SAHM paying off debts slowly

slm6002

Hi thanks to you both - i do some surveys and have recently been accepted to a tescos one that is giving me £12 to spend on school uniform and report back on how it is - great as i know we will need some bits for next school year. OH and i have been talking and he is trying to cut his spending but i think it will be a long time before he gets his light bulb moment! I have just completed my review for my DMP. I have had to reduce our payments and find money to cover the difference in tax credits per month plus the increased amounts in bills. If i didnt cut things down it turned out it would be a -ve payment if thats possible. With a lot of tweeking its done but i hope we can get it back up to the previous payments before long.

Hoping to have the day to myself tomorrow to try and organise a few rooms in the house. Was planning on doing this last thursday but DD was sick wed night so no nursery and no time to do organising. I was so looking forward to my day alone with no appointments lol. Also have an assignment to get done before the last minute. Trying to get ahead of myself as dont want to be worrying about studying over the summer hols with kids home. Right off to check whats for dinner

debtfreewannabe321

I bought some laundry powder the other day, I'd ran out totally of the HM version and gave in. Didn't buy the super expensive, got a mid range one and my version is much better as you use less, it cleans better and lasts longer!

I gave up on surveys but found valued opinions good as mysurveys they paid out pretty quick and you didn't need to do many.

xx

slm6002

I will go through your thread as i know you have the recipe on there somewhere DFW

Took DS to the Drs yesterday as his hearing has been getting worse and worse and its got to the point where i have to get him to look at me and i pronounce everything slowly and clearly. Anyway he has fluid in his left ear drum i think it is and his right ear has a little less but enough to make him as deaf as a post! There was no questions and the dr refered him to hospital - remember last time having to beg for a hearing test - anyway that should be in a few months time and then it will probably be gromits this time - last time they decided that as it eventually got better by itself they would leave it - think i will be a little more encouraging to get the done this time as we cant keep going like this as his speech and school work are starting to be effected.

DS also had his phonics test yesterday. Although he knows his letters and can read a book more than well, seeing the words alone was difficult for him. Anyway after months of us practicing every night it would seem that the he passed. I knew the teacher would not tell me the score until at least everyone else had completed their tests but in her words 'He did really well and i am very proud of him - you have obviously been working hard with him'. She had a big grin on her face and made it clear that he had done enough to pass so that's a relief. Here's hoping with his hearing being sorted out he can get a grasp of more words - he was mixing up rich and which the other day as he cant pronounce the r sound very well and when he says them they both sound the same. Next thing is school classes for next year which are issued tomorrow - heres hoping both DD and DS dont have the people they wish to avoid in there classes - there are certain people in both years that have either bullied or put them down so much that their confidence has taken a battering.

Anyway money is still tight but manageable - been trying to avoid shops as if i dont go i dont spend on things i dont need.

Right need to go get ready for school run

debtfreewannabe321

My dd is doing her phonics test this week too. I've no idea how she's done and if she will pass :eek: we got a letter on Monday to tell us its this week and that was it! Xx

mouche

Looks like I'm going to have to take lots of tips from you when my LO gets old enough for school SAHM. I wasn't educated in this country so I don't even know what a phonics test is! How old are they when they take it?

Glad to hear DS's ear problem is being taken more seriously this time.

slm6002

DFW I wouldnt worry it was only because DS struggled when then practiced at school that i started helping him at home. If you want to have a look on this site as once logged in you can generate a sample list of words like they will have in the test. Each time it produces different lists so i just did one per day.
http://www.oxfordphonicschecksupport.co.uk/login?

Mouche it is a test they do when they are in year 1 to make sure they can sound out and blend words together. They are given 20 made up 'alien' words and 20 real words. Last year the pass mark was 32 out of 40 but not sure of this years pass mark. DD passed without even trying but DS finds things like this harder. He turns words around - newt became went for example but if you ask him a few min later what the word is he will read it correctly - will keep an eye on him to see if it carries on or if once he is a better reader it disappears. He is also saying the letters move when he is reading sometimes. He had his eye test on monday and all is ok but they said might be worth keeping an eye on things as this is another symptom of dyslexia but they wont do anything til next year when he turns 7. My brother suffered from this so not sure if it runs in family or not? I must sound like a paranoid mother lol

slm6002

Good morning hope everyone is doing well. Its been busy here. Kids got their new teacher and class lists at the end of last week. I am happy with the teachers as we have had both before and already know that we like them and they are good. Only worry is that DS's in the same class as the boy that bullied him throughout reception. They says it because nothing serious had happened this year so looks like he has grown out of it and also that some people needed to be moved. Read this as the little brat had to be moved! Also the only reason nothing has happened this year is because they were in completely different classes this year so barely any contact. Anyway i know that they wont move either of them so i will be on the look out next year and as soon as brat goes anywhere near him i will be up that school causing a lot of trouble.

Anyway money is coming and going although going much quicker than i would like. Rang tax credits and although i told them of the extra £30 income i had for the year i still get another £2 per week. How that works i will never know lol. I have today put money aside for the holidays so now have £75 in that fund and hoping to put another £75 in next month. That will give me £150 plus what ever is in our penny pot - £20 at the last count. I am going to have a 'its summer party' the day they break up. I will make a cake and decorate it with 'summer' bunting on kebab skewers, jelly and sandwiches. I have got the painting easel that i will put outside the door saying 'welcome to summer' and they will see this when they return. I will get the sandpit refilled (Nana bought new sand for easter pressie instead of eggs), and perhaps some balloons and bubble mixes if i can find any in the drawer and just generally celebrate finishing school for another year. Sure the kids will love it and it will not cost anything really other than cake ingredients as i have everything else already. 4 weeks to go!

Right off to swimming for youngest - enjoy the rest of your day

mouche

A summer party - what a lovely idea! Your kids are really lucky to have such a creative and thoughtful mum. Shame about the bully being back in DS's class - you never know, he may have grown out of his nasty ways. Let's hope for the best. Hope you have a lovely holiday.

slm6002

Thanks mouche - its more a case of pinterest has some lovely ideas and i like to try and make summer holidays as fun as possible for free or very little money. I have done A-Z summers the past few years and the kids love this (allocate each day with a different letter and either eat or do an activity that begins with that letter - some are easier to think up than others). I decided not to do that this year but kids were disappointed. We have therefore decided to this next year as youngest DD will be starting school next September so will get her going on her letters a little bit early.

Just need to declutter house more and get summer fetes over and done with - nursery one this weekend and i am one of only 5 helpers currently so it is very busy - plus it says its going to thunder and were outside! Oh well sure it will be ok and if not i can win all of the great raffle prizes i have managed to get off the local companies lol.

Had yesterday to myself so did my OU essay so no more till sept. Got tomorrow child free so hoping to do nothing but clean and maybe come on here for a little while! House has been very neglected recently so it needs a good clean top to bottom which i just cant do with kids about. I am not shopping or going out tomorrow until its done - or at least will try not to lol

Right better go think up dinner as my meal plan has also gone out of the window this week - another job for tomorrow too maybe

slm6002

Right my summer thought for today is do i let my kids go to bed later in the holidays. They go to bed a round 7pm and even though the older two dont go to sleep straight away they are still in there beds and i get free time. I am wondering if i keep them up until 8pm they might go straight to sleep rather than messing around. It also might produce a few lie ins. Also a good bargaining tool as if naughty they will go to bed at 7pm. I will loose some of my free time but kids will think its such a treat. Just wonder if i am setting myself up for them wanting to go to bed late once back at school?

Tried not to spend too much when in town this morning as bills all go out next week