*sigh* this may take a while

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Found out OH bonus is £16k, which although less than last year, is very nice.  He'll lose a massive chunk in tax, NI and pension, but I'm guesstimating we'll end up with £8.8K.  Based on that figure, we've decided to use it like this:

• £4.5k to FIL for family loan
• £1k to the eternally refilling CC so that we're not always a month behind (except food bill which I don't care about)
• £1.5k into holiday fund which will pay balance on our CP summer hol and cover all activities and food
• £1k to home renovation fund which (with the other money we have saved) will cover the work we've got planned this year 
• £800 to Christmas fund which is currently empty, but we'd like to be £1.5k by Christmas

If it's slightly more/less than what I've guesstimated, the Christmas fund will be the one to flex.
We debated repaying the whole family loan (£8.5k), but FIL doesn't care about it and isn't charging interest, plus it would have left us scrabbling around to pay for the other things.  This way, we're ahead of ourselves for the year, which is a nice change for us.
The bonus will come in his Feb pay cheque, so that'll be lovely!! 

Isitdoable

That sounds like really good use of the bonus to me, and what a nice little boost for you!

Sarahwithlove

Great use of the bonus. Hopefully will help take some pressure off you and maybe you can take a break from the overtime and focus on getting some energy back 

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Thank you both  
I do think that now the finances are under control and my youngest is at school, I need to cut back on the overtime and side hustles.  They were necessary while we got on track and working weekend days enabled me to use less childcare, but now the income vs time doesn't seem as good a deal.  
My main job earns us £1500 after deductions for 3 days, although that does necessitate a £300 childcare bill.  I still don't overly enjoy the job, but I get a fair salary, good pension, good prospects and it's using my professional skills.
I can earn £120 for a locum Saturday morning shift, so I'm thinking of continuing to do 2 of these a month.
My retail role only earns £200 a month, but the discounts/perks are brilliant, however it's 22 hours a month lost family time at weekends.
OH is the obviously the main breadwinner and I think now might be the time to scale right back so that weekends are purely for family time, we're both tired a lot currently.

mark55man

good plans all round.  its surprising how more time together at the weekends means you can both avoid spending for convenience which will somewhat mitigate the loss of income

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Another shift done this morning, £130 earned.  Other than that a quiet weekend planned, so should be 2 NSDs

Drawingaline

It's hard getting the work balance right. I actually miss being in on my own in the day and working evenings. Mainly because I feel like I have less time because I waste what time I do have?

We definitely need to start doing more as a family, but it is difficult with the little two. I am sure whatever you decide you will make it work. 

savingholmes

Hi - I vote for more family / rest time for you. Your use of the bonus seems balanced.

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Thanks both... I can't figure out how to quote on this new layout.  The quote comes up and then I can't write under it, it looks like it's part of the quote.  I'm probably doing something thick!
DAL - I tried evening work, but found it hard going out to work when everyone was starting to chill for the evening.  OH hated it too as he had to put kids to bed and then eat on his own :-( I liked the lack of reliance on childcare though!
SH - I'm erring on that side, I need to be more protective of my (our) downtime.  Up until a few years ago I wouldn't have contemplated working weekends, when we had our 5th it became a necessity and almost our new norm.  I look around though and most women who work part time either do a few week days or evenings and/or weekends.  I seem to have a weird mix of both, a hangover over from when childcare was prohibitive.

savingholmes

We really value our shared downtime. I sympathise on the childcare costs - it was bad enough having 2 kids 5 years apart...