Too much month at the end of the money!

kahunababy

Morning all, well Sunday has arrived and whoever said Sunday was to be a day of rest definately wasn't a mother. Today I have cleaned up (although I did get some of this done last night in order to 'get ahead') and made a monster brunch for the tribe. Now we are all showered dressed and waiting on the BIL & SIL to get here before we go off for a afternoon geocaching. When we are back it will dinner, clean up, bath the boys, then time to tackle the giant ironing pile that has been begging me to do it all week but I have just put off and put off. In fact I think it is safe to say I hate Sundays!
Yesterday was a good day, I managed to get some lovely mugs for my hampers for 70p each thanks to poundstretcher. I tried my local florist for cellophane but she had non in at the moment. She did say she would sell me some for £1.50 a metre, I thought that was a little expensive so have just bought 5metres from fleabay for £3.04 inc P&P. I went through Qui*co and earned some pennies. Talking of Quid*o, I went on and joined snapfi*h through it last night, got myself 40 free prints and earned £10 cashback in the process! I have been complaining for weeks that we really must get some photo's done as we need to update some we have round the house and I wanted to give some as presents so it really has come in handy. Had to pay for the P&P but a 99p I wasn't about to complain.

I have made a good dent in my mahoosive 'to do before xmas' list, one of them being sort out my e-mail accounts. I have a couple of e-mail accounts I use for different things but they have all got a little messed up lately so I spent the best part of 2 hours sorting them out last night, logging on to various websites and changing my details, such a very boring and thankless task but I feel so much better now it's done.

I have managed to get some time off over the half term (and so has DH!!!!) so we are trying to think of cheap things to do with the kids, I am already planning on having a craft day and get all the xmas cards and magnets out the way but I am trying to think of some more outdoor things to do (they are getting a bit bored of 'going for a walk' and the local park). Will have a search on the tourist information website for areas of interest.

Hope you all had a good weekend. Will pop back later x

kahunababy

Happy Monday people:j
Not sure why but I am in a really good and positive mood today. Had a really good weekend and I am on track for a NSD today. I have brought my lunch into work with me and I have no intention of going anywhere near the shop. I have dinner bubbling away in the slow cooker so I don't even have to cook when I get home:D, always a bonus on a monday as we are stapped for time due to DS Beaver group starting at 6.30!

As DH is around to look after youngest DS I am planning on taking eldest to Beevers and going for a run around the lovely park opposite before I have to pick him up. This should have two benefits.

1. I won't be using as much fuel driving him to Beevers, driving home, sitting down for all of 10 mins before driving back to pick him up then back home again. I am planning on leaving the car at the Beever hut as the park is only opposite.:cool:

2. I will shift some of this weight before Xmas. It is getting beyond a joke now, I used to do exercise regually but over the last few months I just don't seem to be able to find the time. Short of getting up at 0430am (I'm not that commited) I just don't seem to get the time. I have decided that I will have to squeeze it in when and where ever possible.

Anyway best shoot before my boss catches me. Will try and pop back later and if anyone else has any good ideas for making a 24 hour day last 28 please let me know:rotfl:

brizzledfw

Hello KB..good to see you're in a good place today. I went back to work today after some time off sick with stress so a wee bit weird. Loved my job and now not so sure it's where I should be but it's well paid and given where some people are and the state of the public sector after tomorrows likely hatchet job think maybe I should grit my teeth and keep going. But your comment above its a 28 hour day job... And no the only way I have found to cope is to cut back on sleep. No fun!!

2 NSDs this month which is unusual and great. I count these as ones where oh and I spend nothing at al. Not a cent. Here's to a few more. Am increasingly convinced NSDs and LSDs are only way to go.

Happy to get up early later in week to go for a run..fancy challenging each other?! I will get up if you do!

Cheers

kahunababy

BFW, your on! :jI need some help to keep me motivatored (story of my life) so this could be just what I need. I managed to get out for a run last night, only a couple of miles and not a great time but I feel so much better for going. I have been stuggling today with my chest today though. That was the first run I have done since packing in the smokes so I sort of expected it. I'm only aching a little today which is good so going to try and get out again tomorrow night whilst DS is at youth club, also gives DH and DS2 some more father son time;)

Anyway I hope no one minds but I am going to have a little rant about DS1's school. We have recently moved house which ment that my boy had to move schools. A couple of weeks ago we had a letter home inviting us to a parent teacher consultation AFTERNOON! I responded asking if there was a later time as DH & I both work, I was told 'sorry but the school closes at 4.30pm so you can come at 3.20! My hubby managed to get some time off work to go. When there my sons teacher berated my husband because our son had failed to do his homework once during the term (he is only 6). My husband explained that this was due to a family emergency which resulted in the children being out late. She basically then told him that we were bad parents for working and putting that before our childs education. She also suggested moving his bedtime back or arranging to leave work earlier in order to collect him earlier. I was absolutly ragging when my DH told me. :mad:I have since discovered that this teacher has had a number of disagreements with parents over similar issues and has even been taken to a tribunal resulting in a formal warning. I have worded a letter to her and have asked her to acknowledge my letter. I have also copied the principle in. I am absolutely flabergasted that she could suggest such things and I am not willing to let this issue lie. I have requested an apology and I have informed the Principle that if she continues in the same vein I will be requesting a class if not school move for my son. It may be worth noting that my son really doesn't like school since moving into her class (very out of character) and often comes home asking why she shouts at them all so much. Anyway rant over, just had to get it off my chest!:(

Getting back on an MSE track, I haven't done too bad today. I did have a small spend on milk for work and peppers for tea but that was it:)
I have tomorrow all planned so should manage a NSD as long as I can stay out of the cafe. I have found that the tablets I am on for smoking cessation are making me eat like a horse. I am going to sit down soon and write out a food plan for tomorrow and make sure I stick to it otherwise I will be the size of a house come Christmas!:o

Right, I am going to shoot off now, let me know when you want to go for that run, we could even compare times;) Take care all x

brizzledfw

Sorry KB just back from being away for work so was off line MSE wise. I am definitely up for a run either tomorrow(Friday) (actually may have to be the evening now..!) as i type this at about 11.30pm!! or Saturday morning..what say you? Take your pick

kahunababy

Hi BFW, sorry never got back to you, had internet drama's with Virg*n but fingers crossed seems to be sorted now. I did manage to get out on Friday for a short run so was quietly pleased with myself. Had a busy weekend so I haven't really had time but I am going to sit down and try and work out when I can squeeze some more runs in! Let me know when your free and we will compare;)

Well I have had a really productive weekend. I have meal planned (we usually do this anyway) however we have been getting very bored of having the same thing every 10 days. I got the cook books back out and have chosen 7 different recipes that we have not tried before. As I am off with the kids all week (half term) I have a little extra time to prepare the meals. I have also meal planned our lunches, I'm not sure the kids could have faced another soup or ham roll! I have got inventive and this week we are having:
A Plougmans
HM Sausage rolls
HM Pizza Muffins
L/O Chilli Pasties
Baked potato's
I'm sure that doesn't sound too inventive for some but we have fallen off the wagon a little of late and got lazy so I am hoping this will introduce some varity back into our diets.:) It is also a good chance to try some of these things out on the kids so I know if they will eat them when it comes to pack lunches.

In another attempt to save some money I have been making tray bakes for the kids treats and I also baked a huge Malva cake which we had for pudding today and I have the other half wrapped up in the fridge ready for pudding through the week:D

Unfortunately tomorrow will definitely not be a NSD. As we have recently moved (although we have lived in the area previously) we haven't ventured into the main city nearby yet, so tomorrow as we are off school and work we are heading in to have a gander at what new shops have opened/closed and to try and get some ideas for Christmas presents. I just know we will end up buying some bits and bobs but I am going to try and keep a handle on things and not impulse buy.
We are not heading out till after lunch so we don't end up eating lunch out and I have knocked up a slow cooker chilli to put on first thing so I know I won't be tempted to suggest the dreaded pub lunch on the way home! As with all capital cities the parking is astronomical (£3.20 an hour:eek:) so we are going to walk to our nearest train station which is only about 1km away and jump the train in as it's only 2 stops and a return for one adult is cheaper than an hours parking!

That means that I should have some free time tomorrow morning, do I try and have a lie in or get up and go for another run? Erm, we will see, who will win, the fat sleepy little devil on my left shoulder or the skinny and motivated little angel on my right:rotfl:

I have to admit I can not abide X factor but my husband and boys have it on and I am ready to chop my ears off so I don't have to listen to some trashy manufactured pop person destroying songs I like!:mad:
Really not into reality tv shows.

I am going to shoot for now, off to get a bath and escape the x factor.

Take care all and I will let you know the damaged from tomorrows shopping trip:p

kahunababy

Yay, today wasn't as bad as I expected:j
Kids enjoyed getting the train into the city and I enjoyed not having the stress of racing around the traffic and trying to find somewhere to park! The main bonus was the cost, £3.20 single or £3.30 return, couldn't quite work that one out but obviously went for the return.:money:
Considering it's a Monday town was really busy:mad: We had a good look around and got some good ideas for presents. I still can't find any resealable bottles for BIL toffee vodka, will have to keep looking. Ended up buying DS1 two new pairs of jeans as he seems to have grown in the last two weeks and the jeans he had on today implicated that his cat had died:p Poor sod, looked like we didn't care for him. I also managed to get myself a new knitted dress:j I did justify it by declaring that I couldn't remember the last time I bought myself any clothes (truthfully, I think it may have been last Christmas). I also have a beautiful pair of brown boots that I don't wear anywhere near as much due to the fact that I have nothing to wear them with so in reality I got a whole new outfit for the cost of one dress (£13). Very pleased with myself:D

Staying in till after lunch proved to be well worth it too. We tried the boys on a ploughmans today and lo and behold they both like pork pies and cubed cheese (we have been trying for weeks to get them to eat any cheese that is not grated). That's one new idea for a packed lunch then:T Having already had lunch before we ventured out I threw a couple of chewy bars and a couple of banana's in my bag for snacks through the afternoon. I also took a sports bottle filled with juice as we always seem to spend a small fortune on bottles of coke etc when out and about. This kept the kids going all afternoon. We got home fairly late (about 8pm) however I had tea all sorted. Slow cooker chilli was a real treat and warmed us all up after such a long day. All in all I think we did ok today. I could have spent alot more but decided to just get some ideas then come home and see where is the cheapest place to get them from. :A

Tomorrow will be a run followed by some house admin then off to the MIL for tea tomorrow night! Hope the boys are as weel behaved tomorrow as they were today as I was really impressed with the lack of crying, kicking, screaming and shouting that usually comes when out shopping (they are mini men afterall:D ).

Right, I'm off to check out some comparrison websites. Nite nite all x

brizzledfw

Hello...busy week with being away for a few days camping with kids and oh...chilly when it got frosty but amazing clear sunny weather in Wales..woo hoo. Then away for work..but for the first time in ages (5 years..too long) had a training course..personal development stuff based on an Insights programme and due to the subject matter but also an amazing facilitator it was very good..would recommend it to anyone..but anyway that's a brief skip through why I haven't popped in KB.


But KB...no running but did 2 cycle rides of about 8 miles each and a hill walk of about 5 miles which due to the climbing took about 5 hours. All very frugal as we took food out with us and also didn't use any petrol, no parking etc For the first time ever on holiday no meals out we cooked in the van every time plus we made a chicken stretch to 3 meals.. ( am quite proud of that one)

Hope alls good with you and you have had a good term break. Please post soon!

kahunababy

Hey B, sorry haven't been on for a few days, half term then I had family visit then the boys both caught a tummy bug so I have spent the last few days cleaning up their sick:(
Well done on making that chicken last 3 meals, you will have to let me know how you done it:D I love Wales and I'm only slightly jealous of your week away:D

Right, on the fitness front, I am planning on going for an early morning run on Thursday if your up for it? My DH has to leave for work early on Mon & Wed so I only really get the chance to get out Tue & Thurs. Fridays are really busy days for me, I work through lunch in order for me to leave to early so I can go and get the weekly shopping in as AS*A is on my route home. It's then a quick dash to go and collect the boys from their childminder. I am hoping to squeeze in a cheeky gym session on a friday night (it might keep me out of the pub:p) Let me know what you are planning.

I have joined this months Grocery Challenge. I have set myself a limit of £350 which is slightly higher than I would usually aim for but I am starting to stock up on Christmas bits so £50 extra really isn't that much. Saying that, it's only the second of the month and I have already spent £82.25 so fingers crossed I will be able to rein it in a little and come in on budget:o I have also set myself a number of No Spend Days to aim for, 15 for Nov. Not sure if we will manage it but sure we will give it a good crack!

I am also planning on joining Slimming World on Thursday:undecided, I can't really afford it however I can't afford not to. I don't have a masive amount of weight to lose but I do need some encouragment and I am hoping that having to get on the scales each week infront of someone will give me the push I need to stick to it.:o

Well that's it from me, I must go and get the boys pack lunches made as they seem much better now so are off back to school tomorrow:T

Take care and I will post again tomorrow if I get time x

brizzledfw

Hello there. Thursday it is!! Let's go for it.

Was talking to OH re the GC..think we may do it as it's our weakness. Do others find it works? It seems popular.

Never as successful with NSDs..LSDs maybe but we did 5 last month which is a record so 15 is very out of my league.

Speak soon!!