My diary... becoming debt free whilst still having a life!!!

savingholmes

I only tumble dry towels and underwear and socks - to make them soft. I do avoid ironing where I can - however I've found when its ironed its easier to tell if the kiddies try to put it back in the wash without using it first! I know the root problem is the kids but I'm not sure I'd win that one.

Irishchick - Congrats on virgin vie earnings - awesome

Sistercas I think you must be lucky on the fruit and veg things as I've found Aldi stuff doesn't last as long as say Asda or Tescos food!

Hi YB - yes we do some body ironing too but as I say it doesn't work on everything!

Ruby - where art thou?

rubydoiwannabee

Evening all...
My excuse for having ironing at all is down to NOT being organised, I take the clothes off the line or clothes horse (me too) or tumble dryer and fold them, but others in the house take them off the line and dump them!! That leads to the amount of ironing I have and I only do it once a week....

Welcome Chev and thanks for reading my diary (even though SH seems to post more than me.... ha ha (lol SH only kidding of course, you keep the whole thing going.):D

Irishchick, well done on the virgin vie parties, and how exciting to get yourself a family weekend away. I hope you all have lots of fun.

As for Aldi and Lidl the closest to me are 15 miles away and I have been to both, but it seems a false economy to drive there it would negate and savings I make. Asda online with voucher codes for free delivery seems to be the norm for me because I do find Asda cheaper than Sainsburys (that I love) and Tesco.

YB still waiting for the scarf pictures.

xxxxx

rubydoiwannabee

I am also weighing up whether to increase the number of days again that DS comes home alone from November. He is managing fine on 1 day per week, he is going to 2 days per week from October (I pick him up 1 day) it's whether I knock after school club on the head altogether from November? Ruby I know you've been in this position - would you wait or would you go for it? Even if I go for it, I then have to decide whether or not to immediately drop my childcare voucher amount as my provider refunds over-payments by cheque when they get too big - which would increase my tax free element... It would also be an indirect form of savings??? Feel free to advise...

Hi SH,
I have been in this position and like you we found that once DS had been doing it for a while and getting along ok there seemed little point in continuing to pay for the childcare. However, what we did find was that DS missed the company and activities of after school club, so we kept it going through the winter and finally knocked it on the head when the light evenings came back in. He has always walked home and to school with others and phones the minute he gets home. When he was at juniors he took his mobile to school, handed it in at reception and then called me when he left to walk home and again when he was home safely, or to ask if he could go to a friends etc. He is nearly 14 now and has been self sufficient like this since he was 11 ish. He still calls me when he gets home each day (for the three days I work) and will still call to say he is going out. Here's hoping that continues as he gets older!!

Let your instincts and the needs and wishes of your son guide you SH and I am sure you will do the right thing.

xx

rubydoiwannabee

~Yorkshire_Belle~ wrote: »

3. Parenting (I need help with how to live with a teenage boy...has anyone read the book bringing up boys? (not sure of the author).
My teenage boys are lovely most of the time. I have Steve Biddulphs book and also 'How to talk so they will listen and listen so they will talk....' It's not rocket science but is reaffirming. I used to get quite frustrated because I wanted to know what happened, who with, when, where etc and my friends who have girls seem to get to know this stuff and I don't. (I don't get many tantrums either though!) I do however have lovely boys who will talk when it matters to them - and that's who it's about.

Thanks YB, is Steve Biddulph the author of bringing up boys?
I like the sound of the of how to listen book, who is the author of that?

Like you my DS is a good boy and I think it is me who needs the help to let him go....like you I am at the stage of who, what, why and just need a bit of guidance of how to accept he will tell me when and what he wants, as opposed to everything like I am used to.

Hope you are well my cyber FRIEND.
x

~Yorkshire_Belle~

How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk (How to Help Your Child) (How to Help Your Child) (Paperback)

by Adele Faber; Elaine Mazlish (Author) "I was a wonderful parent before I had children


Raising Boys: Why Boys are Different - And How to Help Them Become Happy and Well-balanced Men: Why Boys Are Different - And How to Help Them Become Happy and Well-balanced Men (Paperback)

by Steve Biddulph (Author)


Bringing Up Boys (Paperback)

by James Dobson (Author)

~Yorkshire_Belle~

Ruby
I think you sound like a fantastic mum. He's a lucky boy.
Scarf pic - well I'm working on it , how do you insert images without photobucket?

rubydoiwannabee

Thanks YB, that is kind of you. How old are your boys?

Thanks ever so for the links, I will be ebaying in a minute to try and get them cheap. (do you think a book exists on how NOT to be a nosey mum!!)

As for the photo, have you tried copy and paste? It seems to work sometimes and not others, so may not work.

In my head your scarf looks like a long doctor who scarf.... anywhere near?
x

~Yorkshire_Belle~

These aren't MY scarf but if you combine the two it's not far off! :rotfl:
Get in touch with your libary for the books. I am in love with my online library - they generally get the books I order the next day. I also get cds for DS1
My DSs are 14, 12 & nearly 10 - great fun but we are always very busy!

savingholmes

~Yorkshire_Belle~ wrote: »

These aren't MY scarf but if you combine the two it's not far off! :rotfl:

Love it you had me and OH laughing out loud!:T

Happytogetdebtfree

hey ruby, hope youare well, i am just plodding along paying debts saving money for the wedding its exhausting :P but i like to see the balance in my savings although im unsure on saving because of all this bank situations i may keep in my current account it might be safer :S what do you think ?? xx