Festive frugaleering - Merry Christmas, and a happy 2019 to you all.

[AutumnLeaves12]

Welcome to the new thread!

Had a lie in until 845. Dh was playing with ds. I’ve now had a shower popped ds down for his nap and we are ready to go. Dh is chilling.

I’m going to make a start on the Christmas decorations. Leaving the tree for now. But everything else is being boxed up.

I started putting an email together yesterday re my return to work after mat leave. Essentially it’s a “let me do this or I have no other option but to find suitable hours elsewhere” I gave in last time and went back full time. Because it was the only option. However now they’ve taken on someone who’s doing the same job as me on reduced hours (she was my maternity cover and was made permenant which I’m so glad about), i have a small team, and I’m confident they don’t want to lose me. It’s a risk. But one I think I’ll win. I’m not sending the email until i know how far along I am. And then that gives enough time to work out when I want to go on leave etc. Have mentioned the struggle that was coming back to work and also the financial aspect. 2 kids in nursery will mean almost £2000 a month. For only 3 days a week. This is with a 10% discount for ds. Yikes.

scan is on 21st jan. Which is soon. But also so long!

Good luck there. Very industrious.

Ooo! I missed that second post. I think that's fantastic to be clear about what you need. There's a book called "Women don't ask" which apparently explains that women don't get as far as men in the workplace because they don't ask for what they need. It sounds as though you're doing a fab job of being clear about what you need.

I don’t like being pushy. But in this instance I have to be.

The solution we’ve come up with is I work 4 days a week. Dparents have kiddos 2 days a week and they each go to nursery 3 days a week. So ds will go to dparents Monday then nursery tues - thurs as he does now. No2 will do nursery mon - weds dparents will have “him” (am convinced another boy) on Thursday and I’ll have both on Fridays.

This negates any more nursery fees than necessary. Means things are stable for ds. And means I get time with them both. I’ve popped a paragraph in my email stating how I can come in on Fridays if necessary as dh could take a day if we have enough notice. So I could cover my colleagues holiday etc.

This also means dparents won’t need double buggy or two car seats. We will. But that’s a given. I’m hoping we can borrow our friends baby car seat initially like we did for ds. That will save us a bit. I’m planning on getting ds some baby reins and a buggy board/seat. So we don’t have to get another one.

I’ve also noted that I understand that my 4 day week will mean a drop in pay. And that I don’t see it as a long term thing. I’ve actually asked to do it for a year- 18 months. By this point ds will be in pre chill and will almost hopefully be getting his free hours. So hopefully they go for it.

I’m also counting on the fact they don’t want to lose me. I’m pretty sure they don’t. But if they say no full time or nothing I’ll leave. And find somewhere else which would pay me the same for 4 days as I’m getting for 5. I may not be as happy. But I’d get the hours I want.

Em sounds like a good plan. Do you have formal flexible working instructions to follow? We have a policy where you can only ask once I twelve month but the guidance is very clear about what needs to be included in your letter so it’s a fairly simple structure to follow.

Ds has been deposited, washing is on. I’m just having a sit and a cuppa. Christmas cards are coming down after that and my little bit of Christmas bunting. Tree is coming down New Year’s Day

em that sounds good. And by the 21st Jan you should be looking at 2nd trimester (or more)...I'm half expecting the sonographer to say "um, why haven't you been scanned yet, you're so far along!"

You must ask for what you want. If they turn you down then it is their loss.

Have stripped the carcass, sorted the stock into the freezer (all turkey gubbins bar bones out for chucks), and got a bolognaise in the slow cooker. Used a kilo of mince, so it will do twice for sure. Lasagne today for a change, mil gets in at 12 (and goes at 5...). She isn't one to start a thread on!

Must wrap her presents up!

I got on top of my emotional spending, working full time helps! But for me it has always been over buying at the supermarket. Which is why I'm dithering with the stockpiling thing. I have spent 2 years trying not to stockpile and overbuy, and now apparently we all need to. It will do hideous things to my food budget if i go back there.

Morning
That sounds like a good plan em
Thats a tricky one Lonely

I bulk buy dry goods to get them cheaper so havent really changed anything but have 3 months ish which I replace once its gone.

I tend to think in terms of NSD and PSD (planned) as its not realistic for me to never spend on nice things yarn ever again.
The emotional spend cycle includes the self berating bit which then triggers the emotional spending bit if that makes sense.
So I set a budget for nice things and its then planned, Im aware that this isnt possible for everyone and it comes after savings,essentials,emergencies are budgeted for.
I keep a small amount of cash at work,otherwise I leave my wallet at home.

wolf yes and no. The laws recently changed so I am allowed to request flex working and my work have to legally consider it. 2 years ago they didn’t have to even do that. It was a yes or a no.

They’d be silly to lose me. I think anyway!!

lonely I’m expecting that too...!!!

Do you feel the baby kicking yet Em? I suppose that would be a clear sign of dates would it?

I think your plan is great btw. I hope they like it too.

Ds and I are watching Harold Lloyd on youtube. I always liked him as a child.

Seems very sensible em. Especially if you lay out how it benefits them too. In the UK they can only really turn you down on business need but it has to be a good reason.
They would keep a motivated, experienced member of staff.

Afternoon all.
Went for a run early this morning before p went to work.
Have sorted out the DCs room to make room for their new bits and clothes.
Will be going to watch walking with dinosaurs later, so will not be a NSD, but is a planned spend. Hopefully will just be a bit of food I have to buy. Will give the DCs an early dinner and take snacks and drinks with us.

em maybe don't look at it as being pushy, but putting in motion what you need to do your job effectively. You are great at your job, don't doubt that.

Hi all I'm in bed as had a migraine this morning, am just starting to come out of it 😟

Had games evening last night with all the family, was nice although think everyone feeling a bit post Christmas tired!

Spent £14 cat biscuits and £4 small gift for dm.

So far today
€39 waxing
€15 blow dry
€17 on newspaper, protein bars, roll for dd & cheesestrings and yollies

Need to buy some water & lunch on journey & a screen protector for my phone.

Em I think you're trying to justify your decision in that email and you don't need to, you just have to say this is what I envisage working for me. Meant not as a criticism btw

Lonely I can't give my chooks meat it seems wrong

happier you’re probably right I just need to say what I want and hope they agree!!

autumn I thought I had. Last time I didn’t feel anything until about 16 weeks. But some google research suggests that you can feel movement earlier the second time around. So it doesn’t really help!! Haha.

£30 riding. So a non essential spend day. Or an essential for me. I look at the riding like an antidepressant!

Lunch was €6.80 for a wrap & 12pk of 500ml water

I took that approach when reducing my hours slightly and it wasn't questioned. I did explain that it was in my DC's interests due to separation but didn't offer an alternative. I also know that I'm not easily replaced there

I’ll let you all know how it goes. We’re only a small company so I can see it from their perspective too. But I also know I’m super employable so could walk in somewhere else easily. And I’m only on a months notice. Apparently they sent me the wrong contract when I started. Not my problem though. It would screw them if I handed my notice in. They’d have no time to find someone as good.

As a compromise I’ve said to dh I’d offer to sign a new contract with a longer notice period if they gave me what I want.

The colour of the chair is fabulous lonely, I've got dashes of this round the house - it's so sumptuous.

Not an emotional spender, possibly get clicky after a glass of wine.

Spent about £40 last night on a meal and drinks and taxi. Then up early for parkrun.

Had a nap on the sofa this afternoon - totally unlike me but very enjoyable.

Driving up north this afternoon for a wedding.

£7 Marks and Spencer (piles of reduced Christmas food).
£20 two ties in Next, one will be returned. For DH for the wedding.

I have also run 1710 run this year too!

Run? Miles!!!

(Must write that word too often anyway!).

I can see the bottom of the laundry basket...! And in the time since I last posted I’ve thrown oven magic in the oven have folder laundry and put in airing cupboard and am now enjoying orange matchmakers.

£76 Matalan as my DC have grown. School shoes tomorrow for DS.
Decs down, going to clean up and nip to also for the run out of bits.
Got a pile for the tip and chazza out of dd room. More to come as I tackle the other rooms.
Not going to try selling. It's not frugaleer behaviour but I'm sick of being cluttered and hassle for pennies.

Em I hope you keep up your sat morn riding lesson so that dh gets to experience the fun of parenting two by himself as you'll have done all day Friday

You're nesting already!

I intended leaving today at 12.30 but was ready at 12.13 so I washed up stuff in the sink, brushed up everything in floor of sitting room and told dc whatever was left when I'd finished sweeping kitchen floor would be going into bin. We were still on the road for 12.30 but with a tidier house to come back to.