£67,031.92 is a frightening number indeed....

Silver_Queen

Don’t beat yourself up too badly. If the DC had a good time then it’s worth it in that respect, at least.

Treadingonplaymobil

Yesterday's list, before starting on today's...

to do today
1. MAKE PACKED LUNCH. Done.
2. More Christmas knitting. Not done.
3. Remind DH to practise nativity lines with DC2. Done, not sure they had time though.
4. Ask DH to tidy the DCs' bedroom. Done, but haven't been in there to check yet!
5. Remind DH to use up leftovers for dinner (s basically my to do list today is about managing DH). Done.
6. Put on a laundry before I go out. Not done.
7. Check a map to see whether I can make a detour to see a friend who is struggling a bit after I finish work today. Done, but she was busy anyway.
8. Activate new partnership card so I can finish the Christmas shopping. I really want to get it all finished this week. Not done.

To do this week
1. finish Christmas shopping.
2. finish DH Christmas knitting.
3. get ahead on contract work.
4. buy Christmas cards. Done.

To do in December
1. finish Christmas shopping!
2. buy DH's birthday present while I'm doing the Christmas shopping.
3. make some more candles.
4. don't try to do too much! I already have a few client bookings and lots of work I want to do, alongside the Christmas stuff. I need to make sure I don't get overwhelmed again. Yeah, this is going abysmally, as always.
5. update debt totals at the end of the month, to ensure we know where we are as we start 2018.

stoplurking

Hi TOPM

I love reading your diary but don't normally comment. Re the cinema- is it possible for just one parent to go with the DC? Not sure of ages/gender of the DC so that might not work for the inevitable toilet break even though the film is less than 2 hours long. Yip, been there.
You're sitting silently in the dark anyway so not really spending time together as such. That would save a bit and free you or DH to get on with another thing from the list or even just some chill time in your hectic life. The DVD will be out soon for £5 and your budget might have recovered a bit by then.
Keep on keeping on, you are doing your best and your awareness of how unbudgeted spends can wreck your budget is a good foundation for going into next year. You will get there. X

Treadingonplaymobil

Week 43: Day 7

Right, on with today!

Big batch cooking day today, although only until 2pm as we're going to see Paddington 2 (at vast expense). On the list to get cracking on, in priority order:
1. macaroni cheese.
2. flapjacks for snacks.
3. veggie nuggets.
4. leek and potato soup.
5. columbian black bean stew.

I suspect that's enough to be going on with, although I did have more on my list originally.

Before I can make a start on the cooking I need to have a quick tidy up, as we have the architect coming to survey the house today to produce initial drawings. We can't move any further forward, however, until we have had the pre-application meeting with the local planners (and the new mortgage is in place, allowing us to save!).

Have also been hunting for my new partnership card which arrived a couple of days ago, so I can activate it and finish the Christmas shopping. Suspect DH has 'tidied' it (this can often mean it being tidied into the bin, as it was still in its original envelope) so am preparing for a big hunt before the bin bags get changed!

to do today
1. Batch cooking.
2. More Christmas knitting.
3. Practise nativity lines with DC2.
4. Tidy house before 9am!
5. Get sweets for cinema from local shop.
6. Laundry
7. Activate new partnership card.
8. Finish Christmas shopping.
9. Clear backlog of emails and work enquiries.

To do this week
1. finish Christmas shopping.
2. finish DH Christmas knitting.
3. get ahead on contract work.
4. buy Christmas cards. Done.

To do in December
1. finish Christmas shopping!
2. buy DH's birthday present while I'm doing the Christmas shopping.
3. make some more candles.
4. don't try to do too much! I already have a few client bookings and lots of work I want to do, alongside the Christmas stuff. I need to make sure I don't get overwhelmed again. Yeah, this is going abysmally, as always.
5. update debt totals at the end of the month, to ensure we know where we are as we start 2018.

System

Maybe the card is trying to tell you something or even DH. Only having you on off course , hope you find it and finish your shopping.
Enjoy Paddington 2 , a great family film. I hope it's warmer with you than here it's bitter.

Suffolk_lass

The change I see compares the TOPM who was defiant in her desire to spend £48 on the right washing up bowl, with the TOPM this week feeling the pain of what she considers unnecessary spend. - It isn't all about money. You know that!

I can't remember if you have mentioned a slow cooker but I just want to suggest that they are a jolly marvellous way of throwing your stuff in and having dinner ready with just a stir at the end of the day - I am in 12-16 hour days at the moment, with lots of travelling and it is a god-send. Your soup or stew could just be left to do its' thing.

Enjoy the film - take pleasure in those family moments. They are precious, and your children's desire to do those things with their parents is of limited duration. Enjoy yourself

Treadingonplaymobil

Yesterday's list...

Batch cooking achieved:
1. Macaroni cheese - 2x evening meals, plus at least 4 lunches
2. Flapjacks - enough to get us through until the end of term (the DC take them in for snacks each day)
3. Veggie nuggets - enough for lunches and maybe an evening meal
4. Columbian black bean stew - 2x evening meals, probably a lunch or two as well.

to do yesterday
1. Batch cooking. Done.
2. More Christmas knitting. Bit of progress
3. Practise nativity lines with DC2. Done.
4. Tidy house before 9am! Done.
5. Get sweets for cinema from local shop. Done.
6. Laundry. Not done.
7. Activate new partnership card. Done.
8. Finish Christmas shopping. Pretty much done.
9. Clear backlog of emails and work enquiries. Done.

To do this week
1. finish Christmas shopping. Pretty much done.
2. finish DH Christmas knitting. Not quite finished.
3. get ahead on contract work. Done.
4. buy Christmas cards. Done.

To do in December
1. finish Christmas shopping!
2. buy DH's birthday present while I'm doing the Christmas shopping.
3. make some more candles.
4. don't try to do too much! I already have a few client bookings and lots of work I want to do, alongside the Christmas stuff. I need to make sure I don't get overwhelmed again. Yeah, this is going abysmally, as always.
5. update debt totals at the end of the month, to ensure we know where we are as we start 2018.

Treadingonplaymobil

Week 44: Day 1

Wow, only 8 weeks away from a full year at this MSE business!

Hoping for a doubly good day today - it's my birthday, and we're going to put up the Christmas tree.

Really enjoyed Paddington 2 yesterday, lots of fun. Although ate a ridiculous amount of popcorn and still feel bloated!

I think I have pretty much finished Christmas shopping, which is rather nice. I need to sit down with the DCs later and order something for them to give to DH, and order a secret santa gift for <£15. Being done does depend on finding the time to knit something for a couple of family' children, which I'm not sure I'll have time to, so there might be three more gifts of £15 or so. I am going to wrap the DCs presents before I do though, as I slightly think I might be able to carve a present off the top for at least one of the family DC if it looks like our DC have too much for their stockings.. Current total spend is standing at £1,117. So next year I definitely need to be putting by more than the (entirely hypothetical) £60pm I was putting by this year. Actually putting something by would be good though, rather than putting it by then withdrawing it to cover something else!

Not too much on the list today, but have a client tomorrow so need to get the house in order.

to do yesterday
1. Tree! And decorating.
2. More Christmas knitting.
3. Practise nativity lines with DC2.
4. Tidy and clean for client (at least I cleaned a bit yesterday before the architect came).
5. Laundry.

To do this week
1. Finish Christmas knitting for DH.
2. Wrap some presents and decide whether to order more for family children.
3. Get further ahead on contract work.
4. Write Christmas cards.

To do in December
1. finish Christmas shopping! Almost there!
2. buy DH's birthday present while I'm doing the Christmas shopping.
3. make some more candles.
4. don't try to do too much! I already have a few client bookings and lots of work I want to do, alongside the Christmas stuff. I need to make sure I don't get overwhelmed again. Yeah, this is going abysmally, as always.
5. update debt totals at the end of the month, to ensure we know where we are as we start 2018.

cocalls

one thing that will keep the costs down next year is to buy wrapping, crackers and cards in the sales just after xmas. (you dont need decs thou-you spent £50 which should last for at least 15 years well thats how old i think some of mine are:money:)
i was just doing some cards and i noticed i paid 16p for a nice pack last year! Also stocking fillers go down in the sales aswell so get those for nxt year too.

apple_muncher

:bdaycake::bdaycake::bdaycake:

Happy birthday!
(This is mse cake that makes you feel good, and doesn't bloat you up at all - enjoy!)