Getting it together...one £ at a time!

teafor2

Hi HG Can't believe we're at the end of April already! Your figures are looking fantabulous as always. I think I'd be inclined to pay a % of nursery fees if I needed a place for a while longer, but as your DS starts school soon I can definitely understand you not paying. You have to put your family first as well and if your husband has been furloughed then that definitely has to be taken into consideration. 

DD likes to do a bit of on line shopping as well! I've asked her to curb it for now because I'm not over keen on all the extra packages coming into the house. Mind you, it's no different than bringing food shopping in I don't suppose, but it feels as though it is. 

Random question about the DS's sport (can't think of the name and even if I could I probably couldn't spell it lol) but are they being sent anything to do on line? My niece dances and her teacher sends some routines over every week for her to do. I think it's brilliant how so many people have adapted how they work to keep their business going. xx

 

Homegrown0

Yes, my sons both do martial arts and they adore it. My eldest was competing regularly and training three times per week before lockdown so they're really missing the interaction with their 'family' there. However, their club is fantastic. Within a week they had set up a schedule of Zoom calls for each age group where they train live together and so many other things that keep the interaction up and bind them together. It's really great, although nothing is a substitute for face to face interaction with their friends and instructors. They'll be back to it soon enough. And that's something i'll happily continue paying for  

The innovation that I've seen over the last few weeks from small businesses is fantastic. Truly inspiring to see people adapting and flexing to what the world needs. I think this will teach us (people in general) to just do things in future. Don't put things off because you don't have time to plan them or figure the details out. Sometimes you just need to put your best foot forward to make things work and I think that's what a lot of small businesses have been doing. 

Homegrown0

Happy Friday to all! 

It's the first of the month and the day in which a good chunk of our bills come out so I've spent some time reconciling these and updating the spreadsheet. All is still on track, which is good. 

Hoping to get the last few things off my to-do list ASAP so that I can get finished early to start the weekend. Husband and kids are working away cleaning the bedrooms, so might dive straight into cleaning once I'm done so that the whole house can just be done. It's been neglected the last few weeks. 

Homegrown0

The sun is shining and I'm hungover... I wont let the headache stop me from getting out in the garden for some fresh air. 

Zoom calls with friends and too much wine. Fun but less fun this morning. 

I'm writing my shopping list for the week, we are completely out of fruit and bread so it has to be today. I was hoping to hold out until Monday but we ran out too quick! 

I decided to dip into the savings a little to buy my husband a big Lego set that he has been lusting after for years. It's his birthday in a week and he works so hard. All his extra earnings always go straight into the house and he hardly ever treats himself. I think he deserves it. All I need now is for it to arrive on time! I'm getting it delivered to my neighbour's so that he doesn't have a clue.

Hope you're all having a nice Saturday! 

doingitanyway

The lego is a fun idea. Hope he likes it

Homegrown0

I'm sure he will DIA, and he won't be expecting it. He came into our room the other day when I was paying for something online and I told him it was his birthday card. His words were 'you shouldn't have bothered, just make me a card with the kids', so i know it'll be a complete surprise for him. I can't wait to see the look on his face.

Well, it's Monday again. How did that happen? The weekend flew by completely and we didn't really achieve much, although it was nice to not think about work for a couple of days. I've got another busy week at work this week. It never seems to stop, or even slow down! 

Today, I'm not feeling great. Feeling a bit weak and with a sore tummy. It's not too bad at the moment but I struggled to sleep last night so i'm hping it doesn't get any worse or turn into some bug. That's the last thing we need at a time like this! 

Off to do some reconciliation of the bank and spreadsheet!

Homegrown0

I've been feeling a little under the weather as i mentioned yesterday and today I'm feeling a tiny bit better so I'm hoping that whatever was threatening, has decided against it and is moving on. 

Work is really busy at the moment (with urgent, timely things in the balance) so now is NOT the time to be getting sick. Especially as I'm a one-woman team right now. 

Today is beautiful out - I haven't been out but I have a lovely view from my office window so that's brightening the mood a lot. 

Not a lot to report money-wise, the accounts are all balanced and look fine. 

I was just talking to my husband and he's still owed a not insignificant chunk of money (> £1k) for some work that he did a couple of months ago. The business that's paying him is 90% shut down right now and is operating on a skeleton staff, so it's not unsurprising that he hasn't been paid yet. But I forgot that this money was in the future planner, so i'll add it to my spreadsheet as future savings (and only count it properly in my figures when they arrive). 

I'm intrigued to see what the Government announces this week about what's next. I'll be interested to see whether there'll be any lift in restrictions (I hope not) as it'll affect my husband's working situation and impact us all. Until then, i'm trying not to think too much about it because it stresses me out wondering how i'll cope working full time on my own with the kids in tow. I know many people are doing this right now, but the longer we can avoid it the better. 

Days until pay day: 23
Days until normality: Seems like forever

doingitanyway

Glad whatever was coming health wise passed on by
I was wondering how F/T WFH mum's with children were supposed to manage...no wonder you feel stressed and under the weather. Take care.

Homegrown0

Morning all- TFI FRIDAY! 

I am very much looking forward to the weekend, just to not think about work for a while! It's been a busy and brain-full old week. 

Not a lot happening money-wise. It's been almost a week since I've been to the supermarket. No top up shops this week but we will need shopping on Sunday so starting a list. Weekly shops are costing a fortune because I'm also picking up my MIL's weekly shopping and not taking money from her (she keeps trying to give me cash but I don't want to touch cash) so it seems like we are spending a TON more. She will absolutely square us up when lockdown is over (whether I want it or not - she's very proud) so if we're getting by fine without this cash, i'll just see this as an usual way of saving some extra cash from our spending account

This time next week, i'm planning to take £1,200 out of the bills account for savings (unless something drastic happens before then, which I doubt). And hoping for a further £400 at the end of the month. Fingers crossed, as that would take us to £8k.

As the ScotGov has announced extension of lockdown (potentially until the end of the month), I'm sorting out our spreadsheet to account for husband's lowered wages until the end of May. It's all looking fine, but I just don't want to forecast too far ahead unless things change. I guess it could still change (as I think the Govt are going to informally review weekly from now) but I feel better knowing that my husband isn't back to work on Monday. Phew. It just seems too soon. 

I hope you all have a lovely bank holiday

Homegrown0

It seems I think about money and updating in here on a Friday! It has been a full week since my last update in here, although not a lot has changed, which is probably why. 

I'm very much looking forward to the weekend. Really need a break from thinking about work and the guiilt that comes with working all day when the kids are downstairs. Trying to remind myself that I don't feel guilty when they're at school/ nursery and I'm working so I shouldn't. But they always pop in to ask when I'm going to be finished (at like 10.30am...) and I do feel bad  that I can't take more time to hang out with them.

Money-wise, not a lot is happening. Things are as expected, so i'm just letting them tick along. Just waiting until next week when I should be able to lift a big chunk to our savings account. 

Tonight,I'm planning an early finish from work. An early dinner with the kids with maybe a couple of board games after. Then we have a family quiz tonight (online of course) so i may treat myself to a glass of wine or two

Hope you all have a lovely weekend!

Days until pay day: 14
Days in lockdown: 53