Can I save any more money?!

Glad

Sarahsaver wrote:

different father

sorry sarah
wasn't prying, just thought that nasty as he is, he may only have wanted to see his sons,
hopefully your daughter's father doesn't give you as much grief as your son's dad does

Sarahsaver

No probs. I thought about contacting Trisha - I have enough material to keep her busy for a whole season LOL:)
I expect hes just doing it to get at me and try to make me sell the house just to get away from him (so he gets his cut of the equity)
Began an even more determined moneysaving effort today - separate purse for grocery/household shopping, got some of the basic toiletries from boots, couldnt believe it - toothpaste for 29p. Hope its not totally vile!
Doing middle son's birthday party too on a budget of £10 for party food and little things for the pass the parcel:)

jellyhead

hi sarah, don't let him get you down, fingers crossed that he doesn't upset your boys *HUGS* (i don't mean to be nasty but if the girl is the eldest than he was effectively her step father while living with you, i don't understand why he doesn't want to see her too, he sounds really horrible, sorry!)

my nephew went to a party recently and came home with custom-made party bags. we were at another party the same day where the party bags were 'proper' party bags (around a pound for ten bags in the shops) and included a thankyou card. the one my nephew got was an ordinary small sandwich bag with some sweets in but the mum had printed tops for the bags herself, personalised and thanking everyone for coming to x's party. it was just folded over at the top and stapled to close the bag up, cheap to produce and a really nice touch i thought. if you're planning party bags this shouldn't cost too much, you don't need many sweets.

elona

Sarah

I hope I am wrong but have a feeling that he will only want to see his boys when he thinks it will upset or worry you.

As soon as he has to put himself out in any way then I bet the visits etc will tail off. Good luck.

Glad

Sarah

how's things going?
is ex still trying to see the boys, or is it just his reaction to you getting the house in your name.

Sarahsaver

Got to see the solicitor tomorrow. Having documented records of him refusing TWO offers of meeting the kids at a contact centre 2 years ago, plus a letter from a child psychologist regarding my son, I hope he hasnt got a chance.
Done a 'variations' form for the csa, and Im also making an appeal as they failed even to get the money when there was an attachment of earnings order in place!
Have an interview Monday, and I am applying for loads of jobs.Got a reply from one saying my skills were not of the same calibre as other applicants - yeah right! Im OVER qualified!
Im doing the grocery challenge, putting 20 quid in a purse and making that do for groceries etc for a week, and Im managing ok with that.
I started this by thinking I couldnt save any more, but Ive found that even when you think you are scraping the bottom of the barrel theres still a bit to be found SOMEWHERE! Now have rhubarb plants in the garden - kind donation, and have planted cabbage (2 sorts), chillies, onions, basil, and am planning chickens next! Also some mushrooms for growing in the cellar:)
Got my results for the med school exam - passed the first 2 sections with flying colours but flunked the last part:( Overall I think I am about 5 points short of being offered an interview - yah booh sucks!!! Now got to decide whether to do it again next year. how much of a dreamer am I ? Hmmm...

Glad

awww sarah I'm so sorry you failed part of the exam but look how well you have done considering you were studying at home and keeping a family together too

It may be better to wait a couple of years anyway as you have problems with childcare, medical students are expected to go on placements, which means working all sorts of hours, and you wouldn't get all the school holidays off either.

Fancy someone saying "your skills were not of the same calibre as other applicants" if they are turning you down surely there is no need to say anything, but you know you are better and that's all that counts, what job was it anyway?

chin up the right job is out there waiting for you

Spendless

Sarah - sorry to hear about the exam. If you wait till next year would all your children be in full-time school then - making things easier for you?

Re- the mess-up by the csa. It might be worth contacting your MP. My neighbour did this cos of several mistakes made by the CSA and got compensation of well over £1,000- perhaps worth a try.

Glad

but some medical students are expected to work evening and night shifts [although not all]

and if sarah then took up a post as a junior Dr she would definitely have to work night shifts and long daytime hours too

Savvy_Sue

Going back to tumble driers (which is where we were a few pages back!) ...

as well as putting an old dry towel in, I THINK things dry quicker in ours if I put it on for 40 minutes, then another 40 minutes. And I THINK it is cheaper too, because the heat is only on for 20 minutes, but it's still warm after 40 minutes.

It's a bit of a faff doing it that way, but I do it when I want to dry something which shouldn't really be tumble dried. If I leave it on for 80 minutes (which is the minimum I find I need all in one go), everything gets quite hot and stays hot for 60 minutes, then cools down. Whereas if I do 40 minutes x 2, things don't get quite as hot, so they don't lose their shape or shrink or melt.