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

GlasgowNewbie

Just have to say Wow! They are so beautiful, what a good idea!

irishchick_3

I second that - WOW! That looks gorgeous Sis!
Welcome GN!
Just leaving work but will post later!

IC

1_step_closer

Hiya!

Your presents look gorgeous and I may steal a few ideas myself!

Feeling loads better this week, as I said I have time to dwell at the weekend but I have applied for voluntary work at my local RSPCA so hopefully I'll be accepted.

How is everyone else?

1 step

savingholmes

Hi Ruby, YB, SC, IC and 1Step plus our new addition Glasgow Newbie

Sister Cas the pressies look gorgeous!

1 Step - glad you are having a better week - sounds interesting about the RSPCA what are you hoping your role will be?

I've had a very lazy day today, spent half of it asleep - yay and the rest so far reading - interrupted of course by meals and kids but even so very relaxing. Will have to be more focused and organised for the rest of the week to make up for it. But it was nice to have a legitimate duvet day...

Bye for now... have a great week everyone!

rubydoiwannabee

SC, I love that cooking gift - what a good idea and if the little girl is anything like mine she will love, love, love the pink. Really nice.

I'm starting to hope that I get some nice hand selected, home made gifts for christmas but I think the chances are very slim!!

Hi to everyone else.

x

1_step_closer

Hiya

I want to work with the dogs and walk them, having 3 of my own. I did work withthem years ago but was with the misc block (rats ferrets etc) and can openly admit I am terrified of small animals! You never quite know where the teeth are and hamsters always seem to wee over me but I quite liked the rats. Not sure about ferrets they are faster than lightening!!!

anyway tired now so chat again soon!

1 step xxxxxxxxxxx

sistercas

thankyou all for the lovely comments about the baskets, if it hadnt been for you all i never would have thought of doing anything like this so hats off to you:T :T
SH a duvet day is lovely isnt it and a very rare occurence for mums lol

I am doing the grocery challenge for November hoping to stay under £300 this month for food, toiletries and household stuff. i am going to do a menu for the next 4 weeks. Have been to Lidl today wasnt overlly impressed, I much prefer Aldi

so cold here, sleeting at the moment I'm afraid the heating has gone on to 'all day' as I cant get warm
hope you are all toasty and warm xx

savingholmes

Hi all - just looked on rightmove - there are 2 houses up for sale on our estate - one has a double garage (-£23K) :eek: and one has a conservatory (-£10K):eek: - they are on for considerably less than when we bought our house a couple of years ago. The one with double garage is empty so presumably they were desperate to sell but even so. We were valued at £4K more than we paid only in July when we remortgaged.... so these are a huge drop! What it means is that we couldn't afford to sell our house and buy in a new location as we would also have a £5K early repayment charge, estate agents fees, the new sellers pack and possibly stamp duty. Unless we thought the price drop was going to continue... long term in which case it would possibly be worth selling. So hard to know in this volatile economic climate...

So if OH wanted to accept new job would need to rent our house out - but there were 11 similar houses to rent when I last looked...:eek: :eek:

Panicking now...

sistercas

SH that sounds like a nightmare situation ((hugs)) to you . It is such a difficult time

DD2 went trick or treating last night came home with enough sweets to last till xmas DD1 and I stayed in and watched Most Haunted LIve we scared / laughed ourselves silly thought it was a bit overacted :rolleyes: . We only had 2 trick or treaters so now I have been left with a bag of gooey eyeballs

DD1 says she really wants a party for her birthday this month, the problem is dd2 didnt have an organised party just 3 friends over for a sleepover. Dd1 wants a makeover party where someone comes to your house does make up , nails, hair etc its £15 per person with a minimum 7 people so over a £100 plus food and drink. I feel awful saying no (she didnt get a party last yr cos she couldnt decide what she wanted) I dont know what to do if their birthdays wernt so near xmas maybe they would get more, I feel really bad but anxious at the same time. what would you all do?

savingholmes

sistercas wrote: »

DD1 says she really wants a party for her birthday this month, the problem is dd2 didnt have an organised party just 3 friends over for a sleepover. Dd1 wants a makeover party where someone comes to your house does make up , nails, hair etc its £15 per person with a minimum 7 people so over a £100 plus food and drink. I feel awful saying no (she didnt get a party last yr cos she couldnt decide what she wanted) I dont know what to do if their birthdays wernt so near xmas maybe they would get more, I feel really bad but anxious at the same time. what would you all do?

I don't know how honest you have been about debt with your kids, but I've been really honest with my DS (10) he tells me off for spending on luxuries and we've already agreed what we are doing for his party. He is going to the cinema with 1 or 2 friends and then we are going to pizza hut. Because its planned in advance - I've been collecting clubcard points so I can get pizza hut vouchers from Tesco and therefore its only really going to cost for drinks and the cinema itself.

I would be honest about what you can afford. Are any of your friends good at make up - could they come and help you? Could you hold a virgie vie or body shop party at your house with the girls there as well as some adults - you then just supply drinks and snacks and they get to mess about with make up etc for free. If anyone buys products as the hostess you get some freebies. It would be cheaper for you to buy some of the products than pay £15 a head!

I did a craft party with my DD (5) she only invited 5or6 friends, I used about 3 sand picture packs approx £1 each, 3 charm bracelet packs about £1 each and card making stuff I had anyway. Food and drink was relatively cheap as at that age they don't eat much. It went really well. Could you do a craft party - get them making yule logs, reindeer flannels, cupcakes? (Best source of flannels 6 for 99p in instore) They could have a go at making Christmas cards too? The works sell 50 cards and envelope packs for £5.99 and sell stickers and card toppers they could use...

HTH

I had some good news today, I won £55 on a free bet on a betting site I joined thro a cashback site... woohoo:beer: