Pen's sunny ramblings, debtbusting whilst smiling

OrangeFairy

I hope things are picking up for you this week Pen.

I like all your mse ideas. Sounds like you are all really sticking together as a family to save money which is great to hear

I am spending a fair chunk of DD2's birthday money on clothing for her in Sept. Saves me in the long run then!

xxx

penelopedee_2

Hiya Kel, I can't believe how much DS was given for his birthday. He's definitely got more money than me at the moment :rotfl:

We've had a mega busy week with birthdays and loads of visitors. I think DS has really enjoyed himself so it was a good start to his summer hols. I was very touched that 3 of our neighbours also brought round cards and gifts for him - the community feeling is still alive down our road. This week has really lifted my spirits again, just by simple things and people being lovely.

I'm having a quiet day in today with DH (DS is off with friends). We've been looking at the holiday camp and sorting out routes etc as we go next Saturday and I can't wait.

Between now and then, some of my family are coming down to stay with my parents so its going to be another busy week, hopefully a few days out for everyone. DB has offered to help me sort the garden out one day which would be good as he's the only one with green fingers in our family.

So my positive thoughts for the weekend are:

*Lovely week last week - the kindness shown really touched me
*Nice quiet Saturday in with my DH who has also promised to cook
*It will be good to see family next week and plenty of childcare opportunities
*School shirts and shoes ordered - without argument from DS :eek:
*Had £60 left from last month's money so have stash that back as extra holiday funds.

I need to get shifted and sort out the holiday stuff now. I've saved vouchers back for the grocery bits, I just need to try and fit a shop in by myself whilst juggling the family visits next week (it will be lethal to the budget if I take the boys). DH can get the bags down from the loft when I'm at work. I must remember to get Dad a b'day card and I think I need a new front tyre (I'm going to have to start a list). There is no chance I can get DS to not wear his decent clothes between now and then


I'm going to be totally lazy for the rest of the day now ... just need to hint to DH that my tea mug is empty

penelopedee_2

Doing my normal Sunday morning pottering in my PJ's, huge mug of tea on the go, Sunday Love Songs on the Radio - nice and chilled out.

Our MSE challenge for this week is to not buy any groceries (apart from milk) until I do the holiday shop. So today's tea is going to be sausages, mash, frozen veg. I have a huge pack of Tesco Finest ones in the freezer that were on the reduced counter a few weeks back. De-frosting nicely now on the work top - that will be enough for tea plus I'll hide some of the cooked ones to use for work sarnies in the week.

I've also been sat here thinking about winter and if/what I will prepare. I don't want to go overboard but we were caught a bit short last year - especially when everything froze up the week before Christmas. We live out in the sticks but do have a small (expensive) local supermarket. Its just we can't get the car up the road so everything has to be done on foot.

So my plan of action is:

a) I have a small store cupboard - but I am going to make sure we have a carton of longlife milk and some spare teabags (I'm a total tea addict) and I don't think you can beat a nice hot drink for warming up. Other than that its always got plenty of dried and tinned foods in to keep us going.
b) I need to get into a better habit buying cat food -its not funny trying to slide down our hill balancing cat food tins.
C) I must get us all Wellies.
d) I need to sort out a winter box for my car - I travel over an hour to get to work via some lovely country roads and I can't believe that I am so blase about it. A torch, spade, couple of old towels, chocolate, de-icer and my old parka will do for now. I take a flask to work every day and just re-fill it at work if the weather is poor for the trip back.

Feels really weird thinking about this just before the hols, but its just poured down with rain here so looks wintery. Typically I have a full washing line at the moment.

Right, I must get going this morning. House looks like a bomb has hit it and I need to get some more of my course work done too

pennywisepoundstupid

Hi I've also been thinking about stocking up for winter, going to sort out a cupboard next week to store extra food in, such as tins of beans, biscuits, pasta, tuna and of course t bags, i was thinking that if i got a couple of extra items with my grocery shop every week by Dec/Jan time i should have enough to last quite a few days.

penelopedee_2

pennywisepoundstupid wrote: »

Hi I've also been thinking about stocking up for winter, going to sort out a cupboard next week to store extra food in, such as tins of beans, biscuits, pasta, tuna and of course t bags, i was thinking that if i got a couple of extra items with my grocery shop every week by Dec/Jan time i should have enough to last quite a few days.

Hi Penny, thats how I started my store cupboard. I just order a few extra bits each month. Its helped me out in the past too when we've need to use the grocery budget for other things. Although not very MSE, I find DS likes the pasta in sauce dried packs, savoury rise and savoury noddles. They are really small and light to keep a stock pile of.

penelopedee_2

This is one of those weeks when I need to be more organised - loads going on, family down to stay and I've got to sort everything out for the hols.

DS school shoes and shirts have arrived - but now SIL wants me to help get her boy his first school shoes. I can see a really boring trip out this afternoon, I'm not a big fan of shopping and she takes ages looking at everything. Its quite difficult with a teenager and two little ones tagging along.

I've got the birthday cards etc and the man is coming to do emergency repairs to the roof this afternoon. Typical - it is raining at the moment. At least most of this can be done inside.

Right, I need some positive thoughts to get me through a shoe shopping trip:

* Its been a joy to see my family this week
* And we are all still speaking
* The roof will be safer once the repairs have been done
* (They don't want paying straight away either so I've time to stash some cash)
* My mind is set not to spend if we go out because I know that I've saved my money for my family holiday next week.

I now need to clear the washing basket and hide everyone's tidy clothes ready to take. I have no desire to be washing and ironing at midnight on Friday

penelopedee_2

We received the quote today to get the roof sorted - if the insurance doesn't pay out (and I'm not very hopeful) that is going to be a nasty cc shuffle I'm going to have to do. Fingers and toes crossed that we can cope with this ok.

Anyway, no time to fret in this house, what happens will happen.

Busy day at work lots of daft problems and queries to sort. Dad took DS to the beach for the day so he is tired out but happy. From what I can gather he spent most of the day in the sea. Have seen all the family again before they go back and now just lazing in front the TV.

Positive thoughts to get me through the quote wobbles:

* I will cope with the roof. Some tiles and felt are not going to get me down.
*DS is in a brilliant mood.
*No spends apart from cat food.
*Only one short day left at work until my hols :j (I'm so glad I put some money back for it now)

honeybear_2

penelopedee wrote: »

* I will cope with the roof. Some tiles and felt are not going to get me down.

Attagirl :T

Enjoy your hols

penelopedee_2

Cheers HB

penelopedee_2

:j:j:j work has finished for a week :j:j:j

Off on hols tomorrow. Haven't packed yet, still loads to sort out as usual. DH did get the cases down from the loft without nagging though (I think I'm not the only one who is excited about going away).

DS has found a lilo and has blown it up already - I just need to persuade him to let it down again so that we can all fit in in the car MIL has just been down to give him some holiday money so he is very happy.

Positive thoughts for the hols:

* We are actually going away and its now paid for and money saved for it.
* No more work for a week
* No more ironing for a week
* I don't mind what the weather is like as I will be on holiday so we'll have a good time anyway.

I'm now sat in front the box, with a nice cold glass of white, painting my nails so that I have nice pink toe nails to go with my flip flops - how girly is that. The boys are not impressed

Have a lovely weekend and week all, will be back next weekend, Pen x