I really really want to be........mortgage free!

AlexLK

ourcornercottage wrote: »

It Started to rain just before party and thought we might have to move location to our house and the thought of all those kids, plus siblings plus parents in my living room put the fear of God in me!

We do have a Christmas Eve party at our house but limit it to about 30 ish people so it's not as bad although the kids do go a bit feral but after a couple of mulled wines nobody cares!!!

There's only a very select number of children invited to son's parties and lots planned. Certainly no time for feral children! Though probably because it's all over in a few hours and structured to the minute, very hard work but good fun... :rotfl:

Last year we furnished / decorated the house as different eras from history (kitchen - Victorian, music room - 18th Century, dining room - Medieval, sitting room - 1950's Avant Garde). People were expected to come dressed up (not all did), we had a Medieval banquet and games / music were based around the different eras. The year before was his first party and we turned three rooms into a jungle and the main game was a treasure hunt. This year the party will be trains at my parents' house as they've a garden railway.

ourcornercottage

AlexLK wrote: »

There's only a very select number of children invited to son's parties and lots planned. Certainly no time for feral children! Though probably because it's all over in a few hours and structured to the minute, very hard work but good fun... :rotfl:

Last year we furnished / decorated the house as different eras from history (kitchen - Victorian, music room - 18th Century, dining room - Medieval, sitting room - 1950's Avant Garde). People were expected to come dressed up (not all did), we had a Medieval banquet and games / music were based around the different eras. The year before was his first party and we turned three rooms into a jungle and the main game was a treasure hunt. This year the party will be trains at my parents' house as they've a garden railway.

You wait till he gets older and insists you invite everyone from his class because he doesn't want anyone left out. You just can't say no when they're being so kind! You wait I tell you, you wait and see what it's like!

AlexLK

ourcornercottage wrote: »

You wait till he gets older and insists you invite everyone from his class because he doesn't want anyone left out. You just can't say no when they're being so kind! You wait I tell you, you wait and see what it's like!

There's only 11 in his KS1 class, so that wouldn't be the end of the world ... if the party is held at my parents' house, keeping the potential havoc away from mine. :rotfl:

I can see him eventually wanting to go out for the party which I've no doubt will get expensive. Organised children's parties are just the kind of thing I think of as being a waste of money, especially as my wife and I quite like making a spectacle of the house for the day but I can see him growing out of it and wanting something different during his teenage years.

gallygirl

AlexLK wrote: »

I can see him eventually wanting to go out for the party which I've no doubt will get expensive. Organised children's parties are just the kind of thing I think of as being a waste of money, especially as my wife and I quite like making a spectacle of the house for the day but I can see him growing out of it and wanting something different during his teenage years.

Then they start wanting them in the house again..... but without the parents :eek::eek::eek:

ourcornercottage

gallygirl wrote: »

Then they start wanting them in the house again..... but without the parents :eek::eek::eek:

I'm dreading the thought of one of those parties where he tells his mates on Facebook and 500 people turn up!

ourcornercottage

NSD 4/31, it seems I am stuck. Had to spend some £ on sweets for miniOCC to take to school to give out for his birthday. It's a bit of class tradition but just with their class for some reason. I think one of the parents started it in reception and it's just stuck!

Checked out my shares today and are valued at just over £2k. I'm in it for the dividends though so I'm not that bothered unless overall they are down on what I paid. Currently they are up some of the divs are auto reinvested in shares which works well for me.

ISA and FC ticking along. Would like to add more but there you go.

Made a op of £5 which was part quidco wiphich i rounded up. Am being careful at the moment so only about £13 OPd so far this month! Self imposed target of £450 this month so a long way to go!!! Standard op is now just shy of £200 although HSBC says its £220 but I'm going by my calculations as I think they are changing my standard payment downwards every time I change my OP. Long story short I'm working on my calculation! I therefor need to find an additional £237 in October. I can but try.

ourcornercottage

Today has not been a NSD so still 4/31. Had promised to buy some raffle tickets so £5 spent. Also long story short but dogs now need to spend first 3 days of our trip in kennels so immunisations redone earlier than expected and wormer just in case. A quick check up whilst there in the vet (I always get the vet to do this and they never charge extra). Anyhow £171 spent plus £60 for kennels Friday. Put on CC so will pay off in the month. We have money aside for it so no real worries just unexpected now.

Other than this it was a NSD!

Nothing much else to say money wise. A few £ from FC Inlast few days and TSB monthly saver set up. That's all.

ourcornercottage

Today was defiantly not a NSD so still 4/31.

Haircut £40
Clothes £18
Sunblock and chemists stuff £15

My account is now empty!

Luckily tomorrow is personal spends payday! Have set up a transfer of £250 to a regular saver and the aim is to leave as much in there as possible for the month.

Tomorrow is busy, take dogs to kennels, go into work and make sure it's okay. Then back to watch miniOCC in the cluster cross country. Then back and leave for the airport. Can't wait to get going. I've promised miniOCC the dinner of his choice if he goes in the race and an ice cream if he wins the race!

Need to just transfer some money manually to ensure everything's sorted whilst we're away.

hiddenshadow

Hope the race goes well and you have a nice trip!

ourcornercottage

Disaster struck at the running comp for miniocc where the whole spectacle got the better of him and he point blank refused to run. It was such a shame and he made a bit of a scene. Never mind although I'm disappointed he let his team down I haven't said anything and he's working it out for himself that he missed out.

We tried to bribe him, their running coach is an ex Norwich city footballer who even tried to bribe him with a signed photo of their current striker but the boy could not be turned. It's s shame we missed park run as that would have prepared him for all the people bring there. It was a double shame as his school won most of the races apart from the one miniocc would have been in and the trainer said he would definitely have done well.

Anyhow off to Asia tomorrow currently in the hotel at Heathrow