When things hit rock bottom the only answer is to fight the way back up...

natsplatnat

Bedding changed fortnightly - ironed NEVER!!

Hiddenidenity

Cleaning is definitely having a change around and a new set of lists made The kids think I clean too much :rotfl:

Not a NSD :cool:

Went to Mr T just at the right time for the final markdown.
£49 of groceries for £8.37

We will be eating salad, so many tomatoes we might look like one. Along with onions/veg/potatoes/bread/bagels/baps.

I haven't ever seen so many reductions before!

Have spied out the coats smalls want/like. Going to hope there's a Mr T code for online soon :rotfl: Also youngest's pjs needed for nursery.

Going to have to get DD leggings/tights and a cardigan/jumper before we go away. Might see if I can get into Pr!mark. Ebay seems to be selling for more than you can get new

Toni'sfriend

Well done on the groceries, Hidden. That's terrific.

HairyHandofDartmoor

I think changing bedding once a week would be the perfect amount of time. Especially with them bathing every day

What a great deal on the food shop :T

With regard go your mum I have to agree with the others, once she's been paid don't give any more money to her and don't let her look after the kids again. She is taking advantage of you. Hope you're not offended

System

Productive day Hidden . Great shopping trip . I am glad you are rethinking the cleaning. When you work you can't do everything in one day . Plus the washing of the bedding is another great thing.

Hiddenidenity

That should see us through until after our week away now. I didn't actually go to Mr T for shopping I went to the pharmacy and just caught them putting the reductions out.

The smalls said I'm always cleaning and everything doesn't need to be perfect So I want to find the balance where we still do activities and the house still stays nice and clean.

armchairexpert

Weekly bedding is what I aim for, but fortnightly is often how it is. I think that's fairly standard. I have a thing for housekeeping manuals (I know, it's odd) and weekly is the usual.

Also, can I just tell you how envious I am of your electric bill? I live in one of the highest-priced places in the world for this. We have electric, no gas, and it's a large-ish house but I don't run the dryer anywhere near as often as you do (maybe three times a week when it's wet) nor have three showers a day, and my last bill, if I translate it into pounds, was £230 for the month. That's not unusual around here.

Eager_Elephant

My kids have always bathed daily and I used to wash their bedding either weekly or fortnightly, now oldest is at Uni he doesn't wash his bedding all term and then brings it home to me:eek: he does shower twice a day but that's not the point.
DD (14) changes her bedding every 2 weeks unless she has other ideas and changes it daily for a week just because she wants a change:rotfl:

I change our bedding every 1 - 2 weeks - it depends what the dogs are up to.
Unfortunately we allow dogs on the bed, they are very clean dogs and don't smell 'doggy'.
We change more often in wet weather as the dogs like getting on the bed with muddy paws:eek:

Hiddenidenity

I'm going to do one set a day for now. Along with youngests she's smelly just joking :rotfl:

Saying that the amount of hours she's actually slept this week I don't think it adds up to one full night! I am so tired. I'm definitely going to try and get a nap in today.

Smalls are just brushing their teeth before heading off to school.

Today I also need to make the sausage casserole. I've seen some leggings and jumpers in Mr A for DD reasonable too. Should be able to get enough to last for now for under £25-30. I think I'll do that on payday. Although I'll still looking on ebay first. Still finding most things sell for more than buying new? Don't think postage helps.

We have been planning holiday things. Everyday there's activities on that are mainly free. One or two are £2 each if they get to keep the things they make. We really want to do the Zoo too which is expensive compared to what we usually do do will think about it more. We will probably visit the famous lights again but that's free :rotfl:

I have my nectar vouchers to use so might do a shop to be delivered to the caravan using the £12 of £50 shop get nappies etc will take it to near £50 anyway and cheaper than using the shops that are local to there. Which means there will be no eating/drinking costs other than the delivery.

We have cards/domino's and a couple of board games there to entertain us in the evening.

Have ordered youngests boots from her DLA. Along with a few other bits she needed and some med bits that needed replacing. Makes me appreciate that she got her DLA I would have struggled to sort these otherwise. Hoping OT will advise more on a pushchair that will take over 15kg and for a near 4 year old.

Eta: boots are needed she has new splints on order and needs a bigger size boot. She's always had free OT boots but doesn't like wearing them and asked for pink ones this time. I felt with the DLA we could give it a try x

Hiddenidenity

Weirdly the 12 months statements have just come in for my Gas/Electric
September 16 - September 17

Gas £398.21
Electricity £519.70

Plus the arrears we'd been paying then the grant paid the remainder.
I don't think the usage is too bad for a family of 5 with quite a lot of medical stuff in the house etc along with the washing/drying and the central heating mainly set at 17-18 for the majority of the time.