Courgette's 'Frugality gives us options' diary

earthgirl

Hello, sorry I missed you, back from hols now.

I'm with you on the big expensive trips and sometimes they are Not worth it! I love the free museums etc loads of really good free stuff to do and if they get tired or crabbit I can just go, without getting my "money's worth"!!

Hope the boys enjoy a relaxed week. Yes courgettes are MAD!

Courgette

Yes, you're both completely right. This really should be parenting basics! I think I have a bit of an issue with worrying that they're missing out on stuff that's just fun and I'm too uptight about finances, hence every now and then paying for something like this. They were both asleep by 7 so they were absolutely shattered from it.

3 hours tuition done today, pleased with this but it's very quiet now. Busy day on Tuesday but that's it until next weekend.

Doing battle with my email inbox at the moment. Currently have 1400 unread. Need to start unsubscribing from lots and lots of lists and be much more protective of my email address in future!

Courgette

***STOP PRESS**** :eek:

Amaz0n have PAID ME some money!!!!!!!!! An entire £2.15 from an ebook I wrote earlier this year. Eat my dust, mortgage! :rotfl:

Er, otherwise a NSD and I've made the boys cycle miles today following a particularly gruelling session of sleep tag last night. Hoping to keep everyone asleep in their own bed until at least 6am but we'll see!

greent

Whoop! Go Courgette!! :j:j

Hope sleep went better last night/ this morning x

museumworker

Courgette wrote: »

Yes, you're both completely right. This really should be parenting basics! I think I have a bit of an issue with worrying that they're missing out on stuff that's just fun and I'm too uptight about finances, hence every now and then paying for something like this. They were both asleep by 7 so they were absolutely shattered from it.

3 hours tuition done today, pleased with this but it's very quiet now. Busy day on Tuesday but that's it until next weekend.

Doing battle with my email inbox at the moment. Currently have 1400 unread. Need to start unsubscribing from lots and lots of lists and be much more protective of my email address in future!

Can recommend unroll.me, it does a quick job of sorting out your inbox and rolling up emails you want into one update.

Courgette wrote: »

***STOP PRESS**** :eek:

Amaz0n have PAID ME some money!!!!!!!!! An entire £2.15 from an ebook I wrote earlier this year. Eat my dust, mortgage! :rotfl:

Er, otherwise a NSD and I've made the boys cycle miles today following a particularly gruelling session of sleep tag last night. Hoping to keep everyone asleep in their own bed until at least 6am but we'll see!

:j:j Every penny counts Well done on the NSD too. Hope you had a better night's sleep. I fell asleep before 8pm last night and feel much better for it.

Courgette

Argh, I can't enrol in anything new for emails, this is how I got into this mess!! I'm now down to about 600 unread and at least 50 things unsubscribed from. Looking less like a swarm of starving piranhas than a few days ago but still needs some attention.

Had a bit of an argument with DH about the differences in mental load we both carry. I'm not convinced he really gets it fully but he has at least suggested what to have for tea tonight rather than the default asking me.

We also need to make a decision about the kitchen. I'd really wanted to buy in jobs as we needed them but it seems there's a national shortage of bricklayers so it just isn't possible. We've found someone who has agreed to do the footings, walls, roof and cut out the current external wall for £5k but we'd need to buy materials, so labour only. It seems so high to me but I think we just might not have any choice. Plus he also can't start until November. I'd found a bricklaying course for DH to do - 4 days for £350 but apparently he can't do this.

Plus side is I haven't spent any money since Saturday so this brings the total school holiday spend up to something like £7.50.

It's pouring down here today, bleurgh. Will have a wander round to the allotments in a bit and get some veggies for tea. I've also sorted out a load of stuff for charity so will attempt to get that out the house asap

Tropically

The mental load is a real thing. Were you inspired by this comic: https://english.emmaclit.com/2017/05/20/you-shouldve-asked/

earthgirl

Ooh wish I'd kept track of holiday spends! I guess we are on around £200 if I include our two meals out on holiday.

Hope you got some good sleep and better weather! X

Courgette

Well the unintentional NSD streak continues! We went on a bike ride yesterday, DS2 hadn't eaten enough so he quickly ran out of energy. I was gonna buy him a bag of chips but couldn't find a shop that was open so we came home again. Hopefully he has learnt the importance of eating properly a little more! We had a great stir-fry for tea with veggies from the allotment - rainbow chard, mangetout, courgettes and some other bits we already had at home.

Today we're going to a friend's house so should be another NSD - whoop! :j:money:

CathT

Allotment sounds productive. Great business sales too. I am often guilty of saying no to spending on experiences in an effort to save money but when we do have a meal out for example it is well enjoyed and viewed as a treat. We have zoo membership so often go to our nearest one which is fab, I pack snacks and don't mind spending on an ice-cream or two (just have to forget what I could buy in the supermarket for that price!)