Our forever home

bellevie

Thank you 😊

bellevie

This weeks shop £108, we needed dishwasher tablets and a couple of hand washes.

I won £25 through NSI, first win since 2023. Think I worked it out roughly to be 5% returns. I don’t have a lot in there and have taken out money when needed. I do wonder if I would have won more if I hadn’t withdrawn. Will make a conscious effort not to touch the account this year and see what happens. I set it to reinvest too, avoid it being needlessly spent.

No update yet on hours change request, no meeting has been arranged but the policy says a meeting may not be needed if the change can be approved, there’s still time so need to be more patient!

bellevie

This weeks budget has been blown.

I have been under the weather for a few weeks, think catching one bug after another courtesy of DS. Then I completely hit a wall Wednesday, about to book a doctors apt as things amplified 120% I suddenly wondered re covid. Found a test and positive. First time ever so my vaccinations lasted a fair while.

It knocked me for 6, kept DS of nursery as he’s also been the same. Shop came it at £97, however…a further £30 fast delivery from a supermarket to make a nice breakfast this morning and a cream tea for later. It’s our anniversary but had to cancel our meal out so thought it was a nice simple alternative treat. Maybe I can count this from another budget.

Then another £39 stocking up on pain relief, tissues, antibacterial wipes, ready made lasagne - we had appetite but no energy to cook, ingredients for soup and chicken in a bag for an easy dinner just with boiled potatoes and broccoli. I should be able to carry over a couple of meals to next week to try to bring back the budget under control.

Over the worst now fever stopped last night but still congested, lost voice coughing. Easier to breathe outside than in so pottering gently round the garden which DS has loved. So many toys and containers filled with rain he loves decanting from one pot to another.

I have a few days off over half term hopefully will fully shake this off and feel human again when I return to work.

beanielou

Feel better really soon.

sunshineli

Hope you feel much better soon

bellevie

I did make it back to work but still had mild temperature, I cancelled visits to be safe and got through some admin. I felt fine within myself but mild temperature dragged on, I think stopping a couple of days ago.

In good news I did manage to keep the next 2 weeks shops I'm budgeting. Account ended up closing with around £40 less credit than I'd calculated before our sick week but still closing in credit is always good!

My work request to drop a day has been approved, such a relief.

I'm conscious of the pay drop so have been putting every penny of "payrise' on debt or in savings so not getting used to having the excess to spend.

I know taking a paycut isn't very MSE, I've literally waited years for qualification and linked payrise so it was a difficult decision but ultimately the need for a a better balance and family time I think is too important. I'm very grateful its a drop we can afford at the moment.

Last shop of the month came in at £100, but used vouchers to bring it to £90. Higher than it has been I think due to buying dairy free yogurts and soya milk for DS.

DS used to have occasional eczema flair ups they stopped for a while I realise its when he cut out milk. He then fell inlove with hot chocolate and would want one AM & PM..the ezcema seemed to come back with a vengeance.

He's on some prescribed cream and we are trying dairy free for a while. I notice his nose is less runny. He's had a runny nose from September bar a small break in Decemberwhen on antibiotics it has been relentless. I'm not sure if removing dairy has contributed to it stopping or if he is at last having a break from these germs.

Had already wapped fabric conditioner for white vinegar which works well without the yukky build up in the draw! After testing out for a fair while with supermarket mini bottles, I fpund a 5l bottle on amazon. Was just doing it for DS but now all washing is being done the same.

My costco membership expired, decided against renewing we just don't go frequently enough to justify.

Hoping for a calm month in all areas!

Merlin's_Beard

I dropped three hours a week back in september and honestly while I'm still struggling, the extra hours I've got back have been worth the money.

I reckon MSE is making informed choices about what isn't worth it but also what IS. And time is precious! That qualification of yours means the rest of your hours are paying enough that you can do this so it's doing its job!

beanielou

Good news on dropping day. Less tax & N.I. to pay.

bellevie

Yes you make a good point @Merlin's_Beardhad been thinking recently if I had not qualified this would not be possible.

I noticed that @beanielou in the salary calculator it was a nice surprise.

bellevie

The nursery have accepted the change from the first month my pay drops, will be saving 9 hours childcare per week, that was welcome news!

Shop £100.46 this week bought a gift card through a work scheme to save 4.5% but its capped at £50 voucher per shop (sains) so saved £2.25 and will get 52p cashback through chase bank. Its only 1% but it adds up every week.