards savings, a treat, etc. He also has a bonus every 3 months (not much but it all helps). I really want this job, so I really need to make this work.

I need to look at our grocery shopping to start. That spending creeps up all the time. Lots of extra treats are finding their way in. That needs to stop. We're also using far too many baby jars. I do cook, blend and freeze lots, and there's always something in the freezer for the littlest, but I still use far too many!!!

Sky has been reduced for the last year, and it has just gone up to full price again. I'm going to phone them up to see if I can reduce it down again. We've also been using netflix, but recently it hasn't really been used. I'm going to look into cancelling that.

If I am lucky enough to get this job, then they have stated that they'd want someone who would be able to do overtime to cover holidays from time to time. That would bring a little extra in as well.

I need to look at a balance transfer to transfer the debt from the cards (yes, they're back) so it's all 0%.

Right, so step 1: sort out groceries,
step 2: phone sky,
step 3: cancel netflix,
step 4: get this job!!!
step 5: live within our means, and reduce debt.

Easy peasy!!!

MrsSave

Step 1: sort out groceries,
step 2: phone sky,
step 3: cancel netflix, done
step 4: balance transfer to 0% cc
step 5: get this job!!!
step 6: live within our means, and reduce debt.