Maternity money and future planning

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Anybody that knows me, truly appreciates how much I love saving money.

Growing up I struggled to make any savings. However, when I met Dan and realised how I wanted to build a future with him, I started my saving journey and changed my perception of money. Long gone were the credit card shopping sprees to Bicester Village and now I view the cost of items in comparison to how many hours I would need to work to afford it.

Fast forward 6 years and throw in becoming a mother and running a house, I now ensure I have an emergency fund, savings for any car bills (insurance, MOTs, servicing etc.), a joint savings account with the OH to make sure we can afford our home renovations as and when they are needed, a ‘rainy day’ fund which tops up automatically whenever we spend money from the savings account, cash put aside for Christmas/birthdays and also a child savings account for our 9 week old son. On top of this I follow a whole heap of budgeting accounts on Instagram and Tiktok which constantly inspire and keep me motivated to continue saving.

Well now my maternity pay is due to decrease for the next 6 months with it completely stopping for the following 3 months, I welcome the challenge of working harder to save even more money and doing what I can to ensure my family are well-cared for. Here are some things I will be implementing over the next 9 months to try and stay ahead of the curve with my maternity finances:

1.Using my credit card

Yes, you read that bit right! I love having my credit card. Whenever I have a big bill to pay (car insurance, vet bill etc.) I always use my credit card to pay it off and then clear it as soon as the statement comes through. That way you don’t accrue any interest on your spending but it does give you a bit of extra time to get your finances for the month in order.

My credit card statement comes through on the 15th of every month and is due for the minimum payment by the 10th of the following month. I get paid on the 27th every month so can budget to pay off the statement from two months of pay. Or if it is a planned bill, then take it from my dedicated savings fund and clear straight away.

That way, I can usually get an extra 2 weeks of savings put aside before the payment is due so my account never falls to zero – something that mentally makes me feel a lot better! Just make sure, if you plan to try this, that you keep an eye on when your credit card is due to be paid and that you don’t miss any payment dates.

2. Monitoring bills and checking for cheaper options

I’ve recently reduced my phone bill to a sim-only contract for 24 months, costing £23 a month through EE. This in comparison to the £65 I have been spending to pay off the phone means an extra £40 saved a month. We also have Sky TV and Broadband and after a conversation recently with one of their advisors, our monthly costs for everything have reduced from £112 to £91 (still a lot of money but we do consider this a necessity!). Also, my horse insurance renewal came through and for the first time I ever I shopped around for a better deal. Now rather than sticking with the company I was with for 7 years who were trying to charge me £119 a month, I have moved to a new company who charge £75 and gave me a month’s cover free of charge. Almost £45 saved! I also plan to shop around for car insurance renewals when they are due which should hopefully save us a chunk of money.

3. Cash is making a comeback!

I miss the time when I used to receive my weekly pay in a small brown cash envelope from my weekend job. When did we stop using actual cash? I love having a wad of notes or handful of coins – it feels much more tangible than the digital numbers we see on our banking app. So I am making a cash comeback – I have purchased a terramundi pot with the idea of saving my spare £1 and £2 coins and I also withdraw cash every month from my account to use when out and about. Any leftover notes at the end of the month I will put in my savings envelope for Christmas. I also find it so much easier to stick to a budget if you have only a certain amount of cash in front of you.

4. Weekly savings instead of monthly – easier to stomach!

Following on from the weekly pay idea above, I have changed my automated savings from monthly to weekly, to ensure that I pay myself in a manageable way. When my maternity pay reduces, I can pull these savings right back if I need to and then build them back up once I know what money I have to work with. I use Lloyds bank and they predict your future outgoings based on your direct debits and standing orders. So, if like me, your bills are all automated, this feature allows you to see what is yet to leave your account before your next payday.

5. Ensure savings are only used for their intended purpose

I am a bit of a bore when it comes to my savings and will only now use them for their intended purpose. My emergency account will only be used for actual emergencies or larger, unanticipated bills. My car savings account will only be used for my insurance, tax or MOT/servicing costs. My Christmas envelope is solidly for Christmas – you get the idea. I’ve even renamed them on my banking app! Be strict with yourself and watch your savings grow.

6. Free activities where I can

Having a baby opens up a whole new world of friendship with fellow Mums and Dads. You want to go out and show your baby the world, treat them to new outfits and experiences, yet your bank account holds you back. I’ve really got into reading with Albert and currently read him a kiddies book a day, plus a little bit of Harry Potter to stimulate his brain with the tone of my voice and more complex language. I also get him outdoors as much as the weather allows, and sometimes even then wrap him up warm and put his pram’s rain cover on. The fresh air seems to work wonders for him and he always has the best naps either in the baby carrier or in the pram. Often I will try and time his nap to then go for a nice dog walk with a travel mug of coffee, just for a little bit of me time. However, I will also allocate money monthly to take him out to sensory experiences or to meet up with other children. It doesn’t have to be expensive but the stimulation they get will be invaluable for their brain development!

7. Little treats

Sometimes you just need to think ‘TREAT YOURSELF’ and do it. Get your nails done, go for a nice lunch, purchase a new outfit that makes you feel good. Whatever it is I try my best to NOT feel mum guilt. My whole purpose has shifted to not only look after me, my animals and Dan but now solely to keep my baby fed, happy and healthy. So a little treat every now and then is 100% deserved.

8. Homemade gifts 

This year I will attempt to gift a homemade item for every occasion for family members and friends. Fudge, biscuits, a cake, photo collections – the ideas go on. They are fun to make, will fulfil my creativity and will hopefully save us some money in the long run!

9. Becoming self-employed and claiming child benefit

Most recently, I have managed to get myself some freelance writing work to help alleviate the pressure financially. Plus, I LOVE writing. It’s my hobby and the chance to earn money from it is something I am jumping at! Legally, whilst on maternity leave in the UK, you can earn an income if you are also self-employed – you just need to ensure you complete your tax self-assessment to appease the HMRC. Also, make sure you fill in and submit the child benefit application – every mother in the UK is entitled to it and you get £21.80 a week.

10. Growing food

I am really going to put effort into gardening this year to ‘grow-our-own’ and plan for winter food. Potatoes, onions, tomatoes, cucumber, salad leaves and lettuces, beetroot, peas, various different berries, rhubarb and also use as many of the apples off of the established trees as possible. I am also going to revamp the kitchen garden to make the whole process a bit easier. So rather than an allotment, create a variety of raised beds and large containers to reduce the need for weeding and use the compost I have been adding to over the last year!

11. Picking up bits throughout the year for birthdays/Christmas

Would it surprise you to know that I have purchased the majority of Albert’s birthday and Christmas presents already for 2023? I hit the sales and took advantage of deals on – for example, Aldi had a Nuby ball pit in their ‘middle aisle’ reduced to £39.99 (RRP approx. £80), I’ve bought clothes from the Next sale and also books from The Works in their 10 for £10 deal. I’ve picked up a few more bits as well that keep that I know my family will like for Christmas and put them into storage in our spare room.

12. Selling second-hand items

I want to cut down on clutter as much as possible so I am putting things to one side that I plan to sell. I will list them on Ebay or Facebook marketplace when I get round to it but do not plan to do this until my maternity pay is coming to an end! I won’t be selling all of Albert’s baby clothes though as I will potentially reuse them if we are lucky enough to one day have another baby or I will donate them to my sister if she plans to!

Inspire: Be Inspired

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The reason I created Habits of a Homebird was because I felt there was an audience out there that didn’t quite fit with the typical “country girl” persona. I’m a horsey girl who has evolved into a country bumpkin; something that has happened organically through my lifestyle choices, environment and the people I surround myself with.

I am actually sat here editing this post at 7:30am on a very drizzly and grey Monday morning; yet, I know that this is the time I am most inspired.

My goal for this article is to reach out and help my readers figure out when they’re most productive. My homebird community is all about bringing likeminded people together and I truly believe your most productive time should be used to invest in yourself. I’d love to hear your thoughts so comment, share and tag me in! 

To inspire, you must first be inspired, a circular idea that always starts with you putting down your own ideas and somebody taking initiative from what you’ve written. You may then read somebody else’s ideas and be inspired to create your own and so it goes. Surrounding yourselves with people who inspire you frequently is so important for self-development and it will motivate you. So start putting your ideas down on paper and slowly build up the courage to share them with others.

Another thing you should know is that to write blog articles, one doesn’t sit down only once and a perfectly formed piece will emerge. I’m always jotting down notes on my iPhone and usually in the morning before work, I will sit at my laptop with a cuppa and start putting down my ideas. The first draft will often take a couple of days and then editing a few more days if I am concentrating solely on that creative task. If I am juggling multiple projects then this often takes longer. So don’t be put off if your own creativity takes time – you’re not on your own!

Anything can be an idea! If I go out for the day with my camera, I will often write about my adventures. If I have a eureka moment in my equestrian training, I will most likely write about it. But also, if I come across some handy tips that I feel could benefit those around me, I will share those as well. I take inspiration from everything around me so making sure my surroundings are interesting and positive is crucial. If you’re stuck with your own creativity, I urge you to look at your circle and make edits. Hopefully, your creativity will then blossom.

Pony, practical and personal goals to achieve in 2020

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Every year I set myself a resolution. To be fair to myself, I do stick to it for a few months but then lapse and fall back into my previous ways.

This cycle of negativity is not something I want to repeat so this year I’ve followed an example set by somebody I follow on Instagram. Rather than the “join a gym”, “lose weight”, “travel more” resolutions, I have instead set myself 24 goals. One goal for each of my 24 years.

When I started brainstorming, I quickly realised that I had a lot of things I wanted to achieve, some of which pleasantly surprised me. They’re all achievable goals that I’ve started laying the groundwork for and they’ll help me to progress in my hobby, my career and in my personal life.

I’ve decided to share them so I can constantly look to close friends and family for support and also, putting them in the public domain holds me accountable!

So watch out, 2020 is going to be my year.

  1. Complete a sponsored ride on Hartley
  2. Run a 5k race for charity
  3. Complete a hunt ride on Hartley towards the end of Summer
  4. Read at least 1 book a month that isn’t related to work
  5. Enter our first dressage competition together
  6. Try making 2 new food dishes every month
  7. Jump a course of show jumps with confidence – tiny jumps count!
  8. Take Hartley on an overnight holiday
  9. Get back to working on some art
  10. Publish more magazine articles in my own name
  11. Use my position at work to fundraise £5000 for charity over the course of the year
  12. Start volunteering
  13. Start writing a children’s book
  14. Setup and successfully stick to a monthly budget
  15. Finish Christmas shopping by November – avoid the rush!
  16. Learn a new skill or language
  17. Grow a fruit and vegetable garden in pots
  18. Visit Scotland
  19. Write monthly articles on my own blog
  20. Don’t use my credit card for the whole year
  21. Go litter picking at least once
  22. Host a Summer party
  23. Successfully complete my level 6 marketing diploma
  24. Only buy secondhand clothes

Listen, laugh and try not to fall off.

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As of yesterday, I am no longer a showing newbie. By no stretch am I claiming to be good at showing, or even massively successful, yet I have tried it and thought I would compile what I learned from my first experience…

  • If you have a grey / mostly grey horse, ensure that travel boots are clean before you place on newly washed legs. This will save you a lot of stress and baby wipes.
  • Make sure you are correctly dressed. I wasn’t wearing a shirt and tie, but did look smart in a coloured stock. Also, it was unaffiliated level so I probably got away with a hell of a lot more than I should have done. Maybe consult Horse & Hound for facts about showing etiquette.
  • Instead of the fancy sheepskin numnah, opt for a simple plain turnout. A black or brown numnah (no fluff allowed) will suffice. Also, if you show your horse clipped make sure that the numnah and saddle cover the unclipped saddle patch. Nobody needs to see a square block of hair poking from underneath a smartly rounded saddlecloth (hands up, I am guilty).
  • Also, make sure that tack is simple and traditional. I need to invest in a Hunt Cavesson bridle to emphasise Pancho’s (beautiful) face. The judges do not like modern gimmicks, so avoid them completely. No drop nosebands and no bits that “look like they’re from a Western movie”- direct quote from the judge.
  • Remove all boots from your horse. This was a big no-no that I found out after I entered the ring with overreach boots on.
  • If you have a big arena to show your horse in make use of ALL the space. It’s no good trying to show a large horse on a 20 metre circle. Really let your horse stretch out in canter and gallop so that the judge can effectively judge all paces.
  • Make sure you listen to the judges instructions. Line up when asked to (oops) and when they ask you to step forward towards the judge, make sure you point your horse’s nose in the right direction- towards the judge (guilty again).
  • Don’t stress out if your horse is naughty. Cantering disunited, napping, neighing and also refusing to stand when he had hands run down his legs- this all happened. Horses are horses, don’t put unnecessary pressure on your partnership. There will always be another day. Don’t sweat it.
  • Lastly, a smile says a thousand words. Smile, look pleasant, act like you love trotting round in front of a group of people even if you have a sweaty upper lip and needed a breather 5 minutes ago. There’s nothing worse than looking unapproachable and miserable. This last point can be a general piece of life advice if you so wish.

 

I didn’t bag any prize money, win loads of rosettes or get given a medal. But I did have a good day out with my amazing (yet quirky) horse and I learned from my experience.

Next time I attempt showing who knows what will happen, but I am excited to give it a go.