Making the future happen - museumworker's MFW diary Pt 2

museumworker

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS wrote: »

I love the way you describe close to a £1k OP :j as 'salary leftovers and small amaz@n sale'.

:rotfl: Hope that doesn't make me sound big headed! We need to do a proper budget at some point, but that is what was leftover once have topped house account back to £1k, put money into savings and mortgage account. The Ama$on sale was around £4 so was small!

Hey tyo and Courgette! I am really very happy in general, although today feeling a bit panicky. I had some very bad news about a friend and their family late on the weekend, and that has knocked me for six. I did my usual 'be really busy and not think about it' yesterday, so had a lovely day but am exhausted now and starting to feel a bit down. I have been to exercise class today so feel a bit better for working out, but still feel like everything is on top of me, a real sense of impending doom . I always struggle with September/October, and it is a really busy month what with DDs and my birthday to plan.

Am going to focus on the little things:
* [STRIKE]roast peppers for tart tonight
[/STRIKE]*[STRIKE] plan DD's party and text parents this evening to confirm collection point/times/dietary requirements
* call friend
* drop prescription request into Drs
* find 20 things to clear out
* spend bike vouchers before expire[/STRIKE]

its_smee

Creeping out of lurkadom, to say well done on all you've done so far, and stick with the reusables I wouldn't even want to add up how much nappies would have cost on my 18month mini smee but hes been in cloth since birth and that thought alone spurs me on with them (I admit I'm not particularly green and its all for the money saving aspect with me)

happycamel_2

Sorry to highjack but Smee, Museumworker and Courgette - I'm due dc2 in a month or so and would like to use reusables this time but have no idea where to start with them. Last time I had PND and moved house when dd was 6 weeks old and just didn't have the head space for using them, this time I really want to.

I've got a diary further down the page, would you mind hopping on it and giving me any of your tips re choosing and using reusables?

Thanks, HC

museumworker

Hello smee and hc, nice to see you both here and thanks for posting! Have posted on your diary with a response of sorts about reusables. In RL I have had mostly disparaging comments or blank looks about using washable nappies but I have no regrets! The fact that it not only helps the environment but also should be money neutral makes it doubly rewarding for me.

DS ready for bedtime feed, back soon!

museumworker

Have got to the end of the list - bike vouchers used, and another £40 spent. Got a top of the range lock and cable for my bike so can start using it for evenings out (saving on bus fare), a cable lock so DD can ride her scooter to school and leave it there, and some lights for my bike too.

Have organised DDs birthday and texted all parents details. Keep your fingers crossed for good weather on Sunday as it is a cheap day out which involves an adventure playground - very weather dependent!

Went through DDs art box with her - it was so stuffed full of things she couldn't use it. Managed to get her to give away a couple of pencil sets, we put the rest in pencil cases so it is all organised (most she had, and one I paid 99p for in a charity shop the other day). She recycled all the colouring books she had finished with, and put her finished drawings in a folder she already had. She can now get into each drawer and am hoping it should mean it is better used.

Off to try new baby group, only £1 and sounds really good!

To do:
* pick up prescription
* make wet weather plan b for DDs party
* [STRIKE]call friend again[/STRIKE]
* reply to 2 x fb messages
* [STRIKE]buy and post card to friend[/STRIKE]
* buy presents for DDs friend's party tomorrow

[Deleted User]

Hope dd has a good party will keep fingers crossed for nice weather!!

museumworker

Thanks tyo - weather looking dubious at the minute!

Monthly mortgage statement arrived (drumroll please!). New balance as at 01/10/2012 = £161, 509.64 :j:j!

museumworker

thanks for crossing those fingers - weather was perfect, and we all had a great day out. Had a big heartfelt thank you from DD, which made my day. Especially glad as DS has his first cold, and barely slept last night - meaning I barely slept, so shepherding 7 kids round Central London was a bit more than my body could cope with!

Including travel, food, (HM) cake, donation to the dogs home we visited, gifts for all the kids from the dogs home in lieu of goodybag, and teas at the park for parents, we spent probably £55 - goes to show you don't need to spend a fortune for a kids party for them to have fun!

Used various vouchers this weekend and saved £15 on our shopping, bringing it down to a very respectable £41 :j - that included food for the week, 2 bday presents, 2 cards, and everything for the party so very pleased with that . Will OP that £15 shortly.

CathT

Sounds like things are going really well for you. Hope the weather held out for the party, it was glorious here.

We have always used childcare vouchers and they are well worth it.

museumworker

Thanks CathT, the weather did hold out on Sunday which was great. It was rubbish on Monday, which was my birthday so I did feel a bit down. OH had the day off, and I had wanted to go for a long walk. Instead we went for lunch in a deli a few miles away, it was lovely . Yesterday was DDs birthday, so we took her out for a meal, to a Zizzi. She loved it (think she said 'best birthday meal ever' :j!), and with our clubcard vouchers we only spent £14 on drinks and tip.

I am feeling very overwhelmed at the minute, am fighting a cold and DS is only starting to get over his. I am hosting a birthday tea party at mine on Saturday and just feel like there is so much to do. Decided to write a manageable list to break it down a bit:
* tidy and clean hallway and stairs
[STRIKE]* make a big healthy soup to last a few days[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]* text friend to see if can bring scones to party[/STRIKE] better still, she's coming over to help on Friday
[STRIKE]* take DS to jabs[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]* 11+ with DD today[/STRIKE] she's doing some research on stevie wonder for black history month instead
[STRIKE]* pick mint from garden
* make mango/mint icecubes for the bellinis
* first aid course this evening[/STRIKE]

Some great news just in - Mr S have offered a £100 cheque as an apology for the blanket which ruined my washload, and then taking ages to sort it out :j! Another OP this month .