New Life Pending.....

Iwantanewlife

That’s so true! I find myself also getting annoyed at people who are now just blatantly wasting money, I have to try and keep my tongue in check as it’s only 2 months since I had my LBM, I’m not really in a position to judge, although I regularly do! Lol

wishingthemortgaheaway

Lovely chilled day thank you.

Bring on a new money saving month...

girlatplay

Sounds like you're ticking along nicely. Well done on the petrol lasting an extra couple of days and the groceries coming in well under budget.
It's hard when people don't understand and try to talk you into spending. It's hard being strong but it's totally worth it in the long run.

savingholmes

Congrats on repaying the loan - that is fantastic! You are on a much bright path now

Iwantanewlife

Good Morning All

Its been a funny couple of days. It was my sons birthday yesterday, was so lovely to see his little face but i felt very emotional. Time has gone way too quickly made me really sit and evaluate things and how i would like to spend more time with him. I always am rushing from the office, to child care, to football training or homework. The weekends are filled with trying to catch up with house jobs from the week, and i just get so tired! This is something i really want to work on.

We went for dinner last night, which my mum paid for, so therefore was a NSD which im pleased with.

Ive had a sale on ebay so an extra £15. Ive still got £126 sat in TCB, and 6 items remaining on ebay to sell. My ideal would be to raise enough to pay the £170 off CC3 just from the above means!

Im still worrying slightly about Christmas. Im going to re do my budget this month and see how much i can get in the Xmas pot.

You will all be pleased to know, still no credit card use from me haha

ohdearhowdidthathappen

It's an endless balancing act juggling children and work.... you look up and they're another year older. If it's any consolation, I've worked various part time patterns over the years and I've never found a good one! You're doing amazingly managing everything while working full time... one thing I've found helps is to try and get all chores done over 6 days so the 7th day is completely free.
Also, we set up certain family dates ie we make pizzas on a Friday night, movie night at least 2 Saturday eves a month, cook a roast and play board games Sunday

Iwantanewlife

ohshithowdidthathappen wrote: »

It's an endless balancing act juggling children and work.... you look up and they're another year older. If it's any consolation, I've worked various part time patterns over the years and I've never found a good one! You're doing amazingly managing everything while working full time... one thing I've found helps is to try and get all chores done over 6 days so the 7th day is completely free.
Also, we set up certain family dates ie we make pizzas on a Friday night, movie night at least 2 Saturday eves a month, cook a roast and play board games Sunday

Thank you thats some great ideas and exactly what i need to do with him! I really appreciate the words, its honestly made me feel a lot better. I know he would love the pizza and movie nights too! x

girlatplay

ohshithowdidthathappen wrote: »

It's an endless balancing act juggling children and work.... you look up and they're another year older. If it's any consolation, I've worked various part time patterns over the years and I've never found a good one! You're doing amazingly managing everything while working full time... one thing I've found helps is to try and get all chores done over 6 days so the 7th day is completely free.
Also, we set up certain family dates ie we make pizzas on a Friday night, movie night at least 2 Saturday eves a month, cook a roast and play board games Sunday

Iwantanewlife wrote: »

Thank you thats some great ideas and exactly what i need to do with him! I really appreciate the words, its honestly made me feel a lot better. I know he would love the pizza and movie nights too! x

We used to have Movie & Duvet nights. I would buy sweets and crisps (Little Miss didn't get much junk back then so it was always a treat), we would bring my duvet through to the livingroom and watch a movie and eat junk. She loved doing that. I was always asleep by the middle of the film and the older she got the more annoyed she got with me. What's funny now is that her boyfriend complains that she does it!

We also had "Golden Time" on a Sunday afternoon where we made papier-mâch! rubbish, played games, etc. When she got older we would go out for dinner once a month instead.

Iwantanewlife

girlatplay wrote: »

We used to have Movie & Duvet nights. I would buy sweets and crisps (Little Miss didn't get much junk back then so it was always a treat), we would bring my duvet through to the livingroom and watch a movie and eat junk. She loved doing that. I was always asleep by the middle of the film and the older she got the more annoyed she got with me. What's funny now is that her boyfriend complains that she does it!

We also had "Golden Time" on a Sunday afternoon where we made papier-mâch! rubbish, played games, etc. When she got older we would go out for dinner once a month instead.

I love these ideas, thank you.

At the moment my son is in childcare from 7.30am till about 5.30 each day, and its been this way since he was 6 months old. It means we literally have a couple of hours a day together, which is filled with cooking dinner, homework and baths. It eats me up with guilt every day, and always has, especially when i get the pity faces from the other mums. I honestly felt there was no other choice, it was either that or go onto benefits and go on the housing list. I think ive made the right choice, and its meant he has a nice life and has everything that his peers have. However, i am well aware that material things do not make up for the lack of time he has with me.

Im going to have a think about all these suggestions and think of something we can do each week/then a special something each month.

Thank you all xx

enthusiasticsaver

You seem to be doing very well and had a complete mindset change which is great. Ignore the YOLO comments. Many are probably sitting on a pile of debt which will one day catch up with them.

I hear you on the juggling work, childcare, housework etc and I think there is no magic bullet answer. I had the luxury of working part time when my children were small but I was not a single parent so did not have sole responsibility. No need for guilt though. You are doing the best you can and providing for your son. Maybe split the housework over the week and have one day you can spend with your son over the weekend and do something like go to the park and play tennis if there are courts or a bike ride or if the budget allows, cinema or bowling or swimming etc. Games or movies at home with snacks are a good budget option or craft afternoons.