The Milton Keynes Money Savers Thread - Mark 3

mummymania

I am looking for a painter/decorator/jack of all trades to do some decorating/put shelves up/fit new letterbox/mend gate for me - I live in Turvey (Beds/Bucks/Northants border) so maybe someone from Olney/Newport Pagnell can help? I've been given quotes of £140 per day but I'm a single mum and only earn that amount in a week! Anyone recommend someone for me that won't rip me off?

RenStar

Hello,

I'm currently on maternity leave with dd but will be going back to work in September (I will be commuting to London) when dd will be almost 1. I have spent the past few weeks visiting nurseries in MK (have so far I have checked out MK Prep, Leapfrog, Acorn in Sheney Church End, a couple in Bletchley and the Council run one in Westcroft). I have one more to see, the Grove in Loughton on Wednesday. To be honest, all the nurseries sort of depressed me a bit, my husband thinks I'm crazy but to me they all seemed so institutional IYSWIM and some just plain scary :eek: . Oh yeah, I saw a small, lovely nursery in Emerson Valley but she had no spaces for Sept!

I'm now considering childminders in the hope they might be a little bit more homely, but I'm daunted by the shear number of them! (I got a list through from the MK CIS). What's annoying also is that I wanted to read their Ofsted inspection reports but they're only identified by their unique reference numbers on the reports so you don't know which childminder is which. I know that's not the only thing you should go by but with so many, not even being able to narrow it down this way is frustrating. I don't feel right just phoning each of them just to ask for their Ofsted ID and making an appointment to view all of them will just take forever! So what I wanted to ask was, does anyone have any recommendations to get me started please? I'm looking for a full time care. Any help very appreciated.

Thanks!

Ren

lady_noluck

I can't recommend a childminder, however my dd went to the nursery on Walnut Tree and really loved the place. Sometimes she didn't want to leave!

Swattie

Wait until you've seen the Grove - a colleague of mine has recently been through the same process as you and is very happy with her choice.

There are many advantages of a nursery over a child minder (and vice versa). 12 years ago, I, as a full time working mother, after a lot of very careful consideration, chose to send my DD to a nursery school - as I felt that would be best for her.

I weighed up all the options and viewed every nursery in MK found one in Downs Barn that, in addition to all its other benefits, 'felt right' and I never regretted my decision. My DD loved it there.

MKwife

Nursery on the Green in Bletchley is supposed to be excellent also!

moneysavingaddict1982

Hi all,
sorry if this is on the wrong board, but I really wanted to ask a question specific to MK.

Does anybody know of any stores/supermarkets in MK that sell japanese craft (sewing/toy/mascot/felt/knitting) magazines/books such as Cotton Time and Cotton Friend?

I have tried Borders near the Hockey Stadium and they are pretty limited in that area.

Thanks in advance!

Sarahjovi

moneysavingaddict1982 wrote: »

Hi all,
sorry if this is on the wrong board, but I really wanted to ask a question specific to MK.

Does anybody know of any stores/supermarkets in MK that sell japanese craft (sewing/toy/mascot/felt/knitting) magazines/books such as Cotton Time and Cotton Friend?

I have tried Borders near the Hockey Stadium and they are pretty limited in that area.

Thanks in advance!

Have you tried Hobbycraft on Rooksley?

Sarah:D

moneysavingaddict1982

Hi Sarah,

Thank very much for that suggestion - I pop in there every now and again - haven't seen any yet, but I think they have just got some brand new stock in, so will definitely go back to check it out!

Many Thanks!

Caro75

We would like to have a patio layed in our back garden (we've got nothing apart from grass at the moment).
Does anyone know a reliable person who could do that? Any recommendations?

Many thanks

cheap_plastic_spoon

Just got back from Asda MK and got a free door key cut + an invite for market research to Holiday Inn on 13/2/08 and being paid £40 for 1.5 hrs+refreshments.Dont know how long they there but be quick.:beer: