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

judi24

£140!!!! I bet that hurt when you wrecked them Butti!!!


Will have a look at the messenger bags too - going for a super frugal and OS Christmas!


This year DS and DD3 birthday presents have been money from everyone and In the past I have been rather resistant to this for Christmas - but watching them with their birthday money has changed my mind a bit - they have planned what they really wanted and added the money from everyone together and spent wisely on things they really wanted rather than getting lots of bits that they don't really need or want so considering this for Christmas - stockings plus some money rather than the usual collection of 'stuff' that I feel obliged to buy - then they can really think about the value of the things they choose to buy - and even make use of the sales with decent amount of money if everyone does the same! everyone else will be getting something homemade!!!!

ampersand

judi - yes it is 4 something a.m. - but had to phone NZ, so &utah is on.

Love the sound of your wedding gift plans, and the others.

It's not a question of fashion re: shoes. It's that young feet are still developing, bones lengthening and strengthening, cartilage hardening, tendons elastic and MUST be protected from damage while growing. The poor comportment and later foot ills which plague many women here have a lot to do with this, obesity being another.
Just watch even little girls from behind as they walk. So many are already walking down the sides of soles unevenly, like their mothers. It is dereliction and ignorance.

S0 - PROPER school shoes for school, which will keep feet safe and strong for large parts of most growing days. They're not for ever.
We all bridled against them, but it's a rite of passage.

Black Norvic Kilties were the only ones allowed chez &, 1962>1966 :-)
Also, for good reason, uniform=uniformity=no rivalry=less b-i-t-c-h-ery.
#
..which I'd better fire up for the AB's Bledisloe Cup final in a few hours.

stoplurking

Hi Judi
I follow your diary and have complete admiration for you and all that you do. Popping out of lurkdom to say the wedding gift you describe sounds absolutely beautiful.
Keep up the good work with your children and debt-busting and everything else. You're doing great. SL X

judi24

Thanks & and SL- shoe shopping continues but I am sure we will come to some sort of compromise!


Yesterday was a bit frantic - had planned an afternoon tea today for the Reverend mothers Birthday - but DD1 announced she was going home yesterday so a few hours running around shopping and baking to bring it forward so we could all be together! It was lovely - raspberry and cream filled Victoria sponge was delicious! :bdaycake:



This was followed by a visit to a friend who was having a little get together for the school leavers - DS and DD3 enjoyed as did I - good friends, good company and a little Vin Blanc!!! :beer:


Today -it was DS turn to cook dinner (DD1 on Friday and DD3 last week so just waiting for DD2 to have ago!) He did a world tour with Quesadilla to start, oriental beef and chicken (DD3 and DD2 won't eat beef and DS loves real meat so we did both!) followed by a fruit and white chocolate fondue! it was lovely!!! I have had a lovely weekend with my family and really don't want it to end!!!

No money saving in sight though!!! except a cheap food shop and a bargain of a new outfit for my Cousins wedding in the As*a sale (£10 is not too bad!) - need to get train booked (with rail card) and hotel - September is really not that far away!


Right off to light the chiminea and sit by the fire for half an hour - I have been promising the kids all weekend! and the weekend is almost over!!!!:mad:

ampersand

Wow!

'He did a world tour with Quesadilla to start, oriental beef and chicken (DD3 and DD2 won't eat beef and DS loves real meat so we did both!) followed by a fruit and white chocolate fondue!'
#

What a menu! What a man!

judi24

ampersand wrote: »

Wow!

'He did a world tour with Quesadilla to start, oriental beef and chicken (DD3 and DD2 won't eat beef and DS loves real meat so we did both!) followed by a fruit and white chocolate fondue!'
#

What a menu! What a man!

It was lovely! and he only needed a little help with timings and a some of the chopping - all with a broken wrist too!!!

judi24

Not much to report except today was a NSD! oh I did come home to half of my birthday present - the cleaner my mum arranged has deep cleaned my bathroom and all I can say is WOW! he has re done the silicone in the shower and everything and it looks like new! I am tempted to make the bathroom out of bounds for a day just so I can appreciate it!:rotfl:


Also I have a problem with my little week away! the caravan is not dog friendly so I was leaving Dolly dog home with DD2 - the problem is she has now announced that she is going away too - which leaves me stuck!!! I have contacted caravan owner and asked if she could let the caravan out from the Monday and we only stay the weekend so I am waiting in hope I can get some of the money back!!! A bit annoyed with DD2 as she knew I was away - but as she says its not her job to look after my pets and it was the only time she could get off work to go and see her Dad and Gran! (even though they are everyone's pets!!!)

Butti

Judi
Do you have any friends / daughters friends who would like a dog for a week!

judi24

Not sure I really want strangers staying in the house while I am away - I have had an offer but I don't know the person - I am not sure if I am being over anxious! However the caravan owner has managed to let it out for the 4 nights so I will get £200 back plus the damage deposit of£100 so will essentially get £300 back - my plan is to use some of this to have some days out with the kids and the dog! DD3 is really disappointed but to be honest I am ok with it as I have so much I could be doing at home and there are plenty of places to visit that are suitable for day trips or dogs - and I get to sleep in my own bed! (and save some money!)


Just booked hotel and train for cousins wedding in September - £80 for train for 5 of us is not too bad plus £100 for hotel again for 5 - its expensive having 4 kids!!! but now I will cover this cost out of this months budget rather than Septembers with the holiday refund - silver lining and all that! August has been so expensive with the bug man and the uniforms!!!


On a different note - the cleaning man that the Rev mother booked for my birthday in June came this week and wow!!!! bathroom, hall,lounge and conservatory look amazing! He did all the bits I never get round to! I have made some progress with the kitchen and I may now get time to paint it over the next 2 weeks. The family room and study need a proper sort out but once they are done I will feel a little more organised in the home! Then I just need to keep on top of it all!

judi24

Third time lucky - keep loosing my posts!!! So next weeks plans now include 3 days at caravan with DS,DD3 and my 2 friends so we should have some fun! My friends are paying for the food as I have paid for the caravan so hoping to keep costs down - although we will be heading into Blackpool one day so that will be a spendy day! DS has not got a cast on so he can swim which is great news! Then when we come back we have the following day trips planned:


1. a day in the city - shoe shopping for DD3 then maybe a little wandering around the big library and even a trip to an art gallery depending whether there are any good kids activities or exhibitions on! We will have dinner out courtesy of Tesco club card vouchers and use my family rail card for the travel - total cost of the day should be Train travel £8.80 plus the cost of the shoes (estimate £40 from the uniform budget) - For an extra £20 we could do the ferry tour on the river - will think about that!


2. A walk in the country - I want to go to Betws-y-coed and walk to the Swallow falls. I will take a picnic but I use the promise (bribery!) of cake to get the kids to walk a bit further - its a bit of a on-going game but worth the £10 for hot chocolate and a cake at the end of the day! - total cost £10 (as long as I can find somewhere free to park!)


3. A seaside visit- we have an old Victorian seaside town about 15 mins from home - its not the prettiest of beaches but it has undergone some serious regeneration - it has a sea lake that is perfect for crab fishing, lots of restaurants, a cinema and bowling etc our favourite is the crab fishing, followed by an cone of chips and an ice cream! Good old fashioned fun! will take drinks and snacks but will definitely have to have chips and ice cream! - estimated cost of the day £10


4. Ironbridge museum - always wanted to go here! (never mind the kids!) It looks really expensive but in doing some investigation I can get DS and my tickets (annual pass) for half price due to his disabilities so total cost for an annual pass (the cheapest way to get into several of the museums) will be £40 - but I have ordered Tesco vouchers that will cover it! - we are going to go Friday when DD2 is back for Dolly dog and stay overnight to get the most out of the tickets - booked a hotel - a holiday inn with pool for £50 B&B so the only other thing I will have to pay for is something for dinner (might do a bedroom picnic to keep costs down!) - estimate £30 for dinner


I don't think we will be bored - and if I can keep to the budget I will have spent around £100 on activates out of the £300 refund and the other £200 will cover the Wedding Trip - that way I will have just about covered the unexpected bug man costs!!!:T