Erm....time for a new plan me thinks...

Long_tall_sally

Glad you are feeling more positive brummiebabe & well done on the weight loss, I'm jealous! My kids were both on a play scheme last week & it was so lovely being abe to go on some walks by myself & get a bit of exercise plus the peace & quiet was much appreciated. The kids did so much that they were really happy too. We have two & a half weeks left now and then DD goes into yr 8 & DS goes into yr 6 which where we live means starting at the high school so quite exciting for him.

brummiebabe

Thanks Long tall sally, things have generally been better in the BB house. The chldren are moaning about doing their jobs and complaining that we're too strict, but they're doing them, so that's got to be a good thing.

I'm back at work (for a short while before my next break;)) and am feeling shattered - not getting much done in the evenings, but with the kids/DH helping out with little jobs every day, the house is not in too bad a state. Money wise things are ok (ish) - we will be overdrawn by pay day, but not drastcially. Any ebay sales will be winging their way to my credit card bill......really want to pay off as much as I can!

Have made a little start on my Christmas shopping:eek: - another order put in with the bookman for a present for DD. It'll go into my present box...there's a few bits in there, but not much.

So today's spending..£4 :money:

mum2one

Glad eldest son working well with the chart, it sounds daft but maybe hes trying to find his footing, I'm guessing that he'll be in secondary school when he goes back, so maybe its an adjustment and its always the ones were closest to gets the brunt of it, and then the others follow as they see him doing it.

Sounds like your doing brilliantly budgeting with the hols, yes ok your using the od, but you know that, maybe post mse moment the od would have just got used with out a thought.

Thats sods law re DD and the pram, my DD is the same, when she was younger she had grown out of her toys and we'd sold them on, and this one time this couple came to see a pram, you'd have thought I'd of ripped her right arm off... she'd got a bigger one.

Don't forget the smear, even if its when the schools go back, sorry to motherhen, u absolutely hate them, I'm on yearly re-calls as 11 years ago had pre-cancerous cells, luckly they were able to lazer them away, and touch wood everything has been clear since.

Your getting organised well for xmas anything and everything helps, think we've done about half of it, but only coz I restart open Uni in Oct, got 3 courses running between Oct and May... be fun and games, but try to get organised early then save a fortune, always seems to be extra people on the list, I always aslk my friend to swop, they only have 12 people to buy for!! that be sheer luxury.

The worst stunt my DD did,blame my mum as well!! DD had just started nursery and I'd gone to Tunisia for a break, and get a text off mum, letter from the school with all the kids names and it looks like we have to by presents... (32 kids), shall I go to £1 shop, thought yes, then no as you'd have to buy each kid 2 things as they'd know they'd come from £1 shop, so said I'd get something from Tunisis, mad rush to the local market, managed to get the boys wooden snake and drum keyring, and the girls drum keyring and a little purse, with taxi both ways come in under £20 really plzed. Sods law my flight got delayed, by the time we'd got home 3am, busy wrapping the presents as it was the navitiy play on the Monday... took them in, the nursery teacher comes across, oh how lovely of you to buy everyone presents, not necessary... felt an idiot, relayed what mum had said, and they said, oh right the list was sent out so kids could send each other cards out!!
From then on, I've taken care off all the xmas prezzies.... at mo I am knitting a cerise poncho for my cousins daughter, wool should cost me £2, so be very mse, as the kids only 18 mths old.
xx

brummiebabe

Thanks mum2one....things remain much the same with DS1 but he is (begrudgingly) doing jobs around the house. It still involves lots of nagging but he's doing more now than he's ever done.

I'm going to confess that I haven't yet made that GP appointment:o (or the dentist for that matter) but I will. Life has been generally hectic ...I've sold a couple of DD's pairs of shoes on eBay and reckon I've probably made £5 - not much but it's a start. My DD's pushchair is on eBay due to end in a couple of days...it's got bids on but has 28 watchers!!!! I'm hoping I might get a good price for it.

I've got lots of stuff to list on eBay, but no energy or motivation to do it:( Interestingly I do seem to be inspiring my friends to sell on there, and am going to give my mate a hand to list some stuff at the weekend.

So I'm off work for a few days, but the time seems to have been eaten up already!!! Obviously the kids are still off school. DS1 starts senior school 2 weeks tomorrow & DD/DS2 start on the 5th. DS1 is a bit anxious I think, I am trying to reassure him, but it is a huge step for
him.

Am going to go over my goals once I can get to the laptop (DH is hogging it to watch football) as I know I'm not doing so well with
them:cool: Life just seems to have a habit of getting in the way!!!

Meeting up with a friend and her brood tomorrow - we normally have a great day as all the kids really get on well - will be a very MSE day as she's skint too!!!

Right, am watching Big Brother (don't know why....) then will he putting away the ironing & going to bed I think !! Night all.

brummiebabe

brummiebabe wrote: »

1) To stop being overdrawn at the end of every month and to stick to my budget -this won't be achieved, but hopefully will only be by £100

2) To spend more 'me-time' - have realised that over the years since I've had children I've really forgotten about looking after me!! So from now..that will change. Me and DH are going to try to lose some weight and also to improve our fitness. I know that would make me feel so much better about myself, but I find it so hard to put into action! -have made some changes to my eating habits, but things are starting to slip!! Need to get back on track

3) To reduce my Facebook time - might sound a silly one but it's becoming a little obsessive!! It's not normal to check it first thing, before doing ANYTHING else and also last thing at night. Seriously need to change my attitude and maybe just check it a few times a day (or is that excessive too???:rotfl:) and I'm going to delete the notifications that come to my phone, as they're what often prompts me to log in - still not getting the notifications, but am still checking in regularly

4) To have more patience with my children and to reduce the general volume level within the house - there's far too much yelling and shouting..and we know that kids just copy their parents!!! So it has to start with me/DH. - work in progress:mad:

5) Less internet time generally....to try to start reading again!! Have always loved reading, but always say I haven't got the time - but then can spend 2-3 hours per night online, not doing very much of any use really!! Some of it is necessary eg banking, MSE (;)) but a lot is unnecessary -did ok on this initially, but this again is slipping and needs more work!!!

6) To save for our first trip abroad next August!!! We've never taken the kids abroad and have now booked a holiday for next summer - whcih we will pay for, in full, by next May!! Signature says it all..but this will change after this payday:T

So,as you can see, I've kind of come to a standstill.....really need to try to refocus.....any ideas of how to do it??

brummiebabe

Right well today's another day...it's lovely and sunny here so we're off to meet some friends at a local country park....picnic is done & packed, kids are ready to go!!! Should be a NSD....I know they'll pester for ice creams but I shall resist the urge to give in to them. Luckily my friend is even stronger than me & won't buy them for her's, which helps.

So far this morning I've cleared out the pantry, finding 8 tins of tuna in the process:rotfl: - had to do it as we just couldn't get in there anymore & stuff was falling off the shelves all the time. I also scrubbed the floor & wiped the skirting boards over so it looks much better.

I've also hung the washing out so am up to date (as far as you ever can be) with the washing/ironing. This won't last...but it feels good at the moment.

DS1 is off to his friends for a sleepover tonight, so that'll mean a quieter evening, isn't it funny that if you just having 1 less child can make everything seem much easier....doesn't matter whether you've got 2, 3 or 4 kids - having 1 less makes a real difference. He'll enjoy it too.

Right, time to go... Have a great day everyone:)

Long_tall_sally

Hope you are having a good day out brummiebabe with your friend. I seem to be lacking any get up N go today & can't be bothered to do anything!

brummiebabe

Had a lovely day thanks Long tall sally...weather was absolutely glorious!! The day also made me realise how much DD is growing up! She was off on the play area, could manage all the climbing frames and also went on the zip wire numerous times. She's ready to start school & I need to begin to let go...and stop treating her like a baby;)

Wasn't a NSD though...am afraid I did buy them ice creams:o - my friends' kids had bought their own money, and it didn't feel fair that mine had to miss out. So I spent £4.90!! Not ideal...but am not going to beat myself up about it.

Moneywise, things remain tight.....am due some child benefit in a week (this is my month where I have 2 payments:j) so I'm going to use £100 of this towards my credit card bill, the other £80 will go on DS2's and DD's next lot of swimming lessons, which I'll need to pay for next week. I normally put money aside each month, but haven't managed it over the last couple of months.

Plan for tomorrow:

• Weigh myself (not expecting any loss...will probably have put on weight!!)
• Clean the house:eek:
• Get DD's reward for completing her chart....another cuddly toy:rotfl:
• DS2 going to the cinema to watch Cars2 - his reward.
• Clear out DD's wardrobe..it's stuffed full of clothes she won't wear!!
• Strip kids beds & remake
• Ironing
• Pick DS1 up from his friends at some point...
• Say no to a chinese takeaway.....can't afford it, although I'd love one:(

What's everyone else up to???

Long_tall_sally

Glad you had a good day out. Never mind about the icecreams. I always think that an icecream on a day out makes a good day become a fab day!
My two are out for the day with their Dad & my oven is practically screaming at me to clean it but as I pulled a muscle in my shoulder Thursday night, I will be ignoring it!

Its funny,you saying about your DD growing up - I have noticed that my DD seems to have grownup over the summer holidays. Just little things like she went to the cinema & McD's the other day just with a friend & although I dropped her there & picked her up, it was another little milestone achieved towards independence!

I must have missed your earlier explanation about child benefit re why you get two lots in one month but Yay for getting it! We are on a countdown here till pay day in Friday which is not helped by my DS's birthday on Wednesday which is entailing a trip to Alton Towers! That will definitely have to paid for on credit card & snacks & drinks will have to be taken with us as well as lunch.

brummiebabe

Hi Long tall Sally - as child benefit is paid 4 weekly there is one month of the year where you end up having 2 payments - one at the very start of the month & one at the very end!!

Have had a really productive day today & am quite chuffed with what I've achieved. Stripped all the beds and remade them, 5 loads of washing (not all dry yet though), picked up my Dyson from the repair shop (would normally have ended up going to buy a new one without a 2nd thought). Got DD her treat (a £1.99 Sindey doll courtesy if Home Bargains) and resisted the urge to buy a new purse!! However, I know myself too well & getting a new purse has been in my head for weeks....it's not going away!!! Am taking DS1 to the shops tomorrow to spend his birthday money, so am hoping I don't see one that I like:rotfl:

I then totally cleared out DD's room, clothes & everything. Now what's in her wardrobe should all fit her & be clothes she will wear !!Cleared out sone broken toys etc and gave the whole room a good clean. Then started on the garage (which has been bugging me for weeks) & now it's really tidy!! There's still junk in there, but that'll be sorted another time.

Am shattered now though, watched X Factor with the kids & am now worn out. Have a great rest of the weekend everyone:D