Pixie's pulling her socks up...the next diary!

pixiechick99

Morning:D
I had a lovely day out shopping with dd2...dd1 stayed at home. I did spend a lot, but it was much needed and did get some good bargains. All money used was already put aside for close for girls - from my eBay sales, this weeks tax credits and ex had given me £50 he owed me so used some of that. We got a few warm jumpers (I got 3 - all under £8), fleece pj bottoms (good old primark), and got dd new undies she needed in primark - so cheap.

Today we need to go and collect dd2s new glasses...don't need to do much else in town except return a top I got for DD1 yesterday (I bought 2 sizes as wasn't sure) so that'll be £18 back to my card.

I got a few more bits on eBay last night - fingers crossed for a few more pounds:) I have one parcel to post today and one item still unpaid so will send the invoice again to the buyer.

I should go get dressed now really...I do love lazy mornings:T

pixiechick99

Chocforever wrote: »

Hello

A lurker pleased to have you back .

I did an OU degree; seems like ages ago but only graduated a couple of years ago. The course presentations start at different times of the year now so if you are feeling keen, you may be able to find a course that starts before next October.

I saw part of that food bank programme too. Had to switch it off when the evangelicals got too much. I was struck by the girl saying she didn't eat until the evening so that she got used to not eating through the day and did not feel so hungry if she kept up the routine. And she took it all in her stride.

Enjoy the rest of half term

Hi chocforever (great name;))
What did you do your OU degree in?
The only course I can see starting in February is one I've already done...typical. The one I really want to do next appears to be just October starts. I now have 2 courses worth of materials to revise ready for the next course. I got very good marks in them, when I did the, but it was in 03-04 so my poor old brain needs reminding of it all! I'm looking forward to it though, I do love maths:cool:

pixiechick99

Back from town, collected dd2s new glasses (that cost me just £10)and got dd1s adjusted a bit while we were there. I returned the top I bought yesterday, them bought dd2 some winter boots - I was pleased as shed been looking at some that were £45...then in new l00k found a pair she preferred at £27, so I was happy with that:D Girls wanted a hot chocolate too...they like C0sta of course, but I refused, not paying £2.60. They were happy with cokes from Mcds instead:)

That really is my spending over for the week:o That's one good thing about back to school...saves me money.

Home now and having a curry for dinner, nice easy out-of-jar one. I must do a meal plan for next week and get the few bits we need over the weekend. I definitely don't need to buy meat...we have lots. Mince and chicken were half price last week, so got 2 big packs of mince and a pack of chicken. I've only used half of one mince, frozen the other and will portion up and freeze the other pack tonight.

Just remembered I need to pay my amaz0n cc today...off to do that now:D

OrangeFairy

Lovely to have you ack on your diary Pixie.
You sound like you have everything organised and accounted for.

My DDs need new clothes soon too!!

Huge Maths lover here too! I did an OU Maths course and my AAT can count towards my degree points. I really would love to complete a degree.

I wasn't sure if there was a time limit on starting the course to completing the degree....I'll have to have a looksie.

Xx

pixiechick99

OrangeFairy wrote: »

I wasn't sure if there was a time limit on starting the course to completing the degree....I'll have to have a looksie.

Xx

Which maths course have you done? I did a social science course 1st, then did mst121 and ms221 in 2003 and 2004. I rang the OU the other day and as they've changed the way they do things a bit I just need to 'migrate the credits'for the courses I've done, which he arranged and should be done very soon. The courses I did are still running so it should be straightforward. I'll see if I can use any of the credits from my part-studied foundation degree too. I'm looking forward to carrying it on - it appeals to me so much more than the thought of writing essays on education agaiin:o

Daughters and new clothes...urgh, it's expensive isn't it? Especially as they are now in ladies clothes...I'm training them to look for a bargain though;)

pixiechick99

Just back from the local co-op to buy bits for the week - came to £16 and that included bits that will last a while - fabric conditioner at half price, washing up liquid, coffee. If I can not spend any more from the grocery account is week that would be fab, it'll claw back a few pounds that were spent this week:)

Nothing much planned for today - need to get girls busy with revision/homework. Dd2 is off out to a party and sleepover tonight. I'll just give her a frozen pizza (one tesc0 delivered by mistake so free,) and then dd1 and I will have some chicken wraps, her favourite. I've persuaded her to do all the chopping too...she wanted wraps that much that she's happy to do this;)

Chocforever

pixiechick99 wrote: »

Hi chocforever (great name;))
What did you do your OU degree in?

My OU degree was in science. I studied a broad range of subjects in the first year and then I took chemistry and biology modules for the second and third years. I had not really done any science courses since GCSE and started a short course on genetics. I found it really interesting and enrolled on another course. Then I got hooked!

I studied economics for my first degree and mainly took maths based courses, partly to avoid essays too! I don't mind writing and if I spend enough time polishing pieces of written work, there is some satisfaction in the finished product. It is just getting started that is hard work and putting the first draft together.

It is a shame that the OU courses are now more expensive because it puts off people (like me) who were taking courses out of interest and self-funding. I may still study for a masters at some point. I'll probably find myself enrolling one night when it seems like a good idea at the time :rotfl:.

Have a good weekend.

OrangeFairy

Hi Pixie

I did MU120, MST 121 in maths and I did a social science one -DD121 An intro to the social sciences: understanding social change part 1. I never got round to part 2 though!

I really enjoyed them and now my AAT studies have finished I feel that need to learn again.


I may have a looksie later and plan to start next October!

pixiechick99

OrangeFairy wrote: »

Hi Pixie

I did MU120, MST 121 in maths and I did a social science one -DD121 An intro to the social sciences: understanding social change part 1. I never got round to part 2 though!

I really enjoyed them and now my AAT studies have finished I feel that need to learn again.


I may have a looksie later and plan to start next October!

Haha, I did DD100 - which was part 1 and 2...didn't really enjoy that though so that's when I went back to Maths:D When I was a youngster I went to Uni to do maths...too much partying and not enough work though so I left:o
Looks like we've done pretty much the same OU stuff:)

pixiechick99

Ohhhhh I don't know what to do:o
Following a bit of a discussion at work re our wages I had a look at mine when I got home. This school year - so since September - I have been working at lunchtimes too, supporting one little girl. It works out at 14 extra hours a month. Before the summer hols I did some dinner duty as overtime and got paid £8.52ph for this. I now find out today that now I'm on a lunchtime contract I get paid £6.53ph:(

However, I still thought I was getting £90 extra then that £60 deducted from my benefits...so only £30 better off really. I now have looked at my wage slip and as working for that extra £90 seems to have made me pay tax and NI, I am now earning just £75 more than when i was just doing a TA role....now, minus my £60 benefit cut and I'm actually only £15 better off from working at lunch,

So I'm now thinking...is it really worth working without a decent lunch break (I have a quick 15m after doing my lunch duty), 14 hrs for take home £15? I feel so silly in not wanting to carry on, but is my time only worth that?

I'm disappointed as I really wanted to earn extra - I'd hoped I'd be about £90 up when i took this on but to find out that as a contracted dinner lady I get £2 less per hour than when I just was standing in is very frustrating...then to have my benefit chopped...oh it's just frustrating:(

If you've read all this rant then thank you:A