Making money make sense

Franalamadingdong

Neither of us really drink often to the extent that I didn't know i was allergic to beer until a few months into us dating! I used to be fine with it. I've got two bottles of gifted red wine in the cupboard and a bottle of white that's been there for months. Some beer for the boyfriend and various spirits that have largely been gifted.

My boy is just like my dad in that whether he's hungry or not if it is "lunchtime" he must eat! So changing mealtimes doesn't work BUT I love your teatime idea!!! The boy loves to bake and going out to afternoon tea was one of the things we were going to do this year, but a home one would be so cute!

We are not veggie.... So much so that my son has cried on the steps in the past because I didn't have any bacon in... And once a veggie mum at the park made a big song and dance about how her children don't want to eat little baby animals and my son chased her children shouting "yum yum baby animals! Yum! Yum! Yum!" He was only 3 or 4 at the time and she was the one who brought it up.... The boyfriend would have steak with a side of steak if he had his way, which he does not. Hahaha.

I've baked the rolls and made 2 sandwiches, and popped the other rolls into the freezer. The boy, after demolishing his dinner and proudly telling me he had two school dinners and puddings and an extra naan bread, asked if I could do bread and jam for pudding with the other roll. I have had to ask if the dinner ladies think I don't feed him at home! I have to say £2.50 is brilliant for his school dinners given the sheer volume he eats! Today they had naan, rice, chicken curry and veg and some pudding with raisins in. And in my son's case, double everything and add an extra naan on top! The meat and poultry and fish are from local butchers and fish mongers and they try to source all veg locally too and everything is cooked fresh.

Blackcats

Inspired by you (thank you) and deterred by the foul weather I haven't gone out to buy milk. I've got enough for my cuppas this evening and in the morning (absolutely essential). I didn't have enough for breakfast though, however in the cupboard was some almond milk, so I've made overnight oats using almond milk, the last dollop of coconut yoghurt, a grated fairly elderly apple and pear. I think it will be yummy and there will be enough to take on my travels on the early train on Thursday. Oh and a serving of blueberries from the freezer to complete this "use it up" triumph.

Franalamadingdong

That's brilliant! That is a triumph! Yes, the weather is foul. I know if I go to the shop I will leave with extra items which I will then eat!

Morning cuppas are essential. I remember getting out of the shower to hear the boyfriend telling off the boy. I went downstairs to find the boy had used the last of the milk, not a problem, the boyfriend had given him a fiver and asked him to get milk from the shop across the road, after a raised eyebrow he assured me he watched him cross. It transpired that my son did not buy the milk and spend all £5 on sweets/chocolate. I burst out laughing. I keep reminding the boyfriend that the boy is a mercenary little whatsit and to not give him money. We did not get our essential morning cuppas that day and he was quite the grump!

Tomorrow is the boy's cello lesson and music club, so no need to pick him up until 4:30pm. I'm making fish pie for tea using some of the potatoes mum and dad dropped off before their holiday.

Mum got in touch seems to be having a fabulous time.

Franalamadingdong

PA is at £5.62 and OP is at £7.40. looking forward to them keeping on adding up. PA can pay out now, but I'm thinking about keeping it there until it's built up a bit more. OP pays out at £30 so still a long wait for that one.

No spends today so far and I don't anticipate any. Just enjoying a cuppa and a rest before doing some housework and picking up the boy.

I'm so boring! But I think I might break the £500 down into £100 laptop fund £100 living room fund and £300 holiday fund. It's all in the one savings account, but I like it being assigned to something.

Blackcats

Your son sounds like a great fun character. He must have got lots of treats for £5! I remember when my kids were first allowed to walk to the corner shop unaccompanied - so stressful peering up the road til they were out of sight and then waiting for them to re-appear. They did stick to the list usually but would never ask for help if they couldn't find what I'd asked for.
How about choosing some jewellery ready to wear tomorrow? I assume you have to dress quite sensibly for your job but a little sparkle might be allowed?
How's your new skin care regime?

Franalamadingdong

Oops, sorry, laughing about it with the boyfriend it was £3 not £5. He had been so proud of his bargains and making the money stretch.... But had not bought the milk. Hahaha

Sparkle is fine. I'm front of office and deal with admin and have been known to wear pink tights and leopard print skirt (with black boots, top and cardigan). Today was navy tights, blue and white skirt, blue top and bright orange cardigan. I've picked out a necklace now, thank you. I've also re-peirced my ear, which had healed closed again. It's my right ear that heals up endlessly, so I've put in plain gold studs to keep it open for a while.

Skincare is going well thanks. And I'm using things up!

My boy loved the music club and is the most experienced there having been playing the cello for a year now. Others had had no music lessons or some had played for a term and given up. Bless the poor teacher trying to make a folk band out of that! She could have been a little clearer in the information about the club in fairness. He was also super pleased to tell me that he got sent to the head teacher, because he did some year 5 work (he's in year 4) and his teacher thought it was brilliant. He got a sticker and some house-points. No after school clubs tomorrow and it's leftovers for tea so I've suggested to the boy that we pop to the supermarket after school and he can pick out some sweeties for being such a star. I've also asked the boyfriend what snacks he wants at home and it saves me using my "hour off" on going to the supermarket. Again, it's not a full shop, but the dog did eat the last of the parmesan - the only conclusion after I couldn't find it on the counter, I will get bread and milk and the requests from the boyfriend and hope to keep everything under £20!

Franalamadingdong

Terrible night's sleep again. Anxiety is playing up and I can't seem to pin down what is causing it. I know that when the boyfriend is here I (very unfeminist-like of me) completely relax. It's the first time I've ever felt completely looked after and that I don't need to protect/do/be in charge of everything. I know if anything happens he can deal with it, or we'll deal with it together. I'm crazily looking forward to seeing him again as it is (even though we text and talk on the phone every day) knowing that I will be able to relax, breathe, and hopefully sleep is an added bonus.

That said I've got the gold studs in, a necklace, a squirt of my favourite perfume and a slick of mascara on.

Soon school run with dog and work without dog. I have two funerals going on today and I sent the FD off with all the bits he needs yesterday, so today he's picking up the flowers and my lovely lady and chap. Today will be trying to finish off the paperwork for a few more of my lovely families and getting on with processing donations. I'm really so lucky, I work with the most lovely families and it's such a pleasure to get to know them and their loved one and to help them do the last thing they can do for them.

Franalamadingdong

Glad to be home and just popped leftovers in the oven: fish pie for me with a portion for the freezer, stew for the boy.

It's so super grotty out. I took the dog for a walk after work and hoping I'll get away with just one more today!

We went to the supermarket and the boy got £1 for sweets. I spent £2 from my miscellaneous pot (now down from £10 to £8) and £19.53 on a few bits we needed and snacks to keep the men folk happy. £76.13 left in the food and drink pot.

It looks like other than the £2k to go to emergency fund and £500 discussed and money already gone to sinking funds I'll have about £350 left to share into my savings pots.

I'm looking forward to month end to finish all my totals!

Blackcats

Hi Fran, sorry to hear about not sleeping properly - it's so hard isn't it? Ouch to re-piercing your ear, that's proper commitment to sparkle!
I hope you are going to have a lovely weekend, it will be nice for you to have sometime with BF as I think last time he was there your son was poorly.
Great surplus money this month. Well done!!

Franalamadingdong

Thanks Blackcats, it's not too difficult as the channel is fine, it's just the back that seems to heal up.

Yep, it seems an age ago since the boy was poorly, especially as he keeps eating double lunches!

Normally I sleep well, I joke that I just pass out, but now and then it plays up. Feel better for having a nice chat with the boyfriend.... Even though he did tell me to not forget to shave my legs. Cheeky sh*t. Half tempted to do Janu-hairy now!

The £2.5k is from money that had built up in my current account, but it may as well go into savings as I can transfer it easily back. Don't expect such impressive numbers every month! I've been looking at February's budget and I've added extra for fun category and food category and the household category, so the extra savings will be less, but that's quite alright. I'd rather budget more and have spare cash that can be moved into savings rather than over stretch myself. Sinking funds, bills and variable expenses are all being looked after.

I've also used the £50 budgeted this month on school dinners by ordering in advance and I've covered the first 4 weeks after half term, bringing us into mid-March.

I'll probably do a full month breakdown of income and outgoings and savings at the end of the month.