make do and mend for tougher times

Popperwell

meme30 wrote: »

My DD's twins started Primary School last September. She faced an instant £80 extra bill for school dinners. This is more than her gas bill! We talked it over and they went to school with packed lunches. Whichever Grandparent picks them up gives them a hot meal later so that felt ok.
Both DD and SiL felt bad about it but equally said they would have never taken on an extra debt of £80 a month and that is what it felt like.
Also they have found that they can be sure what their children are eating. Another bonus was that there have been occasions when they have paid for 'one off' school lunches like Christmas dinner, and the children have regarded it as a huge treat!:rotfl:

Popperwell:- Dispatches is on Channel 4 on Monday at 8pm. Panorama is on BBC2 on Monday at 8,30pm

So I am week early meme30 Thanks...

In Finland schools meals are free for all children it seems.

They say that I'll spend £80 for my gas and electric each month but I hardly have the CH on and just warm up the water so I can mainly have a quick wash wash dirty plates etc...so I think I can keep that down...and though it means being a miser my last electric bill came in at around £20 per month so I hope I can get that down to around £40 for both each month. I don't think I can cut back much further.

I only have one light on at night, a pc/monitor and a DAB Radio(sometimes a slow cooker)fridge/freezer, an odd use of the washer and tumble drier but I wait until there is a full load so that can take weeks, if the wether is good I use the washing line for drying.

So the thought of having to find £80 for school meals:eek:as suggested to your DD and SIL...

Imagine, they give you modern things to make life easy(like gas and electric)but whether you can afford them is another matter...

I can see why some people go and sit in a library or drink tea all day in a caf! to save on the heating etc...at home.

Last time I went to hospital for a check up I used the ambulance transport service(free)oterwise it's £30 round trip by taxi or at £7+by bus...

You have to save where you can...

So again having to pay for a school bus too...I hope Fuddle and others find they can can get it for free or there are enough people to get together and bring the price down by sharing...

meme30

I wondered about your thoughts about children playing outside. We live in a semi- rural area where most children play outside mostly unsupervised. I don't mean that they go out in the morning and don't come back till tea-time like we did when we were young.:rotfl:
I mean playing in the street on bikes and scooters. This week my 5 year old Grandchildren have played in the street for the two days I have had them.
We live in a cul-de-sac, with very little traffic, I, another Grandma and a SAHM all allowed their 5-6 year olds out to play. None of us stayed in the street with them but kept the front door open so they all, and us too were very accessible. No one was allowed past SAHM's house so the children had half of the street to play in. (end furthest from the main road) All the children have been trained to watch for cars and to get themselves and their bikes off the road when one enters the street.
I know there are many places where parent's cannot let their children do this. I know there are many dangers involved in allowing children more freedom. I don't think I am daft either!
I have been thoroughly taken to task by a friend for allowing the children to play out on their own. She feels that it is too dangerous and that they should be more supervised. My comments on them learning street rules and safety and gaining confidence were totally dismissed as irrelevant. I was quite deflated at first, but on reflection I think I am right, this is a big step but one all children and parents need to tackle sometime.

Popperwell

Just my view(and I know I don't children)but I think you are right Meme30 but it depends on the area, age of children and many other factors, you've thought about it, looked at the situation and come up with what appears a sensible solution.

bonnie_bumpkins

Pops have you had any sleep??!!

Glad to hear you ate, albeit late. But please try to rest and eat regularly, preferably when the rest of the country is eating and sleeping too

I'm in fussy mother-type mode today. I have 2 teenager volunteers to help in the shop today; they will need close supervision. And of course my own 2 teens at home. Another boiling day in the South East so I'm not sure what my mood will be like at the end of the day :eek:

Take care everyone and keep on pinching those pennies

[Deleted User]

Morning, the lurcher and I have just had the best of the day. We were out and walking at 5.45 and it was lovely, full of flower smells , cool and thoroughly enjoyable.

MEME - I think you are letting the grandchildren have a little taste of freedom and responsibility which can only be to thier benefit. We lived in a cul de sac when the girls were younger and had a corner plot with a grass area outside the garden wall. We put the climbing frame and swing out there and they, and all thier friends played out all the time it was nice weather. They became traffic savvy and people savvy very quickly and had a great time - what's to criticise?

I think it's going to be another scorcher today so off to housework while it's bearable temperature. Have a good one everyone, Cheers Lyn xxx.

Popperwell

Well occasionally Bonnie, I have to catch up on things via the PC overnight and uringthe night I can do as much as I wish and it does not affect my allowance at the isp.

But you are right of course regular sleeping patterns are better I guess. I have rested though and can catch some sleep now...:)

I have had some toast and marmalade and may have some orange juice or a coffee...

Have a good day and I hope you are not too hot at work which drains energy...

meme30

Has anyone heard from Byatt ? Seems a long time since I have seen her name. If you are lurking, i hope you are OK!:wave:

Popperwell

I hope so too, I did see her on another thread yesterday...I think...

katieowl_2

fuddle wrote: »

Also some really bad news for mums in my area. The school bus is no longer being subsidised by the council. Mums have to pay for the use of the school bus. So many of my friends have to find £30 for one child, £60 an month extra if you have 2 children and one has 3 so has to find an extra £90 a month just to get her children to school. She can't walk it because her smallest child is still in the infant school and wouldn't get walked up to the Junior school till about 9.40am.

Fuddle, I've been stewing on your behalf about this all night :mad:

I think that the council are using you guys as a soft target for cuts, as it you that 'have' to make sure your kids attend school.

My very bolshy stroppy alter ego (which is spending more and more time being in charge these days!) would be looking at organising some kind of picket action demnstration on the council offices, and organising the mums so that ALL the parents threatened to withdraw the children from that school, and home school them, unless they stump up for the cost of the school bus themselves. Tell them that you simply cannot afford to send them to school if you have to pay for the bus!

I'm guessing it cost them a lot more to monitor home schoolers than it does to run a bus?

But anyway...it's a very WRONG thing to do and my head is revolving with rage on your behalf :mad:

Kate

fuddle

I saw Byatt post somewhere else yesterday on OS so she's ok. Hi Byatt

mardatha wrote: »

I have looked and it is 2 miles but 'as the crow flies' I live 3.7 miles from the secondary school, going by road so should be alright, thanks I can rest, till the next goal post changes :cool:

Evie74 wrote: »

I watched that BBC programme about 1970's family life last night - it was a real nostalgia trip for me! The yellow flowery wallpaper! The stringy-thing picture! The painting of the lady with a green face! The swirly carpets! It was like they had raided my family photo albums for inspiration.

It was the glass blown fish for me

grandma247 wrote: »

For those with toddlers or for childminders I had the link for this in an email. It really is a good list for keeping littles occupied for a little while.

Brilliant Grandma, bookmarked and will be well used.

I'm on Pinterest so will have a hunt for fairy gardens, thank you.

A morning of housework for me. Kids going to have to occupy themselves because I'm way behind on my jobs. DH has said that I need to pull back from trying to entertaining them because I'm going to burn out. He has a point. He said they're bright kids, get them in the garden with a box of odds and ends and they'll make up a game or imaginative play. He's right, I've gone in too heavy handed :rotfl: Still, we've enjoyed these last few days and going to do the fairy garden. Off to see the police dogs with my sister this afternoon though.

Meme I struggle with outside play. Youngest is nearly 4 and she will not be out for a good few years. We live on a main road but my friend lives over the road on a quiet road. My eldest is nearly 8 and has only recently been allowed to play on their quiet road. I can see from my window but had I not been on the anxiety meds, I couldn't have rested. It's been a slow gradual process for me and just last night I allowed her to go over there on her bike. The screams and laughter made me feel so bad for keeping her indoors for so long. The park is just through the houses. I can't let her go on her own, I follow, sitting myself down with a book to read, just so I'm there. I wish I could let go but I just don't think it's safe with the amount of traffic and high climbing frames It's not even stranger danger with me, it's physical injury or freak accident - in reality, stranger danger is probably more prevalent.

DH said that we could claim some tax back for years of uniform washing and that the info is on MSE. Someone from work told him. That's on my list today. Try to suss it out. If we could that would be a little lump to go towards the heating room thermostat.

Off to go sort out my house and set some bread dough off. Making lunch for sister and neice of pasta and cheese and some flapjack.