Preparing for winter III

fuddle

Last year Marks and Spencer had a good uniform offer on with free delivery over the school holidays so I was told. I had already bought mine from George. I'm going to hold off uniform to see if they repeat it.

My little one will get hand me down skirts from eldest but tights and t-shirts need buying. Actually I should save now for the school named cardigans as they are very expensive and need a few of each. Drats to both going into new schools!

Eldest already got winter coat in sale last year. So that's ready. Youngest is getting eldest's ski coat. It's absolutely fine.

I do need boots for them.

Cheapskate

Hello everyone

Even though we're enjoying the best weather in ages, I couldn't help but peek at 1 August in my diary - it's Yorkshire Day and when I traditionally start my Chr****as lists, and have usually begun early winter prep too. Are any of you the same, or am I just some sad Billy No Mates with nowt better to do?

DS winter coat will do him, DD needs something new, both will need boots, pyjamas, all new thermal vests.... the list goes on, but I got away with buying hardly anything last time so it's catch-up time. I start a new job soon, but think we'll be on a lower income due to TC changes and having to pay for DD extra time at playschool, so am planning to start buying winter stocks (food, clothes, etc.) a bit at a time, as soon as they appear in the shops.

Think I was a squirrel in a past life, as I so look forward to preparing for autumn and winter - foraging for free food to preserve, getting the house cosy...! :rofl:

(Sorry, I'll go away now and put on my nice coat that fastens up the back....)

A xo

[Deleted User]

fuddle wrote: »

Last Actually I should save now for the school named cardigans as they are very expensive and need a few of each. Drats to both going into new schools!

It makes me so cross when schools insist that their 'special' uniform is the only one allowed .One of my grandsons is in his second year at senior school, and his next down brother joins him in September ,now I can understand blazers with badges but to insist that their PE kit is the schools own ones is taking things a bit far.They have to have special maroon coloured tops and shorts with the schools logo woven in and specific kit that only the school approve of including their shoes and socks.These two little boys are virtually the same height so its not as though anything can be passed on as the eldest has just grown out of his stuff and his brother if anything is slightly taller and thicker set.So DD has to buy two lots of kit which comes to a fair amount .The eldest boy can't abide p.e. and the younger one is only keen on cricket and football the rest he's not at all interested in.So apart from having to get all this stuff she also has to buy 6 new sweaters with the school logo on none of which can be passed down plus all the other paraphanalia.My DD and her OH both work full time and with prices going through the roof daily I know she is already worried about how much it will cost come September .I buy all the boys school shoes and with four lads at school its a heck of a shoe bill but I don't mind as it helps her out .I can't see why the boys can't just have some black shorts and a tee shirt top for p.e. its not as though they are going to represent their school,county or country for goodness sakes.This is not a 'posh school' but an ordinary local comprehensive .School should realise how hard it is for parents to cope in todays market.Luckily the eldest of her lad who goes to the local grammar school is going into 6th form in September and will be allowed to wear his own smart casual clothes to school and he is so pleased that he doesn't have to wear a blazer anymore , plus his Mum is as well, as the one he has the sleeves are too short as he's shot up in the past few months and at 16 is 5.9" already and still growing.

abwsco

We spent all day yesterday sorting, sawing and stacking nearly all the wood we've been given over the past few months. All three wood stores are now full, plus we've loads of boxes in the garage with wood in as well. Still got some huge sections of a 40 year old apple tree and a 25 year old conifer to sort out but we're just going to leave them until next year I think. Just glad we have the garage for storage. Think DH will want to throttle me if I say yes to any more free wood lols

[Deleted User]

We have been making paper logs from our daily paper and they are drying very fast in the polytunnel in all this heat. They are the best thing I know to get the woodburner going properly. We use scrunched paper and a little bit of kindling as well but a paper log will catch and then burn for a couple of hours getting the bigger stuff going quickly. Have started on winter Medications, also buying boxes of matches, soap, tins of protein (meat, fish, pulses etc), loo rolls , salt etc to go into store. It does seem that winter is a long way off but it's never too early to prepare is it?

VJsmum

Talking of schools - my DD is leaving the high school that she and DS go to as it doesn't have a 6th form. Her new school isn't too bad as they ask for "business attire" in the 6th form so Asd@ or Matalan skirt or trouser suits are fine, with some blouses.

DS could have worn DDs old t shirts and sweatshirts but the school has decided to change its uniform and is going into shirts, ties and blazers. THe only trouble is they STILL haven't decided on exactly what they want so nothing can be bought yet. I guess the trousers and white shirts won't be too difficult to get or too expensive but I hope the uniform shop orders in 1,000 blazers in varying sizes!! And we aren't sure if the PE kit is changing or not!

So for the first time in many years I have to buy 2 complete sets of uniform.

What do you do with a dozen t shirts and the same of sweatshirts all emblazoned with the school logo - other than cut them up for toilet cloths?

nicki_2

Thanks for the reminders about school uniform. DD starts secondary school in September and brought the information booklet home on Friday. Just had a quick read through it and I am shocked at some of what they want. They are suggesting £5 A DAY for a school dinner :eek::eek: I think DD will be having packed lunches at that price thank you very much! Thankfully, apart from some specific items I think I can get away with generic stuff for her on the most part. I will have to buy her new winter stuff, as she's had a growth spurt again and outgrown all her kids sized stuff nearly. She's 11 and in ladies sizes due to her proportions so I'll have to wait until the winter coats come into the shops, or I might just do my usual trick of buying her a 3-in-1 waterproof

Now I need to sit down write lists with her, get papers signed, get those sent on to the school by June something (I'll double check) and then maybe I might be able to budget to buy it all! Just wondering what sort of shoes to buy her, she's going to have nearly a 3 mile trip to school, with a 15min walk from the bus to the school. She wants dr martens but since she's gone up a shoe size in a matter of weeks I'm doubting whether I should invest in a pair I'm willing to pay for a pair (from a certain auction site ) but not if she's going to outgrow them before the winter arrives!

slm6002

£5 a day that is awful - definatly packed lunch i reckon

[Deleted User]

for five pounds a day I would want to eat there .There is no way my DD could afford £20.00 a day for her four lads That would be a hundred pounds a week for school dinners !!!! where are they shopping for the kids Waitrose ? Talking to DD today she said they had to order in two lots of PE kit for the two boys and it came to just under £70.00 which is absurd to jump about a gym in for goodness sake.She still has to get another blazer and tie and special badge plus black trousers as they aren't allowed to wear grey school ones from M&S it has to be from the school shop.What differance it makes to what they learn at school what clour their trouser are I can't imagine This school uniform malarkey is one big con for parents.Luckily the youngest boy Mikey still has three years to go before he goes to senior school so she can use the outgrown stuff from the next two boys up for him, and he has lots of shirts and jumpers in the primary school colours to keep him going.Even ther they have to buy the school stuff from the school office and they aren't allowed to have hand knitted jumpers they have to be specially made ones with the schools name woven in .The world's going barmy I think

Justamum

JackieO wrote: »

This school uniform malarkey is one big con for parents.

It's expensive if it's a school where you have to buy clothes from a designated supplier, but my children wear uniform and it's a godsend as I couldn't afford for them to wear what they like and always have to be up to date with fashion.

My youngest has to wear either grey or black trousers or skirt, or a specific tartan (which hardly anybody does wear) white polo shirt and maroon (I think that's what the colour is called ) sweatshirt. If people have uniform which has been grown out of the school sells it for a pound an item. Luckily most of her uniform I can get from M&S quite cheaply.

The eldest two have to wear light blue shirts, navy blazers, navy trousers for girls and grey trousers for boys, all of which is available cheaply from M&S. Next year DD1 is going into 6th form so she has to wear black and white office style clothes, so she'll have more choice.