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

DawnW

Brilliant idea on the part of your Mum to give DCs money towards family zoo membership for their birthdays :T

armchairexpert

A zoo membership is a brilliant present! We used to have one, but as the kids got a bit older we dropped it - I wonder if I could ask for one for their joint birthday present this year from other relatives, though, or at least a contribution. I'm so sick of Stuff and very inspired!

DH and I get literally no time together - it's rare really that we so much as sit down for a grown up meal at the table or a cup of tea in the evening once the children are in bed. Because his evening chores take such a chunk of time, and I am so often working or cleaning up in other rooms and then falling into bed in the evening, there never seems to be an opportune moment. No babysitters on hand for going out - I wouldn't ask local friends unless it was for something 'special' (they all have parents on hand for their childcare so no reciprocal arrangement needed). Our nearest family is two hours away, and come down to help out with out-of-school-hours childcare so I can work during the week every few weeks, so asking for more so that DH and I can go out after working is unthinkable.

Oh God, you ARE us. We instituted a thing about a year ago now, which is Saturday Night Date Night In. Which simply means that on Saturdays, we don't eat as a family: we feed the girls pasta or something simple and aim to have them in bed by 7pm or soon afterwards (they're allowed to read in their rooms), and then we shower, put on decent clothes, and have dinner just the two of us. Mr E cooks this while I'm putting the kids to bed - it's also a night off cooking for me.

No electronics allowed, nice music on, and we often cook the sort of thing the kids wouldn't like, like vindaloo - or, I admit, something that's too expensive to feed all of us, like a decent steak! It's a million times cheaper than hiring a babysitter and going out to eat, but it means we get at least one evening a week to chat uninterrupted and make a bit of an effort with one another.

It's been really good. Highly recommend.

Treadingonplaymobil

Right. Forgot to knit the baby cardigan but have made candles. Does that somehow cancel it out? I am going to sit down in a moment and do some knitting though.

Had a lovely day today - met a friend for coffee this morning then the DCs' easter service this afternoon. It was better than normal, much more child-focused - narrated by some of the older children, which feels much more worthwhile than just sitting and listening to the vicar.

MSE wins and losses today. Win: DC1 has decided to give up piano. Loss: I have booked a tutor for September for the same DC (in preparation for 11+ the following Sept) and it is going to cost a fortune -I think it's £20 a week. Will transfer the £18pm saved from quitting piano to a YNAB pot to go towards it, but to try to deposit some extra into at some stage, or it's going to be a huge shock to the budget.

Speaking of the budget, I got paid for an extra bit of work today, so was able to put £60 extra into the emergency fund in case of huge car bill tomorrow - they haven't phoned today, and I forgot to phone until the garage was already closed! I would have preferred to put the money towards Julys business expenses/salary as I still don't have anything there yet, but I really need to hold the balance between preserving the savings pots and keeping my business account buffer in place. Hopefully it will work out! I currently have £190 available between car fund and emergency fund.

Three thing to do today
1. FINISH THAT BABY KNITTING. Ahem. Picking up the needles as soon as I hit 'submit reply'.
2. Packed lunch cooking - quiche lorraine, flapjacks (school breaks up on Wed, but I'm thinking it will be useful to have picnic stuff in the freezer). Not done, had so little time between fun coffee and easter service. Will have the oven on for cake baking tomorrow anyway so will do it then. Need to do it as I bought ham especially and I need to use it up!
3. Catch up on work bits in the two hours between coffee and Easter service. Done, phew.

Debt repayment:
- £22.77/31 March rounding down pot.
- £1,608.78/£5,000 2018 debt repayment goal.

Treadingonplaymobil

Week 59: Day 3

Back on the cake baking wagon today - DC2's birthday and party tomorrow. I have a list as long as my arm of things to make, bake and prepare.

Limping the budget along until the end of the month, so pleased it's only a couple more days to go! Virtually every pot, apart from the savings ones, is empty.

Many more than three things to do today
1. Bake and decorate DS2's cake
2. Make sausage rolls (party food)
3. Make viennese whirls (party food)
3. Make pot stickers for dinner (will prepare this and make with DC1 after school).
4. Wrap DC2's presents.
5. Prep picnic for party.
6. Book train tickets for party.
7. Make sourdough.
8. Make sourdough crackers.
9. Make quiche.
10. Make flapjacks.
11. Email music teacher re DC1 stopping lessons next term.
12. Collapse in a heap!

Debt repayment:
- £22.77/31 March rounding down pot.
- £1,608.78/£5,000 2018 debt repayment goal.

Treadingonplaymobil

Have just given myself a stern talking to. I had to pop into town to get more butter and found myself browsing for 'just one more present' for DC2, because his pile is slightly smaller than DC3's the other day. In actual fact we have spent more on him and, crucially, have carefully chosen things he will enjoy and use. Any further present shopping would just be for the sake of it. Have come home empty handed (apart from butter!).

enthusiasticsaver

Well done on resisting spending further money. We always found the older the child the smaller the pile and the more money it cost. You can get quite physically large toys for little ones at a fraction of the price for the things older kids enjoy, typically technology based.

Treadingonplaymobil

Leftover cake trimmings. Any ideas to use them up? I'm wondering if I could make bread pudding or bread and butter pudding with them?

DawnW

Treadingonplaymobil wrote: »

Leftover cake trimmings. Any ideas to use them up? I'm wondering if I could make bread pudding or bread and butter pudding with them?

How about trifle?

wishingthemortgaheaway

Cake pops.

Make up buttercream icing,
Mush the cake & butter cream together.
Squish into balls,
Put on a stick
cover in 'cling film style, but not made of plastic' food covering.
Freeze
Take out of freezer
Dip in melted chocolate
Eat when defrosted.

KxMx

I'm a big fan of DIY Ice Cream bar.

A couple of scoops of plain vanilla, chocolate or strawberry ice cream, then add things like nuts, fruit, chocolate or cake trimmings in this case