How to Get Through The Tough Times The Old Style Way.

mardatha

Yes, just phone the office and say you need to speak to somebody cos your wage is wrong and that mrs so-and-so (she who does the timesheets & either cant count or is at the fiddle lol) is very busy so you dont want to pester her. Just act innocent and thick when she finds out you phoned - tell her the same thing. She won't say much cos she knows what she's doing.

Larumbelle

Bertiebots, :grouphug: constant attrition over timesheets was the thing I hated most about being a temp. I would be all nicey-nicey when I tell my supervisor that I'm doing my own timesheet - I'd say, I'd hate for the office to muck it up then blame you, so if I fill it out and send it myself you can't get blamed. Then it sounds like you're on her side. If she says no I'd note down the date and time of any conversation we had about it, when she asked me to sign etc. as well as my hours worked.

DollyDayDream, :grouphug: it is so hard trying to be strong for everyone else. As for your daughter, well, there were plenty of things I wanted that we couldn't afford (or I was just told 'NO' with no explanation) when I was a kid, dancing and swimming lessons included, and I still love my parents To be honest, I think it's a very recent thing to assume that if a kid wants it, they should have it. I don't think it's a bad thing for a child to be told 'no' sometimes, whatever the reason. As for the party, I would point out that if your daughter doesn't want to go to the party enough to walk there, she doesn't want to go enough full stop. And if DH is being negative around your daughter, tell him to stop. If nothing else he should try be strong and positive around her. I don't look back feeling bad about the things we couldn't afford, but I do have many unhappy memories of my parents arguing and resenting each other over money. Oh, and tin foil, brown paper, computer paper, wallpaper cut-offs, sheet music, fabric scraps and anything else you have kicking around are all acceptable wrapping materials. It's going to get ripped off anyway, if you're embarrassed just give it to the kid before anyone else sees it :rotfl: Keep on hanging in there, you are doing great in a difficult situation.

Most of the laundry is done and on the line just the bedclothes to do. I'm not getting much done before I have to have a rest again, though. I have polished all my shoes and bags, sorted the odd-sock and rag bags, and made out a huge master planting schedule (we're well behind on the proper one because of the op) just because I can do these jobs while reclining!

Last night I did some online bingo for the cashback - you can make a profit if the cashback is more than the deposit, but you need to be sure of the T&Cs. The cashback has tracked so between that and winnings I am up £32! :T I still find online bingo extremely tedious though. Personally I wouldn't do it for fun, though plenty of what I find fun is probably tedious to other people

Our late sprouting broccoli is nearly ready to start picking :T but the best thing is, it is covered with ladybird larvae! It is proper British ladybirds too - they live in the pampas opposite and they all come out to sunbathe on days like today. Also the bumblebees are back in force, and my ancient decrepit cat is bouncing around like a kitten. I think spring has sprung

Oh, and the building society did mess up the money transfer :mad: but one phonecall and it was all sorted, with even an extra fiver refunded as a 'goodwill gesture' without me even having to ask. It has been in the news today that they're trying to take over Northern Rock - but apparently only the 'good' (i.e. profitable) bit of it. I'm not sure how that would work or whether or not it is a good thing.

charlies-aunt

Had a very OS morning - walked round town and the market shopping round for the best deals and pleased to come home at £5 under budget :j

However . . . . . .

Visited DD at work in the Animal Sanctuary this afternoon - big mistake in a way as DH fell in love with young cross breed - the upshot being that after a quick recalc of our budget & subject to homechecks etc going through okay . . . . we will have another mouth to feed by the end of the month. On one hand I feel that its daft to take on another pet when money is tight but on the other hand, the row of sad little faces was heart breaking & while we aren't cash rich - we can give one of them a permanent loving home.:):)

That approved-foods-type shop will be getting more frequent visits from here on in and we will try to maximumise the output from the allotment - DH is already eyeing up the plot next to us that hasn't been touched yet this year . . . its a half plot like ours and tbh - its a bit of a tip but its definately worth an enquiry to see if its vacant and availble so we could put some more potatoes in to store for winter

dollydaydream07

we ended up going to the party, ended up catching the bus so that cost me £1.20(noticed a sign on the bus saying that fares are going up 5p too) rummaged round the house and managed to find a quid so that paid for a gift bag, DD had a wonderful time - she decorated her own pizza, had a bit of salad and then some ice cream covered in LOADS of chocolates, i ended up eating all her crusts as she doesn't eat them,she ended up getting brain freeze from the ice cream so i ate the rest of it
can honestly say i really don't know what all the fuss about pizza hut is though(there is always a queue out the door at ours), i'm glad that it's somewhere we've never bothered to go
the weather had brightened up once we come out the party so we walked home, usually takes me half an hour on my own but with DD in tow it took us an hour, we did stop off at lidl though for some spuds for tea later

once home DD asked for the glitter and glue out, a blank card and some of my craft stuff and then kicked me out the room can't wait till tomorrow morning now and there won't be one shop bought card in my house

thanks for all the suggestion about wrapping paper, i have a huge pile of magazines that i'm going to save to use, got a couple of rolls of wallpaper i can use too

i am really looking forward to tea later - hm chicken pasties with either chips or mash and peas and sweetcorn

i am feeling much more positive about this whole month now, thanks to everyone who has offered kind words/advice, it's much appreciated
i don't have a single penny in my purse right now and i don't give a flying monkeys about it, we have plenty of food in - might mean a few strange meals but so what i am on a mission to spend as little as possible this month - will allow us a treat of taking DD to soft play during the holidays and a bottle each of something for me and DH - after all it is mothers day tomorrow and our anniversary at the end of the month

mardatha

Does anybody else find it not really helpful to eat from the freezers/not spend for a certain time ? It just empties the store cupboard and freezer, and then I have to fill them up again ! :mad:

SunshineBear

Council Tax

The reason they collect it over 10 months is that they need to have collected it all before the start of the new tax year so the 2 months gives them time to chase up any bad payers, if they remain bad payers it can be added to there next bill.

Annoying eh.

jumblejack

mardatha wrote: »

Does anybody else find it not really helpful to eat from the freezers/not spend for a certain time ? It just empties the store cupboard and freezer, and then I have to fill them up again ! :mad:

:rotfl:

I know what you mean. I must admit though, it gives you a great feeling to finally use up things that were just taking up room/shelf space!

My freezer was full of nothing in particular. Not anymore! I have used up most of the items that were unused and unloved and that has given me more room for sh-opportunities, ie, weekend meat offers at lidl!

My freezer is now full, but of things I DO use readily. It feels much more in control compared to the last few months!

kidcat

mardatha wrote: »

Does anybody else find it not really helpful to eat from the freezers/not spend for a certain time ? It just empties the store cupboard and freezer, and then I have to fill them up again ! :mad:

It does but at least you get to stock rotate, and also defrost freezers etc. I am running our freezers down to nothing ready to defrost then will restock one before we move but leave the largest empty (the removal men complained it was too much to lift full last time

Yellow ball has finally appeared but much too late for any useful washing to be dried:mad: but am going to get some washed ready to be on line first thing (yellow ball permitting)

Have found some chicken livers in the freezers that were destined for a chicken pate starter at next dinner party - but as we are moving first am wondering if theres something else I can use them for.

Does anybody have any brilliant ideas for use as a peg basket, mine snapped again this week so I have nothing and looking in shops they were £3 minimum and not very large?

greenbee

Make a pegbag kidcat

lostinrates

mardatha wrote: »

Does anybody else find it not really helpful to eat from the freezers/not spend for a certain time ? It just empties the store cupboard and freezer, and then I have to fill them up again ! :mad:

I like a good empty of the freezer and an imaginative meal. Two bunnies went in the freezer today and I finally grappled with a decent freezer dive. I thought I had a joint in there that don't, but I dd find a HUGE joint of beef which means inviting a huge group of people over to eat it. Tonight while having a rummage I found a lobster and dh found suasages. This means tomorrow night dh is looking forward toa tremendousy unconventional lobster followed by toad in the hole:rotfl::rotfl:


The spinach hoard means I hope the summery weather is back next weekend so we can have spanakopita and greek salad. And the broad bean hoard has me dreaming of middle eastern style dishes with mince meat and rice and yogurt.