Single, six kids and going to be debt free!

Mumoffourkids

Guess what I didn’t have that much more time for me. I ended up making some scrub bags as I have volunteered to make some. The end just went so quickly, I need to start blocking my time out again each day it seems to be the only way I get things done! I also need to have a reorganise of my sewing space as it is just too cramped and messy and I can’t work in a messy area!

Seasidegal58

Don't beat yourself up MO4K - you are doing fantastically well during this lockdown and with such a large family. And how great that you have found time in your busy schedule to make the scrub bags. ⭐️

Go a bit easy with the cleaning, etc. The author of the cleaning book stresses that you don't have to do everything in 30 days - you work at your own pace but in the order that she prescribes. So if you just managed the daily cleaning routine one day and nothing else, that's fine. Also, so what if the younger children have taken over the conservatory with their toys?  Let them have it for now - and you keep the living room!  Lockdown with six children is never going to be easy. 

Re the oven cleaning - I don't have a large oven and cleaning this has become a bit of a doddle since I discovered Oven Pride!  However both my DD and sister swear by the oven cleaning man!  Especially my DD who with her OH like to cook but are very time poor. She has a large range oven plus a built in and they never have time to clean them!

Have a good day and enjoy your sewing!

Mumoffourkids

Thank you seasidegal for your kind words. I think it is what I needed to hear especially about the cleaning. I had forgotten that I had read that about taking your time. I have done myself a list for tomorrow which includes the daily cleaning routine, one cupboard to sort out and one thing to clean a bit extra. It’s too much for me to do otherwise as well as looking after six kids. In addition we have a living room and kitchen all in one, so it doesn’t make sense to do the daily cleaning in the living room and kitchen until the end of the day but that’s when I feel at my most tired. I think if I can get everything else done on the daily routine during the day, and just have the kitchen sides to wipe down, sweep the floor and then the living room to tidy and quick clean, that should be ok. 

I have also set myself a little timetable tomorrow. It roughly works as one hour of school with the kids, then one hour break which will either be housework or sewing. The kids get a break that way and I get a break from trying to get them to do their work. Also it means I don’t sit there all day with the kids and then wonder why nothing else gets done. The kids can always do their schoolwork without me, but I’m not going to be around to help them. They do have things to do on their own like reading so they can get on if they want to. It’s got to be worth a try.

In money saving news, I got a refund today of rugby tour cash for the girls rugby tour which has been cancelled. My girls are sad especially my eldest as it was going to be her last tour, but it was a grateful lot of money to come in which I have split between my emergency fund and next months expenses.

I have started using YNAB and seem to be doing quite well money wise this month, I think it helps that my tax credits have been revised a couple of times and I seem to have gotten an extra payment. I have almost got all my bills for next month already funded, just the big ones of car loan, council tax and electric to go but they will get done tomorrow when tax credits come it. Any extras I manage to get in, I am splitting 50:50 between building up my instant access emergency fund to £1000 and saving towards a possible house move to a bigger rented place. I have started up on prolific academic again and since Thursday evening I have already cashed out over £13 on Friday and have £1.44 ready to cash out with £4.27 pending. Fingers crossed the pending gets approved before Tuesday and I can cash out another load. This goes straight to my emergency fund.

Right I need to have an early night as had far too many late ones recently.

Honeysucklelou2

I find that if I know I’ve hoovered  and cleaned key areas such as bathroom and kitchen, I make my next priority keeping on top of the laundry. With everyone at home, I don’t worry about the tidiness, or lack of. Do what you can.

Have a good week.

Mumoffourkids

Thank you honeysucklelou. I hope you have a great week too. I am trying to keep up with cleaning the main room downstairs which is also the kitchen and keeping on top of my room and the bathrooms.

However, last night I had an idea to move my bedroom round which I have started doing today. So my bedroom looks a right state as it is currently in mid move! I have to get it sorted before tonight as currently my bed is plied high with loads of bits. Next on my list of things to do is build a desk that is in the garage up in my room and then I can get started on moving some of the bits off my bed. I then have one piece of furniture which I am not sure where to put at the moment. Also trying to make sure the kids do their work today. Youngest boy has done his but he doesn’t have much to do being in reception. It’s the middle two that I have to watch over constantly. They are in year 5 and year 6, so have a bit of work to do. They are fine doing their maths, but they hate English and it is a real struggle to get them to do that each day!

Right break time over. Off to hunt out the desk from the garage and then take it up to my room to put together!

Kitten868

I found numberblocks on YouTube fantastic for my year r. Very good at explaining magic e... which I just couldn't. I have reading books for her age group from my oldest ones. That helps too.
My house is terrible. I'm exhausted and stressed and my house is too. Theres twinkl sheets all over the floor and crafting bits. Can't bring myself to tidy it all up again and Hoover and mop. So don't beat yourself up. I think most houses in lockdown are a tip. Well at least the ones with children in. Xxxx

Mumoffourkids

My son loves numberblocks and numberjacks. He would happily watch that all day if he could. I do try and make him watch alphablocks as well sometimes. He definitely takes after his mum with preferring maths though 😂. I have twinkl sheets everywhere as well. Although every few days, I do try and sort it out into whose work is whose. Five of the children have plastic divider wallets and I put any completed work into their folders. I am thinking when. They go back to school, they can take their folder in and show in to their teacher.

So moving my room round turned into half painting a wall! I got the paint to paint a feature wall in my bedroom and I have half painted in two coats this afternoon already. The second half is definitely smaller and I will hopefully get that one sorted tomorrow. It looks so much cleaner and nicer. Now just got to finish clearing my bed and put my sewing machines back in place and get my desk all sorted. Oh and sort the floor out. And then the floor will need a good hoover!

Kitten868

You don't half like giving yourself work to do. 
I'm going through recycling the sheets that have been completed. I'm not a nice mummy. 
Going to get off my bum and pick up all the rubbish that no one else sees fit to put in the bin. Xxx

beanielou

You have been a busy bee

Drawingaline

Wow! You sound like me with starting something and it turning ibto something else. Although I tend to start things at ridiculous times. Like 7pm 😂