make do and mend for tougher times

lilmisskitkat

kezlou wrote: »

Made a huge mistake DS1's trip thought it £50 instead its £155 :mad: Already paid the deposit and i really don't want to say no to him, as he's hoping the trip away will help him make new friends.

He knows he can't go on the Paris, no way can afford £470 for a 3 day break. I mean where do the school think were everyones getting the money from?!

£155?? :eek: Seems schools trips are getting way out of hand these days, i know they class them as educational but money doesn't grow on trees - it costs enough for uniform/bus fares/dinner money etc. Hope you can get the money together and your DS has a fab time though

And £470??? :eek: We could have a family holiday for that. I'm afraid when DD1 goes to high school some things are going to have to be met with a firm no. We just can't afford to shell that much out for trips

K xx

Possession

Aw I sympathise Kezlou, poor DS. And after we went to the high school open evening last week (DS is in yr 6) the children were all excited saying the school go on ski trips and all these other trips - had to interrupt and say they all cost money and no way could he go on them all. I don't think it included yr 7 but last year the school even went to Peru!
Mind you I remember not being able to go on the school ski trip because we couldn't afford it and I'm 43, so it's not as if that's a new thing. I do remember going on a geography field trip to a glacier in Switzerland though, on a coach with no toilet!

maryb

Ooh LilmissKitkat, another Bletchley Circle fan. Can't wait to see how it pans out. After the first episode I was sure it was the husband but now I just don't know... the trailer made it look as if it was the chap who was at the hospital at the end of the last episode but is that too obvious?

It really evokes the atmosphere of the 1950s so well. I would hate to go back to those times in real life.

kidcat

Kezlou - we have similar issues with school trips, when DD was at high school and when DS was there they both had trips organised that were in excess of £2000. We said no chance. DD had a trip in yr 10 that was Paris and my parents offered to use her present money and pay half leaving us with £250 to pay, so we put in for a place - however she wasnt allowed to go as her attendance had been low ( she had glandular fever).
Now DD6 school have instigated a new policy of every year group having a residential trip every year (excluding reception) these trips usually cost £120 upwards, which is alot to find every year, whats worse is the lack of notice so no ability to spread payments.

HariboJunkie

lilmisskitkat wrote: »

£155?? :eek: Seems schools trips are getting way out of hand these days, i know they class them as educational but money doesn't grow on trees - it costs enough for uniform/bus fares/dinner money etc. Hope you can get the money together and your DS has a fab time though

And £470??? :eek: We could have a family holiday for that. I'm afraid when DD1 goes to high school some things are going to have to be met with a firm no. We just can't afford to shell that much out for trips

K xx

I don't think for a second that the school thinks that money grows on trees. At our school we know only too well how tight our own budgets are never mind those of struggling parents. They don't make a profit from trips. They charge what they charge because that is what it costs.

At our school, the year 7 trip is quite expensive but parents are given the option to either pay in full or join in with fundraising for the year beforehand. Every year the school and parents have raised enough that parents are only asked to pay a very nominal fee (£20-50) towards it. It's hard work but everyone mucks in (including the children) and it means every child gets to go if they want to.

born_blonde

My sons ( year6 ) is going to Whitby for 2 nights £120. It's not just the cost of the trip it's the cost of the kit. No jeans at least 2 pairs of trousers, waterproof trousers etc. It's stuff he will not use again.

Pooky

Cake - glad you have more time with Catto. When we had our eldest boy PTS last year I was in bits about being responsible for making the decision.

We still have a missing cat, the other 5 are all very subdued and are staying close to home. He's DD1s cat, he adopted her when we rescued him and she's distraught. She's just gone off to her first job interview, not the best timing for him to have done a runner! Fingers crossed she gets the job (a part time job at a supermarket). She handed her CV in on the off chance and they rang her for a chat and asked her in for an interview. Her friend had handed in her CV at the same time was miffed she didn't get called but DD pointed out to her that over the summer DD has taken part in the national youth citizenship scheme doing community projects in the area, she volunteers at the local youth club each week and runs the tuck shop and she helps a family friend with her baking business. Shes not just sat around playing consoles or shopping for hours, she's made an effort to make herself employable. Not sure the friend was impressed. The truth often hurts.

In an effort to stop worrying about the cat I've been making aprons from old jeans, pics will be available later in the usual place.

D&DD

Pooky that's interesting I thought I was the only one who sewed to relieve stress:D I sorted out a pile of sewing to do today but DS2 has been taken Ill so not a lot done here..:(

So all in all it's been a cr*p day not going to winge been ranting at my poor mum this afternoon instead bless her so feel a bit better now.Love my mum

fuddle

Worry not. I've sussed it

I've 21 meals left in the month so 7 lots of meals rotated 3 times:

cheesy broccoli pasta bake
bean enchilades
veggie korma
pizza, garlic bread & coleslaw
jacket potato, beans and cheese
lentil ragu
courgette lasagne.

I've thrown the lot. Much didn't smell but didn't at all feel cool to the touch so I just don't dare risk it.

The annoying thing is that without that freezer I can't shop for the month. I will have to buy my meat as and when I need it at the coop. I can't do the 6 miler to the butchers when I start work as it's right in the middle of the day and won't have time to get there or back, morning or afternoon, in time for schools.

I feel a bit 'harumph'. I had it all sussed too. That's what happens when you get cocky eh?

kidcat

Fuddle - its worth putting a wanted ad on freecycle you may be lucky. We got our chest freezer that way and its still going strong (in my mums we didnt have space here). Did you check your home insurance? I have made a claim on my insurance once for food, after losing a huge amount.