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

jackieglasgow

There is a website which does "naming" a star for free, I did this for my dNiece's christening gift as we had no money at al at the time, and printed off the certificate and rolled it up like a scroll and tied it with nice ribbon. You could do this for both gifts. I will see if I can find it for you.

The one I used isn't there any more, but I found this one http://www.painterofdreams.com/ you can name two for free. If you have any nice picture frames you could regift, you could do this with the christening gift if you felt you needed something more substantial looking. (I never, but each to their own)

parsonswife8

(((Frugal))) Life can really be so hard to cope with sometimes.:(

dollydaydream07

Thank you so much, that is a wonderful and thoughtful gift - one i will definately use for the christening

dollydaydream07

Have just had a thought, after jackieglasgow saying about framing the name a star certificate, i am going to look into the baby's name meaning, print it off and frame it, i think i might have a suitable frame to use
thanks again jackieglasgow as it gave me food for thought

jackieglasgow

You're very welcome

stiltwalker

Wow jackieglasgow that's fab, just been to look at that website and put it in my favourites for when I need it.

gailey_2

Morning guys.

Just doing my best to catch up.

frugal -sorry you going through hard time with your dad hope it gets sorted.

laney lee-well done on paying 34k debt thats amazing!

bayleighs nanna-welcome you in right place.

lauren-no shame in 2nd hand most of my kids get mostly 2nd hand toys and clothes.

catazine-my nan used to knit grandkids loads, baby stuff, school cardies, dolly stuff was always appreciated sadly my mam can only knit blankets and I cant knit at all!

Sorry to anyone else having bad time and feeling bit emotional
I think struggling with not much money and being unemployed can get people down more at xmas than any other time as theres so much expectation.

Well some news in gailyley household.

I know hubby was gutted about not getting job so dident mention it all all yesterday he had half day meeting which was nice brak for him.

To surprise him as know he feels financial pressure I took bus into city centre as he banks santander very few branches in city especially our side. Paid 160off his credit card.

Got stopped and asked of wnated to do a survey, I always feel sorry for them standing in cold street and take pity on them.
Turns out wasent an ordinary survey was more indepth interveiw on family days out in bristoil had to go to church hall just off high street to meet with this bloke and chat for 20mins .
result got paid 10pounds:D and free choc digestives was well chuffed he said I been really helpful as some of attractions in city in decline and I told him how we decide on limited days out we do ayear that its not always the cheapest its the best value for money that caters for kids of both ages, hubby likes parking, we try to use money off vouchers and my bugbera is over expensive giftshops and cafes once in there.

City centre was quite busy everyone appeared to have 1day sales on.

Brought the baby his first blanket felt really nice to buy something its was 12quid and has spacemen all over it.

Also debenhams had 25%off was stupidly busy.

Got my girls matching xmas top reduced to 4quid each.
Got the baby 2 sleepsuits so very restrained.
was also chuffed as was stocking shopping for my 4year old and spotted the hello kitty choc at till was going to get in poundshop but with 25%off got for 75p.

Spent 10pounds in h and m on lots of hello kitty stocking fillers.
got practical things like hair stuff, socks, new brush I think she will love it and feel better I at least started shopping but cant get anything else until next month .
I guess im lucky her being a girl maybe and young but I know she appreciate lots of little things wrapped up and some clothes unlike stepson.

went into gamestation to research x boxes.
As the number of different versions have baffled me.
anyway theres the older ones.
the elites more reliable sort of 3years old.
The newer versions came out june this year.

I managed to source a elite with controller and 1game plus post for 98pounds off person I know online.
Im quite chuffed with that just hope he wont whine its not the latest, his mam mislead hubby to actual cost.
Of course hubbys blase justa nnoyed me he thinks ones going to suddenly appear as hes agreed yet done no reseach up to me to sort it. I said I would pay through my paypal, hes paying me.
I will wrap it and get 1selection box. already brought 1card to my son at xmas 39p in family bargains feel thats more than enough for stepson.

I went in poundland for 1st time its fantastic especially for food.
Got the girls stockings for 1pound each as decided just cheap little things in stockings although unsure what to put in 1year old stocking apart from chocs.

went in family bargains got hubby cheap papers, filters and lighters wish he would give up but is a saving rather than him buying them.
Got 2boxes of weetabix choc stars as kids love them and quid a box.
Been buying some cheapy bottle latly as short and quid for twinpack amazed how much cheaper they are than avent or tommee tippee!

I think may have to do city centre once a month as so many cheap shops that it will be way to keep grocery costs down.

Hubbys getting cheap tobacco of someone he knows today which is huge saving but lumpsum of 90quid:eek:really wish he could give up.

I went to jamie oliver party which was actaully quite pricey stuff.
Only brought 1thing a cheap baking tray as really needed one.
I loved the look of tagine but think I can find it cheaper than 39pounds. The casserole dishes were 30 and although I need one will shop around for better price.

Really tired today hubby babysat and kept girls up late so they tired and cranky this morning. eldests gone off to school just trying to get baby to nap.

Did want to go butcher later but will see how I go.

I forced hubby to sit down and look at finances this morning as hes keeps putting it off. I think he thourght if he got new job all our money problems will be magically solved and debt free in no time.
He drives me potty at times as thinks hes being frugal but spends little here and there, never looks at balance or ministatement when taking cash out and really doesnt take much notice of statements or monitor each week despite having online banking.

So despite the grocery challange this year which has brought costs down he starts the month which usually 15th when he gets paid anjd I say will will ok this month and he says of course but 1-2weeks before payday he realises he suddenly short and has to get payday loan or respend on his creditcard just to pay petrol.

I told him this cannot go on.

have done november budget sheet its 19th now and in order for him to keep to 120pound petrol budget he has to use nissan micra everyday for work as it cost 25pounds to fill tank and lasts a week.
But hubbys been taking bmws to meetings think he doesnt wnat other managers to see him drive the micra plus he uses speed as an excuse micra only goes 50miles topspeed. Told him deal with it
As for bmw of doom thats going 1st chance for cheap people carrier.

Only budgeted 100quid for food as got lots in cupboard and house.
will go co-op again sunday see what reductions I can get.
I have paid for food recently so thats taken some pressure off.

All other bills remain same this month except few extras

98quid x box
220creditcard on top of 160I paid which brings him up to date:j
90pounds baccy costs which didnet factor in until he informed me yesterday.

50pounds credit card 2-min payment:(

next week we hopefully changing energy supplier as currently paying shocking 143quid:eek:with scottish power we wre in arreas but im sure those cleared by now.

in new year sky package is getting cut right back will lose hd and movies sadly.might have to join love film instead.

looking round and think we can make small changes on insurance.

hubbys chasing up 2different tax offices next week over travel claim for milage for last 4years which hopefully come to 2grand which allows us to part exchange the car for bigger and pay off some debt.

Have made decision in new year im taking his creditcards away and locking them up. What he does is worries about his current account as doesnt check where hes at so sometimes think ahh well i put this on cc and pay it off at end of month but that rarly happened.
We done well this year with debt payments hubbys probably paid off more than me but what I have paid off I havent respent so my figures are going down.

might start giving him cash pocket money.

the good news is looked at income and expenditure plus potential cuts backs and we

better off this xmas than last 2xmases god knows how.
Realised as much as I keep to strict budget hubby hasent and some money has been wasted.

If we tighter and more strict the he wont have to go down dmp route and he will be able to double the min payment amount hes been paying for last year so told him hard as it is he needs to pay more as interest means balance os not falling.

We need to pritorise better so told him any xmas money which girls always have will be spent on new furniture for there rooms as thats what they really need and my youngest still needs her mmr jabs
we have a number of thinsg we need to get more pic frames as feel bad got some lovley pics of girls and they not up on wall.
We need to fund double pram and any boy bits as having aboys bit liek starting from scratch when you got all girl stuff so im shopping around on sales and ebay to get all I need.

i know hes frustrated its going to take longer to be debt free but on plus side we have nice house, nice area, lovley family and our health.As my nana said plenty people worse off.
I think aim next year be clear creditcards 8grand :eek:which will just leave overdrafts and loan but could be debt free 2-3years time which is not forever just feels that way.
Also no new job means we keep 40pound amonth tax credit until 2012 I think and wont lose our cb in 2013 unless he gets new job plus will have extra child benefit for 3rd child.
Hes still going to keep looking but think he realises hes lucky hes got ajob he actaully loves just the money side of things and pride as he normally gets lots of job offers told him its nothing personal its just current climate and if we rejig teh budget we can manage!

interesting wright stuff was focussing on todays daily main article keeping down with the jones taht people love bragging about bargains and how little the spend these days.
They discussed that tory peers comments on britains never had it so good teh average wage in 1950,s is same as it is now yet we have free healthcare, more gadjets , cheaper clothes/food prices, for those with certain morgages cheaper morgages so not everyones worse off in recession there are winners and losers and do wonder if recession will change britains attitude towards debt /credit and we will all save and budgets more but other fears is the worst effects havent really hit yet.

We probably better off than ireland or us even where so many repossesions people living in tents, private healtcare and very little welfare state means uks maybe not in bad place compared to other western countries.

Inflations still worrying me as rising cost of petrol/energy pushes up inflation its at 3.1%they think will rise to 3.6 after jan yet bank of england target is 2percent! I dont think they will have much choice soon interest rates will have to go up. Seems they cant win whatever they do people will suffer due to low wages/increased prices or struggling to pay their morgage/debts.

realised waffled for ages got so much to do mams coming overtommow need to get house tidy and organised.
also need to do some batch cooking.

Hope everyones having good day no rain here :j

im trying to stay positive and feel much better than I did as we taking sensible approach and can see the light even if hubby cant!

rachbc

rosieben wrote: »

she has said that she doesn't want him to be picked on by his friends

but if he already has a pink one how would getting a blue one make this anymore likely?

Thats_Me_3

Just to let you know, I am finally redundant (halfway through the month, they would not let me stay until the end of the month!) so me and Mr TM are going "Hardcore Frugal" - da da daaaa!!! Be afraid, be very afraid!
I will try to catch up with everyones posts today and tomorrow, meanwhile,,,,hugs/congrats/oh no's!/sorry to hear that etc. etc. I will catch up and put all of these exclamations where they belong. See you later.
xx

UnderPressure

nuttybabe wrote: »

My youngest son plays with his big sisters pink dolls house!!! More than she does!!! :P

Ha ha ha that made me chuckle, my 7 year old son used to love pushing his sisters prma around the garden bless him, everyday that particular summer holiday we would open the back door in a moring and he would run over to the garage and get it out it kept him happy for hours lol