Missy, May and Roo Living on as little as possible!!

missymoo81

Bless, thank you. I really appreciate that lovely. Things are much the same. Im trying to make ends meet but its so difficult. BF paid for shopping today, but didn!!!8217;t get everything, so that was a no spend day. Hopefully tomorrow will be the same. Need lots of ideas and could do with some help on how to save money over the holidays. How is everyone else doing it. Can anyone recommend theirs or someone elses threads or blogs to help? I could do with a good read.

Honeysucklelou2

Some ideas for the summer holidays ( some will depend on the ages of your children)

Do you have NT membership? It can be paid for monthly now and works out to £10 a month. Gives access to gardens, houses, beaches, coastal car parks.

Do you have any woods nearby? Check the Forestry Commission website? Pack up a picnic and enjoy the location. Our local woods have a stream which children love to play in on sunny days.

In your garden - a cheap paddling pool will provide some fun. If no paddling pool is available try water play in a washing up bowl outside. Add some food colouring or washing up liquid for extra fun. A variety of old shampoo bottles/washed out milk cartons etc and spoons or egg cups will turn play into an informal capacity activity!

Sow some lettuce seeds or cress seeds for a quick and easy growing project.

Do you have a local park that you could visit? Take a football for extra fun.

Cook together to make lunch or snacks.

If you have access to a printer, colouring sheets can be easily found or dot-to-dot type puzzles.

Reading challenge at your local library.

I find the school holidays a challenge grocery wise. The extra time I have makes cooking from scratch easier, but I'm spending time baking to keep the snack tins filled. Whenever I see bagels reduced, I buy them and put in the freezer. Carrot sticks and cucumber sticks are useful snack items too.

Eager_Elephant

Check your local council website - they often put on free activities for kids all over the summer.
This is both at the council area I live in and the one I work in.

Many years ago when my kids were little I would take them to all sorts of activities - now they are 15 and 21 they do as they please and that is mainly computers!!!

missymoo81

Thanks guys, I really appreciate that. We dont have many national trust places here that I know of..... the weather isnt helping matters at the moment, weve had so much rain the last few days. A bit stressed as supposed to be moving st the weekend into a more suitable house but things have been put back, which means Im going to have to put everything in storage as I have to be out of this house at the weekend and the new house now isnt ready until next week.... its going to be a rather stressful week.

missymoo81

Just been to Aldi (again!) spent £26. Seem to go in there around every 2 days, need to try and not spend more than £20 a time. I got dinner for 2 nights, plus lunch stuff and some snacks. But it never lasts long! Both children are on a major hyper for no reason, they were so naughty in Aldi. Going to the gym soon to try and work out some of my crossness!

jwil

Good luck with the move x

missymoo81

Ok.... sorry for being AWOL. Were all moved in! I haven’t had the children for 2 weeks as they’ve been with their dad which is rubbish. Have really missed them. Get my darlings back tomorrow. Had a birthday bbq for BF yesterday so have soooo much food left over, will be living off coleslaw, burgers and rolls for the next 2 weeks. Have frozen everything. So going forward trying to get the food bill down. Porridge or toast for breakfast for the smalls. Porridge with fruit or eggs on toast for me and BF. Lunch is where we down, I need to maybe batch cook and have that for lunch, as a sandwich just doesn’t cut it... and I need to think ahead for dinner, as although the local co-op is amazing it’s a little expensive. I need to get back to Aldi! And Sainsbury’s is the closest supermarket but their basics range doesn’t always extend to the stuff I usually buy. Porridge oats were super expensive yesterday, as no basics brand. So watch this space and we’ll see how we go.

missymoo81

Ok, so had burger, beans and potato salad for dinner! Not particularly inspiring, but needs must. Trying to do a meal plan but feeling very uninspired. Need protein heavy meal ideas!

jwil

Welcome back

missymoo81

Had toast for breakfast and half a reduced quiche for lunch. Made the small ones left over pasta salad for dinner and BF left over couscous and chicken wings. Been looking at buying things in bulk like cat food and litter but can’t find it that cheap. Have just put the small ones to bed although they’re still awake! And I’ve done 2 lots of washing. Just sitting down with a coffee. Hope you guys are all ok, have missed you and your support x