OS with young kids - tips & advice

Bluegreen143

Urgh you leave the bank accounts for a week and now it’s impossible to work out what’s been spent on what! 

I’ve kind of started again and transferred money about the accounts to do us the rest of the month.

BILLS £205
HOUSEKEEPING £300
RED’S ACCOUNT £250 
SAVINGS BALANCES
Christmas & birthdays £142
Home & garden £40
Clothing £10
Annual bills/MOT £145
New car £489
Holiday £603
Emergencies £49

Hoping for some decent weather so we can get lots of free days out instead of paying for softplay or playgym. Today we had a really busy day (first day of the school/nursery holidays), met a friend at softplay (about £10 for entry & lunch - Bambi is still free at that one as she isn’t properly walking yet), a good walk about a park we hadn’t been to so we could get her to nap then we went to another friend’s for a playdate and run about her garden. Not too expensive for spending the whole day out and when I got back Red had got back really early from work so had used his child free time to clean the downstairs and make dinner - he’s a star 

buildersdaughter

Bluegreen, I hope other parents are following this, because your tips are excellent!

Bluegreen143

Awww thank you so much buildersdaughter 

Anyone else missing the old smilies?!

Well, frugal friends, it’s been an eventful day here at Bluegreen towers. A certain Miss Bambi put a gazillion new grey hairs on mama’s head by falling down the stairs! She is totally fine but what a shock.

Made some sunbutter (sunflower seed butter) today which was lush! As I have an enormous kg bag I bought from the ethnic section in Tesco. Thought I’d post the recipe below. I haven’t tried it on the kids yet but they both like peanut butter so I’m sure it will be a success. I had mine on toast with honey and it was so lovely.

SUNBUTTER
3 cups sunflower seeds
3tbsp pumpkin or other seeds (optional)
a little salt and/or sugar to taste (optional but I did add a little of both)

Toast the seeds (kept separate if using the two types) in a 200C oven then put the sunflower seeds in your food processor. Blitz for quite a long time (10 mins or so) stopping every minute or two to scrape down the sides and rest the motor. The stages it goes through are ground nuts, sandy texture, gritty, a soft ball, firm butter and eventually after much cursing and disbelief you arrive at a lovely smooth, runny seed butter. Season as needed with salt and/ or sugar (not honey or syrup as apparently it affects the texture), add that pumpkin or other seeds and blitz briefly til chopped but so there are still crunchy bits of pumpkin seed throughout. Lovely on toast with honey

Apparently keeps a week or two at room temp or a month in the fridge.

Bluegreen143

Ahhh it’s been a busy week!

Slightly disasterous moneywise as my fridge freezer broke yesterday! We’ve managed to salvage some food putting it in the small freezer so have lost a bit but not too much. New fridge freezer coming tomorrow thankfully. Managed to fund it by cancelling the laptop I’d bought as a surprise for Red’s birthday (we discussed and it was his idea) and we will save up for that later on in the year. Definitely the right call and avoids stress of using a credit card as our car is also due it’s MOT next week so tbh the laptop was a bit of an extravagance anyway.

I’d like to make his birthday next week special on a budget so trying to think what to do. I should have about £70 but will need some for the meal out (using a groupon voucher I got for Christmas but it won’t cover all our drinks etc). 

I’m thinking of buying him a bunch of small practical or treat things he likes and hiding them all round the house like a treasure hunt, with one bigger present at the end - not sure what to get now though. And I’ll get Monkey to make him a card too. 

Have been making a list of free or cheap things to do with the kids as want to get into better routines, over the winter we have spent A LOT of time at softplay and it’s crippling now I need to pay for both kids to get in.

FREE/CHEAP OUTING IDEAS

- parks or walks. In Glasgow we are so lucky considering we live in the middle of a city, and we still have lots of green spaces we can get to. Numerous parks from wild country type ones, wee tiny playparks and everything in between. We’re also close to good walks along the river and canal. Feeding the ducks, jumping in puddles, playing with sticks etc always popular! 

- library. We usually go every 2-3 weeks but I might try to go weekly as the kids love a good half hour there and we do get through the books. Keep meaning to take Bambi to the free bookbug class too as haven’t since she was tiny.

- museums. Kelvingrove (art and natural history), riverside (transport) and Scotland street school museum are all great and free. Only thing is it costs a fortune to park at the first two, at riverside you can park for free a bit further away and walk down though.  

- toddler groups. Mostly seem to cost £1-2 here including a snack. I’d like to find at least one weekly one I can take Bambi to when Monkey is at nursery in the mornings as I haven’t started yet and I always took Monkey to them from when he turned 1. I also go to a weekly coffee and cake thing at a church with friends which has a play area for the kids, is free and has very cheap homemade cake

- swimming. This wouldn’t be that cheap except I’ve got a monthly membership for myself and it’s only an extra £1 each to take the kids. I need to take them separately though as they are under 3 but could start taking Bambi weekly while her brother is in nursery.

- science centre. This is normally extortionate except we have annual passes so it’s free for each visit and only £1 to park. I’m going to investigate other good annual passes and suggest as presents for birthdays/Christmas as they have enough toys and we’ve already got our money’s worth from the science centre ones.

- playdates at friends’ houses or having them over to us. Only cost is maybe bringing some snacks for the host visiting family is good too but most of ours work full time so not free during the week.  

- if all else fails it’s good to remember the kids are often quite happy with doing a Tesco shop (and getting a bit of the free fruit in the trolley), posting letters at the post office, doing errands. I find if you make it a wee adventure and try to spot interesting things or ask them to help with the shop etc they are quite happy whereas if you treat it like a stressful chore they do too and just whinge.

- final and obvious point about being organised and taking packed lunch/snacks and not eating in cafes all the time! I have been much better about this recently though.

Anyway that’s my wee list of free/cheap outings which I’m going to try to stick to instead of constant softplay, lunches out and playgym etc. If anyone has any other ideas do jump in and share!

Bluegreen143

Decided to sit down tonight, inventory our veg seeds and make a growing plan of what we will do this year. Another mini disaster as we had the seeds in an open box in the greenhouse (really silly) and a lot have got wet and ruined especially where the pack had been opened last year. Never mind, we still have quite a few left and it’s a lesson learned. Red dug out an old biscuit tin to keep them in going forward.

Shopping list for B&Q tomorrow:

Compost
String
Seed potatoes

And seeds:
Broad beans
Kale
Rainbow chard
Lettuce/salad mixes
Pak choi
Rocket
Radish
Chillies
Basil
Coriander

I’ve been reading Huw Richards’ Veg in One Bed and making a plan based on his to maximise the space in a raised bed. Ours is a good bit bigger than his but it’s an awkward shape and size as you can’t reach the middle (we didn’t put it in ourselves) which has meant it’s been a jungle in there by mid summer each year. Red is sorting out slabs and wood to make a wide path in the middle and split it into a main veg bed (roughly the 10x4 feet Huw recommends in the book) and a skinny bed on the other side I want to grow courgettes or extra salad in in.

Hoping to grow in the veg patch:

Potatoes
Parsnips
Broad beans
Kale (ideally Cavalo Nero)
Chard
Lettuce/salad
Radishes
Pak choi
Beetroot
Rocket
Carrots
French beans
Borlotti beans
Peas
Garlic
Spinach 
Possibly purple sprouting broccoli, spring onions and courgette (not on the plan but I have the seeds anyway) 

And in the greenhouse:
Tomatoes
Peppers
Chillies
Basil

And in the herb pots (we have most of these in already):
Coriander 
Parsley
Mint
Rosemary
Thyme
Lavender
Oregano
Sage
Bay
Chives 

We’ve got blackcurrants, gooseberries, rhubarb, raspberries, blueberries, redcurrants, apples, cherries, pears and strawberries in already so are very lucky. I’d love to add something else - maybe a plum or apricot tree if it suits being grown in Scotland, but that’s for another day.

Bluegreen143

B&Q visit done and Red is busy installing our new fridge freezer. Took Bambi for a walk in the pram after B&Q and it’s now proper storm weather so myself and the kids are cosied up in the living room watching a Disney movie. I try not to do too much tv/screen time but it’s perfect on a stormy afternoon.

Spent £61 which was a wee bit more than the £30 I’d budgeted for B&Q - Red had to get an extension cord for the new fridge which was £11 (will take from emergency savings like the fridge itself) and also bought:

2x potting compost £7.34
Seed trays 5 pack £3.17
Seed potatoes 1kg £2.50
Seeds £37.80

We always overspend getting gardening stuff, we get too overexcited 😆 but this isn’t as bad as we’ve been in the past. I bought a few extra packs of seeds and forgot they are pricier in B&Q. Should probably have gone to the supermarket or pound shop first and just filled in any gaps at B&Q but it’s done now.

Seeds I bought (just cos I’m excited and want to share haha):
Turnip 
Birdseye chilli
Parsley
Broad beans
Coriander x3
Habanero chilli 
Radish x2
Various lettuces x4
Spinach
Rocket
Kale
Swiss chard
Basil 

We definitely need more basil as I meant to buy a couple and I want to grow pak choi too but apart from that I think we are done for seeds. Will need more potting soil next month and also want to get some little herb plug plants.

Bluegreen143

Nice day today - went to Tesco in the morning to get bits for Red’s birthday to wrap up and make a treasure hunt with (a bottle of his favourite wine, couple of craft beers, spice mixes for cooking, boxers & socks, PJs, fairy lights for the garden (he loves fancy lighting!), chocolate etc. Plus a mug from the kids and I got a wacky garden gnome with some vague idea of using it at the start of the hunt and writing something like about how the gnome is helping him to find his presents... not exactly sure where I’m going with this yet

As per my new resolution of cheap kids activities we went to a friend’s for a playdate which cost nothing as I brought some homemade healthyish muffins from the freezer for all the kids to share. 

Tomorrow I’m taking Bambi to a playgroup for the very first time (bar once I took her as a baby when I was taking Monkey). I’m really looking forward to doing something just for her and she’s so social she will love it, but I feel a bit sad that this stage is well and truly over with Monkey. While he’s at home in the afternoons the playgroups here are all in the morning plus at 4 he would probably be the oldest there anyway. We tried a few with him over time but always used to go to a lovely one every Friday from when he was 1 til he was 3. Sadly that’s shut now so I need to find a new group for Bambi that we love just as much.

Off to bed about 1.5 hours earlier than normal today, at the end stages of a cold but just feel done in. Feel guilty as I had cooking I wanted to do and haven’t finished the washing yet but I’ve just been zoned out on the sofa for two hours so pointless staying there any longer! Will catch up with housey stuff tomorrow as no afternoon plans.

A few years ago I used YNAB (budgeting software) which really helped us save for our wedding. I’d cancelled the subscription last year as it does cost and since having the kids I kept falling off the wagon using it. I’ve tried various budgeting methods since but not having success so I’ve set up the free trial with YNAB again and if I use it for the month I will pay to reinstate my subscription. I know from experience the method really works for me, it’s just about getting into the good habits of updating the app with your spending.

Bluegreen143

Spent £30 in Tesco which will have thrown off the grocery budget - stuff for Red’s birthday cake, wrapping paper plus we have friends coming round for a playdate and dinner tomorrow so bought pizzas, nice fruit for the kids, crisps etc. (I know we can make pizza much cheaper, we generally do make our own, but my friend had suggested a takeaway for ease so this was the quick and easy compromise to save a bit of cash). 

Did batch up beetroot falafel (half for dinner, half for the freezer) plus hummus - very tasty dinner in wraps with a grated carrot salad. I’d cooked the whole kg of dried chickpeas so froze the remainder for future use. Also made baby oaty bars and overnight oats tonight.

A couple of times I’ve bought that marinaded pre cooked sandwich chicken bits from the supermarket - really tasty but about £3 for the pack. I tried making my own last night and it was pretty good. Marinaded the chicken in lemon, garlic, olive oil and herbs and then griddled. Two big breasts has done three of us sandwiches today with lots left for tomorrow’s lunches too. I’d be tempted to batch cook and freeze this too. I think it’s healthier as well v Red eating cheap ham constantly.

buildersdaughter

Hello bluegreen, still enjoying this, and I have 4 grown-up kids who survived a good few tumbles!
I hope your DSO has a lovely birthday - our kids loved 'treasure hunts' following clues round the house.
I have a raised bed - put in by DH so that I can do a bit of growing despite my arthritis. I am good bit south of you. You'll find better advice over on Greenfingers.
I am normally dreadful at growing stuff, but have worked out a plan. Some stuff does poorly in the raised bed (root things) but salads and greens save us loads of £££. In about a month's time I will buy a 'living salad' from a supermarket and plant out, then succession sow leaves and spinach. Mange tout and dwarf french beans do well.
I would throw some lambs lettuce or similar over the hard-to-reach patch - it thrives.
I weed out the bed every autumn, shove in some broad beans and garlic cloves (it's not worth seriously growing garlic, but we make a feast of the first spring shoots). Then i throw down winter spinach & lambs' lettuce and what survives adds to our winter, then early spring salads.

Bluegreen143

Thanks so much for all the gardening tips buildersdaughter - we are excited to get started this year. Going to sow some tomatoes & chillies this weekend with the kids’ help. We grow these in the greenhouse, it’s too cold up here to grow them outdoors, though we will keep them in the house til it warms up more. Our kitchen/diner looks like a jungle in the spring I do like our house, (or more specifically the garden) and it was a great find for our budget, but it’s one of those modern build ones with absolutely not an inch of space to spare and no porch/utility space etc.

Feb budget is a bit messed up - we did better at keeping track of it but weren’t perfect and we’ve been hit by thing after thing this month. On the plus side, the car passed its MOT with only a tyre and light needing changed! This was basically a miracle as it’s 11 years old and pretty bashed up. We were desperately hoping to avoid replacing it this year as we don’t really have anything saved up to replace it and would like to avoid a loan if possible or at least keep it low (we’ve never had a loan for a car). So that was a big sigh of relief for us.

Poor Bambi is getting two new teeth - she’s absolutely miserable and barely eating a thing I feel awful for her, plus it’s been very hard going for the rest of us as there’s been non stop stormy weather. Being stuck indoors with a baby who won’t stop shouting and crying is driving us all a bit crazy! Fingers crossed those teeth cut soon. Monkey was never massively bothered by his teeth coming so it’s taken me by surprise a bit just how miserable she is.

Plans for this weekend - try to get out for walks/garden where we can round the weather! Family visiting this afternoon, need to pick up antipasti stuff as I said I would (grocery budget totally out of control this month...). Then friends for drinks later, just a casual thing without food, people will bring their own booze or we have a load of home brew beer that’s just ready too