Learning to budget to make future adventures happen

remote_control

That's what I was about to say, hear hear. Great attitude to how much you've got your children and nieces and nephews, we are the same. Did you see this: https://www.becomingminimalist.com/own-fewer-toys/

crunch_time

remote_control wrote: »

That's what I was about to say, hear hear. Great attitude to how much you've got your children and nieces and nephews, we are the same. Did you see this: https://www.becomingminimalist.com/own-fewer-toys/

What a great read! Thanks! I’ve always thought this way and even more now I’m a parent and a teacher. Mostly my children seem to play with stuff that isn’t ‘toys.’ This morning it was a sleeping bag and a dog lead. They also invented a game that just involved the stairs and two balls.

who needs toys eh!!
Crunchy xx

enthusiasticsaver

The old saying less is more holds true still then. We look after our 2 year old granddaughter 1 or 2 times a week and I have about 4 toy boxes and only give her one at a time with about 4-6 toys in each to rotate them and ring the changes. Also as you say sometimes they get more pleasure out of everyday items rather than actual toys. She spent last Monday getting in and out of a cardboard box time after time and kept herself amused for around half an hour or so which for a 2 year old is brilliant.

Seasidegal58

remote_control wrote: »

That's what I was about to say, hear hear. Great attitude to how much you've got your children and nieces and nephews, we are the same. Did you see this: https://www.becomingminimalist.com/own-fewer-toys/

What a brilliant article remote control! It certainly makes you think. I’m going to forward it on to a few people I know.....:D

crunch_time

Morning diary,

Children are currently playing with a large box that my desk came in - they are drawing a road map on it and my daughter is drawing mice!! Off to the garden centre this weekend for final stocking fillers and I think creative supplies will be high on the agenda!!

Had a ‘chat/emotional charged discussion/argument’ with the husband last night about money. I informed him of how much he needs to transfer from his not 0% card to his 0% one. And I told him we were running out of cash left over from the move (since I squirrelled away £1000 of it) so we would have to save up to tile the bathroom. He was visibly disappointed and we ended up discussing what the next year would look like with me potentially not earning for six months or so. It turns out he wouldn’t mind if we needed to get in some debt during this time to avoid drastically altering our lifestyle whereas in planning to try our hardest not to. More debt to him means £1000 plus to ‘get things done.’ Basically I think he means that he would be happy to buy tiles on credit card and pay them off later. Tiling the bathroom is a priority for him whereas it’s not for me.

Apparently we are on the same page we just have different ways to get there. He would love to be in the position where we are paying down the mortgage and building equity but doesn’t seem to appreciate that getting into more debt is not going to help us.

Anyway he knows now the tight leash we are on and I think I will devise another tab on my spreadsheet which calculates net worth as I feel this will motivate him. I’m very much day to day and he is long term so we are a good balance really.

It will be up to me to keep it all under control anyway since I am chief financial officer of the family. And I’m determined to prove to him that we can really get somewhere if we are careful.

Anyway - sorry for the rambling. I just wanted to record this in my diary before I forget.

Crunchy xx

Willowtree222

Morning,

Having the visible tab will be very powerful for him to see. Sometimes that is what people need to see.

Not long now till you finish! Hope all is going well for you at work, and with the new business venture. x

crunch_time

Morning diary!!

Gosh it’s been such a busy week! All I have managed to do is work, eat, sleep repeat. The Christmas stuff at school takes up so much time and energy! Got my Christmas play done this week so that is a huge relief. Just two days left of basically no teaching and Christmas activities to get through.

I haven’t been able to ring up my bank regarding a balance transfer for my card so that is in the to do list today.

I also have lots of phone calls to make regarding change of address and the house move.

Better get stuck in - will report back later if I get time with a Christmas present up date!

Crunchy xx

louby40

Crunchy

It's busy at our school too with the nativity and singing concerts. KS2 have their party day tomorrow and we're off on a EYFS/KS1 trip. Then it's our works function Fri eve - I'll be shattered!

Enjoy your last few days at the chalk face!!

enthusiasticsaver

Different attitudes to debt and spending do need to be managed more on a reduced income. Maybe a house fund would work for you where you save for things like bathroom tiling and garden? Get quotes in so you know what you are aiming for. My daughter and son in law do this and say it works well as they have a target.

Enjoy your last few days.

enthusiasticsaver

Your husband also needs to bear in mind debt takes longer to repay when only one of you is on a regular wage. As you did not manage to clear it all this year with two of you working I am not sure why he would think taking on more credit card debt would be easy to clear next year. Dangerous attitude to have but you seem to have realised it is not a good idea.