Trying to Save

Savings has been wiped out to a measly £2. I had £70 but I had to withdraw the money because my credit card payment has increased.

My payment for tv licence got declined because I was a few pounds short. There's money in the bank now but a double payment will be taken out next month.

Next month is also when we start paying council tax. Almost £200, of course hubby will pay his half.

Hubby is going to try and get overtime next week.

Things are bleak here. A few weeks ago we moved into our permanent new home. We didn't have any white goods so had to order them from the catalogue. Still trying to set up home now, although we did get some furniture from friends.

Moving into this new place has meant that my credit card has taken a major hit - we had to pay utilities from the old flat, I put some shopping on it. I'm going to cut it up.

I've achieved nothing this year. I don't know why I bothered to make goals at the beginning of the year. It is too depressing. I didn't even want to blog about it, but it's lying if I don't.

DH's phone bill was about £30 more than he expected. I transferred the difference to him. You know what that means? We're eating out of the food cupboards - or should I say pantry? - for the next two weeks. I will still have to buy a few perishable items like milk since we ran out a few days ago. I had planned to use my Morrisons coupon to get £2 off a £20 shop. I won't be doing that now. I have got a £2 voucher for Tesco though.

I have a few birthdays this month, so this afternoon I am going to buy some very cheap cards and wrap.

It's been so long since I've blogged I don't know where to start.

First and foremost, my little girl is doing well She is almost twenty weeks now. Time has just flew in. I can see her first year going by so quickly.

We are slowly adjusting to having our own place. This month we actually managed to agree on a food budget (£40 per week) We now have a shopping list on the fridge. We went shopping last week with our £40 and came back with £12. Hopefully this will keep happening. I've got a coupon for Morrisons so we will go there soon.

Hope everyone is well

June is going to be tough. Last June I think I done a No Spend Month, that won't happen this year.

My statutory maternity pay has started: less than £150 per week.

Our first gas and electricity bill came: £101.

Only paid just over minimum to both cards.

Hoping catalogue payment will drastically decrease next month. If I've worked it out right it should.

Hubby is going to do overtime this week, and next, so that will help us next month.

My baby girl had her vaccines today - she'll be eight weeks tomorrow. How time flies.

I'm currently looking at meal ideas online, stretch our food budget as much as I can.

My updates will be few and far between now. We moved into our own place last week and we don't have internet, we can access it at our parents though.

We're both trying to adjust to having our own space and running a household. We have a big notebook that we use to write down all of our upcoming expenses. We've been food shopping. Since it was our first one we had to buy some essential items so it was more than a normal week will be. We're going to use up all of the food that we have before we go shopping again. We only have a fridge so we have to buy fresh.

I can see my goals for this year taking a back seat. My savings have been used buying stuff in for the house. I need to upodate my sidebar. I will try my best to meet some of my goals.

I've been trying to think of some cheap meal ideas. We bought in a lot of pasta so that will be one of our main dishes I think.

My baby is girl is 16 days old now.

Before she was born people told me how much time she would take up and I honestly thought they were exaggerating, but they weren't. It's the little things like leaving the house - it takes us ages to get ready before we can even go anywhere. Then we leave, thinking we're organised, only to have to come back to get something for her. Once we're out things don't move any quicker either, I've lost count of the amount of people that stop to have a look at her and ask about her.

But I'm not complaining.

Hubby went back to work today, his two weeks paternity leave is officially over. I wish he could have stayed home with me forever.

I haven't been financially focused at all these past few weeks. We used the credit card yesterday to buy a few things for baby that we needed - hubby reasoned that we need them before payday, and we'll pay it back. One of the things we bought was a baby carrier, which I love using. Also we bought a canopy for the pram now that the nicer weather is coming in.

Baby S is sleeping while I write this, otherwise I doubt I would have managed to update. I know my mum is here but I'm trying not to ask for help unless I absolutely need it.

On Friday a little baby girl called Sophie was born. She weighed 8lb 1 and a half oz.

Thanks for all the nice comments on my last post.

I'm feeling a lot better today. I seen the midwife today and she made me feel relaxed. I'm just going to forget about what my friend said. She is one of those people that overreacts, and she definetly takes things OTT. I haven't spoken to her at all today and, it's a bad thing to say, but I feel better for it. It's been so long since I've seen her I'd forgotten how worked up she gets me at times.

I watched one of those maternity programmes tonight - I've been avoiding them - and it actually wasn't that bad. Plus, I've been reading up about breathing techniques so I'm feeling calmer now.

Hope everyone has a great day!

I met up with my friend today. She's expecting her second child in a few months. All we spoke about today was baby stuff and I left feeling useless. The amount of things she said that I hadn't even thought about, most of them were just silly but some of them were about the actual labour. She was surprised that I haven't got a TENS machine for during the labour, honestly I hadn't even thought about it. I've been reading up on breathing techniques. I missed the antenatal classes because they clashed with my appointments, and I got a few of the days mixed up, but I have been reading up online. I was supposed to be relaxed after meeting up with her but now I'm worried (and exhausted from spending hours walking about the shopping centre)

To top it all off, I spent more than I'd planned to on lunch. My £3 subway turned into £10 at pizza hut!

I've been slacking on the financial front lately, at least that's how it feels. I haven't made any financial goals for this month. I think it's going to be a tight month: my final car payment is due. Also my maternity pay started this week so my next pay will be lower.

Baby is due in nine days - we've been trying to get last minute things done. We're almost there, although I do keep worrying that I might have forgotten something.

CC2 increased my limit. I'll be staying away from it.

My massive catalogue bill should reduce dramatically by May, if I've worked it out properly.

It's been a few weeks since I've updated. I finished up work on the 15th. I have to say it's been nice not having to follow a schedule. Apart from taking hubby to work I've been trying to get as much rest as possible.

My car failed its MOT. I took the money out of savings. While it's depressing to know that my savings have been almost depleted, it is better knowing that than adding to my ever increasing credit card debt.

Not much to report money wise. I haven't been doing any impulsive spending since I haven't been at work to do it. I need to return a few baby items which will be too small for baby when he/she arrives. One of them I've lost my receipt for but that will just go on a gift card.

Today is payday, and my birthday too. I spent the morning paying bills. I paid extra to both credit cards. However, since I have been bad and used CC2 recently it won't make an impact for a while yet.

I've tried to do as little as possible today. Went out for a walk with the dog, came back, had lunch and napped. Tonight we're going to in-laws for a birthday meal. Tomorrow will be a takeaway. Last night hubby took me out for an indian, just the two of us. I'm really appreciating our time together, I know it will disappear soon when baby arrives.

First of all, I have a confession: I used credit card 2. I wish I hadn't. As for CC1 I'm going to update my balance the same date each month once the payment and interest has been applied. It looks as though today is the day that my new statement is usually available to look at.

I started packing my hospital bag, only to realise that there's a lot we still need to buy. It's a bigger job than I thought it would be.

I took money out of my car fund to help my mum out (it was the only cash I had in the house)

I found out why I've been so tired: I'm meant to have been taking iron tablets since the end of December. After Christmas I picked up my prescription and there were tablets in the bag that I didn't recognise so I didn't take them. Well we went to see the midwife and one of the first things she said was that I have been taking iron tablets. Nope. The last time we went I don't remember her telling me I needed them.

My MOT is due this month. In fact I need to find last year's certificate to double check the date. I can see savings taking a hit... I guess it's better than using the credit card which I'm hoping NOT to do.

It's the end of January and I didn't make any goals. Things will be different next month though. In February I'm going to aim to: pack my hospital bag, but in any last minute baby items and take some time to relax. I know none of these goals are financial.

I only have a couple more weeks left to work then I finish up for two weeks holiday then my maternity leave starts. I can't wait, I'm always tired after working all day so it will be nice to get some rest.

The baby fund is almost gone. We've got a lot to show for it though. Our list is done to about half a dozen items now e.g. sheets for moses basket, cot blankets and teats. We need to get formula too.

I've got a hospital appointment this week and I'm seeing the midwife. I have a feeling that when I finish work my time will be taken up with seeing the midwife every few weeks until baby's here.

That's how much we have left in the baby fund. Last night we went shopping, and I think we done quite well. We bought:

- an electric steam steriliser
- six bottles
- 2 big packs of newborn nappies (81 nappies in each pack)
- a changing mat
- 3 outfits
- pack of bodysuits
- a bouncy chair
- a set with baby nail clippers etc
- a box full of baby toiletries

I had two coupons for £1 off each box of nappies. All in all, we spent £110.50.

We've still got more to get. I need to check the list that I have to see what else we need.

I'll need to take some more money out of savings soon. Hubby thought he had enough money to cover everything when he input it on his spreadsheet but it didn't count all the columns. The money will be replaced soon though.

Speaking of spreadsheets, hubby set up one for MIL. He showed me it today when we were over. The first thing I noticed when I looked at it is that she's only included her bills in her monthly expenses, nowhere on the list did I see her budgeting for food shopping or petrol. I told hubby he may want to mention it to her. (I also noticed she's not saving anything each month but I kept quiet about that one)

Hubby told me that, without BIL's money, MIL would be struggling. Apparently with just her wages she's overspent by £40. It must be more than that though since she hasn't budgeted for everything. Not my problem though.

I went for a growth scan today, and baby is doing well. Right now baby weighs 4lb 6oz, at the last scan he/she was 3lb. That was four weeks ago.

I'm off to read your blogs now

Today was payday. I phoned in sick one day last month so my pay was less than normal.

I'm not going to put any money towards my regular savings this month (apart from the automatic savings). There's two reasons for this: I want to build up my car fund and we will be buying baby stuff so I'd rather the money went there. My MOT is due next month and I don't want a repeat of last year (I had cleared CC1 and then after my MOT I added £770 to it) I'm really hoping that it won't be half as bad this year, so I'm trying to be prepared.

Hopefully having a car fund this year will benefit me. Also, I spoke to hubby and if it comes to it I would rather take money out of savings to pay for any work that needs done. I just don't want any more credit card debt, especially with a baby on the way. I'm confident that we will be able to replenish any money taken out of savings... but I'm hoping it won't come to that.

I paid extra towards both credit cards. Hubby gave me £80 towards CC2 so I paid that straight away.

My final car payment is due in April. We're starting to put money aside for it since it is double my usual payment. By the time April comes I will be on maternity leave and not receiving full pay so I have to be organised.

Baby fund will be wiped out tomorrow. We're going shopping. I have a list of things that I need to get. We're going early, I hate the shopping centre on a Saturday afternoon.

Happy New Year everyone!

I've spent a while thinking about my goals for this year. I've tried to make them realistic. After all, we will have a baby to look after this year and I will be on maternity leave for most of the year.


2012 Goals:
[] Reduce CC2 by half
[] Reduce CC1 by half
[] Car fund to £100
[] EF to £100
[] Savings to £700

I have withdrawn the money from savings to buy the pram. We will be buying it soon. So it will be nice to get our savings back up. However, I'd also love to get rid of most of my credit card debt.

It's Christmas morning here, and I'm the only one awake. I decided to check my updated catalogue statement to see what my minimum payment is after ordering my mum a new washing machine this month (old one broke). I was expecting an increased payment of maybe £22-£25, not the same as my payment this month: £67. Eek! My minimum payment is now something like £119 compared to £70 which is what I paid this month.

Hmm.. didn't make sense until I viewed my transaction history. I thought I'd ticked the box to pay it up over 52 weeks (interest free). Nope, I'd ticked the 20 week box instead.

It'll be ok, I'm just stressing.

Hope everyone has a nice Christmas when it comes

It feels as though more money has been going out than coming in recently. I had to take money out of savings to pay my road tax. My plan of saving up for it failed miserably so I will reinstate it next year. More money will come out of savings when we buy the pram from our friends, but that will be after Christmas. (I don't grudge that though)

Christmas dinner is costing me and hubby £30 each. We are both paying for my mum, who has no idea that any money will be exchanged. I wouldn't mind if we were going to a nice restaurant but we're not. We're going to in-laws. In my last post I thought my mum was only being charged £10 but I got it wrong, it's £20 for her too. Hubby said there will be cocktails. That'll be nice for the people that can drink them.

My credit card took a hit last week. My mum's tv broke so I bought another one for her - with my credit card. She has given me half of the money already.

I haven't added to the EF yet.

I need to post a few Christmas presents this week, and buy a card for hubby and my mum. Apart from that, I'm done. It definetly helped saving up for Christmas. We've already agreed that we will be doing the same next year.

It's the first of December already, I can't believe it. I will be helping my mum put up the tree later, and then I will be wrapping some presents.

As far as my yearly goals are concerned, I didn't do well. Hopefully next year will be better as far as completing goals. I need to start thinking of my 2012 goals soon.

I don't know if I've mentioned this in here yet but the three of us have been invited to MIL's for xmas dinner. It was her turn this year. Months ago MIL was talking about booking a place but now it looks as though we'll be going to hers. Fine. Well, husband mentioned to me the other day "remember we need to put money aside for the meal" Meal? We never booked anything. No but we've to give MIL money towards xmas meal. £20 each for us, £10 for my mum. We'll pay my mum's since I don't want to have to tell her. So that's £50 from us she will be getting - money that's better off elsewhere in my opinion.

I don't understand to be honest. I might be naive but I thought that when you invite people over for dinner, you don't make them pay. Bring drinks/desert yes but paying? Am I just wrong? The three of us could have a meal here for less than £50 I think. Apparently MIL keeps saying to hubby how she can't afford this, can't afford that. The usual.

I can only think of one goal for this month so far, and that's to add to my emergency fund.

It's been ages since I updated. I've either been too tired or lazy to update.

My Christmas shopping is basically done. And I have paid cash for all of it. Next year our plan is to save up high street vouchers again, and start a savings card at ASDA. Next Christmas the baby will be here, but we won't be going crazy since he/she won't be old enough to appreciate or understand it. I think it will just be little gifts.

Speaking of the baby, I had my second scan at the start of the month. Everything's ok - blood pressure, measurements - but they want me to go for two more growth scans to check on baby. I think it's because I was underweight when we found out.

I'm beginning to notice that everyone seems to have an opinion when you're pregnant. I'm sick of being told that my bump's tiny, I'm looking pale, I'm having a girl cos of how I'm carrying (but we won't know till later when I'm bigger, apparently) The list goes on. Of course it doesn't help that there is a girl at work who is due the week after me and she is showing more than me - she was bigger to begin with though...

Back to finances: we're going to buy our pram from one of our friend's. It will mean taking some money out of savings though, and using the baby fund.

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.

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.

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.

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

I hope October is better financially for me than this month has been. We seem to be spending a lot just now, whether it's actually cash or my dreaded credit card. However, I did manage to achieve my goals, although I know £20 in the baby fund is a small start compared to what we will actually need. The money will be used after Christmas when we start baby shopping.

Next month my goals are:
[] don't use credit card
[] complete car fund
[] tell friends about baby

I've been a really bad friend recently - I've been avoiding getting in touch with my friends. I know why: I'm not ready to tell them yet. I hardly ever see my friends so I don't feel like we're close, but I will tell them.

In other news, I seen the midwife today. I was a bit worried because I've hardly put on any weight. She said that everything's fine and I've nothing to worry about. I thought she would have weighed me to compare with my last appointment, but she didn't. She did let us listen to baby's heartbeat again though.

Payday came and went. It was only yesterday but it doesn't feel like it. It doesn't help that we spent £50 having a meal with in-laws, then we went out afterwards.

I put £50 into savings. However, I took £40 out last week so that replaces that.

Hubby seems to have more money going out than coming in. He's away with his friends tonight. This will be his last big night out for a while, we can't afford it.

Baby fund has been started: £20.

Not added any money yet to EF or car fund. I just really wanted the baby fund started.

Looking at my revised goals for the year, I doubt I'll achieve the CC ones, especially since we've added so much to them, but I will try my best. I really should update the balances, but I've been putting it off - it's depressing.

We used the credit card to buy tools and furniture. We only done it because the furniture that hubby ordered was going to be delivered in November. November. We can't wait that long. So now hubby is going to cancel his £500 order. And we've added about £200 to my credit card.

I took my car to the garage. £477 due next week when they have the part in. Ouch.

I'm stressing about the fact we've used the credit card, even though hubby is helping me pay it off. We should be getting rid of debt now, not adding to it. Ugh.

And to top it all off I'm feeling crap today, last thing I want to do is have dinner at in-laws, but we are.

But I thought I would update anyway. It was my scan today, so we have exact dates now. I'm thirteen weeks pregnant, baby is due 15th March, so earlier than we thought. It was so nice to see on screen, moving about. We got a picture so we showed it to the parents, who were both excited. It all seems real now.