The OS Doorstep - a helpful and supportive thread in these tough times

savingqueen

Good morning doorsteppers

Well done Mr LW on being such a good neighbour and lovely to be treated to a meal out.

Kidcat - don't you dare say you have done nothing of value - I won't hear it! You work incredibly hard for your family and the odd "lull" (lull by your standards) is NEEDED for your health. Sending you a big hug after telling you off!

How annoying for you both at the hospital Pooky.
How is your DD settling in at her new school fuddle?
How are you doing Sheila?

I am having a day in - well until school run again. Trying to tick a few things off the ever growing List. We have rain forecast on and off next few days so I will line drying where I can and finishing off with the dehumidifier clothes drying function.

My New and Improved Thrifty Plan is still going strong. We spent a big fat zilch at the weekend as we didn't venture out other than the garden. No petrol, no usual Sat newspaper (only buy the Gardigan once a week, a family treat), no pocket money (as a punishment).
This week only spends have been on food and school costs which I already had the cash drawn out for previously. DH asked me to buy a new work rucksack (his is finally beyond further repair - though chopping a couple of useful bits off!) and so I gave him my ancient 20+ year old rucksack that we use for days out sometimes. A couple of other requests to replace similar things (not urgent yet) have been met with "sorry no money in the budget". I do feel a tad mean to be honest but sticking to my guns as we have lots of extra big and small expenses coming up. It will get easier with practice! DH has been taking packed lunches and hasn't drawn out any cash either so all good. I have been as usual eating odds and ends for lunch - just had the scrapings of a peanut butter jar DH put out for the glass box on a "revived in the microwave" roll. Feels like free food!

best get on with chores again
hope everyone has a good day x

FairyPrincessk

Morning all,

My head is a bit all over the place, hoping I can get it to settle.

SQ, we're on a similar thrifty challenge. We check in every weekend to see how we're doing and I thought OH was on the same page--last night he tipped half his dinner in the bin after piling lots of 'extras' on top (even more than those I'd put out). I was so frustrated with how much was wasted as it makes me feel as if all of my planning and scrimping is for nothing. I try to see it from his perspective, but it isn't always easy. I shall remind myself of your peanut butter and that we both contribute in our own ways to making it work and try to stop being frustrated if he doesn't go about it 'my way.'

Kidcat--I agree with SQ. Full stop. You do so much every day that your 'lull' is really nothing of the sort.

kezlou

kidcat you do everything, so dont say your of no value, if it wasn't for you nothing would get done.
Never mind all the extras, appointments, schools etc don't know how you fit it all in.

sq i've giving up for the day, to much to buy and do. Even OH has calmed down saying yes we do need to save.

Just been in the garage to see about drawers, wardrobes etc Now that the carpets are down we can start "unpacking" properly.

Sadly the two wardrobes and sets of drawers are well and truly ruined. Even i can't save them, they damp and mouldy from the leak in the garage roof again.
Majority of childrens books are dead and gone, only another five boxes of them to go through Yes were all avid readers

Had a quick inspection of the DS2's cabin bed and so far it looking good. Bit concerned though about the dark patch under the far side of it. Ideally its perfect for his room has it has an wardrobe , desk and drawers all fitted in with it. DS1 had it for five years and worked really well. Storage space at the back at things. Poor lads room is tiny and barely fits a single bed in. If its throwing out so be it. He still has his single bed for sleeping in right now.
Rescued the craft boxes whoo hoo so at least the lads can make stuff again.

So now we need new bed for us, wardrobes and drawers for us all. Expensive and not what i need right now.
But on the bright side we have carpets upstairs, we can start settling in properly. OH will have a garage soon to put all his ccrap in and we get hopefully get a tumble dryer and chest freezer before xmas.

I can live with sleeping on a mattress for the time being.

Meeting DS1 in town for a drink after school, DS2 is at youth club till five. So myself and DS1 have 90 minutes together, so normally go to a cafe for a drink then slow walk to pick ds2 up then taxi home. Taxi is cheaper than the bus when were all together its crazy. Back is killing me and we've ran out of tea bags!!!!!!!!!!!!!:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

jem132

Well I forgot to get a bloody AIRER again !
Got the boys game fixed one had to be replaced but only cost £7 so not too bad .
Hubby has gone to work iv just opened the back door to let the dog out and the Handel snapped off in my hand what am I going to do .?

I need to go get ds8 from school .......

Love to you all xx

Pooky

Kez - get yourself sorted with a bed as soon as you can - your back will thank you!!

Also sleeping on a mattress on a new carpet is not great, at least stand the mattress up each day if you can to let it breathe.

A friend rented out her house to someone who thought sleeping on the floor was better than using the bed and when the mattress was moved the carpet had rotted underneath from the constant dampness. Blugh!

Kidkat - Do you think you're coming down with something? Hope you feel more energetic soon x

SQ - I was hoping you were going to say that the rucksack you gave to DH was barbie pink....I have an evil side it seems.

Was lovely here this morning, had all the windows and doors open, cleaned like a demon and then it rained! Oh well, washing on airers, kittens in baskets and the house looks lovely.

Both DD's are home today - DD1 didn't feel well yesterday and only had a 2 hour lecture this morning, her friend has already emailed her the notes. DD2 went to college but came home at lunch time burning up and feeling all shaky. Both are sitting in their respective beds, sipping hot juice and generally being pampered.

Can I ask what everyone's week grocery budgets are like? I'm finding it increasingly hard to keep it as low as I'd like. I'm averaging around £80 pw for the 4 of us and the pets (5 cats and a parrot), food/toiletries/cleaning stuff.....I'd like to only be spending around £60. I just wonder if I'm being unrealistic.

fuddle

Thank you for the feedback re: bread. My grandma always has a bread bin but my grandma didn't have heating in the kitchen :cool: I will keep it in the fridge. What can I do with my bread bin now then? Oh, we can put the bird seeds in. Shed storage! It's a pottery one - do you think that will be ok with regard to mice etc?

Youngest DD has been fine settling into her new school. It's never been a problem but I think leaving the old one behind has been a shock. Suddenly there is no Jesus and God talk and I think it had unsettled her. She's fine now and no more bad dreams so hopefully turning a corner. Thank you for asking.

We're having a little bit of lamb for tea, which really is a little bit now it has been slow cooking all day :cool: I will make yorkshires, greens and gravy although I have a deal with the kiddlers that they can have raw carrot on their plates :eek: kids! :rotfl:

nursemaggie

Pity I can't post you some teabags kez got 40 of the chimp ones and 38 earl grey and no one drinks them in this house. No visitors since July.

fuddle my ds still has raw carrots with his dinner, raw peppers when they are in the dinner too. Can't complain he eats most veg.

Jem hope you got out of the house OK.

savingqueen

Hope you get your door handle sorted jem. Part of the handle of our patio doors snapped and we had to get a man in to fix it. We can now only lock it from the inside - handy to lock from the outside as we have a back gate so we just have to use the front door now. Cheapest option - story of my life :rotfl:

Glad your DD is happy in her new school fuddle

We have had another set of secondary school selection test results in and again not high enough to apply for a school place. So glad the one DS did pass was the first letter. 2 of his (hothoused) class mates have passed - pleased for them but could do without the insensitive bragging. Some people are completely insensitive. I am telling a white lie and pretending DS's hasn't arrived in the post yet and will tell him Fri eve in case he is upset - the school was his favourite. I have another friend (different school) whose son has had similar results to us and we have been texting each other in a supportive way and saying that our boys are happy, sensible, sensitive and bright so will be fine without the top banana schools anyway.

No it wasn't a pink bag Pooky, a black sporty one - you naughty woman! I have only liked pink anything for a few years as my sister and I weren't allowed anything pink as little girls as my mum didn't like it (yeah I know.) We had lots of yellow and now I can't wear anything yellow.

Actually I have been thinking of my DH and the laziness thing. Granted he definitely knows how to chill and he is lazy, very lazy sometimes but to put things into a better perspective - he is the only breadwinner, works very hard, sometimes brings work home and has a commute so out 55 hours (including travel). The job is getting more stressful and with increasing responsibility (but no increased pay.) He is also on strong prescription painkillers to get through the day. If he didn't do the job he did and commute to London to do it, he wouldn't get paid enough for us to manage and I would have to work through necessity and we would have to pay for childcare. At the moment is suits us better for me to be at home. Having said all that I will be implementing phase one of The Plan at the weekend as the balance of work is still not fair and I need to address it for my sake and for my boys.

kitchen duties beckon, best get my ample rear into gear!

jem132

Hi all I got my friend over the road to come and open it from the outside but couldn't lock it ! He took me to school while his wife sat hear .
Hubby's on his way home now few he will sort it bless him .

FUDDLE I use a old bread bin pottery one for washing powder

I think I'm going to go buy some new tea towels and make them into bread wraps ?

Well I'm off for a bath x

Night all sweet dreams x

Pooky

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5087909

Very sad news