mumofmoo | ExpatWoman.com
 

mumofmoo

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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 15 May 2014 - 11:08
I bought 50 from amazon for my wedding. Delivered here, was a great price and worked like a charm
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 15 May 2014 - 11:07
Is it worth going for all-inclusive? Is it very pricey for food and beverages? we are going for 5 nights, 2 adults 1 teen and 1 child. TIA Depends how much you drink and eat really. If you have 3 meals a day and more than half a dozen drinks then go AI - we went AI as DH would drink beer all day and I would have wine with dinner and we eat. A lot. lol
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Latest post on 15 May 2014 - 08:40
06.00 - Up shower dress (takes a bit longer these days as pregnant and slow) 06.40 - baby up changed and taken down stairs 06.55 - dogs fed and let out 7.05 baby fed and watered 7.20 off to work 7.45 - 4.00 work 4.20 - home from work 4.30 - play with baby 5.00 - make dinner for adults and baby 5.30 - feed baby 6.00 feed adults 6.20 bath/play with baby 7.00 - baby to bed 7.15 - fill orders for home business 9.30 - complete any admin 10.30 - pass out in bed 11.30 - wake up with baby kicking 00.15 - wake up with baby kicking 01.30 - wake up with baby kicking 02.30 - wake up with baby kicking 03.00 - wake up to pee 04.00 - wake up with baby kicking 05.00 - wake up with baby kicking and start again
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 01 May 2014 - 15:45
http://www.uaebizindex.com/The-Little-Star-Nursery-2428-151.htm (hours 8-6) http://www.orangetreedubai.com/ (hours 7am-6pm) http://www.uae4kidz.biz/education-childcare/dubai-ec/nurseries-dubai/building-blocks-al-jafiliya-branch http://dwc.hct.ac.ae/expatinfo/littlewings.htm There's four to start you off. But there are lots, you could spend a morning/afternoon driving around all the streets in these areas. I hate Orange tree and wouldnt use it but I know for a fact that it is up to 950 a month just for the transport, never mind the fees!
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 30 April 2014 - 15:57
For the most of us who ' need a maid' as we are working mums, when we go back to our home country we will manage perfectly fine as we have the benefit of flexi hours, family to help with childcare and cheaper activities for children afterschool which is not what we have here,hence the need for househelp. I respect people's choices and don't disagree with hiring domestic help. That said, I don't agree with the sentiment that life for working mum's in Dubai is so different to elsewhere in the world. I'm a working mum too but my husband and I manage without both maids and nannies, as we work hard to avoid that, believing that it is best for our daughter to be looked after by us, not hired help. I also get a certain pride from managing to look after or home and cook our own food - I honestly don't want anyone else doing that. So, based on my own situation I know that it's possible to be a working mum and not rely on domestic help, although I respect that other prioritise differently. Lucky that you and or DH have jobs that allow you to be a bit flexible then so you can be around more for your school aged (I assume) kids. What would you like us working mums to do with our babies? I do not want to, nor can I afford to put my baby in a nursery from 7am to 6pm, and even if I could, then it is the same as "hired help", only in a more grubby, noisy environment.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 30 April 2014 - 11:50
Im with Dr Britt Clausson at City for the second time and most certainly am not just another patient. We chat, joke and laugh and she advises me on things most probably dont
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 30 April 2014 - 11:48
You girls like to make things confusing lol A maid is contracted for 12 months and contract to work 11 months. If the maid gos on Vacation she gets paid as normal (once a month but obviously they like the salary early to take hom with them) If your maid stays here and works, then you have to pay them the extra month salary becuase they are working an extra month (ie 12 months working instead of 11 months)
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Latest post on 29 April 2014 - 14:06
If you consider homegrown fees reasonable then you are pretty much open to anywhere! the only way to pick is go to them all and see which ones you like and if they have room - good luck!
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 29 April 2014 - 14:03
You dont have to do anything until time to check in and then time to leave They provide everything except clothes
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Latest post on 29 April 2014 - 14:02
Depends on your baby. I travelled a lot with my first when she was small and all I ever packed was nappies, wet wipes, one blanket, 2 dummies and that was it. She never was sick and never had exploding poo or whatever so never had to change her clothes or mine nd when I travelled alone, i could not afford to be carrying so much junk that I wouldnt use. If you are both going and you can carry all that extra stuff then thats differnet
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Latest post on 17 April 2014 - 15:20
We give AED 500 at Christmas and birthday, 1000 on anniversary and payrise and then instead of 1 month we give 2 months when she goes home
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Latest post on 15 April 2014 - 14:05
I just went from below shoulder blandes to just on the shoulder. I use so much less shampoo now and brushing takes moments hahaha
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 15 April 2014 - 13:58
I know of 3 people who tried to get free NHS deliveries, 2 lied and got found out and charged and the 3rd was honest but hoped it would not be too expensive. All 2 paid more than it would have cost here. They also got substandard care but I guess tha depends on the specific hospital Also, keep in mind that you might have support in the UK but you will have to go there for quite some time before the baby is due, then you are there for a while once you have had your baby so you will be away from home a long time and then you will fly back here and have to settle into normal life - not always the easiest way
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Latest post on 14 April 2014 - 15:38
I dont have that at the bottom of any posts :-( Depends on what you're using as your browser. I don't with the version of ie I use, but I do with google. I can now see the stars though, which is really strange edited by Geordie expat on 14/04/2014 See, If i had the option, I would give you a thumbs up! Thank you :) I'll give you one tonight :) uh er missus I got a bit excited then lol i think you need to get out more ;) I think you are right
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 14 April 2014 - 15:33
Oh thats rubbish - I did the forgotten password thing, they sent me something that I clearly cant remember and thats why I am stuck like this lol
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 14 April 2014 - 15:03
I buy baby stuff from there all the time as it washes so well and the delivery is normally really fast Do they deliver to your work address as when I signed up it wouldn't let me input a PO Box for UAE only my actual work address Yup
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 14 April 2014 - 14:32
I dont have that at the bottom of any posts :-( Depends on what you're using as your browser. I don't with the version of ie I use, but I do with google. I can now see the stars though, which is really strange edited by Geordie expat on 14/04/2014 See, If i had the option, I would give you a thumbs up! Thank you :) I'll give you one tonight :) uh er missus I got a bit excited then lol
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 14 April 2014 - 14:30
I buy baby stuff from there all the time as it washes so well and the delivery is normally really fast
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 14 April 2014 - 13:27
I dont have that at the bottom of any posts :-( Depends on what you're using as your browser. I don't with the version of ie I use, but I do with google. I can now see the stars though, which is really strange edited by Geordie expat on 14/04/2014 See, If i had the option, I would give you a thumbs up!
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 14 April 2014 - 13:13
I dont have that at the bottom of any posts :-(
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Latest post on 14 April 2014 - 13:12
Hopefully a long prison sentance but sadly probably not as you cant prove that someone fell asleep at the wheel
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Latest post on 14 April 2014 - 13:07
I work full time and the nature of my job means I have weeks where I cant breathe (but sit on the internet during boring conference calls) and I have weeks of nothing to do so I sit on the internet. Does not mean by job is wrong.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 07 April 2014 - 13:06
Thank you
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Latest post on 07 April 2014 - 12:40
thanks :-)
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Latest post on 07 April 2014 - 12:30
Peekaboo in the village mall. It's perfect for that age. Thank you - will investigate
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 07 April 2014 - 08:22
If items are clean, reasonably priced and in good condition then you can sell them with no issues
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 07 April 2014 - 08:12
Thank you all so much! I dont mind driving further afeild but I have time constraints thats all and nothing worse than driving for a while to get somewhere that is rubbish! At least Ihave recommendations now - thank you all and have a lovely day x
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 06 April 2014 - 12:49
I love you!! Thanks Admin!!!
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Latest post on 06 April 2014 - 12:16
Thanks admin! That helps a bit but I have set up a page and the address for someone to type has a load of number ect and I cant see how to make it a simple address like the mercato example as mins is www.facebook.com/pages/mercatomall/4456451326579 (for example) Im such a technophobe :-( <em>edited by mumofmoo on 06/04/2014</em>
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 03 April 2014 - 15:40
For me, knowing how my baby is, I would struggle to look after her, the housework and cook in a day so I would never dream of expecting that from my maid. The baby is the priority. When she sleeps, the maid cleans/irons. When the baby is awak and needs entertaining then that is what she does. She used to iron in the lounge with the baby and sing her songs etc when she was awake but couldnt do anything Most maids I know of do not really cook and I would not expect them too, for me, I just think it is too much work for one person. I get up early, sort the baby out and feed her and go to work. I take over everything when I come home and the maid does a bit of housework then and once we have eaten, thats her day finished
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 03 April 2014 - 14:57
Personally, I prefer a female Dr who has had kids so knows what she is talking about a little more than a male Dr who cannot possible empathise I see Dr Britt Clausson, I had my first child with her and now my second.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 03 April 2014 - 08:24
London feels a lot cheaper than Dubai now... I actually think you are right.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 03 April 2014 - 08:20
There are older, smaller villas tucked away Umm Suqeim, quite modest ones really. I can see how it's possible to find a "cheap" villa well below the average market rents for the area. But I'd still be nervous paying for a villa, a full time maid, two cars, everyday living expenses and holidays on 25K. It's probably just doable but I'd be surprised to save more than 1-2k at the end of each month. I don't see how one could pay full school fees on top of it too. I would be nervous doing it too if we were a one salaried family, but we are not, and the OP said that she intended to work AND live in an apartment so I was just trying to make the point that I think it can most definately be done on her budget because I live in a villa on the same kind of budget and have no issues and more out goings. Of course, there are initial outlays of the move etc which are not in what I spend each month but she also said she has money aside for those. We have a whole other salary coming in each month, I just like to save that, use it for emergencies or splurges every now and then. Just for the record, my villa is not small nor old, just have a landlord that would rather have a nice long term tenant that is low maintenance than be greedy There is a villa for rent behind Choithrams on Al Wasl road, 3 bed plus maid, for AED 160k at the moment and I understand that he is charging AED 300 for 2 years if you sign up at one time so I know there are other deals out there, you just have to really look for them and be lucky I guess
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 02 April 2014 - 10:09
Can I just ask if any of you who are able to live comfortably out here still manage to put money aside for retirement, wherever/whenever you are planning for that? DH and I with just three cats and two dogs in a 2 bed villa, with very little garden would struggle to have change out of 25k If you want to spend less each month then have a look at what you actually spend. When DH and I combined finances before we married, we looked at finances and he was gobbsmacked at how much he spent on unnecessary stuff. For example, he spent something like AED 1200 a month on coffee in Costa by his office! All the small stuff adds up. Nothing wrong with having a coffee or whatever but for someone that is wanting to spend less, it is those things that wind up costing you a lot over the months
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Latest post on 02 April 2014 - 10:04
Can I just ask if any of you who are able to live comfortably out here still manage to put money aside for retirement, wherever/whenever you are planning for that? DH and I with just three cats and two dogs in a 2 bed villa, with very little garden would struggle to have change out of 25k having pets can put a huge strain on your expenses and savings... just like having kids really... so I agree that it would be a struggle... but what we learnt in our earlier days of no kids and small apartment is that even setting aside 1000dhs a month and sending it elsewhere (offshore) where we couldn't access it... would result in a small pot at the end of the year... which, otherwise, if we had in our local bank accounts we would have easily blown away in just a club night out! I was jujst being curious really as we brought the pets with us and knew what the cost would be and I don't find it too bad. I was just wondering as no one ever seems to mentin retirement in their calculations. We dont pay into pensions as we dont see the point for us. We have other things to fall back on later in life, such as properties on other places, inheritance due in the future and both DH and I are working on some other businesses which will hopefully provide further financial security I think with retiredment, it is each to their own, some people save and save, some people pay into pensions and then get taxed on it, some people build property portfolios.....
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Latest post on 02 April 2014 - 08:57
I always have change from AED 25k a month and we are/have as follows 3 adults (one is a maid so all associated costs along with that), 1 child with nursery paid up for a year, 1 on the way, 2 dogs, 4 bed villa in Umm Suquiem, 2 cars, healthcare for all of us (dogs included) fully fed and watered, holidays when we want them and NO DEBT I do not get ANY allowances but my medical is covered by my work and I pay for hubby, maid and kids and dog You see, this would concern more than encourage me, as the poster says they have "change", a new family of two children to me needs a good savings, and what if tomorrow the job went? You say renting, not own, and you did not mention sending money home. That is more concerning in this market, UNLESS, and there is an unless, you have a great support to fall back on in your home if all goes belly up here. And not to mention 5-6K more a month will have to appear in the next few years when the children start school. Bu, if you only have a short life expect ion here, and you're genuinely here for a fun experience, then oh well then. edited by AmyAus82 on 01/04/2014 The OP has only 1 child I dont send money home, I have no need to do that, the OP has not mentioned a need to dothat either, she is just asking about cost of living and I have just said how we manage on less than 25k a month. That is all. Not everyone can do this with how they live, we can and we do it living in a villa. The OP was talking about an apartment so her rent is likely to be a large amount less than mine so I am sure she will be more than capable of doing it too. The OP also has the ability to work and has expressed an inteterst in doing so once she is settled so there will be fuirther income.
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Latest post on 02 April 2014 - 08:53
I always have change from AED 25k a month and we are/have as follows 3 adults (one is a maid so all associated costs along with that), 1 child with nursery paid up for a year, 1 on the way, 2 dogs, 4 bed villa in Umm Suquiem, 2 cars, healthcare for all of us (dogs included) fully fed and watered, holidays when we want them and NO DEBT I do not get ANY allowances but my medical is covered by my work and I pay for hubby, maid and kids and dog Wow! How do you manage this? A 4-bed villa in umm suquiem must cost around 180k per year, plus DEWA etc alone would be 15k per month? Add nursery, maid's salary plus visa costs, groceries, running 2 cars (assuming both fully paid and just petrol/ servicing/ insurance costs), groceries, 1 holiday per year and this has got to be over 25k pm... ETA: this is a genuine question, not trying to be funny or saying i don't believe you! would love to know so I can see where I'm going wrong :) edited by KH on 01/04/2014 Dont worry, I dont care whether you believe me or not, that makes no difference to me. It is not that difficult. I find that groceries used to be the most costly part of our expenses (aside from rent and DEWA) but if you are not wasteful and you plan meals etc, then that cost can be reduced a lot! Our garden is not grass so DEWA is not that expensive as it is just used for normal use and not watering anything I think our villa is a good cost for the location but we only moved injere in October so it is not massively below market rate at all Of course someone just arriving will have a lot more expenses than just standard bills and it will take time to get used to where to shop etc and how not to waste a lot of money on things, but she plans on working and so will have a buffer and not just one salalry.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 02 April 2014 - 08:37
I did a fair amount of flying pregnant.... 2 weeks pregnant - 4 hours Hawaii to LA 3 weeks pregnant - 3 hours LA to Houston 3 weeks pregnant - 16 hours Houston to Dubai 8 weeks pregnant - 7 hours Dubai to London 10 weeks pregnant - 7 hours London to Dubai 17 weeks pregnant - 6 hours Dubai to Bangkok 19 weeks pregnant - 6 hoursBangkok to Dubai 30 weeks pregnant - 7 hours Dubai to London 31 weeks pregnant - 7 hours London to Dubai 34 weeks pregnant - 3 hours Dubai to Male 35 weeks pregnant - 3 hours Male to Dubai What I am getting at is that I was fine and flying is as safe as anything else can be <em>edited by mumofmoo on 02/04/2014</em>
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Latest post on 01 April 2014 - 13:18
Other than the ridiculous fees? AED 15,000 a term for 4 hours a day???? Seriously??? I dont like the admin staff at CO but other than that, no comment
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Latest post on 01 April 2014 - 13:16
I always have change from AED 25k a month and we are/have as follows 3 adults (one is a maid so all associated costs along with that), 1 child with nursery paid up for a year, 1 on the way, 2 dogs, 4 bed villa in Umm Suquiem, 2 cars, healthcare for all of us (dogs included) fully fed and watered, holidays when we want them and NO DEBT I do not get ANY allowances but my medical is covered by my work and I pay for hubby, maid and kids and dog
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 31 March 2014 - 11:26
Totally depends on too many things Where you are living, what kind of house, what kind of cars, what kind of education, what you like to do in your spare time.....
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 27 March 2014 - 15:52
Do you know how vile it is when you transport things? Rats, roaches, moulds etc. I ALWAYS wash everything before wearing anyway
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Latest post on 17 March 2014 - 15:47
is there a lot of Izzy's around... There is only 1 Izzy.
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Latest post on 17 March 2014 - 13:40
Thank you She makes all sorts of things, cushons, soft toys, jewellery, Hats.....
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Latest post on 17 March 2014 - 13:27
Hi Ladies, My friend makes some lovely things at home and I have convinced her to sell these things but I am unable to think of many places she can sell them - can you ladies help please There is something monthly at Times Square for mums and bumps The new market at the Polo club Facebook group should be set up something called Arte(?) I think Any other ideas of places? Thanks ladies, she is really talented and just needs a push (from a nice pushy friend like me) <em>edited by mumofmoo on 17/03/2014</em>
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Latest post on 16 March 2014 - 14:16
What a silly woman - dont worry Banaz. you dont have to pay anything, she is just trying her luck
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Latest post on 11 March 2014 - 15:50
Thank you for your replies. It does not have to be licenced we are in Tecom area but will travel around. The Montgomerie has a nice bar and restaurant overlooking the driving range. I haven't been for a while but they usually have some classic English dishes on the menu. I also like Maison Mathis at Arabian Ranches golf club and they have just changed the menu so lots of new dishes. For a casual breakfast or lunch the Sports Cafe at Jebel Ali Hotel is nice, especially if the weather is nice to sit overlooking the Marina. If you have the blue entertainer book there are vouchers for the Dhow and Anchor or Latitude which have a British theme buffet one evening per week. For more upmarket dining there is Rhodes Twenty 10 at Le Meridien Fish and Chips at the monty last week was AED 150!!!
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Latest post on 11 March 2014 - 14:47
I think you will struggle finding a double storey 4/5 bed in Umm Suquiem or jumeirah in a compound (or no compaound) for that price. You can get something in Barsha South but may be more Arabic style. perhaps f you are getting desperate you should try looking at what is available, even if it seems like Arabic style that you dont want. you may be surprised Good luck
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Latest post on 09 March 2014 - 13:02
Ex military what? Chef? Diver?
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Latest post on 09 March 2014 - 08:43
Yes, anyone can send anything to your SnS address