Our attempt at being MF!!

debtfreeoneday

We haven't done any parties yet for ours (bad parents) but have done days out or had family visit or been away twice. It's December which is pretty rubbish for anything outdoors, but are doing a party this year for the first time now we have got through the first year of parties at school - not a fan of the competitiveness of parents trying to out do each other.. so we are being brave and doing it at home and calling it a tea party and keeping it simple and they get to have 3 friends each come.. will do party games as well but trying to keep it really simple (and cheap)

shangaijimmy

I have to confess the best one we did was DS1 taking his best 2 friends (really they're a tight group in of 3) to a trampoline park, then McDonald's, then the park. We then add to it with a family tea party! As Parents we over think it!

newgirly

I think it's a nice change do do parties at home and although the cheapest option (usually) it's not the easiest. Anyone done any Halloween parties? I love those and am being nagged by ds2 for another big do this year , but the thought of loads of 16 year olds is quite different form the last one when they were young and cute :rotfl:

debtfreeoneday

Ha ha new girly. I can imagine.

SJ - I think you're right.. most parents did one last year at School and some were crazy cost and my two enjoyed any party just the same regardless of what they were doing. One pet hate though is the party bag. I think if you are going to do them, do them decent as they are usually full of things that break and the kids get really disappointed. I'd rather spend a few quid doing a nice one with 1/2 things in there than stuff that breaks.

CathT

I think we will keep it simple after this year. In only ever had parties at home with a few friends when I was growing up. I think dd is realising that parties change as you get older as she discovered yesterday she hasn't been invited to a friend's sleepover party. We were at a local park recently and spotted people having a party in the picnic area/ I like the idea of 'we're getting together at ????? Be lovely if you can join us... '

We've not really had many days out over the summer so will use ds birthday as a belated fun filled family day. Will take a picnic and hopefully create some good memories.

Have so much financial admin to do this week and my 'to do' list will be a work in progress.

Open m&s accounts x 2
Open tesco accounts x 2
Pay building inspection council fee

Renovation stuff

Take photo of existing bricks and tiles, locate sample from builders yard and take to council.
Ring local window guy for a canopy quote


Finished my BC plan! Really pleased as was a healthy weight and fairly healthy before but still lost 11 lbs and 9.5 inches and most importantly have really learned how to fuel my body correctly. Had a couple of glasses of wine last night to celebrate dh birthday weekend and have been awake since 3:45am. Won't be repeating that again!!

August spends

Food. £256.87
Petrol £140.04

Pearla*Merle

Wow, that's a brilliant weight loss result, well done you! :T

What plan were you doing? Intrigued about the 'fueling my body correctly' part - this is often where I fall down

CathT

Thanks PM, I did the b0dyc0ach 90-day-plan. Well worth the investment, financially and investing in my education about nutrition and exercise.

It was dh party last night, who knows what time he will surface as he headed into town after the party. It was a good night and hopefully worth all the effort was hard work getting our deposit back, I'd assumed we paid it to secure the room and it protected them against us not turning up (after they staffed the bar). We discovered on the night we had to tidy up so I walked round with a bin bag tidying up and kept asking for deposit back until we got it! I wasn't that £40 go to waste!

Yesterday was a bit spends and I didn't keep track really so here's an attempt. I did use cash so should be able to clarify all spends.
Hairdresser £35
DJ £110
Babysitter £35

I took £200 cash out though so need to see if this all adds upup and what I have in my purse. The deposit refund will help of course. We also spent some extras on the buffet so should really total up these spends.

Dh has temporarily surfaced, he doesn't seem too bad! I had ,2 very small glasses of wine, had a dance and a fab night. I'm really considering not drinking at all. I don't particularly enjoy it and certainly won't be going back to the 'its Friday, we've worked hard all week, let's have wine' mentality.

smallholdingsister

Wine always has me awake at that time too.
Sounds like a great party.

CathT

It was thank you SHS. Am hoping it has reignited our social life! It has been so long since we caught up with friends, they're the bunch we also went on holiday with a few years ago. We tried to plan another night out whilst we were there so fingers crossed it happens! We have a fab 'babysitter' too who is happy to help us out. She charges £8 an hour but we get so much peace of mind and don't have the curfew we have if grandparents help out!

50p Tilly tidy yesterday and starting an extension spends spreadsheet. It is very basic but will do the job. Need to pay windows deposit next week so already paid it off cc so save a little bit of interest.

Jobs we really need to do this week are. ....

1) photograph house brick and tile and acquire samples
2) take above samples into the council
3) pay building inspection fee - ???? £350?
4) sort out children's savings accounts
5) open t3sco accounts for 3% interest
6) open m&s account
7) add my phone to hally reward insurance
8) ring builder to clarify contract and provisional start date

I plan to be very productive in the next 4 days. Have a full bag ready for the charity shop and this is just the start!

CathT

Was catching up on KC's diary yesterday and taking the tip of not being overwhelmed by tasks and just doing a bit resulted in the car being hoovered and polished by a sudden energy burst!

I am hoping for more of this!