Thursday 4th Feb - What small DFW things will you do today?

make_the_change

Thanks. Just feel down, stressed, tired most of the time. Trying to be savvy with money can be so hard.

determined_new_ms

Bobarella wrote: »

How weird that you and Foxgloves both had the same reactions. I must admit when I heard they wanted me to have it I was a bit scared as it's basically medical heroin isn't it. Anyway hopefully now just one of life's many experiences.

even weirder it was a gynae issue too!

determined_new_ms

make_the_change wrote: »

I have done my finances for this month and if I really make sure we tighten our belts things are doable. I just feel so down about getting myself into such a rubbish situation and not being able to do things with my children. I know children don't require days out that cost but it's so hard when you see other people plastering things over FB. Maybe it's a little selfish from my side. I am 30 this year with 3 gorgeous children but feel so down about life and how I have got myself into such a mess.

How old are your los make_the_change? There are loads of free/low cost things to do with little ones. Let me know their ages and I'll give you my top 10 I've gone from taking home £2500 pm to £600 :eek: We do something everyday, but mostly they are free things and dgd and I chatter and play.

Honestly your kids will remember having fun with you, reading & playing. I cannot for the life of me remember one thing I was bought as a child.

If fb is bumming you out hard disconnect from it, you don't need to have things in your life that bring you negativity x

You've got this x

make_the_change

determined_new_ms wrote: »

How old are your los make_the_change? There are loads of free/low cost things to do with little ones. Let me know their ages and I'll give you my top 10 I've gone from taking home £2500 pm to £600 :eek: We do something everyday, but mostly they are free things and dgd and I chatter and play.

Honestly your kids will remember having fun with you, reading & playing. I cannot for the life of me remember one thing I was bought as a child.

If fb is bumming you out hard disconnect from it, you don't need to have things in your life that bring you negativity x

You've got this x

5, 3 and 6 months.

I guess I'm just having a down day.

make_the_change

lego_mum wrote: »

Make the Change, I agree with what the others have said, fb is so false, I ditched it last year and its helped my head loads! Look at the positives that this month IS doable

It is doable, I just need the patience and determination to do it!

ziggy2407

lambda wrote: »

Hi There,

Don't worry about facebook. I used to feel exactly the same as you. My advice is to ignore everything on facebook, it's just artificially created to make people look like they have perfect lives when they are probably all up to their eyeballs in debt...

determined_new_ms wrote: »

How old are your los make_the_change? There are loads of free/low cost things to do with little ones. Let me know their ages and I'll give you my top 10 I've gone from taking home £2500 pm to £600 :eek: We do something everyday, but mostly they are free things and dgd and I chatter and play.

Honestly your kids will remember having fun with you, reading & playing. I cannot for the life of me remember one thing I was bought as a child.

If fb is bumming you out hard disconnect from it, you don't need to have things in your life that bring you negativity x

You've got this x

lego_mum wrote: »

Make the Change, I agree with what the others have said, fb is so false, I ditched it last year and its helped my head loads! Look at the positives that this month IS doable

Great advice from everyone and I second every comment - lots of people put all the "good" on facebook and not the "bad" days - take it all with a pinch of salt, children don't need or often want lots of money or possessions - time is so much better -

what about a story time - visit the library - borrow books or cds plus they often run sessions for children's activities or toddler groups

what about bundling them up and popping young one in pram and getting out in the fresh air, is there a park near you? - splash in puddles, have races, feed the ducks

do you have any wallpaper - turn it over and let them do giant art

Have a disco or film session at home

Decorate biscuits or buns

Please keep posting this is the friendliest group on MSe and everyone will offer love, support and a listening ear and some fabulous ideas too

make_the_change

ziggy2407 wrote: »

Great advice from everyone and I second every comment - lots of people put all the "good" on facebook and not the "bad" days - take it all with a pinch of salt, children don't need or often want lots of money or possessions - time is so much better -

what about a story time - visit the library - borrow books or cds plus they often run sessions for children's activities or toddler groups

what about bundling them up and popping young one in pram and getting out in the fresh air, is there a park near you? - splash in puddles, have races, feed the ducks

do you have any wallpaper - turn it over and let them do giant art

Have a disco or film session at home

Decorate biscuits or buns

Please keep posting this is the friendliest group on MSe and everyone will offer love, support and a listening ear and some fabulous ideas too

Thank you for your kind words. I have previously suffered with PND with all three so it's easy to slip into a down mood and hard to pick myself up once I do. Being on this forum is one of the things that has helped me remain focused

determined_new_ms

ok my top 10 - will be mainly for your middle & littlie as am sure your eldest is at school?

These are things we do daily - I generally try to get out of the house once a day unless it is bucketing down. Wears madam out, gets us both some exercise. I totally notice she becomes a little minx if we've been at home all day and she's bored!

I spend a bit of time every now and again doing some research on creative activities for her age group. From this we have done:

put some paint in a zip lock bag and then sellotape to a window for creative art/painting without the mess!

made little squiggy toys using balloons, rice, chickpeas, kidney beans, sugar (anything that will have some texture) tie up and then I used a marker to draw a bee, ant, ladybird. They are like stress balls. Then we try to throw them in a bowl.

gardening - planting bulbs & watering. Then I give her a bowl of water and some toys in and she plays happily while I garden.

Walk anywhere chit chatting. Sometimes we go and feed the ducks, sometimes we'll stop at a pub for a cheeky drink.

Local children's centre play groups - free.

Once a week we will go to either a softplay or the local play gym. Once a week we go to the library return books, read some books, do some colouring, get more books.

Local parks.

Build a fort in the lounge and play in it. Tea parties with dolls. Play with figures/imagination play.

Each day after lunch we have quiet time where she plays quietly/watches something on telly while I have 15 minutes peace!

thread bead/buttons is a great one in our house - guaranteed 20-30 mins concentration. Play doh and colouring are great to just stick her in her high chair so I can do something in the kitchen (cooking/cleaning/doing something on the laptop) chatting to her

Hide and seek & jumping on the bed are great ways to burn off some energy.

Just some ideas to wear out your toddler! I find if we get the balance right she will happily play independently for a reasonable amount of time.

DawnW

DawnW wrote: »

List for today:
Housework, looks like a bomb site Not sure if I will get to all of it today though Done some, plenty more for tomorrow though
Sort out sales unit - I had a spectacularly bad month in January, so I am going to restock and hope for better things in February :cool: Done, and I had a few small sales, so hopefully looking forward to better things this month
Dog walks x 2 Done
HM meals from stores Done
Make some cakes, still not done this Made some peanut and choc chip cookies to use up rest of OOD peanuts. Also found a fruit cake whilst rummaging in the freezer This isn't one I made, but is a home made one bought from a charity fund raising event. I bought it because you really have to buy something at these things, and thinking I would use it at Christmas, but never did!
Make a rice pudding in the SC to use up some slightly OOD cream Done (yum)
Go through fridge and make sure nothing else is 'escaping' Froze a small portion of curry and rice left from last night. Used some cabbage and a stray sweet potato for supper tonight
Put ironing away before pup gets to it and it needs ironing - and washing - again :eek: Done
Any surveys, FPL etc - I am getting close to payout again on onepoll Found a couple for onepoll
Aim for a NSD - can't think of anything I can't live without today! I am determined to maximise these :money:Done :T I fancied a glass of wine (not had any for a while) and thought about buying a bottle - but decided I fancied a NSD more I will buy a bottle when I next shop, because I need some for a recipe, and can also have some to drink. One bottle easily lasts me a week, when I do buy it.
Pay in a cheque, better in the bank than in my handbag! Done

Also tackled, with OH's help, a huge prickly triffid of a climbing rose, now pruned and tied up to its archway and trellis
And watered my strawberry plants which I am overwintering in the plastic mini-greenhouse thing.

make_the_change wrote: »

5, 3 and 6 months.

I guess I'm just having a down day.

Honey, if you have a 6 month old you have probably been tired and sleep deprived for months, which can make the best of us get things out of proportion at times . Take care of yourself :grouphug:

I agree with the others, people do use FB to portray an idealised picture of their lives. Try not to let it get to you - you are extremely unlikely to be the only one in your circle on there who has debt! DNMS is right - when they are so little, free or cheap activities are just as much fun for them. I look after my 2 year old grand daughter at least one day a week, and her favourite activity consists of a pair of wellies and a puddle :rotfl: When you are debt free, and they are older, there will still be plenty of time to do more spendy things with them (now and then, as a treat)

Bob, glad you are home Remember to take it easy

make_the_change

determined_new_ms wrote: »

ok my top 10 - will be mainly for your middle & littlie as am sure your eldest is at school?

These are things we do daily - I generally try to get out of the house once a day unless it is bucketing down. Wears madam out, gets us both some exercise. I totally notice she becomes a little minx if we've been at home all day and she's bored!

I spend a bit of time every now and again doing some research on creative activities for her age group. From this we have done:

put some paint in a zip lock bag and then sellotape to a window for creative art/painting without the mess!

made little squiggy toys using balloons, rice, chickpeas, kidney beans, sugar (anything that will have some texture) tie up and then I used a marker to draw a bee, ant, ladybird. They are like stress balls. Then we try to throw them in a bowl.

gardening - planting bulbs & watering. Then I give her a bowl of water and some toys in and she plays happily while I garden.

Walk anywhere chit chatting. Sometimes we go and feed the ducks, sometimes we'll stop at a pub for a cheeky drink.

Local children's centre play groups - free.

Once a week we will go to either a softplay or the local play gym. Once a week we go to the library return books, read some books, do some colouring, get more books.

Local parks.

Build a fort in the lounge and play in it. Tea parties with dolls. Play with figures/imagination play.

Each day after lunch we have quiet time where she plays quietly/watches something on telly while I have 15 minutes peace!

thread bead/buttons is a great one in our house - guaranteed 20-30 mins concentration. Play doh and colouring are great to just stick her in her high chair so I can do something in the kitchen (cooking/cleaning/doing something on the laptop) chatting to her

Hide and seek & jumping on the bed are great ways to burn off some energy.

Just some ideas to wear out your toddler! I find if we get the balance right she will happily play independently for a reasonable amount of time.

Thanks for the ideas. DD attends nursery so my day consists of school run with DS1, back home before leaving 3 hours later for nursery run with DD then home before school/nursery run 2 hours later! I guess I spend so much time looking after the home, feeding baby, getting down for naps, sorting bottles, sorting lunch and dinner I kind of feel I run out of hours in the day!

I really do need to re-focus!