OrangeFairy~balancing a new full time job~mummy hood ~ and debtbusting!

OrangeFairy

Hi Happy- I am trying to find small ways to reduce a couple of costs for Xmas.

Good day today at work. New lady starting tomorrow so I won't be the new girl any more I have to teach her my job as she will be my support role when I am away. Looking forward to getting to know her.

Lovely evening at my Mums. MSE dinner as they cooked my and dd1 pasta. Then hubby used th remained of his boys night food for his tea. His mum also gave him some chilli hot pot to take to work for lunch which is great. Small savings.

I really need to do a meal plan as we have a full freezer! Want to cut down on food this month.

2 decisions to think about at the moment

1 Do I get a kitten? I really want one for our family - need to think about time and money regarding this quite big decision.

2. Do we get a real Xmas tree this year??? I quite fancy a real tree but am worried about the mess! What a lovely thing to smell in the lounge!

Two very different issues

Happytogetdebtfree

I have cats and they are lovely hehe, a real xmas tree the mess will be worth it . Christmas ideas why dont you bake some of your buns as gifts ? they look very nice xx

Choc-addict

Ooh, go for the real tree. Nothing beats it and they don't make that much mess! We never had one as kids as sister allergic to them so as soon as I moved out and could get one I did. Hubby and I now have xmas tradition of day wrapped up, go to country park for hot drink,mince pie and a walk and then choose and collect our tree whilst there

Kitten - ooh you have to get one!! they are sooooooooooo lovely and I don't look back after getting our little Oscar, he's so lovely. Even now and at 3 years old he's gorgeous!!

xx

[Deleted User]

Well I cant really comment on either of the 2.

Have never had a real christmas tree so no idea how much mess they make & I am allergic to cats.

Valuable input from me as usual haha.

Dxxx

OrangeFairy

Hi Diaryland.

I think I have decided yes to both of my ponderings

Just got to work out the logistics and run it past hubby. Wish me luck

Choc - your whole Xmas tree picking experience sounds perfect- id love to start a tradition like that with the kids.

I have had a lovely day. The new lady started at work and she is lovely, just a really genuinely nice person. I had to teach her my job and pass on my knowledge. It was nice to kind of step back and realise how much I have learnt and how many tasks I do after 11 weeks in the company. I am off tomorrow for my Exeter trip and I almost feel a little sad I won't be at work!

Looking forward to time shopping though

MSE things. Hubby made packed lunch for work and we had whoopsied chicken and chorizo crisp bakes from the freezer for tea.

Got a couple of my Xmas deliveries my mum ordered from Mr Ts. I got her staff discount and on 3 for 2 toys so a few bargains. I struggle to spend £5 each on token gifts for hubby's bosses kids but I have spent £13.50 on the 3 kids on toys that should have cost me about £25 if bought full price! So that isn't bad.

Tomorrow will be spendy day......I have £200 in my pocket and I'm not afraid to spend it :eek:

brizzledfw

Hi..get the kitten after Xmas! They play with the ornaments on the tree and smash them all:rotfl:

I always have a real tree..get one with roots and plant it up. You can then reuse. Very environmentally friendly and MSE! ( I managed it for 2 years before I forgot to water it and it died...but am sure you'd do better!)

I do find meal planning fantastic. Makes such a difference to the bills but also means that everyone knows what they are meant to be cooking. It's also meant that I am trying to use less meat..so this week so far had veggie last night and 2 fish meals planned for Thurs and Friday. Overall cheaper but also healthier. :T

Brizzle

OrangeFairy

hellooooo diary.....sorry for neglecting you!

My shopping trip as a great day though I only came home with all the kids stocking presents done. This was a disappointment that I hadn't got more but in all honesty completing the kids stockings is a huge achievement as they are the time consuming buys and now I can forget about them.

I found a lovely bright orange top (surprised??) for my Nan to get me and my Mum got me a lovely Animal hoody which is sooooo soft and warm. I also bought myself a £45 cardy as I hardly have any jumpers! I have been saying since I went full time I would get myself a jumper so I just did it and I am pleased.

Spent £10 on both girls as a present from the shopping trip. DD1 got new fleecy pjs and a lunch box and DD2 got a new top. It was a great day and I was glad I was able to help my Nan with a load of her presents for grandchildren as she has 19 in total!

Worked hard this week. First week at work that I have felt like I am not on top of things....but I had a day off and have been helping the new lady settle in.

New to sort out the money situation soon as with xmas spending I have no idea what I have left.

My only expense today was £1 for DD2s tooth! It came out as she was going to sleep last night and she put it under her pillow without telling us....surprise surprise the tooth fairy didn't visit!!!

MSE dinner tonight to use us last of new potatoes and beans from the fridge. I crushed the cooked new pots, poured the beans on top, added a few dollops of Philly, grated a little cheese on top and put it under the grill! Served with some brown sauce! Gross to some but I thought it was yuuuuuuuuuummy!

Nothing much planned for the weekend other than the kids eye tests which are free. I want to get the kids old bikes out and get photos to put them up for sale on an fb group. Perfect time to do it!

Right I am off to bed! I am. Bit angry at myself actually as last night my brother was over till 1am as he asked me to help him revised for his exam today. So I over slept and was knackered this morning. And here I am up at midnight when I swore I'd get a early night!

Night all!!!!!

mummytogirls

Hi OF,

Sounds like everything is going fab for you at the mo.

Well done on getting some of your Christmas shopping sorted! Ive booked off a random Wednesday to have a shopping day to myself!

x x x

Happytogetdebtfree

Well done on the nsds, and cheap days out. Always nice to treat yourself to some winter wonderfuls, i really need some jumpers so i will keep my eyes peeled . All is good in the land of happy, hope you have a nice rest of the weekend xx

wannabee_in_credit

It took 5 years of nagging from my hubby and kids before I finally gave in and agreed to getting a cat. We got a rescue kitten from a local charity, and he was an older kitten when we got him - already jabbed, chipped and they paid for his neutering. I do love him and kind of wish I'd given in sooner to be honest.
x