April 6th, 2008
Remember a while back when I mentioned what we’ve been working on getting a personal budget together?
Yay, me neither.
Three months later we’ve made little to no progress on our savings even though we are far more cautious with spending then we were before. What I mean is: now we wonder if we can afford it before we spend it. We think about purchases prior to making them and both of us have (sometimes) made a valiant effort to curb our frivolous spending. I take lunches regularly now, but still buy my morning coffee and bagel - which I know I should, and very well could, make at home. Mike continues to make his lunch (most days) and if he doesn’t, he chooses to go without lunch at all.
Better right?
We do have a little bit of cash stashed away as opposed to living with our bank account constantly in overdraft and our debts have been decreased enormously over the past three months - so it’s not like we’re failing, entirely.
It’s hard not to get down about the fact that, yes, we’re still in the hole, there is another child on the way, and I am going to have a 30% decrease in my salary over the next year since I only get compensation for a portion of what I make. (Unless of course people are looking for designs for their blogs!! *hint* which could help subsidize some of the lost income!)
The past month was a complete bust financially because I’ve suddenly developed this fear that there will be baby and nothing prepared for its arrival. Sure, there are a number of things that are going to be used again (which are still all in storage!), then there are other things that I realized it would make my life a lot easier if I had done it the first time, and now there’s also things I’m going to need for multiple children (which I still can’t decide if a double stroller is one of them - anyone that uses a single stroller for the older and a sling for the younger please let me know how you’re making out with that!).
Plus it doesn’t help that we’ve waited until the last possible moments to finally act on getting our shit together. Seriously, 6 weeks until this child arrives and we’re not even finished painting Carter’s room to move him over.
(click to enlarge images)
I. am. stressed.
Mike is completely laid back saying that we have all the time in the world still - over a month!
What he doesn’t consider is the fact that I could go early, even a week would drastically cut into that whole month! he thinks we have.
Men.
Gah!
So here I sit, blogging about how frustrated I am rather then getting my ass up into that bedroom and painting the trim.
I am my own worst enemy at times.
But it’s more fun to blame it all on Mike.
I’m still living in the “constantly in and out of overdraft” phase….so, you’re doing good.
My double stroller has been a godsend! At first I thought it was just stupid, bc Jordan would rather walk, but then my car went down, and we have to walk everywhere…but he gets tired, and babies in slings/carriers get heavy FAST. If you have a single, you could do it that way until the lil one gets too big to be carried all the time, though…
Although, they are a BIG FAT pain in the butt to fit into the trunk of the car (now reduced to a storage area).
Lexi’s last blog post..Saturday
April 6th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Wow, that was quite a sentence…I really should read before I publish, eh?
Lexi’s last blog post..Saturday
April 6th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
I really like the paneling in the baby’s room.
Assertagirl’s last blog post..DUH
April 6th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Ok, honey first things first. Breathe. Secondly, really? I have someone who is an amazing financial planner. If you want some help, email me.
flutter’s last blog post..What they don’t tell you
April 6th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Congrats for even thinking about a budget. I know I should, but I just haven’t done it yet. We do consider whether we can afford something or not. But if the answer is no, we rationalize our way right to the atm.
April 6th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
We are still constantly in overdraft and wondering how to pay some of the bigger bills, so if you came out of that, GOOD FOR YOU!!! And always blame the man! I am trying to figure out how to blame the man for my back pain!
justmylife’s last blog post..I am interrupting my facts……
April 7th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Yeah, I can feel the stress from here. Living with a similar version of it myself.
You’re doing the right thing, at least, starting to think about your purchases. I wish I could say I was that good. Just found out we are getting no financial aid whatsoever from our daughter’s college and were turned down for loans. So yippee! Fix it now, before they’re 18 and heading off to college!
Candy’s last blog post..In case you were wondering…
April 7th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
I can totally relate to all of this.
I had huge lists of stuff to do before the baby came. And, my Mike was the exact same way with the “it will get done” attitude. Mind you, when I had false labour it pushed him into gear. So there you go - you should fake it. (kidding)
But, he really did get a lot done like the weekend before the baby was born cuz of the pressure.
As for the money thing. I hear you. We feel the same way.
Oh, and about the double stroller. Matt’s a little older, but we aren’t bothering because we wouldn’t get enough use out of it to warrant the size. The one we really did consider was the sit and stand. I’ve heard good things.
LD’s last blog post..As If …
April 7th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Four words:
Buy. The. Double. Stroller.
(Trust me.)
xoxo CGF
candygirlflies’s last blog post..I could use a little Pep…
April 7th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
I’m right there with you.
Financially, we’re juggling, but keeping our heads above water. It’s stressful!
As for the baby - I was waiting for our income tax return to get things done. I’m pretty much ready now, but it was getting down to the wire and I was freaking out.
It’ll all come together. Try not to worry too much!
Leslie’s last blog post..For Those About To Pretend To Rock, I Salute You
April 8th, 2008 at 12:29 am
If I could come and help you I would! It will all come together, no worries!
And those budgets? Yep, they can go straight to hell! Just my two cents.
Krystle’s last blog post..It’s not fun being bullied. But then you can laugh.
April 8th, 2008 at 1:04 am
OMG, I feel you. There’s still #1’s stuff in #2’s closet, and I am choosing to ignore this because the closet has a DOOR.
On the double stroller– mine were 20 months apart, and I did not have a need for it. I wore my daughter for a long time, and that’s what she preferred (this only sucked when it was 100 degrees out and we were walking around Disney.) When we needed to, we just each pushed a stroller– one using the umbrella stroller and the other using our “real” one.
The Other Dawn’s last blog post..AYFKM???
April 8th, 2008 at 9:32 am
Lexi: Ya, the big fat pain in the ass part is what I’m worried about as well as trying to chase down a running toddler who refuses to sit in the stroller - THEN having an even bigger stroller to try and maneuver. I think I may put the purchase off until later - when #2 starts to get real heavy. LOL Maybe by then Carter will be big enough he won’t use the stroller at all…
assertagirl: Thanks! if you’re referring to the blue room, that’s Carter’s new room and the new baby’s room is going to be the green room… LOL
flutter: Thanks for the offer flutter!!
And I’m just starting to breathe. A little. LOL
Shania: Hahaha that is soooo how we used to be!! Or rationalize a new credit card for a department store…hahahaha!
justmylife: I can blame him for my back pain at the moment as well!! *wOOt*
Candy: Ah college. I haven’t even considered that yet… I should have started BEFORE he was even born. LOL
LD: oh ya, I forgot about those things. Carter may enjoy that!
I’m so considering faking! LOL
CGF: Seriously? I’m just not sold… I dunno… call me difficult!
Leslie: Baby will be in our room for the first little while, but I don’t want Mike to think that’s reason enough not to do the stuff he said he would. Know what I mean. LOL
So I’m stressed, but not really that stressed… and it helps a little now that I will have a month before baby comes.
Krystle: Hahaha, ya budgets suck.
The Other Dawn: I’m thinking that’s the way we’re leaning at the moment. If I go out with them both during the day, one can be in a sling and the other walking or in the stroller. Maybe I’ll get Carter a harness….
April 10th, 2008 at 7:20 pm