Mrs S, family life and debt

MeandO

How annoying about the keys, hope you get it sorted.
Hope you all feel better soon too, there are so many bugs going round here at the moment.
From your comment about the reading books, I'm guessing you're in the same part of the world as me! It's a small world.

MrsSave

From the Welsh countryside MeandO Far away from any motorway or city! Still plenty of shops nearby, though :rotfl:

Nsd today. I was given the after school club bill, though, so will be paying that next time ds1 is there. I'm usually home alone on wednesday nights, but it seemed to make more sense me taking ds1 to school (as I'm passing the door almost!) so we gave ds1 the choice of where he wanted to sleep on a Wednesday night. He has decided to stay with me tonight, whilst ds2 is at Mr S'. He may change his mind every week, depending on where he'd rather be so that's 100% fine. It was really nice to spend an hour playing board games with ds1 after ds2 left this afternoon - it's difficult with the youngest toddling about everywhere.

I've cashed out £5 on Prolific today. I'll put that £5 towards a half term day out next week.

I've got some friends coming to stay Saturday night. It'll be the first time I see them/speak to them after everything that's happened. I've completely avoided it so far! We're going out for a mela Saturday night, and I'll use the money I have leftover from my birthday/Christmas for it. There won't be much left afterwards!

I've kind of meal planned for next week - I've done it on the Tesco app, but haven't written anything down yet. I'll get that done by the weekend.

MeandO

I'm near the coast in the South West, about 10 miles away from the nearest city.

I bet it was nice to have DS1 and Mummy time. DS and I love our time together now, we are so much closer than before his Dad and I split up. Last night we built lego together and marble runs! :rotfl:

Enjoy your weekend with friends. xx

JoJoC

With a 5 year old and a 2 year old, i know what it's like to try to get 30 minutes to play a board game with the oldest! Glad you managed some valuable 1-on-1 time without interruptions I'm sure your son loved it!

MrsSave

It's half term here. I'm working as normal this week which means today and tomorrow off. Both boys are already awake but as our rule is 7am to get up they're both in their bedroom with books/toys. It means I get another 20 minutes of quiet before the madness starts :rotfl:

There has been a lot of eating out this weekend!! I went out with friends Saturday night for food and a few drinks. I also went out for lunch with the boys and Mr S Saturday, had lunch out with a friend yesterday before one of my friends caught the train home and had a Chinese last night :eek: But, I took £50 out of the bank, and spent just that and the money that was already in my purse (just under £10). I think for 3 meals/drinks out and a takeaway that wasn't bad!! I went halves with Mr S for lunch Saturday, so that was £10, lunch yesterday was in wetherspoons, so was £7 including a drink, and a Chinese for 1 was only £8. So around £30-£35 was spent Saturday night. Not bad considering, but won't be doing that again for a while!!!

Out of the 3 friends I went out with, 2 of them mentioned their debts. I knew one of them used credit cards a lot, but she was so flippant with 'I'll pay for food on my credit card, you give me the cash because I've got 20 months to pay it off!'. The other friend has savings so not sure what she's up to!

I did my food shop yesterday for the week, and it came to £23. I'll probably need a fruit and milk top up at some point, but otherwise a pretty good week. I have so much food in the house already I could probably have a few cheaper weeks. I also filled the car with petrol, but had been given a 10p per litre voucher off from my mum.

I'm aiming for a not too expensive half term. I bought popcorn/drinks/treats with my food shop last week for me and ds1 to have a movie session whilst ds1 naps today. I haven't decided on the DVD yet, but he has a few he hasn't seen much of, or I'm sure there'll be something on tv I can record for us to watch. I also bought bits with the food shop to make a pizza so we'll do that this afternoon. My mum hasn't been well so I've said we'll pop to see her tomorrow afternoon with some cakes for a mini afternoon tea at hers. Otherwise we may visit the park if it's dry, or play in the garden. I did think about gardening, but it's still freezing from time to time here so I don't want to plant seeds and for them all to die!! We may pop to Wilko to pick up some things, or that will probably be an Easter activity.

We have got a planned day out on Saturday, just me, ds1 and mr S. We'll go halves on that and I have worked out £60 each should cover the day. I've put my half to one side. We are going on the train as ds1 loves them, and used Tesco vouchers for the tickets. I've also won a free child's meal at TGI Fridays, so will eat there.

Right, it's 5 to 7. I have 5 minutes before the chaos and madness starts!!!

enthusiasticsaver

You sound very organised and disciplined with money now Mrs S. Overpaying your mortgage even only a small amount each month is definitely worth it. Another thing to consider is your pension given you presumably work part time? Overpaying on that at some point will also put you in a good place for retirement. A long way off I know but the earlier you start the better. At least educating yourself early on about how your scheme works and the benefits is a worthwhile task.

Good that you and Mr S can be civilised to take the kids out together. Makes it so much easier if you can get along.

MrsSave

Thanks enthusiastic saver. I pay a higher percentage into my pension than I have to, and due to some error in the past with wages dept in work, they pay 1% more than I do into it from now on. The error didn't effect me as I hadn't started but they decided to bring me in on the same figures as everyone else. I do need to look into it a little more though to see what my predictions are and to decide about my teacher's pension - though will probably leave that where it is.

wishingthemortgaheaway

Oh, if you do look into teacher pension options, I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.
I've got 13 years contributions to the TPS, but I've not completely decided if I'm totally out of that life yet, or just on an extended career break.
I do believe, I've got 5 years (well 4 now) during which time I can stay on the same t&cs as when I started teaching, anything after that means I go onto what ever the current t&cs at ewhen I return (I can garuntee they won't be more favourable as those I've had....)

MrsSave

Wishing the mortgage away I'll let you know when I've had a good read of tps. It's been on my to-do list for a while though!!

I've already been awake over an hour. Day 2 of half term so I will seriously regret it later :rotfl: I have small, planned spends today. I just need to pick up some cakes to take to my mum's. I'm going to make a soup at some point today which should last the rest of the week for work lunches.

I managed to reach the bottom of the laundry basket yesterday (briefly) :j It does mean the ironing basket is now filling :eek: mini jobs today will be wash all towels and prepare soup. Other than that today will be spent at the park and eating cake!!

I've checked the accounts and ynab this morning. One bill was meant to go out yesterday, but it still hasn't. It is only a little one, but no idea why that's late. Ds2's nursery is going up at the start of April :eek: Only by £1 a day, but it adds up (it's gone up so much since my now 4 year old started there as a baby!!!).

Right, I'm going to attempt another hour of sleep before the boys wake, though not sure I'll be that lucky!!

louby40

I'm 11 years away now from retiring and at the point of beginning to keep an eye on my teachers pension.

Of course everything changed in 2015 regarding teachers pensions so it's worth checking it out.