Weekly Spend Challenge W/C 16th September 2012

Heffi1

£15.78 spend so far today, I have to pop out at lunchtime too, but will try my best to not get anything other than budgeted for items.

£15.78 / £25.00

oopsadaisydoddle

Baileys_Babe wrote: »

No I'm not renowned for my organisational skills, but with 2 children usually with me I do try to have snacks/lunch with me if we are out and about something else that also helps me last year OH bought me a vacuum travel cup which keeps my tea hot for hours (sometimes too hot) as well as being comfortable to hold and doesn't spill easily. I also look out for deals and go to a lot of free places with the children. I'm also a mean mummy and do not give in to "I want". With regard grocery shopping we buy from lots of different shops and we have a large stock cupboard (well bits and pieces stored all over the house, but you know what I mean) as we stock up on offers. I am helpless at meal planning but we can produce many different meals from what is already in the house, the general rule is if it runs out we will added to the shopping list and buy it next time we are grocery shopping, no popping out for 1 or 2 bits, partly as I never have the time, the exception is fruit and milk but then I would buy a weeks worth. Also groceries come out of a different budget.

For me this budget is for self indulgent things, for example visiting a coffee shop without the children (if they are there it is just another meal or snack time so the cost comes out of the grocery budget).

Like most people my life has changed dramatically since having children but I do not regret the life I had then nor the life I have now it is just different things are indulgences in different periods of our lives.

Sunday NSD, my sister came over and we enjoyed coffee and chocolates whilst the children entertained themselves in a different room, not quiet as indulgent as going to coffee shop without them but still enjoyable and lots cheaper :money:

Please can you tell me which travel cups you have? I have a costa one but It doesn't keep my coffee warm for too long. Also can you give me some ideas of what free things you do with your kids?

Thanks,

Oops.x

EverTheOptimist

Welcome back flying giraffe. :wave:

Welcome katy_ann and shezam. :wave:

Baileys babe - i think you still sound more organised than me and think you have willpower. I would still be self indulgant.

But i will get myself more organised, i will, i will, i will.

Surprise Surprise i had some spends today, some indulgant, some not. Needed throat lozenges as woke up with a cold and bad throat today. Then had to get a choc bar when i posted hubby's first parcel. :rotfl: (Parcel was free).

£8.89 / £35 so far this week, out for tea tomorrow so that will be my biggest spend this week.

oopsadaisydoddle

I've had quite a HSD today...spent £7 on getting my eyebrows done - gone is the monobrow! Yippee! DH also spent £5 on passport photos because he's on a course tomorrow weds and thurs and needed them for that. I've also given him £10 for spends for over the course. he probably won't need to spend this as is a work course and food and refreshments are provided!

I also bought myself a crochet for beginners book off eBay the other day as I fancy a hobby and this seems quite cheap because you don't need loads of expensive equipment to get started. Also I love the thought of being able to make hats and scarves for my kids! Totals so far £29.79 but shouldn't need much for the rest of the week and chances are, DH will bring some of that £10 home.

Baileys_Babe

oopsadaisydoddle wrote: »

Please can you tell me which travel cups you have? I have a costa one but It doesn't keep my coffee warm for too long. Also can you give me some ideas of what free things you do with your kids?

Thanks,

Oops.x

This is the mug I have http://www.bodum.com/gb/en-us/shop/detail/K11057-278/?showsize=true&navid=61

A few free things I do with the children include volunteering at a local conservation area (meet up with a group of other local families). Visit local and national museums, we have a few close by. Visit art galleries, sometimes the galleries and museums offer free activity sessions. Also I try and locate play parks in our area especially those that offer more than just a few swings, some of them are awesome. We are lucky to live with in walking distance of a few woods so I go on to http://www.naturedetectives.org.uk/ and get lots of ideas and info so we can have lots of fun exploring and along the way we may learn something. Foraging, gardening I do more than this but this all I can think of for now. I am signed up to lots of newsletters to gather ideas for regular activities and one offs. I am lucky to drive and have a car so I also look at things going on a little further a field to add variety, I find some areas have hardly anything going (or it isn't published very well) and others their is always something happening. My children are 3 & 7 and I have found many things through university family days which they have enjoyed.

If anybody has any other suggestions of free things to do with children please share as it very easy to miss something happening on your doorstep.

My apologises to anybody new, I don't normal go one like this.

Baileys_Babe

EverTheOptimist wrote: »

Surprise Surprise i had some spends today, some indulgant, some not. Needed throat lozenges as woke up with a cold and bad throat today. Then had to get a choc bar when i posted hubby's first parcel. :rotfl: (Parcel was free).

Sorry to hear your not feeling well we also have sore and as well as lozenges I find drinking honey and lemon soothing.

Monday NSD

Lottie1987

Morning everyone!

Sunday - £8.79/£10.00 (£1.21 in savings tins)

Monday - £5.79/£10.00 (£4.21 in savings tins)

Have a good day xxx

shezam

Woooo hooo!

1st NSD racked up

EverTheOptimist

Well done on the NSD shezam.

Spendy day today, although i was expecting it.

Currently at £18.97 / £35 should make the end of the week in the green, although i may have some more spends.

Might have to invest in some honey and lemon tomorrow if this cold hasnt disappeared.

oopsadaisydoddle

I spent £4 today - £3 on DD's football and £1 for DS1 to get some stationery at college!

Should be a NSD tomorrow - I have to post a parcel for eBay but I'll not count that because I'll get the money back through Paypal. NSD would be good - don't think I've ever actually had one!