It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

mummysaver

Caterina wrote: »

Thank you for reminding me mummysaver, it is probably one of the biggest challenges of my life to remember to look after no.1 rather than putting all the others first! Isn't this the case with most mothers of a family though?

Caterina

See, I'm not just here to make you feel guilty about those orange slices

I think you're right, it's all too easy to put everyone else first, then end up feeling put upon, worn out and fed up. I've learnt that lesson and now try to arrange things in advance, means that I also have stuff to look forward to as well. Generally it's only stuff like a day mooching around the shops and trying on shoes, or the all you can eat buffet at Pizza Hut and a gossip, sometimes I branch out and get to the cinema even. Whatever though, it's always nice to do something as yourself rather than as a mum or partner.

When the children were tiny, my biggest treats were a long soak in the bath, and for that I shall be grateful forever to the Teletubbies and Playdays, and a walk around the local boot sale on a Sunday morning on my own for an hour! Not perhaps everyone's idea of running wild and treating themselves, but they made me smile and were enough to get me through the early toddler and baby years!

Now one of my favourite treats is a trip to the charity shop and a rummage through the books! Yes, I know there are libraries, but there's something lovely about treating myself to a book, even if it is pre-loved! Something else I enjoy is cooking, not the everyday sort, but new things or special treats or meals, just as well really with four children! :rolleyes:

What does everyone else do as a treat that is moneysaving but fun and makes their heart sing?

[Deleted User]

I was a bit frugal during my last holiday in europe, seems like ages ago now and seeing that there is no way I will be taking a european holiday in the forseeable future, I did a scrape around my saved euros. Well I knew I had euro notes but I had 280 euros. Yay!!!! I got £232 back this morning and that was more than I paid for them. I am a very happy bunny today as I won`t be visiting the cashpoint now for at least 3 weeks and possibly longer :j :j :j

Bargain_Rzl

mummysaver wrote: »

Will hopefully make it to Aldi to get some potatoes, bet the offer has finished, ah well, need veg of all sorts so sure there will be something I need.

The spuds are still 39p (along with lemons, clementines, sprouts, carrots and parsnips) The Aldi fruit & veg offers normally change over on the 1st of the month so the current offers should be good till New Year's Eve.

fedupfreda

mummysaver wrote: »

What does everyone else do as a treat that is moneysaving but fun and makes their heart sing?

Go for a ride on the bike - even though I'm in 'flat' East Anglia, there are still a few gentle hills round here to coast down, and I like being outside, even when it is grey and miserable out.

The only problem is cycling into horizontal rain - and the way some people drive...:rolleyes:

MRSMCAWBER

Afternoon everyone

My frugal feel good treat has to be -getting out in the garden :j ..even when its as cold as it is right now -just 10 mins out there and Im all over...
We don't have a big arden and its army accomodation so no borders etc.. so I plonk myself on the patio step and watch the birds flitting about -oh and dream of spring hurrying up so I can get my veggie tubs up n running again;)

Kittie ..strange that you mention getting more back on your euros..Im going to transfer €1000 of my savings from my German account to my Barclay account at the end of the month after hubby pointed out that I will make about £100-£150 on how much they cost me:j .....

Lita_Ford

I find home cooking saves a lot and is really good fun when you get used to it

sammy_kaye18

kittie wrote: »

Has anyone seen Sammy kaye? I miss her lively chat and good os ways

OH KITTIE - YOU ARE A WORRIER ARENT YOU!

Lol Im here - like said by Madatha - my computer has a bit of a faulty power lead problem which ment i could literally get onto a site befor ethe whole computer shut itself down but touch wood it seems to be working ok now so i am landed. Plus since the computer has been broken for abotu 2 weeks now its metn my hosuework is almost up to scratch - two piles of washign and the living room to tidy out completely now and i have been usign up the contents of my tiny freezer so i can actually fit a chicken in there for xmas dinner which is nice

although i will confess to sitting and faffing on you tube most fo the day - mainly oogling Rhydian! dont know dont ask - must bea welsh thing.

I am here. have been budget watchign again as bf turns 30 this coming year and want to get him a good present and i have been working all hours under the sun so that chrismtas isnt too much of a shocker to the pocket. Little one is happy though - hes had a school trip with his class, seen father christmas, got a surprise christmas companiona dn im landed that i managed to find the toy hes been dreaming of since May so despite it beign £40 i knwo it will totally make his christmas and it will more than likely be the only thing he plays with this year so im landed as hes wanted it since his birthday adn im wasnt sure it wasnt a phase then but hes mentioned it every day since then!

Also glad to report for once this christmas *whispers* seems to be hitch free, last year my boyfriend and i looked on teh verge of splitting up, year before my boyfriend went near enough blind overnight,housing benefit wasnt sorted,tax credits were screwed up and bf wasnt entitled to disability or income support and we had like £80 to live on the entire month, and the year before that we were just plain crippled by his debts and totally skint.

This year though i can happily say Im happy with what ive got little one, bills are all paid (bar council tax which i will pay on 23rd), one more pressy to get bf, his debts have reduced from £15,000 down to £6,000 and there is jsut one debt for £4,700 to the CAB now. My debt has gone too which is nice and so we are comfortable again.

Ok so have gone way off topic but will be back to update in a bit once ive got little one from school - jsut wanted to say hello and let you know how im doing!

Sammy
x x x x x x

purpleivy

Nice to hear your news Sammy and pleased things are sorting themselves out. What about a request on freecycle for a new computer power lead? People seem to put computer bits on round here.

oystercatcher

I'm going to have my 'MSE treat' in a minute....... an afternoon nap on the settee under a lovely soft fleecy blanket !! Before I doze off I will be reading one of my 'birthday' books but otherwise it's a 'free' library book or a charity shop book !!

hugs to all
Oystercatcher (shattered today)

Caterina

I also love to rummage in charity shops, but another treat is one that I do not deny myself at all, that is surfing the net of course!

I also have good me-time and go knitting with friends once a week.

Unfortunately on the hot-bath front, much as that would be a treat, due to my hell-manufactured boiler (Italian brand would you believe it, shame on me) there aren't going to be many of those until I get the new condensing one in the new year!

Good to remind ourselves that we deserve these treats, though, it is so easy to neglect ourselves in favour of our nearest and dearest sometime. What is really weird is that when I used to work with new mums I always recommended for them to put themselves first, because if mum goes down the whole castle of cards goes too - but did I listen to my own advice? Did I heck.

Now I am going to take good care of ME!

Sammy Kaye, good to see you back here on the forum! xxx

Love to all

Caterina