"Simply not solvent!

bountiful

Yeah - I have found it very hard to let go of buying organic dairy stuff and I still buy organic eggs. I remember reading somewhere that one of the priority things are dairy and eggs (and lettuces) - to buy organic if you possibly can. I don't eat meat, but if I did I am sure I would rather eat small amounts of organic/free range than anything dubious...... I have stopped buying organic cheese, and veg (sob sob) but still buy organic milk because my son drinks loads of it - I use organic soya milk......gosh - I didn't realise how much I am still compromising my financial situation....some things are more important and we will hang onto them as long as we can. Health is important... and I agree, there is a feeling that a lot of our non-organic food is full of chemicals and drugs etc.
I am moving into a larger town soon - so hoping I might be able to get locally grown stuff at farmers market...... they sound expensive,don't they?
(my underwear is in a sorry state and my bed linen and towels are well worn out. One of the hardest things is not being able to give presents....)

ZTD

Well actually good food can be pretty cheap. The trick is not to buy it from a supermarket where good food is seen as "something special" and turkey (allegedly) twizzlers are the norm...

Seaxwyn

I agree, I would not switch to non-organic eggs or chicken. I'm fussy about meat and while I don't always buy organic, I do look for some assurance the poor creature has had something resembling a normal life.

I don't manage to shave every penny possible off the grocery bill but money saving isn't the only goal in the world.

I had a good day today, did an easy day's work and picked up another two or three days worth which I can do in my own time at home. I'm going to try to work from 6-9 every morning this week for starters. It works out at £25/hour, which is very satisfying.

taxi73

Morning Seaxwyn....thats a nice positive attitude towards work and should really help.
RE..the organic..I buy everything organic that I possibly can all meat (I'd rather have less)..cheese and dairy...fruit and veg etc...I did feel guilty but at the end of the day I think health is more important than cost.Though it does help that there are only 3 of us now and most days only 2....I do eat the odd thing non organic but that can't be helped when your at somebody elses house....
Have a good day

Sea78

Hi Seaxwyn

Sorry you didn't get to France but it actually sounded like you've had a good few days anyway

I try to buy free range often and if feeling like I've cut back in other places will often go for organic milk too. Don't have that much meat any more really.

Sea xxx

Seaxwyn

Thanks Sea!

Glad to know there are lots of us putting animal welfare & environment ahead of saving a few pennies. I don't think it's worth saving money if it's condemning animals to live in dire conditions.

Yes it was a blessing really not to have to go to France! OH and DD1 are ill so they wouldn't have enjoyed it, while I earned a day's pay and came back with lots more work. Interesting how things turn out.

I am once again in the position of trying to work in the school holiday. Oh well... I did take the kids out to the park (at 5.30pm, we had the playground to ourselves) and cooked tea with DD2 so I don't feel they are completely attention-deprived. Just nearly completely.

I'm going to try to do an hour now before going to bed, then will get up early again.

hypno06

Stop beating yourself up Seaxwyn!! You are managing to juggle work and kids etc and that is no mean feat!

I had to work every day bar one in half term last week - it is a fact of life that we have to do these things - but we still pay our kids attention when we can. I am sure that there are some non-working parents in this world that spend less time with their children than we do. You cooked dinner with DD2 - how many people actually do that?

I think we do bloody well, given the circumstances we all find ourselves in.

So there (don't mean to sound harsh )

BTW, on other subject - I switched over to buying organic milk recently and am very happy that I have done so - even OH is buying organic milk when he goes shopping too!

taxi73

Morning Seaxwyn..I totally agree with Hypno...stop beating yourself up over it!!!..and have a great day.

Karmacat

Yep! I think the mums on here like you, hypno, taxi, sea (not sure if bountiful and ZTD have kids) do brilliant work, and I'm sure the communication level within the families is good - thats what matters, I hear from my grown nephews.

Really pleased to hear of people's shopping policies - if I did still eat meat, btw, and didn't want to go organic, I'd buy Waitrose - their health policies for the animals that the meat comes from are really good. Of course, that still makes it more expensive than the twizzlers... hi ho. I'm just glad my protein isn't as expensive per kilo!

Seaxwyn

It's not just maternal guilt that makes me fuss about working over half term - it's that it's so unenjoyable for me!

My desk is in the room with the TV and it's so hard to concentrate, and maintain a professional front to clients, when there are kids watching tv and fighting just behind me. DD3 and DS really don't get on, DS behaves atrociousy and provokes fights. Working is one thing, working 3 feet away from warring children is another.

Today I took DS to the park, the girls haven't left the house all day. But tomorrow we're all going out - we're meeting up with friends on a beach near Shoreham. Brrrrrrrrrrrr!

I'm not getting much work done and am feeling a bit stressed about it, but remind myself that I choose the freelance life in order to be with the children.

Another thing..... there are productions of two musicals on locally. I'm a complete sucker for musicals, and so are my mum and my kids. I feel obliged to buy tickets for all of us. I've persuaded myself I can't afford to go to both, but which to choose? South Pacific or Kiss me Kate? Opinions please.