Our attempt at being MF!!

newgirly

Morning cath, been trying to read your diary this morning and it kept freezing so has taken ages to post! Have you thought about changing your cp booking, the fee is £35 I think, it might work out cheaper than a second break if you really want to go at xmas.:D we went to the elvedon one about three years back just for two nights a few days before xmas, there are not many extra activities but there were real reindeer and also animated ones that sang to you as you walked past in stables. Plus fairy lights through the main areas and obviously xmas decs and trees.

CathT

No NG, cp have assured me we will be there for fireworks amd fingers crossed we can hang around on the day to see a bit of the Christmas stuff. The grotto starts on the Saturday so we would miss that anyway. I have high expectation of the overnight transformation I have heard happens

Just popped to supermarkèt with children in tow, needless to say didn't get everything on the list! Pushing the trolley is clearly something worth fighting over! Need to find previous spends and update for the month, hoping I can keep it low but we are only on day 2!


Food. - £68.90
Petrol - £0

CathT

gallygirl wrote: »

CathT wrote: »

Watched a film as a family after dinner,good old classic 'Beethoven' the children now want a dog! /QUOTE]
Aw I loved that film :T

It made DS (aged 3) cry!

CathT

Well this weekend flew by. If I hadn't been off work I'd have been very disappointed! Children had swimming today, the last one before the Summer break so we can reclaim our Sunday mornings and save around £5 a week on petrol!

I have progressed to filling in the forms for swimming locally and will take them to the leisure centre tomorrow. I will time it with a charity shop run. I have put half my usual petrol in this week so am being super frugal and trying to combine journeys. If the tank is full I don't give much thought to driving around.

Spring cleaned our bedroom today, that was a job and half. Perhaps I should do it more often :rotfl:DS bedroom is next, he has fitted wardrobes so his should be easier and quicker. Bathrooms can get done tomorrow as well. Am I really going to spend my 2 weeks off cleaning?????

I did sit in the garden with a coffee and a book earlier though whilst DH popped out with the children. The book was about parenting though so not really any time out for me!

As much as I don't want to spend anymore money on the house until we do the extension our bedroom window is not going to last another Winter. It's actually a health hazard! It's a pretty big window so should imagine it will be around £800 to replace. We are going to save up for it though, I refuse to add anything else onto the cards. :eek:

I think I need to do a plan for the end of the year. I am totally confused with DH wage though as although being paid monthly now it still works on 'week ending' for example. That makes sense in my head. His first monthly pay he actually only got paid for 3 weeks which is why this month has been so challenging!

CathT

Well today was a little productive. Altered gas and elec tariff, stayed with same provider, slightly cheaper deal (so they say) and I get a £50 amaz0n voucher :j

Also did a balance transfer so need to get smallest card paid off by November. Also need to clear the card we use for shopping/petrol etc as we haven't paid off as uh as we have spent. Will be able to send an extra £300 to it this month as won't have any nursery fees. Have based DH wage on the bare minimum so any extra income there will also be paid off it. Tis needs clearing before we even think about anything else.

We need to be super strict with spends the next 2 weeks...the alternative is to wish away the next 2 weeks which I refuse to do as I am not working! We were going to take the children to a local attraction today but waited in for delivery so just had time for a local park. They had just as much, if it more fun!

Managed to do a shred workout this morning so since I'm not running until Wednesday may do again tomorrow. DH even complimented me earlier!

Sold an old television earlier for £15. We did have a cp fund growing but things are super tight this month so I am borrowing it until payday! Have made £53 selling a few bits over the last couple of weeks so it's definitely worth listing things for sale.

CathT

Some positive financial news! :j

Randomly checked TCB and have £94.50 ready to claim even though it hadn't even confirmed. This is from June's broadband switch so am delighted it paid out so quickly. There was also an offer with it of a pre-paid card so if that arrives through the door I'll be over the moon!

This money really had come at the right time and will be paid off the cc whilst making sure the current account stays in credit until payday.

Dentist for the children today then am going to organise some tennis lessons for DS to start in September. He has launched all of our balls into next doors garden through gaps that seemed impossible! Time for this 3 year old to refine his forehand!!

What a difference some money hitting the bank account can make! This month went completely over budget due to
£25 plumber
£110 swimming lessons
£110 piano costs

It's good that I know where the excess has gone but even so......hurry up payday!

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

Children's activities do add up, but the opportunities they provide are priceless. And it doesn't last forever. Hope you enjoy your break,

Squirrel x

shangaijimmy

Them pesky expensive kids...

CathT

Secret_Saving_Squirrel wrote: »

Children's activities do add up, but the opportunities they provide are priceless. And it doesn't last forever. Hope you enjoy your break,

Squirrel x

Absolutely Squirrel, dd is playing away on the piano right now. She was thrilled as it was a surprise and I have never had so many hugs!

shangaijimmy wrote: »

Them pesky expensive kids...

Tell me about it! They have birthdays soon aswell and are expecting parties! I wasn't planning any!!

sarahevie1

I sympathise with kids activities. Mine do five a week, cheap and local but adds up. I very rarely take them to anything else though as eldest is too old for soft play etc.

I agree that the opportunities they provide are valuable.

I didn't have a party for dd2 (5) this year as 16 from her class have juky/ Aug birthdays and she had already been invited to 7 parties over the summer hols. Was sad for her, but arranged a special play date and I was more bothered about her not having a party than she was.