The 'I'm less money-idiot more money-savvy' Diary

ampersand

Yes indeed, judi.
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Nothing has changed in that regard for moons too many.....especially regards their SHOOOOOES!

Don't your School Governors organise Uniform Swap Shop? Is this not done any more? Can this not be strongly raised as pta issue?
It was the norm in my NZ high school days[60s]and in 80s/90s London.
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& is no fan of social networking, BUT, re: son and 'with-held/forgotten' birthday money, found self wondering what might work, written by son? Not to provoke, just set up handover....

judi24

Verrrrryyyy long day in work - someone went off sick leaving us short staffed with patients needing to come in so I stayed late - but some how it must have been a premonition as I had prepared dinner this morning so not too much hassle for the Rev!


I will now eat my words as DS dad appeared unannounced with the cash tonight - you could have knocked me down with a feather!!! happy days!!!


Computer still not arrived yet though and DS patience is wearing thin - made worse by his enforced grounding due to broken arm!!! but at least I have the money now! (only to spend it on uniforms tomorrow!!!)


Not sure if DD3's new school does a swap type thing - I will enquire but first year she can have the full new uniform I think!


Shoe shopping will be painful I know!!!I have experienced this twice before and I still have the scars!!!


DD1 is going to Ghana on her volunteer scheme- she is so brave and amazing - I am as proud as can be but a little anxious! She will be home on the 23rd Dec so very selfishly very happy that I will have her home for Christmas!


NSD day today so 2 in a row!!!! tomorrow will definitely be a different thing!

beanielou

Good news on money :j

ampersand

Second that, bl.:j and I'll do the jumpy up and down thing too, in matching amazement with you judi.
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Any consecutive nsds are good going atm.
Tuesday was 3 figs for &, but also worthwhile.
a capite ad calcem - get uniform yuckday done in one hit, then gone is gone, both The Event and The £££s. Move on, no trickle effect.
judi - have you ever taken real money out for these occasions, let children see it being paid out and over, even let them do this themselves? Working out pocket/jobs money equivalents against things, item by item, can work, highlight what losing, growing means.
I remember your son's recent lightbulb moment. He responded so well after the first upset.

All praise to your daughter - yes, she is brave and amazing. Bit of sameoldsameold comes next - how could she be otherwise with mum like our judi?:D
Take care - and the long 'Stand back' view, says Ms Bossy on International Left Handers' Day, so you have to.:p
[Signing off, little foot tap-tap-tap for Serious, hands on hips. OK?]

judi24

Well what a busy day!!! Bug man arrived at 8.30 so everyone dressed and out the house (including Dolly Dog) for 4 hours while he sprayed and let it all dry and do its thing - definitely working and hardly any little bugs to be seed (bonus is all kitchen cupboards cleaned and everything stored in tubs so feeling very organised)


Took Dolly dog for a walk in woods - DD2 not exactly impressed but came anyway as she was too early for work! Anyone walking in wood must have thought we were crazy as DD2 got video evidence of me hugging trees!!!


Next stop - Rev mothers to drop Dolly dog off for a few hours - spoiled with toast and a curl up on the couch!!!! Not allowed on the couch in my house!


Breakfast out - (naughty but nice!!!) kids eat free and they counted DS as a kid to my surprise - was delicious - a lot of these places are poor quality but this was lovely - had seconds of coffee and toast too (all included) - didn't need to eat again until dinner tonight!


Almost all uniform got - just DS Blazer which I need to order from school and DD3's shoes to get. Found a uniform shop in the little town where DD3's school is - so much better than the big uniform shop in larger town - personal service, time and space to try lots of sizes to get one the fits but still allows growth - even went to get stationary, bag socks etc so all bits done and dusted - except shoes! So dilemma here is - do I let her have the flat pumps she like that are cheap not great for her feet and last about 5 mins or persuade her to get better quality, chunky ones that are a lot more expensive but should be more comfy and last longer? she is 11 and a size 7 and also has a coordination disorder that makes her very heavy on her feet and very sensitive to things that do not feel just right!. Makes clothes and shoe shopping a challenge at the best of times - not sure how she will cope with tight collar, tie and blazer every day!


Home after shopping to clean and de clutter spare room - bagged up unwanted clothes and tried to take to one of the cash for clothes places but its gone!!! will look for another tomorrow or take stuff to charity shop - its great to have it sorted though as it has been bugging me for weeks! (bags are in the car and are NOT coming back into the house!)


DS computer arrived at 6pm - poor boy jumped every time he heard a car door all afternoon thinking it was the delivery!! very impressed with is new gaming machine and now very glad he waited and got a better spec for same money!!!


And top off a good day DD1 is coming home tonight!!!!

beanielou

Could you buy DD two pairs of shoes?
Half decent & cheapie & she could alternate?

Dansmam

Just catching up. How proud you should be Judi, DD1 Ghana volunteering, DS msn expert on better spec for same price, DD 2 cheap shoe request (I'd not agonise about that having spent a Clark's fortune only to see them mainly binned for `daps`Welsh slang for plimsolls) by DD here, trends permitting.
And debt coming down month on month.
Take care, stressful jobs mean extra time out in my book. Quiet times essential when kids elsewhere. Dog walks for meditation. Enjoy!

Eager_Elephant

judi24 wrote: »

So dilemma here is - do I let her have the flat pumps she like that are cheap not great for her feet and last about 5 mins or persuade her to get better quality, chunky ones that are a lot more expensive but should be more comfy and last longer? she is 11 and a size 7 and also has a coordination disorder that makes her very heavy on her feet and very sensitive to things that do not feel just right!. Makes clothes and shoe shopping a challenge at the best of times - not sure how she will cope with tight collar, tie and blazer every day!

Oh Judi - I feel your pain.


My DD is now 12 and has size 6 feet - we have the same dilemma every year and have done for the last few years.


I am quite old fashioned and believe a school shoe should cover the entire foot rather than leaving the top uncovered - especially relevant in rain and snow, otherwise they are in school with wet socks all day.


DD knows my thoughts on the matter and still tries to push her luck.


What we do is take a picnic and head to Brantano for an afternoon of shoe shopping:rotfl:


I pick out shoes which are acceptable, then DD picks out shoes which are acceptable to her - then she starts trying them on and we discard the ones which don't fit (quite a few as she has wide feet) and we are left with ones that do fit. Then DH gets annoyed and starts shoe shopping for himself. Then DD gets side tracked and heads to the women's section and starts trying on all sorts of high heeled shoes and anything inappropriate.
Then she focuses and she re-tries all the shoes on until we whittle it down to 1 pair of school shoes, then somehow we always end up with some casual shoes for home and then DH ends up with a pair as well.


Then we come home:rotfl:


It has happened like this for the last 3 years but we get there in the end.


Once she outgrew her proper shoes 4 weeks before end of term so I went to Shoe Zone and brought some cheap pumps - £10 - they lasted 5 days!!!! DD has learnt her lesson with cheap shoes.


In an ideal world I would like her to wear Kicker style shoes but she is not interested.


I generally try to spend £40 - £45 on a pair of school shoes as I know we will get a decent pair for that money. DD's shoes this year were 'proper' shoes - just found them - https://www.brantano.co.uk/girls/school-shoes/girls-kids-school-shoes-junior-girls-flexisole-breathable-leather-brogues-black-clarks-2222408511
and they were very light (so might be suitable for your daughter) and have lasted all year.
She could use them next year really but tradition dictates that we get a new pair!!


Good luck with finding a pair.

judi24

Love it EE - its a nightmare! I agree that school shoes should have full foot covered but they must be comfy or she will just refuse to wear them!! We have seen some online now that she says are ok but £70!!!!:eek: so still looking! (i've never paid £70 for a pair of shoes ever!!!)

Today has been quite chilled - ventured out with DD3 to a craft shop as I had a brain wave about something personal but reasonably cheap for my cousins wedding in September - I want to make a sort of embroidered sampler thing with the words:

'but to see her was to love her, love but her and love for ever'

From a poem by Robert Burns

Stitched using blackwork (which I have never done before - in fact haven't stitched for about 20 years!!!) with a Celtic border- with the couples names and wedding date with 2 appliqued overlapping hearts - one in the tartan the groom is wearing and one in the colour scheme of the bride -Simple!!!!


I haven't done anything creative for along time - but need to find something to do in the evenings now that my studying is done and used to love embroidery - so decided to give it a go and make something that will be a nice gift hopefully!!!! Just hoping my old eyesight is good enough to do this! if it works out ok - I will start to look for ideas for Christmas gifts to make too to go along with my home baked goodies! Planning a very home made Christmas! (can't believe I am thinking about Christmas in August!!!):xmassmile

Butti

I paid £140 for a pair of Kurt Geiger shoes which I wrecked on a grate within 10 minutes of arriving at a wedding. I did think "I'm never spending this much money on a pair of shoes again! "

Judi
I think I'm making messenger bags for Christmas from a Kirsty homemaking page.