Pay for the future and not the past

MissRikkiC

That sounds perfect! I don’t think we will holiday at all this year but would love to next year! We haven’t been as a family yet and it will be lovely to all go. 

We don’t have that support network either. We have 1 grandparent who works term time so it’s really useful come the holidays but that’s all fine and dandy with 1… maybe not 2! 🤪

MissRikkiC

So much time spent today on personal finances and forward planning to ensure we make the right decisions. 

New nursery is a must, the saving is just not to be sniffed at so after my visit last week I have confirmed I wanted a space. They’ve since sent their invoice for a joining fee and a refundable deposit. I’ll knock that off the savings I guess! 

Maternity discussed and planned, with hub taking 2 blocks of 5 weeks which the timing of should suit him for one block and me for the other. Whilst I’m sure it will be welcomed by my team, I’m not so sure about my husbands.  Thankfully we work for the same company so the policy is what it is! 

Maternity can be managed better financially with even just these 2 blocks of shared leave, along with the savings in nursery fees so I once again feel better. We still need to save a large sum between now and august but have already made headway with that. We will have over saved by the end of maternity but then will have 2 in nursery so rather than reverse budget what we don’t need to save, I think we will just bank that for the future anyway. 

Glad we’re almost all sorted with only approx 9 weeks to go! 

Bluegreen143

You sound so organised! Bet it’s a relief to know exactly what you’re doing.

We aren’t going abroad for our holiday - last year we had a week in a wee cabin near a Scottish Loch, it was beautiful and peaceful and as soon as we came home, we booked the same place again for this year 😅 that was the first time we’d been away for more than two nights as a family, except once when we had a few days away with family (again in Scotland). 

I think holidaying heavily pregnant or with a newborn would definitely increase rather than decrease the stress levels though 😅

MissRikkiC

It’s necessary for my brain to feel like I know what’s going on. The reality is everything goes to pot anyway but at least I had a best laid plan. 

That sounds idyllic! I once stayed (the only time ever other than Edinburgh) in Scotland at a small place south called Kippford. It was amazing, but also 10 years ago 🤪 

I think the idea of a holiday is amazing, the reality very different 😂

anjyeah

MissRikkiC said:

It’s necessary for my brain to feel like I know what’s going on. The reality is everything goes to pot anyway but at least I had a best laid plan. 

So true! And then I end up overthinking which ruins the excitement of planning...

I hope you get to plan a holiday at least, even if it's for next year, and you never know grandparent might just agree if you start small with them. 

Blackcats

Great planning and organising missRickiC .  

MissRikkiC

The planning really calms my mind. I just heard a statement on gardeners world where a lady said something like, the planning is all from the head despite motivation coming from the heart. That’s so me. I love the idea of the outcome but will plan meticulously first. I haven’t always been like this I dont think but it’s how my brain works now which is helpful when it comes to debt busting too!

MissRikkiC

Happy Monday. Tired and a demotivated for work today despite having a 4 day weekend (1 day mostly to myself!) so lurking around here. 

Mondays after payday always get off to a great start, I shuffle stuff around, I can see some great numbers in various places! Then I’m done and it’s finished and I feel sluggish. I wonder if it tires my brain out briefly. 

Anyway, another month of the loan paid now, another month on the credit card due and another large chunk paid into the savings account for baby’s arrival. 

I’ve updated my expected taxable income with HMRC this morning to take account of the fact I’ll be on maternity pay for a proportion of the year so hope that even if my income isn’t yet reflecting lower earnings (monthly) until later this year, the tax is otherwise right from next month. Maybe. 

Not sure if we could be much tighter than we are at present and there are big numbers being saved/not a lot being spent but the wait of knowing it’s still going to be a while until our loan and credit card are gone is a bit depressing at times. 

Might start popping by here daily to share what I’ve done or what I’m planning to do to save costs etc. 

Today for example, we’re not going shopping despite knowing it’s the new budget month and we could. Instead we will have another day of running down the fridge and freezer. 

Also the heating is now firmly off hence im writing this fully clothed and in my dressing gown 😑☺️🤷🏼‍♀️

jokono

That's exactly how I feel too after moving ££ around this morning. I guess there's a bit more excitement waiting to see if the council tax rebate will come in on Friday.

Our freezer is bursting, I'll keep away from the shops for a couple of days, then we might need some more fresh fruit and veg.

We still have the heating on during the night, I get cold even with a duvet and blanket on top. 🥶 

Good luck with HMRC, I hope they update your tax correctly!

MissRikkiC

Thanks @jokono nice to know it’s not just me! 

I think we will need butter, milk cheese yogurt etc and I know staying away from the shops helped last month with staying in budget. But it’s like an itch that won’t be scratched unless I’ve been to the shops. So silly.  

It may have to go on again later this week as we’ve snow forecast and -2 but after increasing my DD for gas and electric by £90 from April, it’s a bit of a tough call!