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

apple_muncher

Hope the candle(s) set in time for school...!

PositiveBalance

Making candles at stupid o'clock in the morning...

That's it...we have finally hit Peak ToPM! :rotfl:

(Wouldn't have you any other way! )

Treadingonplaymobil

PositiveBalance wrote: »

Making candles at stupid o'clock in the morning...

That's it...we have finally hit Peak ToPM! :rotfl:

(Wouldn't have you any other way! )

I did, of course, make candles. :eek:

I justified buying new wax and jars on the basis they'd be teacher gifts, so it would have been a total waste to not actually use them! Preschool teacher's one has set and the jar has been decorated by DC3, and she's 'written' one of my super frugal cards, so I'm pleased. Have just started on the next batch for DC1 and 2's teachers so I don't have a similar panic on Weds.

PositiveBalance

Treadingonplaymobil wrote: »

I did, of course, make candles. :eek:

I justified buying new wax and jars on the basis they'd be teacher gifts, so it would have been a total waste to not actually use them! Preschool teacher's one has set and the jar has been decorated by DC3, and she's 'written' one of my super frugal cards, so I'm pleased. Have just started on the next batch for DC1 and 2's teachers so I don't have a similar panic on Weds.

I'm very impressed.


I heard that if you try to cool a candle too quickly by putting it in the fridge etc. that it can crack the wax. Is this incorrect or was it a case of 'needs must'?


P.S. This is a lovely and inexpensive idea for teacher presents, too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHxvRjryy4U&index=14&list=UULght9NBsk3SA68VJQpMbnA

armchairexpert

Back to the debate over children - armchairexpert I don't in any way think money/good jobs/a certain lifestyle is required in order to be happy (for me the required 'office time' of a well paid job would absolutely override any happiness that the extra money brought), but I do think there is a choice involved. As I mentioned the other day, my sister loves to travel, it is a key part of her life, but part of that passion means earning the money to do it. Yes, she has travelled cheaply, but as she gets older she loves to travel in style and it makes her genuinely happy - she couldn't begin to do that without the well paid job she has. One of the relatives I mentioned the other day is absolutely passionate about having amazing experiences as a family as he has a degenerative illness that will limit how long he can do those things with his wife and children, and without the good income her has worked for he wouldn't be able to do that while he is still mobile and healthy.

I am in no way saying a good income is essential, I'm saying that for me, educating my children about the financial options ahead of them is an important part of parenting as they get older.

Oh that makes sense, yep, gotcha. I was assuming I was misreading you, because it seemed so odd to be saying "I have to bring my kids up to associate a high income with happiness"! I think the reality is that if you have friends and relatives with high incomes, and you're already bringing them up in a very middle class way, they'll have pretty wide horizons and ambitions without much stressing on your part.

Anyway, I don't want to make you bristle, I think it's all interesting and important but not the only thing to talk about!

Treadingonplaymobil

armchairexpert wrote: »

Oh that makes sense, yep, gotcha. I was assuming I was misreading you, because it seemed so odd to be saying "I have to bring my kids up to associate a high income with happiness"! I think the reality is that if you have friends and relatives with high incomes, and you're already bringing them up in a very middle class way, they'll have pretty wide horizons and ambitions without much stressing on your part.

Anyway, I don't want to make you bristle, I think it's all interesting and important but not the only thing to talk about!

But obviously if £40 washing up bowls and £50 loo brushes bring one happiness, it's a whole other challenge :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Treadingonplaymobil

PositiveBalance wrote: »

I'm very impressed.


I heard that if you try to cool a candle too quickly by putting it in the fridge etc. that it can crack the wax. Is this incorrect or was it a case of 'needs must'?


P.S. This is a lovely and inexpensive idea for teacher presents, too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHxvRjryy4U&index=14&list=UULght9NBsk3SA68VJQpMbnA

It is a risk, particularly in glass containers - they can kind of peel away from the edge of the jar and look much less pretty, as well as cracking on top - I actually didn't end up needing to fridge them, as it was cool enough to set them before we needed to go down to preschool at 11,

Treadingonplaymobil

Week 76: Day 2

Just a quick one from me this morning, mostly to update my MASSIVE list.

I made a huge batch of candles yesterday - little ones for camping (we have a tealight chandelier for our tent and the tealight container wastage has been bothering me, so I made some little candles in teeny weeny glass pots to put in the chandelier, and the glass pots can come back and be refilled each time), the teacher ones for the boys, and a couple of bigger ones for the house. I haven't actually made candles for a few months and we ran out a while ago, so it's nice to have some again. DC1 and 2 can decorate theirs with stickers for teachers today to take in tomorrow. They need to write cards too.

DH finally got paid some expenses, although not the full amount (there has been an issue with their expenses system this month). I'm looking forward to seeing what he gets paid on Thursday as it should be a bit extra to include some of the overtime he's done. We have a few more dates pencilled in for him to do overtime. It's a total pain as it cuts into my working time, but the guaranteed extra money is worth it for now.

No word on the car yet - hopefully the garage can get it sorted today as DH is meant to be driving to Oxford in it on Thursday for camping! He is committed to camping with family, so will probably have to hire a car if ours can't be fixed, which would completely mess up our budgets.

To do this week
1. Make teacher gifts - candles.
2. Keep up with social media for work.
3. Have a total blitz of the house, either during the week or when DH takes the DC away (I'd like to get at least some of it done before they go so I can get some work done while they're away instead of endless cleaning).
3(a) sitting room. Mostly done, just a little bit of dusting and pile-of-paper-sorting to do.
3(b) dining room.
3(c) kitchen.
3(d) bathroom.
3(e) hallways and stairs.
3(f) our room.
3(g) DCs' room.
4. Phone garage to get the car checked - it is emitting an 'interesting' smell of burning plastic. Maybe my budgets won't be looking quite so healthy very shortly.
5. Make a list of preliminary questions to ask builders, and of builders to ring around.
6. Ring at least 3 builders to ask preliminary questions and arrange a quote.
7. Pay balance on final camping trip of the summer.
8. Change all the sheets, with attendant washing and ironing implications.
9. Check 0% offer end dates and discuss with DH if we need a new balance transfer card.
10. Sign off preschool paperwork (I'm a trustee).
11. Food shopping for camping trip.
12. Plant the succulents I propagated from leaves (VERY proud of this).
13. Start a new batch of vanilla extract for Christmas presents.
14. Update work mileage from driving fr work on the weekend.
15. Investigate whether someone can service my Kenwood mixer - it definitely doesn't sound right since the Wedding Cake Extravaganza.
16. Order DCs' school uniform. I have heard a rumour that uniform is going to change slightly (polo shirt colour) with the new management of the school, so need to check this.

Mini goals:
- £21.83/31 July rounding down pot.
- £3,174.39/£5,000 2018 debt repayment goal.
- £430/£932 extension pre-build costs shortfall.

fraserbooks

I think a Tea Light chandelier in a tent is peak TOPM!

Sea_Shell

A naked flame in a nylon tent.....what could possibly go wrong!!!;);)