*sigh* this may take a while

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Honeysucklelou2 wrote: »

Wow, the garden sounds a good size. Is it mainly lawn or have you areas you can plant up? I find camellias very hard wearing with children charging round and about.

Hope the job deliberations help you to know what to do job wise.

The bottom half is lawn, the half that's up by the house is a bit of a building site Must admit I'm not a keen gardener, will have a look at camellias. thank you!

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Buffythedebtslayer wrote: »

Pops in as a teacher, a nice card from said child and biscuits chocolate or wine are good and very appreciated. XX

Haha, I bought 7 bottles of wine today.... I decided if I was a teacher, that's what I'd want :rotfl:

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Spendy day today:
-my eldest needed a whole load of stuff for her art GCSE, £35
- the 7 bottles of wine were another £35
- went out for lunch for a friend's 40th..... £50 :eek: I was a bit gutted about this as I drove and chose off the set menu, so my bill was £15. But they split the bill evenly.... there were 10 of us (I was expecting to split my friend's meal and pay my fair share of the tip). Ouch, but a rookie error on my part. Another friend who had obviously had the same idea as me, deliberately left before the bill came and left her £20 contribution. Clever girl :rotfl:
- husband went out for a work lunch - £35. Was a bit about that too, but couldn't really comment because of my spendy lunch
- booked 3 of the children on a couple of the Sainsburys activity days over the summer hols - £45 Good value and lovely days out for them but because there are 3 of them it still adds up a bit!

Roll on pay day next week!! :rotfl:

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Heard back from my current department... it was a 'no' for both salary increase and tweaking of hours. They don't want to 'set a precedent' Annoying, but not unexpected. They then held a staff meeting to ask us all for ideas on how to improve retention, you couldn't make it up :rotfl:

Anyway, it's clarified I'm doing the right thing moving departments and has given me the kick up the bum I needed. I have to do 3 days a week in the new department, at least for the year that I'm training. I've decided to keep my Saturday job because 1) I like it 2) it gives me a get out route if I don't like new role 3) the extra money will be very helpful, especially as childcare will go up because of the third day. I'll give up childminding completely so I have 3 complete days off a week and won't have the hassle of being SE in that role.

So the sums....
On my current salary, for the 2 jobs combined, I'll be earning £1746 a month after deductions, but £470 a month will go on childcare.
Once I've finished the training, that figure will rise to £2000 a month and as my middle child will be at secondary school by then (:eek:), childcare will be £312

Those figures look good. Realistically, once I'm trained, I think I'd either drop back down to 2 days at the hospital or stop my Saturday job. I don't really want be working 4 days long term, lazy as that sounds! OH has a very demanding job and so the bulk of house and child related stuff falls to me... I don't mind at all, but I find 3 days working the right level of work/life balance
On

DancingInTheRain

It’s a shame about the outcome from your current department, very short sighted of them though if then they are looking at improving staff retention :cool:

However it sounds like it’s helped you make some clear decisions on how to move forward, you sound like you’ve got a really good plan

[Deleted User]

Hi OSHDTH,

I've just read through your whole diary. It sound like you're really changing your mindset about money. I find it's all about the cumulative effect of everything - like you say, halving the budget for teacher's gifts and other kids' birthday gifts etc really adds up in the long run - especially with 5 kids! That reminds me I have to get some teachers' gifts - my DS is in reception and I'm not British, so it's all new to me! He's got a teacher and 2 TA's so budget will most certainly be £5 each as well haha.

I think you're doing so well managing 3 jobs and 5 kids and house renovations - I need some of your energy!

I agree as well with using YNAB being eye-opening - it's definitely made a huge difference for me. I used to look at my bank account, see £1000 in there or something and think "that looks good", not accounting for what it actually has to cover. Giving every pound a that comes in a job there and then just makes so much more sense.

Sounds like giving up childminding is a sensible decision given your circumstances as well. I agree that 3 days working is ideal, it would be my idea of heaven to have more days off than on, but I also couldn't face not working and not having "adult stuff" to do that doesn't revolve around children. 3 days is the happy middle ground. Alas, I have made my financial bed and now have to lie in it and work full time for the foreseeable.

Anyway, I've subscribed and will be following you along!

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Thanks DancingInTheRain and Moguline

I do feel like my most recent plan workwise seems the best fit, hopefully that's the case, I'll find out in November

YNAB is still going well, I don't think I'm using it 100% accurately, but it's the first month and I'll get firmer month on month. My first mission with it is to get ahead of our monthly credit card bill, so everything's coming in and out of our current account:o rather than working in arrears all the time

[Deleted User]

It took me a good couple of months to really get to grips with it. I'm about 4-5 months in now though (ended up buying a subscription after a 3 month trial) and it's like second nature!

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Ooooo, so cross!! Several years ago I did one of those cheap trials with Kidspass, I cancelled well within the time frame, but the still charged at the end of the trial! I tried to get it refunded, but they denied I had cancelled as I'd used their website, there was no 'proof', so I had to let it go. I've been charged this month again!! Looked through old statements and they've charged me for the last 3 years (I wasn't as careful at checking statements back then)… despite the fact they know I cancelled they said I renewed the following year (I didn't), funny how the renewal date is the original auto renew date?!
They were very unhelpful and I have to write to management within 7 days, blah blah. I've written a letter and I'll be sending it recorded delivery so they can't deny receipt. Sneaky bast@£ds :mad:

ohdearhowdidthathappen

NSD day today and I had the added bonus of both the teenagers forgetting their thank you teacher gifts (despite the fact they were by the front door!). Two extra bottles of wine for me