No More! debtfree2015's diary

debtfree2015_2

Hi Muffin,

Funnily enough that thought occured to me this morning when I was making her bed. I could sell her toddler bed as a whole package then, recoup some of the money.

So mattress it is for now!

Yes we did, dd loves making cakes. Im ok at the basic fairy cake, its the decoration I fall apart on, my best is glace icing with hundreds & thousands. I love buttercream but can never get the swirly finish, even with the icing back, just doesnt happen!

I havent got a favourite. As a child I followed Roald Dalh, then Enid Blyton, I must have read all of Blytons books, famous 5, secret 7, St clares, faraway tree, I forget the rest but I had a whole collection ooh I also had the whole Narnia Collection too, they were good I could just get lost in them all, escape the reality of life.

When I tried to move onto more 'grown up' books nothing quite took me away the way they did, so I got bored & dwindled off reading only a few here and there, no set pattern. I think I might have gone through a short phase of getting back into them when I got work in a call centre, we were allowed to read on the night shifts etc, I forget who the author was, but all the books are ladies names, ellie. charlie, belle (I think) oooh I just clicked - had to look it up to confirm Lesley Pearse, I liked her books in my late teens early 20s

The one I read the other day was by Sophie Kinsella, it was a fairly standard book, funny, a pregnant woman thinks her husband is having an affair etc, he isnt but the woman she suspects is actually trying to steal him.
So today there where no other sophie kinsella books, so I opted for another one again about a woman living her life, sticking to the same theme, by Hester Browne, I only read a few chapters then got bored. I think it must just be the way its written some you can picture it all, others you cant.

I didnt know how to even start trying to get into an author again, so atm just picking random books til I find someone I like

debtfree2015_2

Today was a quiet day.

DD played up again so no pocket money. I decided, instead of the reward chart (Which there is normally a treat or toy at the end of) I would just give her 'daily pocket money' Im talking 5-10p, if she is naughty she looses the days allowance. (I do transfer regular money into her trust fund Im not completely evil! Infact she has more than I have!)
Yesterday it worked, today I warned her 3 times she wouldnt get the money, she was naughty so no pocket money.

I cant believe Im having to bribe a 3.5 year old:rotfl:I hope it works overall because Im fast running out of ideas to stop this naughty stage.

Got another book from the library, wasnt as keen on this one so Il look again tomorrow.

Ive decided Im going to be brave and invite one of dd's friends & their mum round for lunch after nursery one day. Im very very nervous about it, but needs to be done. I did make friends with another mum, and whilst we are still friendly, as the girls have moved onto other friends the playdates kind of stopped.

Its the easter holidays coming up quickly followed by the summer holidays, and they can be sooooo boring, so Im hoping if she has some play dates before then, they can be continued in the weeks off.
This year shouldnt be as bad as last year, I did have a hobby/childcare allowance in the budget, so I can use that for soft play, play groups, swimming, different parks.

I think Il work out a schedule for the time off so we have something to look forward to most days.

Ive put my name down to volunteer for homestart. Ive got an information session due in a few weeks. I did explain I could only do preschool hours & term time but they seemed happy with that.

Not much else to report today. Tomorrow I need to do my food shop, so going to write up my meal plan once dd is in bed.

debtfree2015_2

Busy morning

Got some leggins for my course. The trousers I got bobbled after 2 washes, quite badly as if they were 3-4 years old. I was really surprised, didnt expect that from m&s. Im going to look for my reciept, hopefully I kept it otherwise thats just money down the drain!

Went to Mr T, only as had a gift card to put towards my shop. I mainly got fruit (2 for £3), lunch box snacks, and some sandwhich fillings that I cant find in lilds, ie liver sausage slices, value corned beef slices.

I got my cheese, beans, tinned toms, apple juice in lidls as I knew they were definatly cheaper.

One thing that suprised me in Mr T. I used to get their value chicken breasts for £2 (2in the packet), I almost picked it up, til I noticed they done value diced chicken breast, for 2.18....the weight of the £2 chicken breasts was around 200g - the diced chicken breast for 18p more was 410g! I couldnt believe it, almost double for a few pence on top....that will do us 4 meals easily - I tend to have chicken in stews as it goes much further.

Legs & thighs are cheaper in lidls, but I cant stand the bones etc. The bones remind me what Im eating which makes me feel sick, but when they are not there I enjoy the taste and try not to think about it.

I plucked up the courage to invite dd's friend & mum round, so they will come round tomorrow, hopefully it will go well, and lead to more play dates, maybe even a friend for me!

Lots of tidying up to do first make the place look presentable.

Going to order dd's mattress tomorrow definately sticking to my choice now, her bed is in good condition, and I was thinking she is light for her age and fairly short too, so she may have the bed for a bit longer than a year. Plus I kept thinking if I move and her bedroom is smaller, she'd need a high rise bed, or if she had a bigger room, I might go straight for a small double bed so she is set for the forseeable. I had a double bed fairly only, purely as my nan was given a better on than what she had so I was passed her bed, I took it with me when I left home too. I eventually had to replace it as it was a divan, and my young pup made a hole in the material and made a mess inside. Little rascal:rotfl: Diverted a bit there, but anyway a mattress buys me more time.

I found my diary and have scheduled in, swimming, soft play, shopping day (dd loves food shopping), park/library, plus play date if we can get one, if not Il repeat one of the above. Hopefully that should make the easter holidays quite fun, dd wont get bored and I wont get stressed when she plays up due to boredom.

If she is a good girl today she will get 10p in her pot, I reminded her this morning so fingers crossed she has remembered and will be good.

MuffinTops

Hello DF,

I've caught up on a few days with you and there's so much you've done. Then you have college tomorrow and it's all round again. But your posts are quite upbeat consistently now and I hope that reflects how you're really feeling.

I'm a fan of Sophie Kinsella books. Gemma Burgess writes in a similar style and also Sophie Kinsella also wrote under the name of Madeline Wickham. I bought 3 books for £5 from WHSmith on my birthday weekend although i've not opened them yet. I just couldn't resist the bargain.

You also sound very shopping savvy! Isn't it strange how they can charge just a few pence for twice as much. Great value though. I always feel so chuffed with myself when I notice things like that.

I'm sorry to hear your daughter is going through a little phase. You sound like you're being a perfect mother though, so hopefully it's something she will grow out of.

I really hope things work out well on the play date too. For you as much as your daughter as you do sound like you could do with a friend. I sometimes think it's a shame we don't know each other in real life as we seem quite similar in a lot of ways and have similar backgrounds too. Enough for a decent amount of empathy going both ways anyway!

Anyway, I'd best get on. I'm starving hungry and a cup of tea has miraculously found it's way to my desk! Have a lovely day and a great day in college tomorrow! x

debtfree2015_2

Hi Muffin,

Thats good to know re Gemma Burgess being simular to sophie kinsella, will have to see if the library have any more.

Nervous about this afternoon, fingers crossed it will go smoothly.

It is a shame we dont know each other in real life, but still nice to have support, even if it is virtual. I cant remember the last time I opened up to my 'friends' the way I do on here!

Hope you enjoyed your tea, have a good day x

debtfree2015_2

Nervous about today.

My main issue is my home, Im not proud of it. Inside is nice outside isnt. When I viewed it I was put of by the outside, it took a long time to warm to the inside. If it I hadnt had to move then and there I wouldnt have taken it. Just shows how much of a snob I am. Well Im not, because it wouldnt bother me if this was a friends home....I think I just worry too much about what others think.

I think had I been in my old home Id be just worried about the converstation going dry, - which is my second reason for nerves though hopefully the children will make it flow easy!

I talk to another mum at the school gates, her dd is a bit younger than mine, but I was the first to talk to her when she first started & we have kind of stuck to each other at the school gate since, though she only comes one day a week. I meant to ask her today if she wanted to come next week, but one mum who hasnt spoken to me for ages suddenly struck up converstation I couldnt break away, then dd's friend who is coming today came up so wanted to check what they were ok with what I have in for lunch.
Hopefully Il be able to catch her when I pick dd up. Felt a bit rude talking to the other lady about lunch right infront of her!

The morning is dragging a touch now, always does when Im nervous.

Everything is ready, I think, fingers crossed for a nice afternoon!

debtfree2015_2

Well,

it went well I think!

The mum was lovely, she also lives in a flat so didnt appear to turn her nose up.

DD was the only down part, she is going through a crying stage. Every two seconds if her friend took a toy, or got to a book first rather than stand up for herself or get out there she just cried & screamed. She completely wore me out!

Next time I think Il suggest a neutral place eg park, softplay, nothing for them to get emotional about then!

The other lady I meant to invite wasnt at the preschool when I got there, Im wondering if she collected her dd early. Il speak to her next week about meeting up during the school holidays.

Im so exhausted through dd's tears and tantrums, my eyes are stinging.

Got homework to do for tomorrow, so will attempt to get that done as Im pretty sure Il be wanting an early night tonight.

debtfree2015_2

Exhausted after today.

My car is making a few funny noises. Now Im worried..... Im due to have the cambelt done april. If I pay to get it checked out now, I will have to put the cambelt back a few months, its not a risk worth taking I know as if it goes it will kill the engine.

Im not sure if these noises are normal because its an old car its just louder, or what....

Will speak to the garage tomorrow see what they suggest.

MuffinTops

Hi DF,

I hope the noises are just reflective of the age of car rather than anything to worry about, but if you have a garage you trust then it's definitely worth getting it checked.

I hope college went well again and that you have a wonderful free picnic weekend. x

debtfree2015_2

Hi Muffin,

I took it to garage, he didnt listen to it as he said older cars, and small cars are more noisy. As its due in for cambelt he said he will check it over at the same time.

I explained its due a major service, asked for the cost, he said as its been done religiously chances are not everything will need doing, so save paying for something that doesnt need doing he can have a look and recommend what fluids need changing etc. He said if it helps I can break it down in small chunks, ie do what he things is more urgent, and the less urgent things a month later etc.

I dont have any knowledge of the garage, its the only one in the town though. I did when I brought the car got a few quotes from garages that I was passing through other towns, its roughly the same as what they all quoted.

Simple fact is if it needs more doing that I can afford Id have to sell, so hopefully they will be a trust worthy garage.