Debt Busting, Budgeting...and Maternity!

MrsSave

That's a nice saving every month. Well done!

[Deleted User]

Eyebright wrote: »

really not sure how I dropped the ball on that one and let it carry on but I've just cancelled the DD for it. £18.66 a month now saved

It happens, don't worry. Still £18.66 is a great save

Aamberle

;)Nice save, and at least you noticed it now and not in 6 months.

Ooh last day today, How are you feeling about it? Hope you have had your letter from HR now?

Have a good day X

Eyebright

Thanks both! I'm glad I noticed it eventually, and as you say, it's still a saving now heading into my new budget territory.

Aamberle, it's next Tuesday I finish, so today I am into my 1 week countdown yippee!!!! :j:j:j Just got to keep plodding to the finish line...

MSE things I will do today:

• Take lunch to work
• Make today a NSD
• Check OnePoll for some more surverys- I'm so close to £30/40
• See if I can sign up for the Energy Club deal to reduce my Gas & Electricity DD

Not much, but then I'm at work all day. Oooh I've just remembered I need to take something out of the freezer to have for dinner tonight. That could end in a take-away if I don't!!!! Will check in later...

Have a lovely day all xx

Bobarella

Not long to go now!

[Deleted User]

Oh god, that's nice they let you have a wee sit down.

Work's are all like that so they are, you will be so glad to finish up.

Yay about the paperwork, you will feel so much better when you know how you are going to be financially while on mat leave.

86 wowsers, defo look into a switch.

Dxxx

Jumblerina

How exciting EB - you're on countdown good work in the saves, it's so easy to miss things here and there. Your training course sounds exhausting, hope you're putting your feet up

Eyebright

Happy days! I've done the MSE Big Switch

It's with British Gas, and it reckons I can knock £10 of my monthly DD, been estimated at £76 a month. I will look into ways to reduce our energy consumption as well I think, as it seems quite high judging by Dolly's response!!!! :rotfl:
I can't wait until they are installing Smart Meters in our area. Our boiler is quite old, but unless it breaks (touch wood it doesn't), it will have to do for now!

Oh, did I mention £30 cashback for switching too...:T:T:T

Tesco delivery came £60.85 this week, which is a lot but shouldn't be for the rest of the month, as that includes lots of bits we don't buy all the time and a months supply of food for kitty cat.

I also earned 30p on OnePoll and £1.50 on Valued Opinions. Someone kill me now, surveys are soul destroying!!!!!!

Kitten868

Hello! My top tip is live on maternity leave pay now. You can Google it it's about £140 a week. You only get paid for how many weeks were in the month rather than a salary so most months it's 4 weeks £560 some months it's 5 weeks £700. You shouldn't have to pay tax on it and hardly any ni so you know that's whats coming in. You have to do a joint budget where hubby pays in more than you. So it's fair. Maybe a 70/30 split. Any money you get over the £560 pay straight off debt like you don't have it. That's what I did so I was ready.
I think joint finances are definitely the way forward
What have you got left to buy for baby? X

Eyebright

Hi Kitten!

Thanks for the advice regarding my Maternity budget. I had googled what SMP was and I've had a preliminary letter from HR confirming that it's £139.58 per week. The reason I'm still not sure how much I will be paid each month is that I work for the NHS and the way they pay for Maternity is:

8 weeks at full pay
18 weeks at half pay + SMP
13 weeks SMP only

To make my life simpler I've requested equalised payments, so I know I will be paid the same each month. I just don't trust myself to do the maths, as I'm paid a salary, so not really sure how it breaks down when they do it weekly etc instead!

Me and OH have a rough plan in place and as soon as everything is confirmed I will finalise the budget. OH's wages will primarily take care of all the main bills for the house and insurances etc, and I will then pick up the food, petrol, baby expenses and hopefully all the other little pots of money for general living. Entertainment budget (haha social life, I doubt that!) etc etc.

I've been trying to reduce all the bills and insurances too, to reduce our monthly outgoings, and plan on living much more frugally going forward. No unnecessary spends!

I will then de-clutter and sell things on to top up what we're getting for my saving pots, and to put towards the debts etc. I think I might also be entitled to Child Benefit? Will look into that when she arrives!
I also don't know what happens to my pension contributions on MAT leave, but I assume that continues and will take a chunk out of my monthly income.

Most of the stuff for her is bought now. Certainly most of the big things, absolute essentials and clothing.
MIL has a baby bath for us and SIL has a Baby Bjorn type thing for us too, which saves us a few pennies!
I do need to buy a breast pump, stock up more on nappies, cotton wool, some breast milk bags for expressing, a thermometer and basic medicine supplies.
I want to get a cot mobile and play gym/toy bits but they aren't super urgent for the birth!
I would also like to get some pictures/wall art for the nursery, but again these aren't essentials, and I would like a pack of the "Milestone Cards" to take pictures as she grows and develops

Final things I need now are for myself! I need some essentials for my hospital bag such as pads, nursing bras, some PJ's/nighties. I need to actually look into what I need to pack in a hospital bag, both for baby and myself! If anyone would like to offer any advice on what to pack I'm all ears! I've already taken the advice of sweets/snacks and Lucozade!

OMG this post is so long! Will be back after dinner as have some other stuff I want to put on here...