Our attempt at being MF!!

Moneyfordreams

I'm on the right side of the pension changes this time.... by 3 weeks. mind you I don't trust any of them. We have cashed in our shares for DD1 this time, they will be allocated to OH to replace pension in the future. I think a multi faceted approach is what we are angling at. The thought of working because you have to at 67/8 is appalling, but many people I work with HAVE to

CathT

It is worrying and it and reinforces to us how important it is to invest in our retirement. We have always prioritised the house but know we need to do more. My pension contributions keep increasing and I contribute £230 a month to mine but who knows if it enough.

The generous £300 of spare cash for the month decreased spectacularly in a day!! £36 concert tickets and £40 on work for the garden. Have a meat delivery due anytime now, were getting a huge amount for £25 and I'm hoping it means we get some more variety in our meal planning. That said I am trying to eat less meat and more fish.

Debating what to do today. DD has a football tournament tomorrow which if it goes well will fill our day. It's at a beach resort about an hour away so a fair trip. I guess it's good practice for the away games now she is playing at regional level. We may pop to the zoo and then just potter at-home later. I'm encouraging the children to make a list of what activities they would like to do over the summer. Am hopeful lots of the suggestions are simple and cheap or free!

Two large courgettes picked from the garden this morning so courgetti will be featuring in our meals this weekend. Sweet peas are doing very well after I picked them all last weekend so looking forward to having another bunch in the house.

greent

Moneyfordreams wrote: »

I'm on the right side of the pension changes this time.... by 3 weeks.

You're about a week or so younger than me in that case - I'm ok by a full calendar month

CathT wrote: »

I'm encouraging the children to make a list of what activities they would like to do over the summer. Am hopeful lots of the suggestions are simple and cheap or free!

.

Mine have so far come up with Harry Potter Studios and Leg0land...... they haven't quite understood the cheap bit!:rotfl::rotfl:

CathT

I'm having to work hard to encourage the free stuff! Today they asked for ice cream from about 8am! They have had to make do with a lolly after lunch and football in the park.im lucky in that they are usually happy to do the same activity but they couldn't agree on anything this morning.

Weekend was damage limitation, spent about £4 on ice creams in the zoo, resisted fish and chips yesterday on the way home from a very long football tournament. Just spent a little bit on drinks, fidget spinners and a frisbee. Total weekend spends were about £13 so not too bad.

25p on y0ugov, tcb not yet reached payable and it won't let me submit a support ticket so trying to be patient.

Don't anticipate the food spends being low over the next few weeks, active growing children really can eat!

CathT

Great day yesterday as we went to the beach when dh finished work. I was conscious it was the last day of forecast good weather so wanted to make the most of it. I'd mentioned to a friend recently a beach I went to as a child where you drive onto the beach. She knew exactly where I was talking about and gave me the information I needed. :j It was 45 minutes away and we all had a great time. Had a paddle in the sea, dd nearly picked up a crab when looking for stones to skim! :eek: We gave the children £5 each for the fair and amusements and it worked well as they thought carefully about how they wanted to spend it instead of asking to do everything. £13 spent which included 3 cones of chips to go with the sandwiches we took.

Decided not to continue with our cleaner for various reasons so I'm now wondering whether to add that £50 to dh pension contributions. That would mean between his own pension and the small work one dh would be contributing £150 a month which I realise is still a big shortfall but we are working on increasing it as income allows. Have various small admin tasks to do which I really need to prioritise to will get them done today.

lulabelle1

Sounds like a really lovely afternoon/evening... I'd love to live close to a beach, takes us around 2 hours

CathT

We do often take for granted what we have on our doorstep where we live so trying to appreciate it more. I find time at the beach is good for the soul.

Having said that, since we went to the beach the weather hasn't been great. During a break in the rain yesterday I took ds to the park again (it has a pulley system for sand that he loves). Whilst there I got chatting to the most lovely lady, she's 89 and her and her husband are really hands on great-grandparents. I know the kind of grandparent I want to be but hadn't got as far as thinking about being a great grandparent.

Have started some birthday shopping as spotted a deal that sharpies are reduced in t3sco so have reserved some to be collected. dd will have a big st in a variety of colours which will hopefully keep her happy and away from technology - £8 well spent.

£50 paid off 0% card which seem to be reducing far too slowly due to other commitments at the moment. Still need to order football kit for dd which is £60 so definitely need to sort that by the weekend. The location of the fitting was too far so hoping the size we choose will fit and also last her!

Think we have a break in the rain so off to take the children out to burn off some energy. I'd given them both a homemade chocolate muffin and the noise and energy has escalated considerably! :rotfl:

AlexLK

You're very lucky to have a beach on your doorstep, Cath. I'm somewhat envious.

CathT

We will definitely be going there more often Alex.

Busy and spendy day today amusing the children. Took them to a free football activity, then swimming followed by food and then onto another football activity.
£20 spent and another £9 on wine.


They have gone to bed exhausted and happy

shangaijimmy

Rain has been relentless here so our boys are like coiled springs...still...! Managed to get them quiet and watching a film in conservatory. Tomorrow forecast is better so it'll be kicking them out with bikes, scooters etc... Like you working on non spendy stuff after we've had a week in the lakes!!