£67,031.92 is a frightening number indeed....

Pom Pom wavers; you will be pleased to hear the bag is up to £11.50 after only 8 hours. So at least I'm getting another tenner in, whatever happens.

I achieved loads yesterday, but fell into bed at 9pm exhausted. I think I have the beginning of an ear infection, which is very dull. I always get ill when i have been manically busy for a couple of weeks or more - my body just goes 'no. Stop now' and gets ill to make me slow down.

I currently have three clients booked but not paid for (and two of them won't pay until April due to the way the work is planned with them), but if they all come off I will be financially pretty happy - I will be able to top up the various long term saving pots (Christmas, car servicing) that got diminished during this month in aid of Birthday Month (three close family children's birthdays as well our two DC).

To do today:
1. Eat healthily and walk 10,000 steps. Did 5,000 steps and ate homemade pizza for dinner. So not exactly done. :rotfl:
2. Social media for work. Done.
3. Finish decluttering the children's room. Done.
4. Plan DC3's treasure hunt. Done.
5.Wrap pass the parcel parcels for both parties. Done.
6. List the handbag on eb@y!!! Done!!!!!!
7. Make pizza bases and sauce (some for dinner tonight, some for Saturday). Done.

To do this week:
1. List old unloved handbag on eb@y - this didn't get done last week, annoyingly. Done! Did I mentioned this is done?!
2. List old nursing chair on eb@y too, unless my mum wants it back (we 'borrowed' it 9 years ago, she had said before we can sell it when we no longer need it, but I will double check).
3. Make more candles - essential oils are here and I am running low again! (I spent a fortune on scented candles before starting to make them!)
4. Finish sock knitting and cast on socks for my dad's birthday.
5. Pay preschool bill. Done!

I have another crazy busy day today - cake baking and decorating x2, school disco, swimming lessons for two DC, various other things. Will be back after yoga with a proper list.

Week 5: Day 6

Wow, budgeting really takes the shine off payday, doesn't it? DH got paid yesterday and there was literally no excitement at all, as it's all already budgeted for down to the penny (well, not down to the penny - he got paid 26p more than usual this month. What on earth shall I do with these newfound riches?! :rotfl: ). In financial terms we're just counting down to the end of the month now so we can get the budgets in place for April.

Had to pay my accountant yesterday, which was depressing, but budgeted for. I really should think about doing my own accounts - I have the required skill set - but I find it so reassuring to know that an accountant has looked through all my book keeping and done everything correctly. Is that peace of mind worth paying £35 a month for though?

To do today:
1. Eat healthily and walk 10,000 steps.
2. Put away any precious toys (with the children's help) - parties always seem to result in broken lego models and lost playmobil pieces.
3. town for extra sweets and chocolate - amazing how little it is when you start dividing it between party bags! Endeavour not to buy anything off-list.
4. bake and decorate 2x birthday cakes :bdaycake: .
5. bake various other things for tomorrow - sausage rolls, rice crispy cakes etc.
6. try to minimise spends at school disco - juice, hot dog and cake for each child.
7.collapse in a heap of cake induce exhaustion.

To do this week:
1. List old unloved handbag on eb@y - this didn't get done last week, annoyingly. Done! Did I mentioned this is done?!
2. List old nursing chair on eb@y too, unless my mum wants it back (we 'borrowed' it 9 years ago, she had said before we can sell it when we no longer need it, but I will double check).
3. Make more candles - essential oils are here and I am running low again! (I spent a fortune on scented candles before starting to make them!)
4. Finish sock knitting and cast on socks for my dad's birthday.
5. Pay preschool bill. Done!

I only pay the accountant to check my book keeping through and do my tax return. She also does the maths on my use of certain spaces in my house for the business, and a couple of other deductions. I'm sure I could do it all. I think I'll keep her on for next year, but see how this four-times-a-year reporting looks like shaping up for sole traders and make a decision next year. It would be a big extra chunk of money in, but also a working day lost checking everything through and submitting the return. Hmmm.

Kids' parties went really well today. Manic, but good. All the effort feels worthwhile when it goes well! DC3's actual birthday is tomorrow, then DC2 next week. All presents bought, so there shouldn't be any more expenses attached.