I never thought I'd be happy to be paying R5 500 a month on babies but when you put it in context it looks great.
We've now had 6 full months of baby expenses and I'm horrified to say we've spent R52 500.
That's $7 000.
Horrified!
Only God knows where all that money came from because it's definitely not in our monthly expense budget. Oh yes, that's right - my annual bonus at work and a depleted joint savings account!
We had 3 months of between R10 and R12 000 (the night nanny months) but thank God those days are over.
I still exceeded the budget by a couple of hundred but I'm thinking I may have to adjust the budget.
This month I paid the nanny overtime to come in two Saturdays for a few hours each time. This was so I could get some work done and that worked out quite well.
She's also keen (more money for her) so it's win-win.
I may have to do this for a few months while I find my groove working/ babies/ business because I'm getting behind on my household stuff and my freezer meals are running out.
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Cooked up a storm today - mostly baby food (there are now 22 baby meal portions in my freezer, neatly labelled of course) but also some Weigh-Less meals for me. Was totally inspired reading about Sarah's weight loss today and had to get moving on the food while still motivated.
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The other night I decided I needed a treat and ordered myself (and a friend, but she doesn't know) some jewellery on Etsy. Can't WAIT for the pieces to arrive.
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Am reading the Baby Whisperer. Why, oh why, did I not read this book sooner? Am LOVING it.
So... are you having a good week thus far?
P.S. Have decided to go to the Elton John concert - after all, it's on my life list! :)
P.P.S. It's POURING with rain as I type this - LOVELY - and now I'm off to bed.
P.P.P.S. Must blog about the nanny!
Argh, I posted and it didn't go thru :(
ReplyDeleteThe short version -
Budget: I bet you've still done it much more reasonably that you could have done - I know people who set aside US$8k for 1 baby and that was just the set up costs. I felt really cheap comparatively.
Baby food - impressive! I freeze ice cubes worth and then pop them in containers in the freezer. Current fave is potato, carrot, silverbeet and pea.
Elton - v glad you're going - you won't regret it :)
Baby Whisperer - I love that book too. Except in our house because of the reflux it's AE(cuddle)SY. Still works!
Good week here because the sun is shining (seriously you'd love the weather here ;) ), the house is tidy, Minxy's sleeping, we have nowhere to be today so we can just chill... perfect :)
That book is awesome...mine was opened to the table of cries (probably not the actual name of it) for the first 3 months...saved my sanity!
ReplyDeleteGlad your week is upbeat. Mine is terrible. It's 9:30 pm and I'm still working and I had to wait an HOUR to see my OB today until I pitched a fit and told them I needed to see someone else. Wish I could to that to my clients. And we figured out that with kid number three our nanny costs (not including kid food, medicine, clothing) is going to be north of $50k. Ugh. Which I guess why am I still working.
ReplyDeleteI'm having a fairly good week, too! Am truly motivated to get stuff done around the house, so I'm getting little chunks done each day!
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I feel stupid asking, but with the baby food... do you just boil the fruits/veggies, the freeze them? Also, how many mL in each container? I asked you this before in your previous post, so I guess I should check to see if you responded on the comment section! LOL
Wow... seeing the cost you've incurred makes me extemely proud of you for doing this debt-free (woohoo) & humbled. No complaining of money-related issues for us! :)
And good for you to go to the concert! I hope you'll love it!
Rachel, you're not the first person to ask - I will do a lovely detailed post later this week. SORRY! You did ask before ;)
ReplyDeleteSaffy, oh YES, as you know I'm cheap so probably most of that money was necessities!
Mommy Esq - oh my WORD. I think I'd have a heart attack at those costs. Thank God I live in South Africa.
Rebecca, there's a table of cries? Must go look and investigate LOL
It's funny that no matter where you are in the world, some things are still the same. Last night I was working on our budget too. Things are looking OK. Of course they could always be better.
ReplyDeleteI was also making baby food yesterday too. I have some more to make today. Yesterday I made sweet potatoes with green beans. Today I'm going to make brown rice cereal with peas and corn.
I got a treat last night, ordering some seeds for starting a garden last night. I'm excited to have those arrive and start the growing season.
I haven't read The Baby Whisperer, but I do think it's awesome you're going to the concert!!!!