Keeping on the Straight and Narrow...

savingholmes

Those are fantastic scores on the doors - well done.

ohdearhowdidthathappen

I love you WWOTW idea... I'm not brave enough to do that, it would be huge  
Hope the interview went well

DancingInTheRain

@ohdearhowdidthathappen that did make me chuckle 🤣

Looking at it that way helps me feel like we're making progress especially while only having 1 income.

August has been full on so far plus I've been a bit wiped out by a summer cold. Getting it so soon after Covid has just wiped me out and the kids had a few activities last week so lots of early nights for me! Feeling back to normal today, hurrah!

I managed to pull myself together for the interview which was intense but I think I gave a good account of myself. Thank goodness it was online so I could have lots of notes stuck on the wall behind my laptop, proved very useful with my foggy brain 🤣

The role I've applied for is part of a brand new regional team so I won't hear the outcome until other interviews are completed this week. There's further stages to get through if I get past the interview stage so I need to be patient.

Free money for August off to a decent start thanks to Pro!ific, TCB, V!nte and dragging DH to Asda so I can use his blue light card! 

Current total for August is £59.66.

I'm sure there's other things to update on but can't think right now, just pleased I've finally got around to a little update as I was in danger of turning back into a lurker.

Hope everyone else is well x

DancingInTheRain

3 weeks of the summer holidays completed, 4 weeks to go!

(Whispers) I may have started my Xmas shopping today... 🤫
I took Mum to M&S for some food shopping today and perused the kids sale rail - found some PJ's reduced from £9.50 to £2 in both my niece's sizes so snapped them up. Strangely they had some other designs that were also originally £9.50 but 'only' reduced to £6.50, will keep an eye out for any further reductions on these next time I take Mum for a top up shop. 

Also booked the boys swimming lessons for next half term, £60 each (ouch) but a worthwhile spend. Hopefully DS1 will be confident using his arm by then, he's continuing to get better. I've also booked some swimming sessions at the holiday park were going to at the end of the month so that will give both boys an opportunity to enjoy being back in the pool as DS2 won't go in without DS1!

It's DS2's birthday next weekend, think I mentioned a while ago we got a great deal on a tablet for him. We've ordered him a protective case for it and 4 small gifts for him, no more than £5 each - book, phonics flashcards, space hopper and DS2 chose a small soft toy for him that matches one he has. Just need to pick up a cake (I'm no baker!) and then we're all sorted.

*ETA - just noticed I hadn't updated my signature at the end of July, now done!

savingholmes

Great progress even if you did mention the dreaded Xmas shopping!

I hope you get to the next stage of the interview.

sashybo

Glad to hear you felt the interview went well, fingers crossed.

Well done with starting the christmas shopping, I find it so much easier to spread it out and grab bargains when I spot them. Trying not to look too much just now as have so many birthdays coming up though.

We have the next block of swimming lessons to pay for DS soon, not fun parting with the money but definitely an important life skill.

DS2's birthday presents sound good, I really struggle with not overbuying presents for the kids for birthdays & christmas and keep trying to cut it down as they really don't need or want as much as I want to buy!

DancingInTheRain

Thanks for the well wishes on the interview, I got through to the next stage!

I have to complete 3 timed online assessments by Tuesday, I'm not rushing in to them. Going to do a couple of practice ones first to get a feel for them.

If successful with these I believe there's a further interview so still a way to go but I'm pleased to have made the next stage.

Sashy I agree that swimming is an essential life skill so I'm determined the boys get the opportunity to learn. I also struggle not to overbuy for the children, even now I keep thinking we should get something else but am trying to keep in mind he'll also be getting gifts from the wider family so he'll be fine.

We had a lovely day at DH's brother's yesterday, the children had a blast playing in and out of the paddling pool all day. They especially loved jumping on the trampoline while being squirted by the hose while we were filling the pool (I may have also joined in with that as it was SO hot 🤣).

Our local town has a food festival and vintage rally this weekend so we're heading out to explore that later, going to make sure we have a big lunch first so that we aren't tempted to spend too much money on delicious smelling food!

savingholmes

Sounds like you are having fun. 

Good luck with the tests and getting to the next stage.

beanielou

Well done on getting to next stage.

DancingInTheRain

Thank you Savings & Beanie x

We've had a lovely weekend in the sunshine, the festival was great and spends were very low so having a big lunch first worked!

Yesterday was spent in the garden making the most of the weather. We've been lazy and not tidied the garden furniture and toys away so they're now absolutely soaked as it's been pouring down for the last hour or so 😳

I completed a few of the practice assessments and, being honest, my results were a bit hit and miss as the questions were more challenging than I expected. Despite this, once the kids went to bed last night I sat and completed the 3 official assessments. 2 of them didn't seem as bad as the practice assessments and the 3rd one I ended up rushing at the end as I was running out of time.

I'm not sure what the criteria for passing is, even after attempting to find more info online. I'm happy I've given it my best shot, will just have to wait and see if it was good enough...

On to today's plans - it's due to be dry here late morning/early afternoon so we're off to the library to exchange the boys books, need to pop to the garage to collect and pay the invoice for the MOT & service done a couple of weeks ago (won't be cheap as the rear brakes needed work), also need to drop off a Vinted parcel as I had a sale last night.

Child benefit has come in today, budgets not looking too bad but we do need to rein in grocery spends as they always seem to increase when it's hot as we pick up a few treats to cool us down or choose lazier and more expensive food choices, must do better!