Too much month at the end of the money!

kahunababy

Hello all,

Twice in one day, wow. I haven't had a NSD today because I had to buy fags but not for long. Started taking my tablets today so this time next week will be my first smoke free day! I have been a busy Mum tonight and I have found I am so much more organised when DH isn't here. Took the boys to find another geocache this evening after I picked them up. They really enjoy it (and I do too). You really should give it a go, you might get bitten by the bug also.

Quick question for any of you, have you ever been asked for a 'donnation' from your childs school? I have just had a letter home asking for a £30 family donation. I don't mind paying it but I am shocked as I have never been asked for anything from my sons previous school. Strange!

I have decided to take all the soft cheese left over from friday night into work. That way I still get to have some for my lunch and I don't sit
here now and scoff the lot. Should help the diet a little.

Anyway, just wanted to say thanks for all the good luck. I'm sure now we are more focused and understand where and what our money is going on we will start to claw our way back into the black. And good luck to you all who like me have ended up with a load of debt and a years supply of Toiletries to show for it :rotfl:

slummymummyof3

Have the school provided any details of what the 'donation' is to go towards? The only time I have come across this before, is at my nephews school in North London. The school was having an extension and asked the parents to set up a 'regular direct debit' rather than a 'one off payment' to help fund the build costs of an extension as they were receiving very little in the way of public funding as the school was not seemed as having 'needy children'

My sister and her OH are really not in the financial position to do this but felt somewhat railroaded in to 'complying' with the request. At the end of the day, it is state education and whilst I think it is acceptable to ask parents for donations towards school trips, cooking ingrediants etc - it is a bit much to expect any more than that.

kahunababy

Hi, the school have just said the money is for helping towards school trips etc however my son has just been on a school trip to the local nature reserve and we had to pay £15. The place where they went was free so all in all £15 per child for a 5min coach ride is still very expensive. Like I say I have no problem paying the money they asked for however if they are going to take money of each parent then I feel we should atleast be shown where and how our money has been used. Maybe a statement of expenditure each year? I just found it strange as I have never heard of anything like this before!

Anyway, how you all been? This hasn't been a great week but then it hasn't been my worst either. I did cheat last night. After a bad day in work I just couldn't face going home, cooking tea and playing referee so I chose to take the kids to McD's. It doesnt happen often as I generally don't like them eating that sort of food but now and again as a treat I don't mind. Anyway, afterwards I felt really really guilty! Spending all that money on crap food when we had perfectly good (and healthy) food sat in the house. I'm hoping that the next time I have an inclination to do something like that I will remember how I felt and not go!

So what is your plans for this weekend? I am planning on having a really lazy weekend. I am hoping that I can fit a pamper night in tonight once the kids are in bed. Like I say I have the worlds supply of toiletries so going to have a nice long soak in the bath, dye my hair (well winter is coming and I prefere my hair dark in the winter, don't ask me why?), then cover myself in cream and generally chill out. Saturday the kids want to go geocaching again so I am planning on making a picnic and going for a walk along the canal near us as the is about 20 along that route. Sunday is my cooking day, I manage to prepare a couple of meals for during the week so I don't have moments like yesterday! Might even get the kids to bake some cakes and freeze them for the run up to Christmas. All in all a fairly dull weekend!

Enjoy your friday, I'll pop back on later x

kahunababy

Hey, hope you all had a good saturday. We managed to go out and do another 3 geocaches and had a nice walk along the canal whilst we were at it. Then it was off to do the weekly shop. I normally go on a fri evening as I can not abide the shops on a Saturday:mad: but I really could not be bothered last night. I thought the weekly shop should be slightly less than normal as my list wasn't too long and we had most of the ingrediants for next weeks meals in already, how wrong could I be? We ended up picking up some bits for christmas (christmas pud, nibbles etc) so the shop actually ended up more than it would normally cost! Never mind, they are things we would have ended up buying eventually anyway.

I hear it free listings this weekend on ebay so think I may have to relist some of the bits and bobs I didn't sell last time it was free listing. Not going to make mega bucks but every penny helps.

I'm really looking forward to having a bit of a pamper night tonight, I also get a chance to clear out the large box of toiletries lurking under the bed! DH is home early from his work course and I have prewarned him not to even bother coming upstairs after 8pm. Think he is secretly excited himself as he can get some guitar hero time in!

Right I am off to chill the wine and get the kids to bed. Night all x:p

kahunababy

Well, Monday again:( and my first full week on my MSE 'diet' over and done with. I'm slightly disappointed as my spending diary sort of got a little lost somewhere mid week! I think I need to come up with a better way of keeping track. Maybe using my phone as I am never without that. I have however been more aware of what we have been spending and as a concequence not spent anywhere as much as we usually do. The kids seemed much happier this weekend as we went for a walk along the canal on saturday then to a local park on sunday instead of dragging them round the town center all day.

Anyway as it is Monday I have decided to start afresh (again) with the spending diary. I really must try and log everything as I spend it or I end up forgetting. I made my lunch for work again today (this is becoming a bit of a habit:)) and I am actually feeling good about this week. Mondays is Beavers night for the boys so I can get out for a run whilst they are busy so that should help shed some of the pounds (lb)!

Hope you all had a good weekend and this coming week is not too stressfull for you!

kahunababy

Well, what a pants week so far! No motivation to do anything, to do list longer than the Great Wall of China, NSD - out the window, Kids driving me round the bend, diet blown, work a nightmare etc etc etc. I really need to get a grip of myself today and sort things out. I just feel like I am always busy and never get 5 mins to just sit down! Even now I am doing this whilst waiting for a doc to download in work. Never mind, tomorrow is another day!

On the up side I have been smoke free since Monday. These tablets are working a treat and I don't even miss it. That reminds me, must book a dr's appoint for repeat! I haven't felt any side affects yet from the not smoking but the tablets make me feel a little sick for a hour or so after taking them but I am sure I can put up with that. Maybe thats why I am feeling a bit sorry for myself, withdrawal kicking in.

Think I might get myself out for a nice long run tonight (if DH is home on time) might help me clear my head and put me in the right frame of mind. I used to always run when I was stressed but I just doen't seem to find the time anymore.

Well best go and get back to doing some work. Bye for now x

kahunababy

Afternoon,

Well I have had a better couple of days. Sat down last night with DH and wrote down exactly what we owed and it worked out to be a couple of grand less than we thought:T
I have also managed to curb my spending over the last couple of days and I have a master plan for next week. I will get 12 NSD this month even if it kills me!

Diet is taking a bit of a hit as I am currently on day 4 of not smoking. I expected to end up nibbling a bit more and my reasoning is that I would much rather get my smoking kicked to the curb then I can tackle my weight. I will revisit that idea when it comes to the Christmas parties and I am trying to squeeze into my dresses:p. I am on champix to help me quit and they have some strange side affect. I had been warned they might make me feel a little sick so I was expecting that. I have found taking them with food helps and to be honest I can put up with a couple of hours of nausea a day if it means I stay off the fags and end up £6 a day better off. I have been having really strange nightmare though. I am not too bothered about them as I usually drop straight back off to sleep afterwards but I just wasn't expecting them. Strange:(

Anyway with Christmas coming I have been racking my brains what to get people. I found a really good thread on here about making your own Christmas Hampers. There is some really good ideas and the more you think about it the more you end up adapting it to the pearson you are buying for. I am going to do 7 or 8 and I can't wait. I am off out tonight to buy some supplies.:) So what you all doing for Christmas? We are really stuggling to come up with any ideas for our 3 year old. He pretty much has everything a normal 3 year old has due to his big brother getting it when he was that age. The problem is he is also into things a bit older (again thanks to his brother) and they are not always suitable for a 3 yr old. They are getting joint presents (computer console) but again that is more for his brother and I he hasn't really asked for anything. bless him, he would be happy with a box of ballons and some crumpled up wrapping paper:)

If anyone has any ideas they would be much appreciated. Well I'm off now as I've got to get and get my shopping in.

Have a grat weekend :beer:

brizzledfw

Hi there.am enjoying reading your diary. Will subscribe as i am coming back on here as need to get MSE again. Best of luck with everything

I was also looking at the Christmas boxes/hampers ideas. Think I will sort these for my DDs especially as we are away for Xmas so I want to travel light and spend as little as possible!

Re 3 year old..mine loved a scooter..a 2 wheeled silver one and they only cost about £10

noynoy

hello hunny..had to pop in your title made me laugh as i know what you mean! Ex non smoker here too used to smoke 10-15 a day then 2 weeks before i found out i was expecting i just quit cold turkey and never fancied one since that was 5.5 years ago sure i have the occasional slip where i have a puff on a friends when i have been a bit tiddley but thats such a rarity..i think i was just so lucky in that respect i know some people really struggle , even the smell on someone elses clothes makes me feel queasy , you see its all down to hormones for me, and i still cant drink tea even after all this time!
geocaching love it tried it a few times..yet to find a treasure..dh is buying a gps system for my phone as i have a very basic model so thats my christmas pressie.
Christmas pressies..i have signed up to swagbucks a while ago back in august its a search tool bar that you earnpoints from which you can buy paypal vouvhers in $5 cards which work out at £3.07? or you can get amazon .uk gift cards , i have gotton since august from amazon a scooter, one of those space hopper things and a shopping basket of toy food as well as 2 $5 payments..not to bad considering it doenst cost anything to join..google it if you like xx also if you have lots of unopened toileteries you can make up the hampers with those or even the mini freebies..what about ruling out presants to people, for example those who do not even acknowledge you have given them a present, we only buy for our sons, sil and bil, mum, fil , 2 godsons, my brother and my brothers 3 children ..with each child/household we say no more spent over £20 per household..seems to work and everyone seems relived! Check out jumble sales and charity shops you will be so suprised at what you can get in them brand new and boxed..i bought some moon sand for my eldest ds for 50p at the jumble sale and you couldnt tell it was supposedly second hand i think they are about £10 for the box also i bought some nina ricci perfume for 50p brand new which has a mark up of £50! Also poundland and 99p shops stock an awful lot of big brand shops surplus and some cute packaging such as hampers..Asda do there own smart price rolls i think its 3m for a bargin 19p..all the same no choice but hey it only gets ripped off anyway! Christmas cards..not sure how old your children are but you can get the kids to make them ..cheap card stock and some cheap envelopes and im sure you must have crayons paint glitter somewhere in the house.
Try not to be so hard on yourself you sound really postive and motivated , its human to have the odd slip up !
The no buying toiletries girlys have been a great help..makes me feel really smug everytime i use another item up!
Ive set myself 2 challenges
1..to get my overdraft done by end of the year,
2..this will be helped by ebaying as much as i can starting from beginning of next month..im trying to raise at least £100!
3..no spending more than £20 on toiletries/make up for the whole of the next year..i think with samples and christmas pressies i should be able to just about make it!

good luck hun xx

edited to say ..lord i do rabbit on sometimes!

kahunababy

Hello:wave:
Well done on quiting smoking noynoy, I'm finding it easy with these tablets but my god the side affects are horrific! I am planning on going shopping for a few bits today so will check out some charity shops. I had already thought about getting the kids to make cards and we are making our own fridge magnets out of some clay to give to the grandparents.

Oooo, Brizzledfw, off anywhere nice (or hot)?:) The hampers are a great idea, I have thought of atleast one for each person we buy for, we don't really buy for that many as we mainly concentrate on the kids but I do like to give something small to open to the adults on the big day.

Anyway, yesterday was a good day:) I managed to stay out of the cafe in work which is a rarity as Friday is known locally as 'fat friday' and we all go for bacon butties! I usually go shopping on a friday afternoon to get it out the way and not spend the weekend dragging the kids round TE*CO. I decided that because there was a A*DA close to work I would go there straight after work instead of going home the ending up in TE*CO! I will never shop in TE*CO again, A*DA is my new best friend. I managed to get all our weekly shopping as well as a £12 bottle of Vodka (for a Xmas hamper), a £7 Slow Cooker (another Hamper) a £10 meat selection to freeze for the festive season, an £12 gammon joint to join the turkey on Christmas day, and some other bits and bobs to go in the hampers (hot choc etc)and it all came in at ......£91. I couldn't believe it, that shop at the red and blue place would have been atleast £130. I am planning on doing my weekly shop there from now, it is about 5 miles out of my way but worth it for the savings. I have also found that if I order an AS*A gift card from my works discount scheme I get 5% cash back everytime I load it up. I am thinking I could load it at the beginning of the month with that months shopping allowance. Might be worth it in the long run!

Anyway, I am wondering what you think to a couple of my hamper ideas. My MIL lives on her own and works full time, I know there are times when she comes in and can't be bothered to cook a meal just for herself so I thought we might make her a Slow Cooker Hamper. I picked up a 3L slow cooker in AS*A for £7 (bargin) and I also picked up a selection of casserole mixes, will add some wooden spoons and maybe a nice bowl for serving it up in. Do you think that's a suitable gift?

I also picked up a 1.5L bottle of cheap vodka. I want to make a selection of flavoured vodka for my BIL. All I need is some 500ml bottles to put them in, (might have to bite the bullet and try Lakeland:mad:) then I am going to make a toffee vodka, chilli vodka and a skittles vodka. I will also get some shot glasses and present them all together. I think he will like that one

I have a really good idea for the DH's hamper but can't say on here incase he reads it! Made a start on that last night thanks to fleabay.

We stayed in last night and shared a bottle of wine so I managed to get some MSE time in, I joined Qui*co last night, not sure why I never knew about this site. I also downloaded EagerLearners spreadsheet. I am not going to start it properly till after Christmas as our expenditure is all over the shop at the moment.

Well that's it for now, I am off to source some cheap cellophane and mugs for my hamoer, will pop back later, thanks for the support xxx