Its tough, it will get better and guess what its freezing brrrrr!

UnderPressure

Frugalista wrote: »

What a shame that it wasn't all taken to charity shops instead of going into landfill . I know there are CS in my area that would be thrilled with that amount of virtually new kiddies toys (and plenty of parents too, I suspect).

They were all quite weather damaged from being in the shed which had a leaky roof, we did not realise until we started to empty it, that was my original plan I was going to take some to the local hospital and the rest to charity shops but theree was mould and all sorts of marks on all of it

We did try to clean some of it up but I was wary passing onto other kids mainly because of the mould that had been on them, a real shame

UnderPressure

bluebag wrote: »

OMG!!! I've just made twinx for the first time. Is there a twinx re-hab sort of priory place??
It's caused a scrum in the kitchen.

Sorry for being a nooooooooooooob but twinx??

ceridwen

A type of biscuit that is frequently referred to (in "Nom nom" type terms) on Old Style threads:rotfl:

Lindy_-_Loo

This year the boys are having £100 each on presents, they have had an extra DS game as I managed to sell some of their old clothes on ebay and made enough for 2 new release games. last year we put so much on the credit card, weve put our CC on barcla loans so that we dont keep using them. We had £300 of HSGV and I only need 4 selection packs now which I may get from tesco with the vouchers.

We have a large family, on my side theres 17 neices and nephews but we only buy for the under 18s and there is a limit of £10.

the only problem again this year is my best freind and her husband - there the boys god parents and they dont have children, they love their careers and dont want any. I asked last year if they minded if we didnt exchange presents (for the adults), she said that they understood if were stuck for money but they werent and shes my best friend so they would buy even if we didnt. So we bought gifts.

Our presents have been bought from ebay, car boot and whenever offers were on

bluebag

UnderPressure wrote: »

They were all quite weather damaged from being in the shed which had a leaky roof, we did not realise until we started to empty it, that was my original plan I was going to take some to the local hospital and the rest to charity shops but theree was mould and all sorts of marks on all of it

We did try to clean some of it up but I was wary passing onto other kids mainly because of the mould that had been on them, a real shame

It is a real shame, but at least something good has come out of it, you have had a lightbulb moment.

Gintotmelinda

ceridwen wrote: »

Hope the house refurb. goes well.

Errr....with the interest rates on savings still being virtually non-existent - I think I might usefully spend my next bit of "money I want to save really" on replastering a room that is in dire need of it (ie instead of saving the money). Do you have any idea what your plasterer would charge to replaster a room thats about 16' x 12' and that would need replastering from scratch (ie "skimming" wouldnt be sufficient I'm afraid:(). The plaster is only being held on the walls by the wallpaper I've got covering it - so it all needs to come off and get replaced from scratch and then I can just paint the wall (as I planned to - when I bought the house many years ago now.....). Boy do the walls in that room look BAD...and I was going to wait and get a bit more savings first - but those interest rates dictate I spend the money instead if theres anything I need anyway (darn it!)...:mad:

hi Ceridwen

I had a word with the singing plasterer today who wasn't much help to be honest....."oh I'd have to see it and you can't price it up until you see the condition of the plaster" etc. :mad:

I suggest that you try and get someone round to look at it then you might have a clearer idea....may be about £800?

Let me know anyway how you get on....are you going to the Birmingham OS meet in January?

Take care

Gintot

jediteacher

Well, I tidied some of the front room slow going but it looks a little better. Did strip the whole sofa and hoovered in all the creases. Was a little disappointed to discover not a single penny! However, when I was sorting paperwork on the phone self I found £10! :j Obviously finders keepers and as hubby is away in Spain for business then it has gone straight into my purse.

starsandmoon

On the subject of how much people spend on their children over Xmas, I spend about £100 on my little girl. She isnt into techy things. She has a DS but doesnt use it much and we share the lap top. She prefers books and games. She gets a lot of presents though from her extended family so does really well. This year she wanted the Sylvanian Family hotel which is £100 (and the furniture would cost more than in my house). Showed her the Applewood Cottage and said she could have that and Zhu Zhu Pets too but it was her choice. She chose the cottage and the Zhu Zhu's.

When she was smaller she commented about a neighbours child who had everything. Told her that his mum worked full time to buy him "stuff" and that he hardly saw her whereas I chose to work part time so she could see more of me but not have much "stuff" which option did she prefer. Luckily she preferred seeing more of me..

Its a balancing act at times. Because I only have 1 child I have to be careful not to spoil her.

seasalt_2

Surely, surely I can't be the only one whose teenage children (age15) don't as a rule get anything like that amount of money for their Christmas or birthdays. We are giving ours £50 each (ditto DD1 and am making DGS a quilt) and will spend roughly another £20 each on bits and pieces. They will add our dosh to what they get from grandparents, aunts and uncles etc and DD will probably end up with a sizeable chunk towards the iP*d nan* she wants but will have to make up the difference from her earnings. DS is saving up for a decent fiddle so that's where most of his money will go. Yes it would be lovely to be able to spend a bit more but neither of them have complained it is too little - in fact, they have quite enjoyed working out what they want to put their money towards and how far they can stretch it!

greent

Re Xmas presents, I also do what someone else does - spend more on the eldest 2 and less on the youngest

DD (13 next month) is getting an ip0d nan0 - but here birthday is just before Xmas and she knows she is getting it split across the 2 occasions - she will have the nan0 and a couple of books for her birthday and then a pile of bits for Xmas - total spend on the books/ bits about £50. Last year we did the same with a tv (tv bought on offer and used some vouchers) I usually aim for about £75 on the eldest 2. DS1 will be getting a bit more than that this year. He is in need of a new bike - and the accountant has said that we can buy a bike through the business for tax purposes - as DH has a nice bike and DD has nicked mine we'll buy one for DS1 instead (he now needs an adult sized one)

DS2 has mainly lego. DS3 is getting lots of old toys from the loft wrapped up and I'll put some money in his bank account - he doesn't 'miss out' financially then and I don't have unnecessary extra toys cluttering up my house!


I also need to add:

Congrats to Sammy Kaye!!

HUge ((hugs)) to FRugal x

Congrats to Rummer re hubby's job - fantastic timing!


And lovely to see you back on here, Hippeechiq!