MF at last! Now for the £300,000 'Mansion' Fund.

rictus123

Only just found this thread now...wow what an insperation!!! I plan to be on ladder by 24 at latest(just turned 20) and i would also aim to be mortgage free by 30...so i might only be giving myself 6 years to clear alot of money. Would be so worth it though...no mortgage at 30 means i could take on a buy to let and pay it off by 40. So alot of plans, i will be in touch in future with posters like yourself about best way to go about getting mortgage and paying it off. Have you posted an SOA anywhere? You must have a massive surplus now?

museumworker

In terms of entertainment for the little one...

My first reaction was make sure that you are don't stress yourself out thinking you have to entertain your DS! If you can, find something you like to do - for example I go stir crazy if in the house all day, especially on my own. I had absolutely no money when DD was born. Once a week I would go to the Salvation Army for a hot lunch, everyone would talk to be and fuss over DD, I had a lovely lunch made for me, and I could do a bit of charity shopping after. Just being out of the house made me feel better! Equally, popping round to a friends house for a cup of tea was free and gave me a much needed adult conversation.

Getting him to 'help' with your chores is a way of making sure that you can do everything you need to, without feeling guilty of neglecting DS. Plus he will pick things up by watching you, so future life skills in the making!

Check out your local libraries, museums, historic houses etc as many will do holiday family activities. Again, it might be that they are more for you than him, but even hanging out near the dressing out box in a national trust can be a few hours well spent! You may have a toy library in your area, which means you could bring a 'new' toy into the house once every few weeks to keep his interest. Look up all the playgrounds, I was always finding some. Also, swimming - if you get a schweppes water bottle with the special lid you can go for free, the water bottle is only 50p.

earthgirl

Welcome to MummyEm!! It will be great to get your suggestions for Earthlet.

MummyEm wrote: »

My little ones loved helping with washing the most around this age-pulling clothes out of the machine, playing with the pegs etc. My 2 yr old enjoys following me around with a duster and one of the hoover tools and 'hoobering' ! And then there's gardening ....


enjoy the summer x

Oh no, guess I have no excuse now not to do the housework!!

earthgirl

Thank You Thank You and thanks again to you lovely people , I now have a massive list of activities and things to do with LO. We are not going to be bored and don't have to spend a penny!

I am collecting a sandpit of a freecycler tomorrow, and I have some vouchers that I will use for play sand - This will be earthlets 1st birthday present!! I can't believe how the time has flown!!

The past few days have been wonderful, just pottering. I have completed a tutoring every day, and yesterday earthlet went to a friends house when I tutored and played with their son in the sand pit - he had a great time!!

I have got a private client later today, and one tomorrow morning, and then I am off on holiday - first proper holiday for so many years I can't actually remember - maybe 3 or 4 years?

OH bought a time share week on a luxury lodge on a small scottish Island through his own business, and this is our first visit - I am really excited. We are taking some friends with us for the first few days, and then MIL and FIL are coming for a night later in the week. I would rather be alone, but people invite us to stay at their places so it will be good to have them with us for a change. Also, its extra 'baby sitting' to let me read a book or go for a walk.

I organised all of the leaving presents at work again, and because I got the cards free from a friend who's daughter works for a card company and gets free samples, and I have hundreds of gift bags, I didn't have to contribute anything for the presents. I also gave someone a bottle of champange that had been previously given to me by a tutee - and everyone passed a few pounds on to me for it, so I made money there. But I have decided that I am not going to join in with communal present giving again, its exhausting getting everyone to sign the cards and give the money! I am just going to think of nice gifts I can make, or pass on, or take from my present store. Apart from my £100 splurge on Christmas presents in January for this years Christmas, I haven't spent a penny on presents this year, and I plan to carry this on!

Speaking of reading books, after loving India Knights 'the thrift book' (which I plan to read again on holiday) I have finished reading some others that I found in the same section of the library.

I didn't really like the penny pinchers guide, it was a bit mundane, but did have some good tips in it. I loved Kath Kellys 'how I lived on a pound a day' - really inspiring (she must have been exhausted!!) It kind of makes me feel that there is no reason to spend any money on anything but basic toiletries and food, and that that can be full of vitamins and fresh fruit and veg with careful planning. It has given me inspiration to recycle everything, and google 'how to make (whatever item I am wanting)' it seems that everything can be made by hand!!

So far I have recycled some old bubble bath in a soap dispenser as hand wash, and I have made more soft toys for earthlet out of a jumper with a lovely fleecy lining (turned inside out!)


Today I plan to:
- Clean the house
-Start packing for hols (Including a plan for cheap meals.)
- sort out a few complaints and returns of items.
- do one of the more adventurous things on the llist with earthlet... maybe something messy!

earthgirl

I have tried to get him into cbeebies but he is having none of it!!

He is now officially a big boy as I have just cut his hair. Not perfect but not bad considering its the 1st time I have done it!!

Awww my little baby is growing up!

CathT

Have a fab holiday, at least you will have company and you can relax if someone looks after earthlet for a little while.

earthgirl

Thanks Cath, I am so excited!

I din't clean the house (but I will do at some point...promise ) but I have packed for the holiday. I have packed really light as we are going in the car and I don't want to use petrol carrying unneccessary stuff. We also have a washer dryer in the lodge, so I can wash all my nappies and clothes, hurray!!

I have done a tutoring, and collected the freecycle sandpit - its ace - it is purple, but I don't mind I try not to stereotype colours for boys and girls!

I have made a no spend pressie for my mums birthday - a couple of her favourite films that we have still sealed in their boxes, and a mini spa kit that I made up of samples and a VERY nice eye cream that I had still boxed, and a suggestion that she has a film and pamper night. I normally would have spent about £30 on my mum, and I feel quite bad not spending money on her. I have got to get out of that way of thinking though, its the thought that counts. I will ask her what she thinks..

Today I plan to do some shopping - including play sand with vouchers- and cleaning, and finish the final few bits of packing, and then ummm.. get excited!!

earthgirl

Disaster strikes!

I am sooooo completely and utterly 110% annoyed with myself. I have lost the plastic wallet that I keep our vouchers in. I just got so blas! about where they were kept - thought they were in one of the change bags, or my other handbag etc. that I just completely lost track. I have spent about 3 hours looking for them to no avail, and although there is a slim chance I might have left them somewhere really random that I'll find them again - perhaps in my classroom at work, this is really unlikely, and I just have to write it off to being completely and utterly hopeless and not seeing the woods for the trees!

I am down £30 m and s, £20 mothercare, and £10 tesco.

I am absolutely beside myself that I could have just left these somewhere, or thrown them out in a bag or something...

I just have to forget them and move on, and get more organised!! In fairness I find it hard to get anytime to myself at all, and I am always creating little piles of stuff to do later, and later and later... hence the disorganisation! Must do better!

Off on holidays this morning - mostly packed up, just the last few bits then we are off!

Courgette

Argh! How annoying! I'd be really cross with myself too but try not to worry too much, they're only vouchers. (have I convinced you? I know EXACTLY how you must feel. They might yet turn up, things sometimes do.)

Have a wonderful holiday. Do we know where you're going? Not been keeping up with the diaries like I like to recently

CathT

I'd be upset too but maybe they will turn up. Have a great holiday.