Our attempt at being MF!!

DawnW

packed lunch I should think - unless they insist on loads of bought processed stuff? If you have the stamina for doing it that is

sweetdaisy

CathT wrote: »

What do you find is most cost effective? School lunch or packed lunch? Meal is £2 a day.

I think a packed lunch is more cost effective, however DS1 has school dinners (they also cost £2 a day), because I like the idea of him having a hot meal when the weather is bad. Also when he started school, the school recommended that the class have school lunches for the first 2 weeks - it wasn't compulsory and think it was just part of them settling in at lunch time in the canteen etc. The school has a very good food menu, so I am happy with whatever food choices he makes. They only have chips once a week, but this doesn't matter as he doesn't like chips anyway.

Brodiebobs

Packed lunches are probably more cost effective but you have to be organised and do them the evening before i find as its too much of a rush in the morning, especially if you have early starts. Mine usually have packed i summer, school in winter so its something warming!!

greent

I think packed lunches work out cheaper. My 3 at school all have packed lunches (as does DH) - it would cost a daily fortune for all of them to have bought meals (DH not too bad - subsidised canteen - but the 2 at secondary school you're looking at about £4 each per day!!) I make them all in the morning - I don;t like sandwiches made the night before for myself (when I took packed lunches) so have always made in mornings. Very occasionally in school hols I make DH's the night before. It also means I can cater for the fussy ones (none of them have the same things for lunch, so it's quite complicated - I have to write detailed lists for DH if he ever needs to do it!)

ETA: When I was working and the 2 eldest were in after school care too, I tried to ensure they had hot meals at school on those days so I could do a quick sandwiches & cake type tea when we got home (gone 6pm and they were Infants) They had snacks (toasted teacakes etc and milk at after school club)

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

Hello,

A lot will depend on the quality of school lunch as they vary widely. They are shockingat my school and I wouldn't eat it if you paid me. Most of the kids get free school meals so they have a captive audience. Awful.

CathT

Thanks for input. I think we'll give school meals a go to begin with as I'm not sure DD will finish sandwiches etc but am sure she'll eat a hot meal.

Just finished a very stressful shift and am very glad to be off tomorrow! Just reminding myself that I need to do a few things:

1) Check current account and transfer leftover money as payday is approaching.
2) Try and understand Tax Credits statement!
3) Transfer money to savings once worked out number 2!
4) Choose and buy present to be sent to a friend
5) Check if 'rewarded opinions' money has arrived.
6) Wash DD's uniform and sort out name tags.

I think this will do for now!

CathT

CathT wrote: »

Thanks for input. I think we'll give school meals a go to begin with as I'm not sure DD will finish sandwiches etc but am sure she'll eat a hot meal.

Just finished a very stressful shift and am very glad to be off tomorrow! Just reminding myself that I need to do a few things:

1) [STRIKE]Check current account and transfer leftover money as payday is approaching.[/STRIKE]
2) [STRIKE]Try and understand Tax Credits statement![/STRIKE]
3) [STRIKE]Transfer money to savings once worked out number 2![/STRIKE]
4) Choose and buy present to be sent to a friend
5) [STRIKE]Check if 'rewarded opinions' money has arrived.[/STRIKE]
6) [STRIKE]Wash DD's uniform[/STRIKE] and sort out name tags.

I think this will do for now!

Considering i've been working I'm impressed with my list! Have been paid and it was almost double what I brought home on maternity leave! During this time we continued to OP so should be able to do so much more now. Have toppped up house savings and resisted the urge to send half of DH's OT and the extra I had over what I budgeted for to the mortgage. I rationalised it by thinking that I'd be happier being a bit closer to our renovation project than knocking a few days off the mortgage. We are possibly planning to extend above the garage creating extra bedroom and ensuite. I'm guessing I'll need about 20k????

Am working most of the BH weekend but do have a family day planned for my next day off. Our local National Trust property has some great events and joining up has been great value for money.

Mortgage_Reduction_Novice

Good going on the to do list - nearly complete.

Great news about your income boost after mat-leave, like you say you managed and OPed then so more now!

CathT

After checking my payslip this month I am horrified by my student loan contributions!!! I wouldn't mind but the loan wasn't even for my most recent degree. It was for my first one that wasn't specific enough to secure me employment in that area!! We did however invest it into our first property and it was only the first year (before I met DH) that I wasted!

Really feel at the moment that I don't have enough hours in the day. Had some fab family time at NT property and had a picnic and came home to the gardening. It felt like such a chore especially as we can't really enjoy the garden at the moment as it has been so wet and as it's on 2 levels DS can't really explore it and DD isn't keen on playing with any of her toys by herself. Just goes to show though, she has lots of expensive play equipment but more than anything wants a skipping rope and a hula hoop!!

Still trying to add to savings but have complicated matters in that now I can't decide what I want more???? 4th bedroom or kitchen-diner? DH thinks we'd benefit from the bedroom more and so should do that first but it's the more expensive option. I was chatting with a work colleague and she said they just added their costs onto their mortgage :eek: Doesn't bear thinking about does it! We're still waiting on plans from the architect and then I can look into getting some quotes.

We currently have 2 FD regular savers I hadn't included in our savings totals so that's a nice bonus. There isn't a huge amount in them but it's certainly a nice top up.

Hope everyone is enjoying the BH weekend, I'm working tomorrow so don't mind that rain is forecast!

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

Hello cath,

Yes, I know lots of people who add home improvement costs to the mortgage, I once did it myself 20 years ago, on the basis that the house improvement makes the house worth more..... House prices were shooting up at the time so ltv remained low and it was just seen as normal. Now though, with a flat housing market, it s madness and ends up costing loads more but they still do it!

Have a good day,

Squirrel:j