Layout:
Home > Archive: October, 2011

Archive for October, 2011

End of the Month

October 30th, 2011 at 10:25 pm

Since it is practically the end of the month I thought I'd better update. I managed to complete all of my October goals. The one I'm most pleased with? Not using my credit card.

At the start of the month I thought I would take my credit cards out of my purse so they didn't tempt me. Well, I didn't do that - they've been in my purse the entire time. So glad they weren't touched.

Hubby and I have been talking about our finances, specifically making cutbacks. Right now we've not cut out anything but it will happen soon.

I want to start my Christmas shopping in November. I've saved £100 of high street vouchers. Christmas this year will be bare minimum for everyone - I'm thinking of doing some homemade gifts, maybe fudge or something? I'll look into it.

Debt gone (well some of it)

October 24th, 2011 at 08:38 pm

Hubby paid MIL the last payment towards his debt on Friday. Woohoo!! We're still discussing the best use of the extra money next month. I'm torn between debt and baby fund, although I think the money will be divided between both.

I bought a cot bedding set yesterday (really early, I know) It has a cot bumper, cot quilt and a fitted sheet in it. Original price £30, I paid £18. I keep looking at baby stuff now. It's funny, I never noticed it before.

I've worked nine and a half hours extra so far this month, so next month will be my first pay in a while that includes overtime.

Small goal met

October 21st, 2011 at 02:59 pm

My car fund now has £51 in it. My original goal at the start of the year was to have £200 in it but it just wasn't feasible, so I changed it. I know I will need more than £50 in it but right now I'm declaring it a success.

My EF however, only has £7.60. I thought I was close to £20. I will have to get that sorted soon.

I have still to add money to regular savings and baby fund.

Halfway through October

October 16th, 2011 at 08:02 pm

Well so far I've managed to achieve one of my goals for this month: tell friends about baby. I told my close friends and work colleagues on the same day. That night I updated my FB status to let everyone else know. The news went down well.

My mum has been desperate to buy baby things since I told her the news. Well, this week I gave her the go ahead. She's going to go the shopping centre this week and pick up a few things. I wrote her a small list of essential items that she can pick up if she wants to - scratch mitts, sleepsuits, muslin squares. She is desperate to buy some bigger items too, but I'm trying to get her to shop around and compare prices first.

A colleague of mine has offered me a few items that she no longer needs for her grandson.

I took some time yesterday to price cots and prams online. I didn't realise how expensive they are. We'll be saving up some money first before we buy anything.

Husband will FINALLY be clear of his debt to MIL when we get on Friday. Woohoo!! Next month the money he would have given her will either be divided between savings and credit cards, or will all be put into savings. We need to decide exactly what we're doing.

I looked into my maternity leave at work. I'm entitled to one year off. For the first six weeks I will get 90% of my average earnings. Statutory Maternity Pay for weeks 7-39. The last 12 weeks are unpaid. I think I will take nine months off, as I doubt we could afford three months of me not having any pay.

In other news, I haven't used either one of my credit cards Smile