Pay for the future and not the past

MissRikkiC

It’s the time it takes to dry them on on an airer. We have a heated one which we use as it’s cheaper than the TD but they’re a funny shape (the nappies) and air drying instead would take about 3 days a load. 

Disposables is working fine for the time being but ill go back to reusables in the spring when I can line dry them 😍

MissRikkiC

Being accountable and coming back here to let out thoughts. 

Finding the shift to being on maternity pay difficult. We have budgeted for everything we need however we’ve definitely had to remember that we can’t afford the things we just want this side of February. Huge mental shift happening and not enjoying it at all. 

Suffolk_lass

I feel for you. I never had that as I returned to work three months after DS was born, complete with low blood count, baby blues and no ability to think. Terrible decision in retrospect. Far better to have spent a little more time with baby but I was not coping, and work felt like a refuge at the time.

You are so organised and sensible by comparison (another 20 years before our money was under proper control) - short term pain, long term gain for you. Try to keep it up. Two months is not long, in the overall scheme of things and your future self will thank you. I would be prepared to treat yourself once a month, even if you pay a tiny bit of CC interest. It doesn't need to be extravagant, but you might need it!

MissRikkiC

Thanks so much @Suffolk_lass for both sharing but also your compassion. 

I know by the end of March anything we’ve over spent will be repaid, because we do earn good salaries. I’d even say we’re high earners but none of that really matters when you’re paid £150odd a week. Actually it kinda makes it worse as you’ve got to adjust that much more. It’s okay though, just being aware of it I guess is positive. 

MissRikkiC

Whoops didn’t mean to press go then. 

The extra is coming from the overpayment I was given from my work. They didn’t manage to sort it before Christmas, they’ve still not replied to tell me what the net overpayment is and so it’ll be at least January's pay that they make a single deduction. That’s if they get their butt in gear in the next week which is unlikely since I’m still off so out of mind out of sight. With that in mind, it’ll be Feb and I’ll have a full months pay then so be in a better position to pay back what I’ve already spent of it covering now. Then March for the balance. In that way I’m lucky it was overpaid I guess. 

Ive been following along with interest the frugal challenge; I did last year then life inevitably got in the way. Im doing my best to follow certain frugal ways and hope it continues into the rest of the year. However January is off to a start. 

I immediately thought I’d better buy a new diary but with a no spend month afoot then that’s not very smart so I’ve reused an old one I didn’t complete. I also really need some new warm running gear so asked my friend for recommendations and she said she has too much stuff so she’s going to sort me some out instead. What a great start. 

MissRikkiC

Yesterday I wanted to get out! We went to feed the ducks and due the the weather went to the library for an hour as well. 

We took a flask of tea, biscuits with us and enjoyed a story whilst keeping our hands warm and bellies happy. And we weren’t using my electric. 

Doing something in the morning also meant my eldest had a nap, as I think it wore her out a bit, which was welcomed and made the rest of the afternoon more pleasant. 

Off shopping for a few food bits this morning to get ahead as bear is now on solids so in need of a few things that 6 weeks ago we could’ve done without. I don’t mind of course, as he needs to get into it and can’t just start scooping cottage pie into his mouth just yet, however I’d meal planned already this week and bought accordingly however I need to make a few adjustments. 

Decembers electricity bill was absolutely astronomical at £180 so I am on a mission to reduce our consumption massively. Annoyingly I didn’t take gas readings so they’ve estimated the reading and I hope they’re wrong as that’s not too dissimilar! 

Januarys goals are £150 food shopping budget for 2 adults and 2 children and an Average spend of £4 a day on electric with a view to reducing gas too. Also not spending otherwise out of need. I run months the same as our pay (25/24th ish) and so the last week of December will be included in the electricity. We were averaging £7/8 a day then as everyone was home/everything was on so we have a lot of headway to make over the next 2.5 weeks! Well, it’s a start!

Blackcats

I always loved going to the duck pond when my children were little - such a simple thing to do but timeless enjoyment.  OH and I go to our local pond with our flasks and food for the birds.  The seagulls get bread and the ducks and jackdaws get seeds but of course when the feeding frenzy starts it's a free for all.   When there are lots of pastries on olio I sometimes get some of them for the birds.
good luck with this month's budget 

MissRikkiC

Thanks @Blackcats

I made a list today of some of the budget headers I’ll need for this year and known targets if I had them to hand. It’s a moving list as I’m very enthusiastic shall we say; to ensure there aren’t many pennies available than could’ve been earmarked. We want a lot this year, it’ll be spendy once the cash is available and v little will be saved for long before it’s spent. That said, all cards are 0% still and I’ve got a plan on how to clear them down by their end dates. 

I’m not sure we will be able to afford all of the things we want and pay off the credit cards in time so I’ll need to prioritise. Boo. 

MissRikkiC

On the opposite side of the spectrum, this week I’ve enjoyed these frugal wins/thoughts. 

Not buying a new diary for logging bits in 

Being gifted some running gear and v expensive joggers from 2 friends. 

Borrowing my neighbours slow cooker rather than just heading to Amazon to order one. 

Cooking a YS FR corn fed chicken in said slow cooker and getting 15 meals from it. £7 well spent. 

Cooking half a red cabbage with olio cranberries and a soft apple using the SC and getting it all in the freezer. 

Peeling and blending 18 olio kiwis with a bag of spinach and 2 bananas for smoothies and fruit pouches. Getting veg into my daughter without her saying it’s yacky 🙄

Olio collections: SO helpful even when I’ve meal planned. 

Meal planned for the week: through to next weekend. 

Making use of the oven Saturday morning. Sourdough loaf for nice breakfast bread, sausages for brunch, Monday nights pasta bake, 4 jacket potatoes for this week and 28 gingerbread stars made from leftover cookie dough from before Christmas. 

Keeping an eye on the smart meter for electric has resulted in lights being switched off, dishes being washed in the sink and clothes being inspected before being thrown in the basket. 

It’s all about a balance. 

MissRikkiC

I’ve spent the last 2 evenings working out at what point I have to go back to work.

It meant looking at what holidays I needed to take the rest of the year for school holidays (children are hopefully term time only with help from MIL) to see what balance I had left to start back a few weeks later than originally planned. This way I can save on some nursery costs for the youngest. From April - July this year nursery costs will be high for them both but then august onwards will be very sldifferebt due to getting 30 hours free for my eldest. 

I then wanted to calculate and budget for building the necessary pots for 2023; namely an electric charge point for my car at home, Christmas and clearing the Santander CC I have before Jan 23. It’s all a bit far in advance but feel it will be here in no time!