NOT BUYING IT! 2015 - A consumer holiday

pm2326

I don't have kids but the woman I sit next to at work does...her daughter was in a play recently and was sent home with a note saying her 'costume' was a white top and grey skirt for her role in the play...my friend went into the school and pointed out she would not be buying anything new as the school uniform is white shirt, grey skirt...the teacher was speechless

Yesterday was CIN, both her kids 'had' to wear a red top and pay £1 for the privilege, both 'had' to paint their faces and again pay £1 for the priviledge, both 'had' to take £2 donation. It cost her nearly £15 by the time she bought red shirts, face paints and the donation.

On a personal note, I've been shopping and spent £36 on food, however, this should last me another 3 weeks as have bought enough UHT milk, bread and frozen veg to last.

I'm sitting with a nice glass of wine and relaxing after a soak in the bath, I seem to have been on the go all day, I've done 2 lots of washing, been shopping twice (2 different shops and too heavy to carry in one go), hoovered throughout, done the dishes, changed the bedding and cleaned out the washing machine (drawer was disgusting).

Oh yes, I also cleaned up the cat food I threw across the kitchen :rotfl: I picked up the dish and promptly dropped it and it went everywhere, cat was not amused

I'll dust again tomorrow morning and clean the bathroom ready for visit from mother :rotfl:

[Deleted User]

I am a cash person, I take the amount out of the bank for my food purse for the month £60.00 then there are the smaller bills which are the gardener twice a month from March until October £24.The window cleaner once a month £6.00. History club per month £20.00 quiz night £8.00 per month (I get a free supper-meal with the quiz night as well :):)) and I have a few clear plastic bags from the bag that I have labelled up with the different amounts and who they are for.

The only thing I use my c/card for is to top up with diesel once a month (but then I use a cash back card and pay it off straight away):D .

So my total outlay in cash from the bank on the first of the month is usually £118.00.I make sure I have the right amount in each bag to pay out for things during the month.By keeping my food money seperate from the rest (in a smaller purse ) I then have less temptation to splurge out. Today I still have a total of well over £44 in my food purse as I have only been buying essentials and have only had one 'shop' this month.The rest of the time I am using up what I have in stock.

I have found that this way I don't waste as much as I used to by shopping on auto-pilot .I also spend less time wandering around the shops and have more time to do the things I really enjoy doing.It takes a bit of getting used to at first,but as there is only me to think of its not too bad.Probably a bit harder if you have a family as children always seem to need cash for things at school.

What really annoys me is the 'Non-uniform ' days Why on earth should my DD have to fork out a £1 to send her son to school in his own clothes when she is told by the school that children have to adhere strictly to school uniform.??

It seems to be more of a junior and infant school policy rather than a senoir school one and I know when my DD had four of her children all at the same primary school it was sometimes a struggle to find all the different cash amounts that the school seemd to demand.To me its just highway robbery and a lot of parents must find it hard to keep up with 'teacher says we need to bring in this '
My youngest DGS has to pay a pound once a fortnight for swimming I wouldn't mind but the swimming pool is situated in the school so they don't have to go to a publc pool :mad: Roll on this September when he goes up to the senior school and Mum can relax a bit and not have to find these odd pounds ,especially usually as she's just about to go to work herself and often has to scrabble around to find change

GreyQueen

Seems like the principle of free education is being actively undermined by the actions of schools themselves. I pay a big chunk of my net income in council tax and education is one of the biggest pulls on that. It's right and proper, even though I don't have my own kids, to contribute to other people's kids having an education. It isn't proper, IMO, for schools to extort money from parents, even if it is for a 'good cause'. Charitable donations should be at the discretion of individuals, who will know what, if anything, they can afford.

jackie0, if the pool is in the school and its use requires a separate levy, surely all parts of the school could be charged likewise? 10p for the bathroom break, 50p to park your bike in the school bike rack, £1 per classroom use per day. I'd be creating merry hell at the school if I was on the receiving end of this stuff.

Aril

Hello:D

I'm sorry but I don't get on here as often as I intend to. However, I am still buying relatively little. We've just had a smart meter fitted and some of the readings have been quite enlightening. The pc uses far less than I would have thought:j

Pleased to discover today that our kerbside recycling collection has just been extended to take plastics beyond just bottles so that will save a bundle more stuff from landfill. Have also signed up to become a volunteer litter picker for my street. That will keep me out of mischief.

Our food mixer has just died. I tried freecycle and the charity shops but to no avail so we have bought online. However, I think there must be a new shinier model coming in as this one was half price:I've also had to get a new doormat....can't knit one of those! The old one has been cut into pieces and put onto the compost heap.

Lots of knitting going on here. My gargoyle is nearly complete. Tomorrow we're having my parents over for a meal as it's Mother's Day and I bought some winegums in the sale after Christmas as Mum's pressie. She loves them. My choice of outing is to go to the beach- this one is very good for fossils I understand.

Off to scrub the decks!

Arilx

vulpix

Quite agree about charity being big business these days.comic relief and children in need are easy for schools to get involved with and schools are expected to commit to a certain amount of fundraising,ofsted like it.It is a pain in the neck,not all kids join in,some dress up and don't donate or pocket the money.

Also agree about schools demanding money.Where I used to work they only had 1 trip per term and 1 fund raiser per term mainly I think down to me being a single parent and being a govennor.Costumes for plays are also a pain.Parents get very competative about it,going to dressmakers etc.Young parents may not have the skills or time or inclination to make costumes.The only people who benefit from the annual nativity play are the supermarkets who sell costumes.I think the children looked much nicer 10 years ago in a tea towel etc.My old school had a loft full of donated costumes so always ask if they have anything already before you cough up for them.The teacher doesn't offer as its too time consuming.

NBI news,overpaid mortgage by £900 today.

Went into large town to get dd2 new PE shorts and saw a man break into a van in the carpark.Phoned police who came straight away.Was able to give a description and get away car number.Poor van man had about £500 worth of damage to his van.

Vx

Alchemilla

Thanks for the MMM link.x

[Deleted User]

I find that taking cash each week focuses my mind on what I buy and because I know I have a finite amount to use I'm not tempted to pop that extra thing in the basket. That doesn't mean though that I don't take advantage of YS goods or pick up bargains when they arise. I freeze edibles and storeable things go into the cupboard and are used in the fullness of time. I find having cash is a much better way for me to manage our outgoings as I always have that awareness of when it's gone it's gone and there will be nothing more until next week. That stops me buying unnecessary things.

eandjsmum

Hi All


I agree with all said re school charity thread. I don't like non-uniform days . The reason for uniform is that every one should be dressed the same . When the non uniform days are on it is clear which parents have more money as the kids come in designer clothing , logos everywhere. We have one who won't join in because he is afraid he will be teased his parents aren't wealthy. No -one mentioned the Christmas shoe box appeal. The school pledges so many boxes then doesn't get them because the parent's can't afford it. Some parent's rely on charity donations to buy things like school shoes. Also some schools have welfare officers handing out food bank vouchers.


One of our Grammar schools is effectively a cheaper way of getting a private education the cost of the uniform is horrendous and must be brought from the school, the skirt is made to measure. I am told that the cost of school trips is high as if you are given a trip letter then the trip is compulsory. The school choir trip to America ran in to hundreds one year.

[Deleted User]

when my eldest son was at Grammar school he came home with a letter about a school trip to Thailand costing around 2k.Needless to say he never went, as being a sensible lad, he said for that sort of money he would rather go somewhere with his family. This was about 10 years ago !!!

apple_muncher

About 30 years ago, my school offered a trip to Russia. When I told my mum about it, she said it was that or new glasses. The glasses won!

I run day trips to France in my school and am always aware of leaving enough time for parents to find the money, and also time for me to catch them and have a quiet word if I think money might be an issue.