It's STILL tough and not getting better - so how are we coping?

northwest1965

gailey wrote: »

Toys tend to be 2nd hand/sale bargains.

I was shocked when I went to the car boot a couple of weeks ago at just how many lovely toys/bikes there were. They were all so cheap, I saw one man give £1 for a bike.

mustbemad68

kidcat wrote: »

DD15 gets GCSE results next week and has had a really bad summer hardly seen her friends as they have doen stuff without her. So have said she can have a small party for those that have kept in touch, so now to organise a party for next week!!!

Good Luck for the results next week, My DD1 got her standard grade (scottish GCSE) last week so I know what it's like when the reults are looming.:eek:

greent

Argh - the return to school stuff.... I've just bought DS2 PE shorts, top, school trousers and socks (Matalan & Tesco) - DS1's are too big (of the items that I kept - wasn't planning on any more!) DS1 needs just one more school jumper, I think... I've stocked up on opaque and woolly tights for DD - but I know she'll need more over the Winter. She also needs a new school skort for games (£17.50) and another school skirt (£16). Then all 3 need school shoes - that'll be Clarks because of very narrow/ wide feet and also DS3 has just started walking - so that'll be a pair of Clarks for him - think I'm looking at a Clarks bill of about £140 for 4 pairs shoes!! Then I need new wellies for DS1 & DS2 (none passed down in correct size for DS2) and slippers for them both too (cold downstairs floors in this house) Am ok for Winter coats for them Got bargains in M&S last year - boys Winter coats for £4, dressing gowns £2.50 and DD PJs £2.50

Gailey - school dinners - how about a mix? To be honest, I find that generally only full time working mums have children with school dinners 5 days/ week (been there and done that with the first two) Most others do it on chip day (Fridays) and one or two other days maximum - mine abandoned hot dinners entirely after a few years. DS2 will be having a packed lunch because he only eats about 3 items of hot food!! Oh - and our school(s) here allow things like soup in a flask - but flask has to be of the unbreakable sort.

Have a glut of f&V at the moment - have just chopped and frozen lots of tomatoes for use later in the year. OH's contract ends 31/10 - I hope it'll be extended by a few weeks, but he doesnt think so. Because of the industry he's in and the time of the year he#s then unlikely to get anything (maybe about a week's worth at v low rates for a local charity) until Feb - so it could be 2 or 3 lean months for us... so I'm unwilling NOT to preserve the summer glut - in the past I've handed masses to neighbours (no-one else in our street grows anything!!) but am preparing for our Winter this time.... Gosh, that sounds awfully selfish, but it's a bit of a case of looking after number 1. If he has no work we will only qualify for contribution based JSA - which is taxable, so really doesn't go far for a family of 6! (However, that's another rant!)

Weather has brightened up here - yeay! Meant to v wet for rest of week though.

Sammy Kaye - my DS3 (15 months at the weekend) is still in size 3s. He will be going into 4's when Ive used the last packet of 3s up though He's about 19lb, so close to the weight limit, but skinny, so the smaller ones still work ok (4s leaked around the legs last time I tried) He's another that was in prem nappies when born (just under 6lb - and was late!) because newborn nappies were too big - wore prem nappies for about a month and prem clothes for about 10 weeks (He's wearing 3-6 month trousers and a 6-9 month top today... at basically 15months ) He's currently trashing the CDs for me - so am off to sort that out!!

kidcat

mustbemad68 wrote: »

Good Luck for the results next week, My DD1 got her standard grade (scottish GCSE) last week so I know what it's like when the reults are looming.:eek:

This is our second year of exam worries, her school make them sit exams all through three years - different modules or resits if they dont achieve the grade the school wants - ie last year she achieved an A grade but had to resit later as school expected an A*??? No wonder kids are getting much better results now they get loads of attempts at it:eek:, just hoping she has done ok this time - she had three months off with glandular fever this year so missed loads and school gave her no help catching up at all. :mad:

Robson65

Hi,

Just de-lurking to say that people with school age children should check to see if they are eligible for free school meals.

A lot of families don't claim them as they think there is some sort of stigma attached to it but if you're entitled to it then I'd go for it.

Most schools are extremely discreet about it and it actually benefits the school if eligible families claim them.

Something to think about.

Thanks

Robson

kidcat

Greent - my Dd has always been small, she is four and a half now and still wearing age 2 clothes, its been a nightmare finding clothes for school for her.

I would def be preserving any surplus if you can, you can always hand some to anyone who needs it later if you find you dont need so much!

greent

kidcat wrote: »

Greent - my Dd has always been small, she is four and a half now and still wearing age 2 clothes, its been a nightmare finding clothes for school for her.
Yep - nightmare finding stuff., I'll agree

I would def be preserving any surplus if you can, you can always hand some to anyone who needs it later if you find you dont need so much!

Thanks - that's a good way of looking at it - I can bake fruit pies/ crumbles for people and pass them on (which I usually do anyway) and some savoury stuff, too. Have made chutney and am making jam later this week - some of which will go towards Xmas presents/ be passed on..

kidcat

greent wrote: »

Thanks - that's a good way of looking at it - I can bake fruit pies/ crumbles for people and pass them on (which I usually do anyway) and some savoury stuff, too. Have made chutney and am making jam later this week - some of which will go towards Xmas presents/ be passed on..

Have never made Jams etc but would really like to consider it as a Christmas present option - thinking teachers etc (we have eight teachers/assistants to buy for) how easy is it? My breadmaker says can make jam but never liked the idea - has anyone else tried it?

jackieglasgow

When I had a BM I made jam in it and it was great as you didn't need to stand over it. But really jam making in a pan isn't that difficult, even for a novice!

kidcat

jackieglasgow wrote: »

When I had a BM I made jam in it and it was great as you didn't need to stand over it. But really jam making in a pan isn't that difficult, even for a novice!

Off to dig out the instructions then.