Help - I'm a mess :(

MummyDrusilla

Oh sorry - wrong end of the stick!

I use cloth nappies and so it was natural to use cloth wipes but I still get disposable wipes for the changing bag and for the childminder. They are easier for me to do it like that! But I only buy them every few months so certainly a lot cheaper than using them full time.

Yeah our plastic tubs came from the takeaway. We just wash and re-use. Actually we have loads spare so I'm more than happy to mail some to you if you want?

Oh and well done with the cigs! You're doing really well!!!

flis21

Hey all,

Thanks for the posts. Day 4 of not smoking, finding it a bit easier today than I did yesterday! Got a friend coming for dinner tonight with her 2 children, but she is bringing bolognese with her, so all I'm doing is pasta and dessert. Dessert is chocolate rice krispie cakes, which DS1 and I have just made, which only cost me 89p for the chocolate and the rest of the bits we had in anyway.

I don't really get takeaways as the kids don't eat them, only an occassional pizza (which I am not going to do anymore!). Will have a look in our local £land for plastic tubs, or maybe I could ask around and see if some of my friends have got any or could save me some from their takeaways (what else is my facebook status for!! lol).

Am starting to get a bit nervous about the CCCS thing tomorrow. I kind of think I know what I want to do now (pay off the 4 that I'm in contact with and leave the rest alone and see what happens). If they want me to do a DMP (which is what their online thing suggested) are they gonna make me contact all my creditors? Is it ok to just listen to their advice and then do my own thing, or will I have to adhere to what they say?

Not sure about asking parents to supply baking ingrediants, I do tend to do cooking things once a month with the kids, I've always provided the ingrediants and the kids take the bits they make home. If I ask them to supply the ingrediants I will def have to let them take it all home, so not sure that's gonna help much! I do get the parents to pay for entrance fees if we go out on day trips (for instance went to aquarium in Oct half term and parents all paid entrance fees and sent packed lunches). Would def consider asking them to donate craft bits, old boxes or whatever we're after. They wouldn't really have any outlay then. I suppose I am a bit paranoid about annoying the parents at the mo. I only have 2 permanent children (and another 3 that I look after ad hoc in the holidays). If I lose one of the permanent ones I'll be stuffed!

Oh another success today, i didn't get the bus to play group I walked (even in the rain!!) So that's another £3.10 saved, woohoo! And while I was there I noticed they had a library that parents can borrow books from and one of the books was 200 Budget Meals, so I've borrowed that (see no outlay!) and thought I can just copy out any recepies I like. My kids are quite fussy, but there are a few in there I think they'll like. A tomato and bacon rice dish and a pasta pie that looks lovely.

Thanks all,
Flis x

White_Iris

flis21 wrote: »

Off to raid the linen cupboard for old flannels, actually I know I have a couple of old towels that don't get used, wonder if I could cut them up?

I used the muslin cloths my twins had when they were tiny. They had gone a bit grey and discoloured, so no good for eBaying but great for kitchen cloths. I cut them in to quarters (they were huge so the piece came out flannel sized) and hemmed them, then chucked them in a drawer in the kitchen. I use them for all sorts of things - discloths, wiping spills, wiping noses - then throw them in the washing machine when I've finished. It's massively reduced the amount of kitchen roll we use (and it's better for the environment than throw away paper goods :A).

Iris .x.

Memory_Girl

flis - you will some find that your kids move on from being fussy if what you are dishing up is good homecooked food.

DS1 has just been interviewed by a Sunday paper - the journo asked him if he minded that Mum didn't spend a lot of money on food - he answered that "just cos she doesn't spend loads doesn't mean we don't eat really well" Journo asked what he had eaten in the last week.

Italian gnochhi, pizza, cottage pie, Sunday roast, risotto, pasta and meatballs and fritatta. For lunch he had hummus and dippers with pitta, mexican chilli beans, potato and chickpea curry, wraps with roast turkey and chicken barley soup.

Journo is moving in next week:rotfl:

Serious savings to be made eating "proper" food -although we have recently acquired a copy of "The Takeaway Secret! so will be treating ourselves to some home-made takeaways in the next meal-plan rotation.

Keep on keeping on - you non-smoking You:T

MG

Naomim

flis21 wrote: »

And while I was there I noticed they had a library that parents can borrow books from and one of the books was 200 Budget Meals, so I've borrowed that (see no outlay!) and thought I can just copy out any recepies I like. My kids are quite fussy, but there are a few in there I think they'll like. A tomato and bacon rice dish and a pasta pie that looks lovely.

Thanks all,
Flis x

Hi flis,

You are doing really well. Are you a member of netmums? It's free to join and you can list things to sell on there for free, the even have a free section for things people are giving away. They also have some amazing child friendly recipes on there too. I have used loads of their recipes for my two.

Well done with the stopping smoking. I've been "smober" for 3 years now and so pleased & much healthier!

Naomi x

flis21

Thanks Naomi, I have been on their website before, looking at the days out and toddler group recommendations, but not really looked round much more than that. Will head over and have a look.

Flis xt

flis21

Ok have just gone thru the SOA and snowballed the 4 debts that are actually in contact with me and I'm paying, according to that I could be free of those debts by June 13!!! Wow. I think that's what I'm going to do, pay those off (might set myself a challenge to see if I can do it quicker than that!) and then just wait and see if the rest contact me.

flis21

Morning all,

Got so excited this morning, i've sold a DVD on Amazon for £5.17!!! Ok I've got to post it out of that money, but that shouldn't cost too much.

Got CCCS interview today at 1pm. I worked out my business accounts yesterday and actually, with the extra I earn in holidays, my average monthly wage is coming in at £210. Not sure how that's going to work tho as month's where there aren't any holidays I earn less. Well I'll let them advise me later.
Flis x

hp48910

Well done on the sale and lots of luck for the CCCS appointment

chevalier

Good luck with your CCCS appointment today. Remember though that if you only tell them about the 4 that are you in contact with, and then you have to start dealing with one of the others, it might make the DMP fail.

I would suggest that you make sure that the ones that haven't contacted you, it has been 6 years or more. They would be statute barred anyway...

Chev