2011 Make or break time

pennywisepoundstupid

Well done for staying strong, you have to put your children and your happiness first

millionaire_in_training

well done am proud of you ( weird huh I dont know you ) but still proud :j. It'll be easier next time. My mum knows I'm skint but just thinks I'm a skint single mum so no need for explanations . She bought me a new quilt on Tuesday for my bed as I have been frozen the last few days. Was so toasty last night I slept in

the_harrys

Thanks for the positive vibes MIT and PWPS- they really cheered me up!
Glad you had a toasty night- I'm overheating at the moment as our house is usually quite cool (trying to keep the gas bill down!) but I've been away with work and the hotel is absolutely sweltering- I think my internal thermostat has re-set or something. Nice to be waited on for a change though.

It's my last day away today- I can't wait to get back to the OH and kids- slightly dreading seeing what OH has spent in my absence- it's usually £28 for a carton of milk when he shops as he picks up lots of other little "essentials" at the same time LOL

chevalier

well done on having the conversation with your mum. We all know how hard those can be. At least you were able to come to a compromise on it. So well done on saving £800!

Now you just have to keep it up
chev

MiaowMiaow

Really well done on speaking to your Mum - it must have taken a lot but stay strong, you definitely can't be expected to spend so much on family occasions so keep reiterating to your Mum that you simply can't do it. Well done and keep it up!!! *Hugs* xx

millionaire_in_training

on keeping bills down, simce my dishwasher has broken my electricity is going down from £43 per month to £28. Fab eh!! That plus me going round house shouting at everyone to 'turn that off, I'm paying for that and no-one is using it'

the_harrys

Yes I do a fair amount of that- it's like Blackpool illuminations upstairs when the kids have left for school! That's some expensive dishwasher MIT- I think the new 'A' rated ones should be way cheaper to run if you're thinking of replacing it.

I feeling really cheerful this morning- thanks to all for your support (Chev, MM, MIT, PWPS)- you're all right of course and I think the main reason is that I've had "the conversation" with my Mum and I really do feel a weight has been lifted as these expectations have been going on literally for years (about 8!). It has been such a struggle keeping up. And it's sunny and nearly Spring

I'm off shopping with DS1 (a very rare event- he would usually rather walk over burning coals I think) as he's going on a very MSE snowboarding trip next month - he was invited by a friend's family for Easter and he only has to pay the flight (£150)- they are insisting on paying for absolutely everything else which is amazingly generous. We're hitting TKMaxx and hope to kit him out for less than £70- wish me luck! He is using some of his saved pocket money too. I just feel a bit sorry for DD1, who we turned down for the school ski trip but that was £1300 so just too expensive. Maybe she should cultivate a rich friend :rotfl:, although the headmaster did agree that the school will aim to plan a more affordable trip next year- either way we will have to do something for her in the future to keep things fair.

pennywisepoundstupid

That so generous of friends family hope ds has a fantastic time, could you spoil DD a bit whilst he is away, not talking about spending huge amounts but her spending time with you maybe going to the cinema, you can use nectar points at Vue if you have any, maybe having a manicure done, going to a nice coffe shop for hot choccie and a cream cake, i know my daughter loves stuff like this especially if she gets mum all to herself.

the_harrys

Great ideas PWPS- I have nearly 2 weeks holiday from work over Easter (DS1 is away for 1 of those) so I'm really looking forward to having some fun with the DDs without work to worry about. (There are 2 of them but only DD1 would have been keen to go skiing- DD2 isn't bothered).

I find my job very stressful (hence yet another restless night culminating in posting before 7am on a Sunday!) so 2 weeks will be heaven.

the_harrys

DS1 and I had quite a successful shopping trip yesterday- although TKMaxx had absolutely no ski jackets/ trousers left we managed to get some stuff we were both happy with from a sale in a local ski shop (jacket/ trousers/ base layer) for just under £80 so slightly over budget. DS already has socks/ gloves/ goggles so all done. I also managed to pay for his flight via PayPal using my e-bay money which was fab as there were no extra payment charges and somehow it didn't seem like real money!

The only trouble with that is my plan for the Summer holiday fund to come from e-bay selling means I now have £770 to find from seliing stuff by August as I dipped into it for DS1 flight.

Happy Sunday everyone!