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

brummiebabe

Well it's finally arrived...DS1 has started senior school today - I actually felt sick dropping him off..and have been worried about him all day!! DD has a friend over to play & DS2 has been taken out by my brother....so quite a peaceful day.

Have tackled my nerves about DS1 by tackling a few FROGS.....cleaning the cooker & cleaning/clearing out the cupboard under the sink:eek: Both are jobs well done though. Have also vacuumed the house, cleaned the kitchen floor & dried 2 loads of washing outside - productive day really. Have got to go & pick DS1 up soon....am only doing it for his first day today....he's on his own next week.....

Need to catch up with the Matrix challenge...

Only spending so far today is £2.50 for son's locker - he's sharing with a friend so it's half price!!!!:rotfl:

Long_tall_sally

How did he get on brummiebabe? My son did enjoy his 1st two days although he did say he was a little bored but I can understand that in a way cos there is a lot of being talked to in the 1st few days & not a lot of actually doing anything, iyswm!

brummiebabe

He really enjoyed it....think he's looking forward to starting properly, although is a bit worried about finding where he's going. He had a couple of lessons on Friday too.

He's got to go on his own from Monday, and then DD starts reception on Monday afternoon.....all change, and lots of readjustment going to be needed, in the Brummiebabe house - exciting but nervy time!!

Had to go & buy a calculator today (he was going to use mine but it seems to have given up the ghost....) and some biros. We also got him his bus pass.....he just seems to little to be doing all this on his own!!!

Will do a longer update of my current situation tomorrow...have got to be up and organised for DS2's football in the morning..need to be there at 9.30:eek:

mum2one

Hi, would say think everyones in the same boat with Aug and money, in theory with the four weekly payments, Aug was double DLA and Sept my IS fortnightly so get 3.... so far aug money grew wings and flown, and in all honesty Sept apare is going the same way.

I've been away for a month, but have been really frugent, cooked in the caravan, only went to the club twice £4 a pint of cider, £3.50 kids slush as it was the plastic refillable container, but without sounding daft we had a much better time than rushing back to get ready for the club, normally do.

I had 1st week with just me + dd, mum, dad and dog came down 2nd week, hired a caravan, then we had 2 weeks cottage on dartmoor, all bargain hunting. But we did things like go swimming, from the caravan door to the pool was 20 yards, all free, dd played on playpark, we went out, but picked up reduction tickets, shared tickets... one venue - return within 7 days for £1 each so dd went with dad, and another venue, all day ticket steam railway so I went 1st time with dd, then dad went, the tickets didn't say non-transferable, but I say it was mse. DD's 8, coming up 9.

In all honestly dd said she had a fab holiday, still had big trips, but then balanced off by cheapie days where she went out with fishing net, took a ride across the moors took a picnic, went paddling stream, and most nights she went with dad and the dog across the moors, the camera never got used so much.

Blackpool sounds fab, is it the Martin Mere site, thats about 3 miles from Blackpool, we've been there twice and loved it. Theres a brilliant swimming complex there, they spent a fair wack on it, the downside we found was if you wanted to go to the club for bingo, or kids time, when we went you had to be there by 5.30pm for a seat.

Theres a big kids area, that dd enjoyed.

When we went into blackpool, we use to go in on the bus, there was a red double decker old style - that was every 30mins, and there was also a local bus service.

Trams - you pay the same whether you went 1 stop or 10 stops, but as your a family you may get better prices.

Cheaper entry - ask at reception if they have any discount vouchers as a lot will, or some cafes have bogof voucher.

North Pier - you pay to go on can't remember if it was 50p or £1 each, but you had vouchers, free ride on hobby horses, discount drink, ice-cream etc

If think of anything else let you know. Your love it, very jealous, apparently I was 3 when I last saw the illuninations.... get there eventually. xx

brummiebabe

Thanks for all the information mum2one. It's not that site...it's one about 8 miles from Blackpool (Cala Mer Ithink it's called.)

Not had chance to look at my financial situation yet due to a hectic weekend, but will do that later. DS1 went off to school on his own today, he has to take the bus part way then walk a bit...he was there in around 20 minutes...so very pleased with that!! DS2 has started Year 4 and DD is doing afternoons this week in reception. She's been nagging me all morning about when she can go to school.....roll on next Monday when she's full-time!!!

Have moved the boy's room round this morning to see if we can fit a desk in. I think we can, but I'm not dure the layout looks right. DH will probably moan & we'll end up moving it back. Just feel DS1 needs a quiet area to do his homework....will have to see what everyone else thinks later.

Right, DD is nagging for lunch (cause she thinks she'll get go go to school straight after:rotfl:) so I'm going to do that now. Have to meet with her teacher at 3pm, so have a busy afternoon ahead!!

brummiebabe

Good morning everyone. It's awful weather here, as I'm, sure it is everywhere today

DS1 has gone to school on the bus again today - think he's enjoying the independence to be honest. DS2 has gone in (fairly) happily and DD is again desperate to go in - unfortunately, she can't until 12.45!! Lots of nagging ahead I think.......

Have checked my bank accounts and they're looking ok, think that we're on track at the moment to come in on budget. That'll then give us the chance to start saving the extra which has been getting swallowed up in the overdraft!!

Now have £3.50 saved in 50p coins..once it hits £5 I'll pay it off my credit card. Am waiting for the remainder of my holiday deposit to be taken in the next couple of days and will then transfer all the balances to the Barclaycard!!

So my plan for today:

• 2 loads of washing - dry on airers
• Ironing pile:o
• Tidy up & vacuum round
• Take DD to school
• Have a peaceful cup of tea..and read my book for half an hour whilst she's out:rotfl:
• Prepare dinner (HM chicken pie)

Think that's enough of a list for today. Really want to get on top of the ironing and stuff before I go back to work on Thursday:( I've had so much time off over the summer that it'll be a killer to get back into working, doing school runs, nagging about homework, reading, making sure spellings done, swimming, dancing, football......oh and some relaxation time of course;) Plus I now have to start thinking seriously about Christmas :eek: and DD's birthday (in November!!)

Feel tired just typing that, am off for a cup of tea before I make a start!!

mum2one

hope you managed to stop and get a cup of tea on all that organising.

Think we made the mistake by giving dd the argos book to choose her bday presents!! only got about half the store! xx

brummiebabe

brummiebabe wrote: »

• [STRIKE]2 loads of washing - dry on airers[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Ironing pile:o[/STRIKE]
• Tidy up & vacuum round only downstairs done
• [STRIKE]Take DD to school[/STRIKE]
• Have a peaceful cup of tea..and read my book for half an hour whilst she's out:rotfl:Didn't manage this:mad:
• [STRIKE]Prepare dinner (HM chicken pie)[/STRIKE]

QUOTE]

Mum2one - I managed one cup of tea, but not the chance to read my book:(. I just had so much to do, and ran out of time!!

Am feeling rather tired today, perhaps it's the run up to going back to work tomorrow...not looking forward to that!

Am now home from taking DD to school, and feeling very guilty that I'm sitting down doing nothing......keep thinking about what needs doing, but am determined to do the bare minimum this afternoon. if DH is off work, he doesn't seem to feel guilty about spending his time online:rotfl:

Have to say that DS1 is really enjoying senior school and is getting more confident by the day with the travelling, so that's a relief. DD is loving school so that's another hurdle over with too.

Today's spending:

£1.80 Bicarbonate of Soda
£3 Ham for sandwiches

Have also had my car tax renewal sent through today...so that's my car insurance and tax to pay this month. Luckily, I have always put money away for the upkeep of the cars.....so these should be able to be paid in full - 12 months tax and a year's insurance (no pesky monthly payments:money:)

Budget is looking good currently, will probably still be tight by the end of the month...but as long as we're not £200+ overdrawn, I'll be happy!!

brummiebabe

Well am totally worn out after a busy day. Have had to go to London with work, a colleague drove, but it meant having to take the youngest two to my Mom's at 8am...and not getting home until 5.45pm. 5 hours in the car, plus some 'heavy' work, has kind of worn me out.

Have applied to transfer my credit card balances today...so have put the new outstanding amount in my signature. Need to look at my budget tomorrow as my Child Tax Credits have been reduced now that DD is no longer in Childcare. This will effect how much I can pay off the card this month and still be 'living within my means' by the end of the month.

It's amazing how many people are really trying to budget/save at he moment...my friend (who I'd always thought of as quite well off) told me that she is just now working in cash, and sets herself a budget for the week and sticks to it now. Her budget is higher than mine, but it's nice in some ways to know that other people are doing the same!

I have £11 in my purse which needs to last me until next Friday. I'm hoping that, with the children being back at school, this will be achievable. My shopping/petrol budget is seperate, so as long as I don't go anywhere near the shops, the money should remain fairly intact;) I may have to give DS1 some money for lunch tomorrow...but will see if I can get away with him having sandwiches. We did tell him he could have school dinners twice a week....one of those days being Friday.....:mad:

Plan for tomorrow:

• Work 9.30-2.30 (and leave work on time!!)
• Ironing
• DS2's swimming lesson
• Menu plan/shopping list
• Sort out DD's dance bag/fees ready for Saturday morning
• Go to bed before 11pm

Not looking forward to work tomorrow, but at least it's only one day and then it's the weekend again. I need to speak to my manager about what day I can take off in the week.....I want Friday, but need her to agree:o

Very little achieved today.....but am hoping for a more productive weekend!

brummiebabe

Evening everyone...hope you're all having a nice weekend.

I've had a fairly hectic day, starting early with taking DD to her first dance class of the new term. This, of course, necessitated paying fees (budgeted for:money:) and ordering a new pair of ballet shoes - the teacher has now got a new supplier and these were only £6.50:T

I've blitzed our bedroom, changed the bed, and cleared those 'hotspots' that attract more clutter. I've also cleared out the airing cupboard and have two large bags of stuff to donate. Do we really need 8 sheets for the lads' 2 beds???? I've also cleaned the boys room (why do thy accumulate so many bits of paper?) and changed their beds, cleaned the windows and vacuumed......it won't stay tidy for long but looks quite nice now.

I helped my parents retune their TV (with the digital switchover having happened) and also rung Virgin about my Dad's wireless connection (which hasn't been working) - looks like I've managed to reset it, with Virgin's help - we'll see how it goes.

Cleaned the kitchen floor and then watched Red or Black and X Factor with the kids. DH is now watching Last Night of the Proms........:)

Spends wise, today looks like this:

£28.50 dance fees for September & new ballet shoes
£289 - car insurance renewal (which I was very pleased with, after hearing the cheapest a friend could get was £800+:eek:)

Tomorrow is food shopping day..will be going to Aldi again for the main things, then get some other bits from Sainsbury's/Morrisons. Have yet to do my meal plan, but will do it before I go...don't know how I managed before meal planning..it's made my life so much easier (although I hate sitting down to do it!!)

Right...will check my banking & check in either later or tomorrow:A