SAHM paying off debts slowly

slm6002

Hi everyone - where has the time gone. Were almost at the end of the half term and at the beginning of June - wow. Sure lots has happened but the most important money wise is that OH has had loads of time off in the past few months what with a weeks holiday and long weekends because of bank holidays. This means that he was paid considerably less than if he had done his normal hours and in turn means i don't get the normal money for bills and housekeeping. We have also had easter and half term holidays with the kids off school which means more food (as always hungry) and a few trips out - even if they are mainly free or cheap. Needless to say we are not overflowing in money at the moment and i need to reduce things as much as possible in June and July just to catch up with ourselves. Money for kids swimming is already sitting in the bank (know the pool will be sending letters out any day), OH's tax for his van is sitting ready for the end of next month plus some of mine ready for sept. Bday and xmas moneys are building nicely too. I have been putting small amounts of money (£25 per month) away for the summer hols. Were not going away this year but i would like the odd treat - ice creams whilst out or trip to the cinema maybe - every now and again.

I am going to do meal plan tonight to use up whats left in freezer (seems to be mainly fruit and veg from what i can see - no meat) and cupboards. Also need to make kids snacks rather than buying more in - guess that's a job for tomorrow.

I will be walking everywhere as i seem to have become quite lazy recently and driven a lot. Save some pennies on petrol hopefully.

I am awaiting a final bill from my old energy supplier but they keep trying to give me final bill based on estimates. I have given them my final readings several times and yet they still cant get it right! Its so frustrating and a much higher (by around £35) according to my workings out. They send me a debt collectors letter the other day and i also got a phone call from them asking for immediate payment. I said a firm 'no' when they do a correct final bill i will pay. Makes me angry.

Anyway off to calm screaming child and do my meal plan. Will update late

slm6002

Oh yes and tax credits are down £20 per week as OH earnt more than expected last year but will be down on last year this year as his boss has changed his contracts

mouche

Hi SAHM...I have just read your diary from cover to cover and am in awe of your ability to plan fun times with your children on a shoestring budget. Also, you are amazing in your ability to manage on a limited budget and not-so-supportive OH. Plus, your posts are usually so positive and cheery too.

I wanted to ask how the toilet training was going for DD? I start LO on it soon and him being my only one, I'd love some tips on how to go about it. You mentioned treat as and books. What books do you mean?

slm6002

Hi mouche thanks for dropping by and all of the lovely comments.

Fingers crossed we have cracked the potty training and only now have to buy nappies for night time (dont think we are anywhere near to being dry at night yet).

I used the treats (tub of chocolate raisins) when she first started trying to use the potty. 1 sweet for sitting on the toilet, 2 for a wee and 3 for poo! She did not like the potty and prefered the toilet - fine i thought i dont mind skipping that stage lol. Whilst sitting on the toilet waiting for something to happen we read a potty book from the library and various other books.

She was doing well for 5 days and then all of a sudden just stopped using the toilet. It took nana buying her a new special potty seat that had steps before she would use it again. This worked well for about 2 weeks and then it stopped again. She is a bright girl and i knew she could do it so i am afraid i got a bit firm and went against all advice in the books. I was not giving up this time as i knew she had the skill needed to crack it. When i could see that she needed the toilet (holding her bottom and jiggling up and down) i picked her up and put her on the toilet. She would then try to get off but i held her there until she went - generally screaming how much she hates me until she went and then she was all smiles - very stubborn lol. Since then she has done really well with only 1 or 2 accidents in the past month?

I have already got my calander ready to fill in this summer. Half term is over and i am now working towards the big holidays. I am looking after my niece every wed as her mum is back to work just before the holidays are over. They want to give me some money for it. I said no but they are insisting but want to know how much? I have no idea. Anyway that's all weds in the summer sorted - we have one swimming lesson too on a wed so wont need much else that day - may need to get a buggy board though so DD can ride on that as usually sleeps after her swimming lesson. Will ask on freecycle and keep an eye open on fb selling sites.

We have been asked to help our local museum (we visit very regulary and are well known) like last year. We are guinee pigs and test out their new ideas. In return they give us a free activity for each of my 3 children in the holiday - a saving of £9 - just waiting to hear back when they want us

I also entered a competition and won a day with chewitts sports - they hold sports activity days at our school. I will be putting one of the kids in for the day.

I have swapped my tesco points for some zoo tickets and this will be a big treat for the kids. I still need to pay another £20 for this, but other than petrol this will be the only cost for the day. Picnics all round.

I am on the lookout for a rucksack for my DS that's not too big. I dont want it with a character on it as he will change his mind within a year as to who he wants. DD has one that is just the right size for her camera, notepad and pen, lunch box and juice. I rely heavily on my buggy at the moment but youngest DD is getting old enough to walk a lot more now and i cant carry everything on my back so have decided the older 2 can carry their own.

DD wants to learn how to play draughts over the holidays so i have bought a 'as new' set out of the charity shop for £1.50. Have packed it away in my summer hols box. Will be filling this with cheap bits as we get closer. I am really looking forward to it this year and was quite sad that the half term went so quickly.

slm6002

Ok so i have just purchased a plain blue rucksack for DS to carry his things around in when we go out. I was very good not to buy the pink version for DD as she already has a lovely bag that is suitable - was very tempted though so gold star for me lol

Account would have gone overdrawn so i have moved some money around until next week in the hope to stay in the black

It was band practice tonight and as nana was unable to take DD i had to. I love hearing them all play but it is quite late for her and OH has never put the other 2 to bed by 8 when it finishes - in fact i was lucky he was actually home really early tonight or i would have had to take the other 2 - really not a good idea. DS is no longer going as he is a little young still and really can not sit still for more than a few min at a time. This was distracting the other members so instead of giving up on him they are letting him keep an instrument and a practice book so he can work on it at home and then maybe in the new year when he is a little older he can try again. They were worried i think about asking him to leave but i completely understand. That boy can not stop figgeting for a minute. We will keep working on it though. DD is doing really well at it and to date we have not paid a penny (been going since jan this year - only £2 per month but due to committee problems no one is paying at the mo!)

Heard back from museum and 14th June we will be helping them - yet to see what activities are going on in the holidays but normally something that will occupy them all. Fun, fun, fun

Have adverstised for buggy board so thats another job done. Got a day without anything planned tomorrow so hope to get lots sorted. Lots to go into the loft and also lots to the tip. Best get to bed so i have plenty of energy night all

slm6002

Home after a busy day out with the kids. 1st we had to pick up the parcels i missed yesterday - loop bracelet loom thingies - keeps DD very happy and quiet for up to 3 hours for as little as a £1 - money well spent in my opinion lol. We then went to DS swimming lessons - still not moved up but know we are days away from it but needs to do his breaststroke legs perfectly a few more times before teacher puts him up. From there we went to the local museum where our friend was having a picnic and small party for close friends - was great fun in between the downpours. We were there for many hours running around the fields. All of us are pooped. Time for dinner, bath and bed i think

slm6002

Hi again - this may seem like a strange thing but after talking to the OH over the past few weeks it has become apparent that he thinks i should stay at home for the kids long term. I am all for doing this but thought he would want me to get back to work - even if it was just school hours - and start helping with the bills. Money is tight and i feel i should do something to help but he is under the impression that if we are coping we should stay as we are. I feel that the time will come when i will have to return to some kind of work but for now i need to think of some things i am not already doing to reduce expenses or raise income from the comfort of my own home.

So the only ones i can think of so far are below. If anyone has any other ideas please let me know

Look up how to cut kids hair on you tube - i already do my OH as he has his hair shaved off but not prepared for son to have his like this and the girls only really need fringes and hair trimmed. We dont visit the hair dressers very often but a few pounds saved here and there should help.

Plant lettuce outside to help feed us - done this a few times before and it grew really well - just forgotten to do it this year. Will get onto this in the next few days

I realise the above will not save us a fortune but i guess its a start. Just wondering how many other things i pay for that i could do myself. Oh well now off to put kids to bed

slm6002

Back again - few more ideas while i think of them:

Make my own laundry soap and any other cleaning products - see if it really is cheaper and just as good

Find things to sell on ebay / fb - declutter and earn pennies at the same time.

Might be back later - sorry for the number of posts but have to write them down or i will forget lol

Eager_Elephant

I know that you have found money a struggle as your DH does not give you much for housekeeping while he pays the bills and has his hobbies but in his eyes you are managing well.

Could you negotiate a little bit more money towards housekeeping?

My other thought was surveys - can't remember if you do them?
My favourite is MySurvey - they are quick and easy and you can either take Paypal or Amazon vouchers, I take Amazon and save for Xmas.
I do others but I won't bore you!!!

Could you check the Up Your Income board for indeas and also Old Style MoneySaving?

mouche

Hi SAHM...I second the Survey idea. I like OnePoll best as they have lots of surveys and it builds up relatively quickly.