Keeping on the Straight and Narrow...

DancingInTheRain

Received my final missing In-Post parcel yesterday. So pleased it's turned up as the bag and dress in it are lovely. Was a nice pick me up as I'm feeling a bit out of sorts at the moment. I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by everything I need to get my head around in the new job and, as nice as it was being away with DH this week, I think I'm feeling out of sorts adjusting to a new work routine and taking 2 days to go away has added to the feeling of uncertainty. The children have also had disturbed sleeps the last few nights as they've both had coughs and earache. Day off yesterday was really busy - took Mum for her food shopping, attended school for a meeting, did the school runs and then took the boys to their Scouts activities, fell asleep at 9.30!

I just need to find a balance but I'm sure it will all come good and, in the meantime, I'm keeping caffeine and alcohol to a minimum and trying to stick to a good sleep routine as well as drinking plenty of water and trying to get a little fresh air each day.

This weekend we have the boys swimming lesson this morning and then we're taking DS1 ack to the opticians as he needs to have eye drops in so they can do further checks to see if he needs glasses or not. DH is out with friends this evening so I'm planning a bubble bath and an early night once the boys are asleep. No definite plans for tomorrow but hope to get out for a walk and possibly visit MIL as she's going on holiday on Monday.

savingholmes

Glad all your buys showed up. 

It's bound to be an adjustment - a new job, kids back to school after the holidays - etc. You'll all settle.

DancingInTheRain

Hi all definitely feeling a bit brighter.
Ploughing through my induction training, starting to understand the "how's, whys and wheres" of various processes and not being put under any undue pressure so far. The boys are still a bit tired from their longer school days but have got over their colds thank goodness. The black dog seems to be hovering around DH, trying to be supportive but honestly the timing could be better...

On the money front I've just applied for the $antander 2.75% interest savings account which, if successful, would sit alongside our existing bills account with the bank and would earn more interest than the mortgage costs (2.52%) and equal to DH's student loan interest rate, all helpful with our goal to improve our savings.

Have just spent a lovely couple of hours catching up with my bestie over a large glass of wine in a pub, it's true that sometimes this is all the therapy you need!

In money news, on Sunday I listed some of the boys outgrown Halloween costumes and winter clothes on Vinted and have sold and posted 4 items already. Also waiting on a £5 cash out from Shoppix. Not had a lot of spare time to do much else but 1 definite benefit of undergoing new starter training is that I have no time to spend any money anywhere which is having a positive effect on this month's budget.

Still no heating on yet, definitely using hot water bottles, layers and blankets as needed more this week than we have been but have given in and used the tumble dryer to finish off a couple of loads of washing rather than having it hanging around.

savingholmes

Well done on balancing MSE and energy savings with RL. Sorry your DH is struggling. It's a difficult time of year for many as it gets darker...

DancingInTheRain

Thanks SH x

DH has actually opened up a bit more today which is positive as he'd completely withdrawn in recent days, tiny steps...

We've been approved for the $antander saving account although the rate is 2.72% as I opted for the interest to be paid monthly and I hadn't realised this incurred a slightly lower interest rate. Doesn't really matter much as there's not much money to go in there at the moment! 

£23 spent today on the boys' school photos, I have ordered 2 digital prints that we can then print and put into nice photo frames. We'll print a few extras to make a few token Xmas gifts for the family members and friends who buy the children gifts as other than our Mums we don't buy any adults gifts at Christmas.

After taking DS1 to his football training this evening we all felt chilly on our return home so we've had the heating on for an hour to warm through and to keep the boys comfy during bath time and settling for sleep. DH and I are in our pj's and snuddies to keep cosy 

The boys' swimming teacher has requested we make the next half term's payment by the 22nd which is a bit of a pain as 1. It's an 8-week block of lessons when I was planning for 6 weeks again and 2. I was budgeting towards it going out on the 29th when the next batch of lessons start as I'd have been paid by then. Need to have a think of how best to pay this (£160  ) as I've only got £60 set aside, I may borrow from myself by utilising my 0% 1st Direct overdraft and paying it back on payday so that the rest of the budget can hold up.

savingholmes

DancingInTheRain said:

Thanks SH x

DH has actually opened up a bit more today which is positive as he'd completely withdrawn in recent days, tiny steps...
The boys' swimming teacher has requested we make the next half term's payment by the 22nd which is a bit of a pain as 1. It's an 8-week block of lessons when I was planning for 6 weeks again and 2. I was budgeting towards it going out on the 29th when the next batch of lessons start as I'd have been paid by then. Need to have a think of how best to pay this (£160  ) as I've only got £60 set aside, I may borrow from myself by utilising my 0% 1st Direct overdraft and paying it back on payday so that the rest of the budget can hold up.

Can you pay half upfront and the other half the day of the first lesson? Would that help? I'd be surprised if they said no but I could be wrong.

DancingInTheRain

Just on a well-earned lunch break after spending the morning battling IT gremlins at work! Hopefully resolved so I can get on with what I'm supposed to be doing this afternoon. I'm still in my induction period so lots of learning, training and shadowing but I'm feeling more settled and have a good understanding of my responsibilities. Have 2 x 250-mile round trips to do this week in order to spend some face-to-face time with my team which will help accelerate some of my learning. They're pretty good at factoring travel time into these events as our team are quite well spread across the northwest so I'll be spending equal amounts of time in my car as in the office so shouldn't be too bad as long as traffic conditions are kind, and that I don't get lost!

I still haven't paid for the swimming lessons and now the boys Squirrels/Beavers groups have also asked for early payment  but I think it's best if I see how finances are looking next Friday when the payments are due and take the interest free option and then pay myself back when I get paid the following Friday as I should have an extra weeks pay with missing the payroll cut off date when I started the job last month. I just can't bring myself to tap into our miniscule savings to pay for them when I can utilise the 0% FD overdraft to see us through.

As previously mentioned, the focus on this last quarter of the year is to try to build savings as if we do have an emergency there is very little there which is a concern, the new job has certainly come at the right time for our family!

Free money total for October currently stands at £121.91 largely thanks to V!nted sales having listed outgrown winter clothes and Halloween costumes. 

savingholmes

Good that you are settling into your new role. The rest will fall into place I'm sure... or you'll coral as needed.

DancingInTheRain

Another working week done and I'm exhausted, the 2 big drives on top of all the new information I'm getting to grips with means my brain is completely overloaded. Really struggled to get to sleep last night and then was wide awake from 430 🥴
Left the house at 730, had a 2 hour drive to the office then a tough 4 hours training session followed by an online meeting, quick bite to eat then a 2.5 hour journey home as visibility was horrendous on the motorway. Got home in time to attend another quick online meeting at 5 before logging off at 530.
I'm so glad it's the weekend! Bath and early night on the cards tonight.
Tomorrow is the usual busy Friday of school runs, kids activity runs and food shopping plus I'm meeting a friend for a long overdue catch up over coffee.
Saturday we're picking up DS1's glasses and Sunday we're off to a local farm park to go pumpkin picking. Busy, busy, busy!
7 more sleeps until I get paid 🙂

beanielou

Happy new glasses to your DS.