The Hen House Chronicles

redofromstart

That's good news on the refund, hope it comes through soon

Watty1

Fingers crossed refund comes through quickly.
Am discussing potential for a refund with my accountant too!

savingholmes

Will be great to have the debt gone.

MerryHen

The refund for 2022-23 has already come through as a cheque, almost £1500 which will take a big chunk off the car debt. Waiting for the other years to come through 🙃
I'll be in town for university next week so can pop into the bank to deposit it for DH.

In exciting news, I have booked a holiday for May half term!
A caravan by the coast for four nights. This is the first time we've been locked into school holidays and the cost of a caravan quadruples for that week compared to the weeks before and after 😞 but the cost is covered by the holiday saving pot.

It's the only week until the end of summer where my annual leave aligns with school holidays so I wanted to do something as a family. I'm already very excited,  even though holidays with young children aren't like regular holidays 😆

Home insurance renewal also came through, £68 more expensive than last year. I did a comparison check and there was nothing cheaper but thankfully this is also covered by a savings pot.

In other news, I have started a new pension with Vanguard. I ummed and erred over whether to transfer my standard life pension over but for now have reduced my monthly payment to SL and set up a monthly payment to VG for the same amount. Once I'm more familiar with the platform and SIPPs I'll consider whether to move my whole pension over.

This is my last weekend on maternity leave and we're celebrating by having an epiphany feast: a roast dinner lunch and then a nice picky tea, DD also wants to bake biscuits so we'll do that this afternoon. Right now though I plan to continue reading through some MFW diaries while DS is napping. Happy weekend everyone 😄

beanielou

As you say that will take a nice chunk off the car loan. 

Aimingforthegoodlife

Hi Merry Hen,

I have read your diary today, I have to say, when I read your 2023 update, I teared up at all the positives since your last entry! I also love that DS1 is so involved in your life and plans, truly beautiful. Love the decking in the garden and the lovely memories you are making with your family. Car loan will be gone in no time! Amazing!

LadyWithAPlan

Great news on getting the debt paid off. I love my Vanguard sipp. In comparison to my other sipps it is much cheaper and the funds are also cheaper on the management fee side..

savingholmes

Well done on the sipp. Mine is doing well.

KajiKita

Hi Merryhen 😊

How are you? It’s been a while, so hope you’re okay and loving life 😊

KK

MerryHen

KajiKita said:

Hi Merryhen 😊

How are you? It’s been a while, so hope you’re okay and loving life 😊

KK

Hello KK, it has been a while!

I returned to my midwifery training last month. Enjoying being back but also feel like I have many, many plates spinning and a fair few dropping 🙈
Hoping to reach some sort of equilibrium soon.

Money stuff:

Emergency fund: £5000

Sinking pots: £5022

S&S ISA: £414.82

Car loan: £-3142 (12 months without overpayments)

The usual sinking pots, our pensions, £100 to my Vanguard ISA and money into the kid's savings (all standing orders on the 1st of the month) have been topped up but we haven't added to the emergency fund this month, we are definitely feeling the pinch of nursery fees. I will have a relook at our spending and savings soon.

DH paid his £1500 tax rebate towards the car loan which knocked a big chunk off that! No sign yet of the rest he's owed but I'm sure it'll turn up eventually. And if it doesn't DH will pester HMRC.

This month is another expensive one. Life insurance has been paid and house insurance will be going out soon. Payment for a family weekend away in March is due this month too. We paid £200 for half term childcare (our usual term time childcare is spread over 12 months so we still pay that too) and DD had a soft play birthday party. The sinking pots will cover everything except the party. 

I received a message this week saying nursery fees will be increasing by £150 a month from April which will bring our monthly childcare bill to £1400 plus holiday cover 😭 So I might need to pause my Vanguard ISA for a while.

Decluttering is still slowly and steadily happening.

We had another sort through the kid's books and got DD involved. Her keep pile was much, much bigger than the give away pile 😆. About 40 books went to school and another 50 or so are ready for the charity shop. The bookshelves are still overflowing, you wouldn't know we'd had a cull except that the pile next to the bookshelf is slightly smaller.

A bag of games also went to the school, and there's a box of toys and a bag of adult clothes are earmarked for the charity shop, and another bag of outgrown kid's clothes is heading for the community project. Next step is get all these things to where they need to go!

At some point we should also sort through our own books. Currently the heftiest of our old university text books are acting as additional supports under DS's cot so that I can cuddle him to sleep in there without it collapsing 😅

I hope everyone is well and enjoying the slightly longer evenings 😊