A pound stretching maternity

MrsSave

smallholdingsister wrote: »

Congratulations on your moneysaving boy.xxx

Thank you :j I was convinced he was a girl, but am completely over the moon with a baby boy :j

MrsSave

What a lazy day! With ds being ill we've done next to nothing. I've showered and dressed, fed us both, kept him company, made a couple of phone calls, checked online banking, browsed the forums here, wiped the kitchen down and that's about it.

I have no idea what we're going to do for dinner as ds was supposed to be at my inlaws this evening and we were having a rare night out (on Tesco vouchers). As that's not happening I'm not sure whether we'll get a takeaway, or whether I'll pop to Tesco once Dh is home to get us something 'nice' from there. M&S have the 2 dine for £10 at the moment, and I know you can buy a soft drink instead of wine, but I find it would be better value if I had the wine, but I obviously can't drink it at the moment! Even though we had Tesco vouchers, we would have spent £10-£15 on drinks roughly (depending on whether hubby was drinking or not) so thought I'd have that sort of budget for this evening.

The TV has been switched off, it has been on far too long today, and ds is now playing with his trains. He doesn't actually seem too poorly in himself, so I'm hoping this bug clears out of his system quickly.

There haven't been any onepoll surveys today. I ended up with 3 yesterday so it balances out I guess.

MrsSave

Our money saving night in

Due to the fact that our son was poorly, we stayed in this evening. We were talking about a takeaway, but budgeting up to £15. I don't know if it's the pregnancy talking, but I really didn't fancy anything heavy such as a curry, Chinese or pizza. What I really fancied was salmon. I've been more careful with fish, as you're supposed to during pregnancy, but a little is fine. So......off I went to Tesco and got 2 salmon fillets with garlic and herb from the fish counter, and then chose 'easy' sides to go with it. I found the pre packaged veg, and I bought a pack of the baby veg (those little carrots, babycorn, green beans and long stem broccoli), and then a pack of baby potatoes that cook in the packaging in the microwave. I wouldn't usually buy this type of food, but as it was for a special occasion and far cheaper than going out I went for it. For the main meal, it came to £6.70. I did buy a couple of extra bits, though, I bought 2 bottles of Perrier water (yum, and tastes far nicer than my usual own brand) at 96p each, a lemon (to go with the water) a packet of sweets for hubby and choccies for me The total cost for our meal in, with a sort of dessert and drinks was £12.44. I'm very happy with that, and it has been popped into YNAB already. We also saved money from not having to drive to where we were going, which would've been 45 mins each way.

Our dinner was delicious, there wasn't a scrap of food left.

Party food

Whilst at Tesco I picked up food for my son's party and his cake. That came to £26.48 and has been popped into YNAB already. I save all year for my son's party/cake, and have over £90 left in that pot. We're going out for a meal to celebrate his birthday, and going out for the day so much of that will go. I do hope there will be something left in the pot at the end. We're using Tesco vouchers to cover the majority of the day out. There will be less than £10 to pay. We will need to buy lunch out (I'm thinking £20) and then dinner in the evening (around £40). That still leaves £20 in the pot! Any money left will go to extra summer holiday spending money, as it will still go to my son for days out/experiences, etc.

Evening entertainment

I started watching the new celeb big brother this evening. What a mistake. It was turned off after seeing a little. I guess the majority these days are made famous from other reality tv shows, and then go into big brother to make a bit of money/stay in the limelight. I won't be watching any more of that......didn't have a clue who the majority were.

I didn't get around to reading last night, so will try again this evening. I find once my head hits the pillow, I'm out for the night (well, until the first toilet break anyway!!).

Night, night!

MrsSave

Friday 29th July 2016

Today's to-do list

1. [STRIKE]Friday YNAB and bank accounts check = make sure all accounts balance,[/STRIKE]
2. [STRIKE]Wash bed clothes,[/STRIKE]
3. [STRIKE]Take son to find his school uniform this afternoon (providing he is fine all morning- he has been fine since mid afternoon yesterday),[/STRIKE]
4. [STRIKE]Write a list of things to take on our holiday next week,[/STRIKE]
5. [STRIKE]Tidy nursery,[/STRIKE]
6. [STRIKE]Only spends today - school uniform,[/STRIKE]
7. Get some fresh air with my son,
8. [STRIKE]All meals from stores today.[/STRIKE]

After one day stuck indoors, my son has truly had enough. So I am really hoping he is fine all morning so that we can go somewhere this afternoon. I did think about popping to our nearest bhs as it is closing at the weekend and I figured there'd be some good discounts, but then thought there is nothing I really need so would it be money saving??

MrsSave

We're having a 5 minute sit down now before lunch. I'm thinking of making an 'indoor picnic' for lunch, so will find the picnic blanket next. We've washed 2 lots of bed clothes this morning, and my banking/YNAB is all up to date.

Cats, cats and even more cats

I've also ordered a water pistol from Argos to go an collect later. It's more money out, but it's for the cats that have decided that our garden is their toilet. I did some research, and according to the RSPCA and the RSPB, water pistols are fine to use to encourage them to **** off!! It has always been annoying, but my son is now getting to the age where he just wants to go out and play, but I've got to make sure the garden is fine for him first. The water pistol is £6.99.

Afternoon spends

I'm hoping that the school uniform comes in under £50, though that's still expensive enough!! At least his trousers were only £3 per pair!

We're going to a bbq tomorrow, and all we've been asked to take are drinks. Hubby has plenty of beers in, so will take some cans, and then we'll take some soft drinks. We should have everything we need in already so won't need to spend any extra money. I did think about taking a bottle of wine, but as the invite has said bring your own drinks I'm thinking there is no need.

Right, time to start putting out indoor picnic lunch together before we head out for the afternoon.

MrsSave

School Uniform Spends :eek:

School uniform has been bought. My target was £50, and I came in just under that at £47.43. :eek: :eek: :eek:

Thankfully I have been putting a little away each month for a few months now so that I'd have enough for his school uniform. I also need to buy him school shoes, but will get those nearer to September, just in case he grows!

Hopefully now he won't need new uniform for a while. I bought him 2 polo shirts and 2 jumpers. The jumpers *should* last him the school year (unless we have a major growth spurt). I've gone for just 2 polo shirts, but if I find that 3 would be better I'll buy another at some point.

Other spends

£0

I didn't buy the water pistol, or go to BHS. Instead of shopping, we spent most of the afternoon at home doing 'arts and crafts'. I've got an old Argos catalogue, and we cut pictures out, to practice his scissor skills. We also had felt pens and other crafty bits and made a few collage type pictures.

Dinner was chicken fajitas, followed the last of the rhubarb crumble. Yum!

MrsSave

Happy Saturday!

I slept until just gone 7 this morning (which is a very rare occurrence!!). I then got up with ds. Hubby came to find us and told me to go back to bed.......result!

Today's list

• [STRIKE]I need to pick up some 'Happy Birthday' banners for ds,[/STRIKE]
• Might pick up that water pistol, Decided against it for now. It's not an essential.
• Laundry (it's never ending!!), Haven't put any on today, yet.
• [STRIKE]Ds playing rugby (Dh will probably take him),[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Meals from stores,[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Usual tidy up of the house,[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Family BBQ this afternoon,[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Check YNAB, bank accounts and Tesco credit card,[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Check onepoll for surveys.[/STRIKE]

I'm thinking of making cheese and bacon stuffed jackets for lunch. They're so yummy!

I weighed myself yesterday, and I'm about 1 or 2 pounds up from my pre pregnancy weight. I did lose a couple of pounds in the first few weeks, but at 21 weeks I'm really chuffed. When expecting my ds I gained a load of weight, a ridiculous amount that I never completely lost. I'm aiming for a healthy weight gain this time, not enough for 10 babies! I'm waiting for the extreme hunger to kick in though, it majorly did last time.

I need to repeat to myself "pregnancy is not a reason to be a pig, pregnancy is not a reason to be a pig". My son was quite heavy when he was born, and they're worried that this baby is going to be bigger. I'm wondering whether my eating contributed to his size (I'm not sure of that actually happens?). If this baby is going to be naturally big, then there's nothing I can do about it, and I just carry big babies, but if by me eating well helps, then I'm all for that!

MrsSave

I'm feeling completely fed up today. It's probably hormones (may as well blame them!).

I want to do more to help us financially. I have an appointment with a supply agency in a few weeks so I'm hoping that will give a little boost. Other than that I'm not sure what to do. I'm not a hoarder at all, so don't have things to sell.

I keep thinking that if we didn't have the loan then we'd be almost £300 per month better off. That would take so much pressure off. I'm also worried that the debt increased majorly when I was on maternity leave last time, and whilst I won't be able to increase payments over the next year I am really aiming not to add to any debt.

I've bought beers for my hubby for when we go away. He's been opening a can or 2 a night over the past few nights. I feel so mean saying don't drink, but when we're trying to scrimp and save every penny and he's drinking more because it's there it's annoying. I know it would be a lot more expensive if he went out, but usually he only has a drink once or twice a week. If he starts drinking every night, it's going to get expensive. He also didn't want all his dinner last night. We had fajitas, and he left some behind. That's fine. What's not fine is that he has then attacked the snack/treat cupboard afterwards and had a few different things. I'm not saying don't have treats. What I'm saying is that if you find that you need a few different things, then you're obviously hungry so eat something a little more substantial and don't eat the treats I've put away for our Summer holiday picnics. :mad: It's because they're there. He knew why I'd bought the extra treats (on top of the ones I buy for him every week anyway). It means we can put together nice picnics with treats, without popping to the shop and spending far more.

Don't get me wrong, I love my husband. It's just he can really annoy me at times (I'm sure he'd say the same about me mind!). He agrees to anything I say with regards to saving money, making more money, etc. but when it comes down to it, does nothing to help. He cannot get his head around YNAB at all. I've downloaded it on his phone, just so that he can check our account balances before buying something (especially towards the end of the month). I don't expect him to add transactions or anything like that. I usually tell him at some point in the month that money is getting tight and only essential purchases until pay day. It's usually a day or 2 later he comes home having spent money on non essential things.

On top of that our son is playing up more today, which he does more with his Dad. He answers him back, is really cheeky and refuses to do things. My husband is far too soft with him.

I think all that together has just made me feel today.

It's my son's birthday party tomorrow, and I usually get so excited about things like that, but at the moment I'm dreading having people around here. These hormones have a lot to answer to!! :rotfl: It will be a lovely day for my son, though!

Sorry for the moaning thread. It doesn't help that I've been mainly in the house for the past few days. I'll just wait now for the knock on the door from Premium Bonds (I'm sure that it's this weekend they're out) to tell me that I've won a million. :rotfl: I can dream!!

debtaghh

Sorry to hear you're feeling down, hope you cheer up. You seem very determined. Some comments you have just made remind me of things I feel e.g don't eat all the snacks or drink the beer which is for a party but then feeling guilty of saying this. I've just started my own diary as have debt too so know how you feel but try not to let it stress you as you are doing so well by the sound of it!

MrsSave

debtaghh wrote: »

Sorry to hear you're feeling down, hope you cheer up. You seem very determined. Some comments you have just made remind me of things I feel e.g don't eat all the snacks or drink the beer which is for a party but then feeling guilty of saying this. I've just started my own diary as have debt too so know how you feel but try not to let it stress you as you are doing so well by the sound of it!

Thank you. Just having one of those days. I get tired by the end of the week and completely crash. It is difficult when I know that hubby works so why can't he have a beer/treat, but surely it's not a treat when it happens every day. I'm sure I'll be feeling back to normal tomorrow!

I'll have a look for your diary now.