I am such an idiot! When will I learn?

Busy_Mee

Well done Judi - you are doing brilliantly well. Your light bulb moment has been a bit like mine...more of a process, but as others have said you are amazing doing all this on your own, bringing up four kids, holding down a good job and doing your masters.....makes me feel tired thinking about it
I am also a "soft" Mum and I don't care. I have two lovely kids who know the value of money, have a great work ethic and are grateful for all the help they have received from us and it sounds as if yours are too.

Jagraf

Haven't read it all but regarding the kids presents ....

Everyone who buys for mine now gives me the money and I buy the presents, wrap them, and put them in with everything else but say who they are from. I then bulk it out with cheap stuff - sweets, toiletries, magazines etc and throw that lot in. End result is a massive pillow case of presents for about £50 of my money.

My mum used to bulk out our christmas presents with things we needed that she would have to buy anyway - pants, socks, deodorant, shoe laces, school pens, dictionary etc. worked a treat.

judi24

Thanks for your kind coment Busy Me - I know i'm soft with my kids - I am not sure its always the right thing as sometimes they just don't appreciate things or help me (really talking about DD2 to be honest!) but hey - i'm sure she will sort herself out eventually! and speaking to other parents it could be alot worse!!!


Jagraf - that is what I am planning to do this year with my kids - when my Dad asks whats they want I will make sure it is one of the things on thier list and my mum is going to do the PJ's so that will save me a bit! I di the same thing as your mum with the stocking - particularly with older 2 - I spend a fortune on toiletaries, underwear etc - all stuff they will use but still not cheap! going to definately be a bit more selective this year though to keep costs down - I must remember that my younger 2 have 2 christmases so they go from mine to thier dads and get another batch of presents but i seem to forget that!!!


Nothing to report from a MSE perspective - just waiting until payday tomorrow! Tomorrow I am at my own leaving do! so will need some money for that (hopefully not too much!) also badly need some shopping (milk and dog food!!) not sure it will wait until Saturday so might need to nip to local shop tonight (i can get away with leftovers and imagination when it comes to feeding the humans in the house but not the dog!!!)

Hermia

Jagraf wrote: »

Haven't read it all but regarding the kids presents ....

Everyone who buys for mine now gives me the money and I buy the presents, wrap them, and put them in with everything else but say who they are from. I then bulk it out with cheap stuff - sweets, toiletries, magazines etc and throw that lot in. End result is a massive pillow case of presents for about £50 of my money.

My mum used to bulk out our christmas presents with things we needed that she would have to buy anyway - pants, socks, deodorant, shoe laces, school pens, dictionary etc. worked a treat.

My mum used to do that too! It was always great fun unwrapping those gifts. My favourite was a gift-wrapped pack of Tampax and a box of period painkillers! As I was buying all my own stuff by that stage it was a money-saving treat. I have to say it shocks me how many of my friends pay for all their kid's toiletries/clothes/fares/whatever when those kids are working (and sometimes earning a lot) and paying hardly any rent!

judi24

Haha I love the idea of wrapping up tampax and painkillers - would love to thier faces on Christmas morning!!! I do have to say I don't pay for my older girls day to day toiletaries - in fact I asked my DD2 to raid her cosmetics and see if she had any moisturiser she doesnt want as I have run out and I am also using up some foundation she doesn't like - beggers can't be choosers!!!

Busy_Mee

Tampax and painkillers made me laugh too. Could just imagine my Daughter's face on Christmas morning ! I too go down the route of practical presents to fill out the stockings - pjs, slippers, socks and toiletries etc. I also buy Christmas knickers which has become a bit of a tradition and even sent a pair out to Oz when my daughter was out there backpacking

judi24

Well payday has been and gone!!! my pay flew through my account faster than the speed of light yesterday morning!! I paid:


Nationwide OD £158 - balance now 0!
Nationwide CC £150 - balance now 0!
First Direct OD £414 - balance now 0!
Barcalycard £128 - balance £6613
Tesco £97 - balance £4792


Got £600 for the month - but I need to pay parking ticket which is £82!!!!
Went to Al*i - today - sepnt £112 - but got lots of big items that will do the month like dog food, cat food, washing powder etc should last 2 weeks now withough buying anything (except maybe milk and bread!) and very very proud of myself not caving in to kids wanting to go out or having takeaway!! DD3 wanted to go out and DD1 wanted takeaway cos she has a hangover (so do I!) after my works leaving do! Made chicken curry instead which went down fine!!! and got some left to go in the freezer.


Have given DD2 a choice about next weeks birthday party - she had also wanted to us to go and see her sister the weekend after - I have siad I cannot afford to do both and she could choose - I think she is veering towards going to see her sister - which would suit me better and it would be cheaper - would only have to pay for fuel and a few drinks - my dad would end up taking us out for dinner!


Going to go and try to find some blackberrys tomorrow - loving the idea of blackberry brandy!!!

[Deleted User]

That's nearly a grand off your debts.

Well done.

As for the parking ticket, I take it this is a real parking ticket, rather than a speculative invoice, from a private company?

ampersand

'but I need to pay parking ticket which is £82!!!! '

I very much doubt it.

judi - it's VITAL that you answer BB's?
ALWAYS go here, about ANY scam/fake /speculative parking invoice, which terms are the only ones acceptable on the Parking Forum.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=163

We have a 100% success rate at POPLA.
Read the Newbies Thread, absorb what's there, start your own Thread if you have any ?s.
DON'T RING THEM.
DON'T INCLUDE MITIGATION IN ANY LETTERS. WE WIN ON EITHER 4 OR 5 POINTS OF LAW., mostly 'NO GPEOL.', beyond which, the POPLA assessor rarely ventures.

He/she has no need to. It guarantees Appeal success on its own.

It is NOT, NOT, NOT a f---[that 4-letter word is banned on the Parking Forum.] Well done for not using it.
Only Police, Councils and London Transport can issue fines.

If yours is one of these[£82 doesn't sound like it], you'll find other specialist help on pepipoo:
http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showforum=30

They need to see a screenshot of any ticket, front and back.

Enjoy PP's blog here - Laugh and Learn:
http://parking-prankster.blogspot.co.uk/

Let us know asap who issued it, window ticket or NTK, what 'parking event'? Overstay in a free carpark? Pay and Display?
If from a retail outlet, have you receipts, online Bank statements showing shopping?
If so, complain LOUDLY in person and in writing, but not until you've run it past the Forum experts.
Always obtain a free CoP from the PO for any letters sent.
That's enough for now.
Remember, you do not pay private parking scumpanies anything, with mse Parking Forum help.
#
A version of this appeared in The Times today, read free in Waitrose avec my ditto 'ccino - Blackberry and Apple Gin. After straining it, the boozy fruit is glorious with yogurt, icecream, meringues etc. I won't pay to read anything murdoch online, so this sounds near:
http://larderlove.com/blackberry-and-apple-gin-fruit-infused-gin/

I'll be doing it for pressies. Lasts for ever[not if it's glugged, of course].

Brilliance here:
Nationwide OD £158 - balance now 0!
Nationwide CC £150 - balance now 0!
First Direct OD £414 - balance now 0!

Have you made sure that you have written confirmation that they're completely and utterly closed down? Old-fashioned paper trail remains important for such things. Into your NEW ME file they go.

Good things happening on home/family front. Applaudissements:-)

Now, let BB and I know about your parking event please, matter of urgency.

judi24

Yes it is nearly a grand - I had a plan and did the transfers from my wages as soon as I was paid - before I had chance to rethink my plan or spend anything! If I hadn't I would of been tempted to pay less and spend more over the weekend! I just need to survive the month now within budget!!! I have been underpaid this month too - I am owed around £130 plus and expense claim of £100 - I hope to get that next month but not sure how it works as I have left the organisation! Also my new paydate is earlier - I will be paid on the 24th of the month so my buget should be fine even with the parking fine (and yes it is real unfortunately!!!)