Keeping our options open

becky170

Hi savingsholmes, no we aren't claiming DLA for DS as up to now we have been able to pay for private swimming lessons and more expensive childcare. Friends have suggested we apply but haven't looked into it yet. 

Had £11 cashback so that has been overpaid to the mortgage today. That brings our overpayments to march to £311 and the total for 2023 to £983 

savingholmes

I'd look into it as if you qualify it could speed your MF journey and take some pressure off.

becky170

I've made an overpayment of £304 to the mortgage for April so we're now at £1287 in overpayments for 2023 April is going to be very expensive though as we had one of my friends to stay this weekend and next week we have my parents in law staying so lots of extra food to buy. I did sneak out for a lovely meal with my friend and it was so nice to be able to go to a grown up restaurant for once  we also popped into a pub for a quick drink....I've not been out for a drink for a while so was a bit taken aback by two drinks costing over fifteen pounds. I'm going to stick to treating myself with wine from laithwaites instead of going out as I can get two bottles of decent wine for £15 

savingholmes

I don't blame you wanting to stay in at those prices... 

Well done on the OP

becky170

I've had some cashback so I've made another overpayment of £18 bringing my total overpayments for April to £322

As tomorrow is payday and I'm awake early (thank you cat for waking me up at 3.45am!) I've been finishing up adding up our spends for April. In total we have spent £100 more than DH earns which considering we have visitors staying for a week and we went out more than usual with them isn't too bad and does suggest we have scope to survive on DHs wage only. I'll keep a close eye on May's spending and see how we do next month. May should be cheaper although we do have 3 children's birthday parties to go to so lots of presents to buy. We also have DS' birthday but we already have most of his present sorted out, but we'll have a meal out to pay for and a trip out with his friends to celebrate. May therefore may not be as cheap as I think then 

savingholmes

Well done on the OP and budget balancing. Good you have DS's present sorted.

becky170

The big news for May is that I have finally paid off my student loan. The interest on it was higher than my mortgage so it had to go  I have also made an overpayment to the mortgage of £300 so I didn't neglect that either 

In other news I have booked childcare for May half term and started booking childcare for summer. Unfortunately the only club that DS likes is now £52 a day...and seeing as they'll be two of them that's £104 a day! At those prices taking unpaid leave is looking like an attractive option. At least they accept tax free childcare payments so that saves me £20, but still... We are trying out another club in the summer which is £35 a day, so if they both get on with that one that will be another option going forward. May half term will be DDs first experience of a holiday club. She's still only 4 and shy so slightly worried how she'll get one and I've just got to hope that DS copes and doesn't have a meltdown. I think I'll spend the whole time they are there on tenterhooks to be honest! Maybe they will both have a great time and I'm worrying over nothing 

Cornish_mum

Congratulations on paying off your loan! I am sure that your children will love the holiday clubs; my DD now has holiday club friends who she really looks forward to seeing, after being very nervous to start with. CM

savingholmes

Well done on getting the student loan gone!

Commiserations on the cost of holiday clubs. Let's hope they like the cheaper one!

becky170

Well it's been a stressful couple of weeks. Our childminder has decided that they can no longer manage DSs behavior so I am now without any wrap around childcare. DH and I are now hoping to manage school drop off and pick up between us by changing our hours. Thankfully we have supportive employers  

Half term was ok. DS and DD had a nice time in the holiday club and we haven't been told that they can't go back so that's a bonus  now I just have to come up with a plan for the summer holiday. I have two weeks sorted so just another 4 to organize 

So far for June I have made overpayments totalling £312 bringing my total for 2023 to £1917. We now have extra money in our budget due to having no childcare but I think I am going to try and save that rather than overpay it as you never know when it will be a rainy day. Or maybe I'll do half and half. I'm just conscious that our mortgage fixed rate is due to end in 18 months and it looks like it will definitely be going up!