Money money money

I am hoping it will be fine  however I am beginning to have a little anxiety around how we are going to manage financially next year.

I have 10 weeks paid maternity leave from my work which I am taking at half pay over 20 weeks beginning in 4 weeks! (yikes!) So this will mean an increase in Centrelink payments (I hope). Then the 18 weeks of paid parental leave will start. And after that, we will be 100% reliant on Centrelink until I return to work in January 2012.

This freaks me out.

I know people do it all the time.. just, usually not US!

So.. the frugality will continue.. which is the way we want it anyway however it's nice to choose it rather than being forced into it.

The other thing is, out lovely housemate will be moving out mid next year as she is getting married so we are praying for the right person to come and take her place in our home. It really needs to be the RIGHT fit for our family. If you know of anyone wanting to live close to Melbourne city and who would like to join our somewhat chaotic household, please let us know!

If we don't find anyone we will have to move.. and probably to a teeny-tiny apartment. Which would not be ideal!

Anyway.. enough complaining... it's nearly Christmas!

Ooh! 30% saved for the homebirth!

Every single time I see the % number change on that little icon over there ----> I get SO excited!

You see, I have never ever been a good saver... like.. ever ever!! And now that I have this goal in sight and that little gadget to do automatic transfers each fortnight I can see it coming together. I CAN save, I just need to have the motivation and the right tools to help me.

I am over 50% through my pregnancy so I am a little behind in my goal but I do have some back up money just incase we don't get there. I am assuming that we may (fingers crossed) get a couple of family donations which may top it up however I don't want to pin my hopes on it just in case that doesn't happen.

I have increased my fortnightly transfer amount to $180 and I have also been making random contributions when there is some spare money on my salary packaging card.

Fingers crossed we can get there without having to dip into our ever-dwindling savings...