A new 'tougher' thread... and so it continues

BitterAndTwisted

gailey wrote: »

Hubbys got intervew thur but needs new trousers?
Do charity shops often have smart trousers?
I never really look at the menswear section.

Yes, they do. Lots. If you have five minutes have a scout around. Pity that there's no time to have a look on ebay now.


Searched ebay for more cheap storage, possible single wardrobe to make pantry cupboard in halllway would be so exited!

That sounds like a wonderful idea, how clever and inventive you are.

About the mother and sister being critical of your housekeeping: just don't rise to the bait, they're probably just jealous any way. How often do they spend cooking and baking and planning meals with military precision?

About the dog: I echo the other advice. I think you've got quite enough on your plate already. They can be a lot of work. And expense. My own feeling is that having a doggie can be a terrible idea when you're in rented accommodation. You might find it harder and harder to find a landlord willing to take you on in the future.

From now on I'd like to hear that you've given your kids toasted cheese sandwiches for their dinner at least once a week. Cheese toasties and Heinz tomato soup was one of my favourites when I was a nipper. I still have it from time to time now. Most comforting and tasty. And a bit time-saving for you. You might even have time for a cup of tea and get to put your feet up for five minutes instead of being constantly in that kitchen being the goddess and human whirlwind that you are. You sound like you never stop.

Hardup_Hester

PIC I have piercings in stranger places than you & I'm 60!
To all the Mum's with young children, I have a psychologist friend who says 'perfect' mothers produce horrible kids, as the kids are forced to be 'perfect' too. I have 4 children, when they were little, the house was always a shambles, meals were regular, but one day a week was always something on toast. My kids are now between 24 & 33 & they still all love me, will do anything for me & think they had a great childhood & they know it was all down to me & not to their Dad.
Hester

gardenia101

prepareathome wrote: »

People have very short memories when it suits them, like the elderly woman you get who will mutter away about how naughty your child is. I confronted one last year, we were at park with grandchildren and 6 year old was running around and shouting and these two elderly woman ( 80's) told me I was a bad *mum* letting my son make so much noise and run around. So I politely asked them if they had children and they said yes, so I then enquired about the children when they were young, what they liked to do etc., and of course out it came how they loved to run round in park, climb trees ( boys and girls ) and how naughty they could be. So then brought conversation round to why if their own children were allowed to do these things why should not my grandchildren ( although I thanked them for the compliment of thinking I was their mum) run round the park yes making a noise but no more noisy than others, as park was full. They both had the decency to blush and admit they had forgotten about that and how when anyone from the older generation had said same to them when their children were young they would become angry. Ended up they thanked me for reminding them of all those happy days.

I wish I'd done more of this when mine were younger - & I admire your cojohes for doing so! I do wonder if some of our local old grumps have worse barks or bites but I was never brave enough to find out

Good luck with the new group, I wish it was as easy for an oldie like me to get out and go places where I could meet people.

I find this more difficult too. Looking back toddler groups were good for this although I remember feeling so intimidated at the time! I've still not rung the lady at the WI (was engaged when I did try so I'm not a total wuss :rotfl:) as my new year confidence seems to have taken a nose dive

I'm off to hospital today for an eye check - lots of very bright lights & dilated pupils for the rest of the day. Glad it isn't summer & bright outside!

Ginnyknit - so glad to OH is on the mend.

Hugs to everyone :A

Carissa

Missed a day on here and had to sift through pages and pages to keep up! The advice and support here is amazing.

Had a poor day yesterday. Woke up and found I had developed a nasty cold overnight, got the two older kids off to school and had cuddles with my 3 yr old DD for an hour before I got dressed. I had just started brushing my hair when there was a knock at the door.

I answered looking like a scarecrow, and found it was my little girls nursery teacher! She starts her nursery place on Thursday and she came around for a home visit to meet her. I was so embarrassed I had forgotten all about it, and even more so when I looked at my feet and found I was wearing odd socks! My cheeks are blazing just thinking about it!

Anyway, made some biscuits with the hobnob recipe from here (Softstuff's I think?) and they were beautiful! I say were, as even though I made approx 60+, the children and DH have eaten them all! Must make more and hide them.

Also made a very tasty (and very cheap!) bean curry which went down very well with everyone. Made enough for another meal so thats in the freezer to top baked potatoes.

Bad bits - when we first moved into this house in November, we found the utilities were supplied by one of the expensive companies so we switched to a cheaper one. The change took 4 weeks, and we have just received the gas and electric bills for that first month - Gas £125 and the electric £63. I can't believe it! The first week we didn't actually use anything as the boiler didn't work, and then have stuck to only having the heating on for an hour or two a day but only if we actually need it.

Then DD aged 14 came home from school to tell me that someone had stolen her mobile phone from her bag. It has been reported stolen but the school have said that there isn't much they can do about it, and have made her feel as though it were her fault for having it in her bag in the first place. As she goes to a school that is a 20 minute bus ride away, I like her to have it with her so I know she can be contacted and vice versa. Theft is theft no matter what it is and where it happens, and her school should not trivialise it. Going to have words at parents evening later tonight!

Hugs to all who need them (pooches included!)

VJsmum

gardenia101 wrote: »

as my new year confidence seems to have taken a nose dive

As the oft-quoted (mostly by me, I think) Eleanor Roosevelt said "No-one can make you feel inferior without your consent".

Back to work "proper" today - students and everything. Just trying to drag myself out of the house - like this is helping! Walking to the station and back should give my fitness regime (err - no laughing at the back there!) a kick start. I have frozen soup in my bag - lets hope the microwave is still working.

Ah well, up and atam. Have a good one all.

gailey_2

Carissa wrote: »

Missed a day on here and had to sift through pages and pages to keep up! The advice and support here is amazing.

Had a poor day yesterday. Woke up and found I had developed a nasty cold overnight, got the two older kids off to school and had cuddles with my 3 yr old DD for an hour before I got dressed. I had just started brushing my hair when there was a knock at the door.

I answered looking like a scarecrow, and found it was my little girls nursery teacher! She starts her nursery place on Thursday and she came around for a home visit to meet her. I was so embarrassed I had forgotten all about it, and even more so when I looked at my feet and found I was wearing odd socks! My cheeks are blazing just thinking about it!


Carrissa -hope you better same happened to me 2years ago had receptiion teacher and teaching aide on doorstep. luckily we were dressed and daughter wasent naked quite unusual:rotfl:but house was a mess .

With phones tricky one step son travels to secondry and have brought him cheap £8basic nokia on payg as he kept losing /damaging but maybe crap phone make them safer from theives not sure.
qwe got him cheapest smart phone for xmas and told his mam if its lost then shes replacing it!I also worry about smart phones as on laptop you can put parental controls on interent unsure about smart?

Morning guys

1st want to say thanyou everyone for being so supportive, giving advice and tips and telling me about your experiereinces means a lot!
Need to catch up on few posts but hope everyones ok.

Will look in poundshop and sainsburys for sweet.
did look at homebargains website as everyone raves about them but havent one here but they have online so might do big order even with postage reckon theres a saving!

hubbys off today.

hes given me lie in
taken eldest to brekkie club at school
done spar run for milk 8pints for £2.30 still cheaper than sainsburys!
even marks is cheaper than co-op with £1.25 for 4pint and booker premier just £1.09! yes im fixated with milk we get through so much.

talking of milk read another post how shes cuts ends of bottle and freezes meals into them with sandwich bags on top might try that!

im off to sw soon think I gained:(
hubbsy taking toddler to church messy play think eb nice relaxing for him to do some crafts as hes been so stressed latly.

toddler vomited everywhere lastnite all over bed herself and me took 2hours get her to sleep but seems fine today.

Baby so mobile and sits likee meercat surveying hat he can reach next just wish he dident like wires so much.

need to sort outr washing today and clean bathroom.
did change bddding last night
kicthesn clean but place could do with hoover so not too much housework today.

brought cake cases make fairy cakes later.

I know its wrong but couldent help but laugh at sun today not my usual read but brought for hol vouchers.

warning cheese puns

chef stealing cheese and wine from tesco

I been an edam fool I promise to be gouda from now on.
next to it £5 off tesco voucher which could include legally purchased cheese!

silly man why he do it as hes very wealthy!

Did not ask landlord about dog as wouldent be until next year and want to renew tenacy first and make a few more improvements to his property he knows we good tennants.Just nice to have front door opens, fire wil be replaced soona nd hopefully new carpet and kicthen door fixed.

He did say yes to 2nd shed but unsure how cheap,easy it is to get electrics to shed for freezer and drier which allows table and extra workspace in kitchen make my life better but aspiration no money to do it yet.

if carpet done just girls room to paint and new laminate down as was £2 a pack then thats all rooms done just need storage and accesoroes so watching lots on ebay.

realised last night been eating reduced foods daily done well on bargains.
yesterday got new poatoes on butter 25p served with reduced sausages and beans for hubby and got 17p pack ham for lunchboxes spar been good to me as go in every other day and get couple items each time starting to make difference even hubbys pleased.

got to keep tight control over grocery budget this month.

reviewed finaces think by march with 2montsh break from council tac/water we be ok.

doing a fairy/enahnted wood theme for party.

so now thinking fairy lights
seen toadstool candles but hubbys worried
illuminated ballons
sparkly fairy confetti

might put food in bags as might be cheaper than boxes.

looking cheap airy party fillers

doing good old ashione dparty games musical bumps and pass parcel and myabe a pinata.

everyones dressing up as fairies.

think i was party planner in former life

PaddyPaws

prepareathome wrote: »

Or make up some dough and let her make biscuits, just be prepared to either take a small bite or if you can get away with it pretend from biscuits made from dough that has hit the floor a few times. I would always ensure I made a few biscuits from another bit of dough so the child could eat what 'they' made, I would just add them without them seeing to theirs and pop in oven.

This reminded me of when I was little, if my mum made pastry for a pie she used to give me the off-cuts to play with. I used to play for a while then roll it out and cut out shapes which she would bake in the oven and then we gave them to my dad. Don't think he ever knew that I'd played with the pastry on the back door step :rotfl:

ragz_2

Fromage frais! - After the shocking price hikes in value ranges I found Aldi's 12 pack for 89p. Just the same stuff, almost as cheap as value used to be.

DH is off work poorly again today, he's self employed so he earns no money if he is ill. This makes me feel frustrated and tense and him guilty/defensive... which is silly as he can't help it... I am trying to overcome this. Really I should budget for illness/holidays, we are actually ok at the moment as housing benefit falls twice in next rental payment month so we can afford it but I can't help thinking about the £100 he hasn't earned! At least he is in bed and not getting in my way!

Gailey - interesting idea about freezing food in cut off milk cartons! Hope your little one's ok today, sicky kids are no fun (except when they sit quietly on the sofa with a blanket and let you get on with stuff!). Approved foods had a case of seabrook crisps for £8 odd but you got a load off the postage so it worked out really cheap if you were orderig other stuff, they may have drinks you could use too? (I have 13 months between my 5 and 4 year old sons and DD is about to turn 2, I will be soooo happy to get a morning off a week when she starts preschool next month!)

Must inventory chest freezer and meal plan today. It's got so full I can hardly move stuff so I will need gloves I think as it will take a while. Lots of chicken, which is unusual for us, I only buy freedom food. free range so I don;t buy much chicken but I got a load reduced to half price... have forgotten what I cook with it now!

Reverbe

gailey wrote: »

Carissa wrote: »

warning cheese puns

chef stealing cheese and wine from tesco

I been an edam fool I promise to be gouda from now on.
next to it £5 off tesco voucher which could include legally purchased cheese!

silly man why he do it as hes very wealthy!

compared to the likes of us MSERs perhaps but his businesses have been in trouble for a long time..(no excuse for theft of course)

saratoga

Good morning and hello,I have spent a while reading the thread and decided to join ! I have 6 kids,6 cats, a hungry husband and a very chilly house and although I do second hand to the point of sillyness and cut corners relentlessly,I think we need to do a little more to cut back so I'm avidly reading the tips and suggestions.
I have already lined all the windows with Smartprice fleece bankets on the wire that you would normally put a net curtain on so the kids can still open them to get some actual sunlight in(when they do venture in the real world and out of the virtual ones!!!)