Managing Mat Leave

castlelough

You have a busy day planned! Good luck with it! I found coffee and cake such an essential part of my newborn survival strategy  .
Enjoy friend's visit and go easy on yourself on your first day home alone. Sometimes squeezing in a nap with baby is also essential to survival!!!

FacelessNumber

Didn't manage to get on the computer yesterday to do budget updates and it's unlikely to happen today as I have both kids at home.  Yesterday managed to sort photos and get out for a walk, also managed a load of washing done and dried outside and getting tea in the slow cooker, so although I didn't tick much off my list I'm happy with how the day went. Had a lovely catch up with a friend too.

Spending yesterday:
*30.41 on Amazon - a few bits we need including pegs for washing, sterilizing liquid etc.

To do today:
*Couple of rows of crochet (this goes on the list every day but isn't happening often atm!)
*Going to a friend's for a playdate, again saves paying for coffee out
*Drop bag of clothes at clothes bank on my way past
*Get out for a walk
*Jacket potatoes for tea
*Clear some more photos from phone

I think that's quite optimistic for the day, and if I manage to start the budgets that will be a bonus!

FacelessNumber

Achieved all of my to do list yesterday, didn't manage the budget update but have done that this morning.

So firstly an overview of debts and savings. In March our debt total came down £103.30, to now stand at £13561.95. Not very impressive, but we aren't focusing on this at all at the moment and none of it is costing interest. I've logged on this morning and rounded both credit cards down to nice round numbers, our direct debits are set at 30 and 25 so will be nice round balances going forwards!

Savings - this is much more satisfying, we managed to add £2184.80 to savings in March - there are a number of things that have allowed us to do this - HMRC refund, no council tax / water rates, currently saving 200 a month on nursery fees compared to before Christmas. So we definitely won't manage anything close to this in April. However 250 already saved for April which brings us within £50 of my 6k target. As I mentioned I do need to update this target once I've worked things out in more detail, but I do still have one more almost full pay packet coming before it reduces so I'm confident we can cover mat leave now!

Our other savings goal to try and make a nice holiday happen next year has started - I've added £7 to the account so far after selling a toy, and am hoping to get this to 2k over the next year. Not quite sure exactly how I will approach this one yet. I have set up a separate account for it though so I can see how it's going.

Spending yesterday:
4.80 in Sainsbury's

To do list for today:
*Assignment - plan 2 sections - I have something due in in a few weeks to finish off a course I was doing for work. Hoping to finish it this year rather than have to delay it until I go back.
*Washing - 2 loads - first load already in
*Put away 2 loads of washing (already clean and waiting to be put away)
*Money Catch Up - 50% done
*Couple of rows of crochet
*Coffee with a friend - she's coming here so no spends.

If I get it done I will pop on later with a breakdown of how the March budget went, and what I'm budgeting for in April.

Lonelygambler

Washing with two adults and two babies is a full time job. 

I hate it! 

Keep up the great work. 

FacelessNumber

It really is, we have basically a load per day, I've done 2 loads today and almost have another one ready to go!

List is mostly going well, I've got a bit of washing left to put away and haven't done any crochet yet, but generally try and get to that in the evening if the baby will go down!

NSD today for me so far, not sure if OH has spent anything but he's been at work so probably not.

FacelessNumber

Didn't get any crochet done yesterday, and didn't manage a full review of March on my money catch up. Did also manage to get out for a walk which I forgot to put on my list. Not going to try and get much done today as we've had a rough night with both kids, newborn obviously wakes up a lot anyway but also had my bigger one awake for over an hour with a high temperature. Aiming low today!

Spending yesterday:
OH spent 5.50 in the pub

Otherwise just DDs / standing orders went out.

Today's list:
*Finish money review
*Write at least 250 words of essay
*Go for a walk
*Call GP to book baby jabs

Hope everyone has a good Friday!

Lonelygambler

Good work you! 

LG

FacelessNumber

Got most things done on Friday, managed 400 words written which I'm very happy with!

Yesterday spent 3.98 on coffees. Otherwise nothing spent. We're with family today so no to do list really, apart from finishing our meal plan and shopping list for next week. Hope everyone has had / is having a good weekend!

FacelessNumber

I don't think we spent any money today. Fed by family too and a meal from the freezer for tea. I am considering a quite big spend to get a good deal on a piece of gym equipment (I tend to work out at home, and particularly now we have 2 kids and it will be harder to get out I think it might be worth it, but will work out how to cover it). I'm happy.now that we will comfortably cover mat leave.

We talked about the mortgage today too as it's up for renewal in 3 months. I think we might extend the term to drop the payment a bit and aim to overpay to our old payment. It will just give us a bit of flexibility once double nursery fees etc kick in next year or if we have unexpected expenses.

To do list for tomorrow:
*Call GP to get prescription
*Load of washing
*Shopping List - just reserved a too good to go bag for tomorrow as well so will see what we get with that! Haven't had one for a while, have had a mix of very good and pretty average ones so far.
*Money Catch Up for last week
*Couple of rows of crochet
*Walk

Not sure I'll get all of that done, have both kids at home and a playdate for the older one in the afternoon, but I'll give it a good go!

FacelessNumber

Literally nothing done apart from the GP stuff and the shopping list. It's been a Velcro baby kind of day! Haven't even managed to get out with the dog. Will definitely do better tomorrow.