Missy’s family of 4, paying off debts, saving for a house and just trying to survive!

slm6002

Have you checked to see if you are entitled to any benefit. Entitled to is the website I use

greenbee

re. the OS boards, I'd start with the grocery challenge thread as there'll be lots of other people trying to achieve the same as you and willing to share advice/recipes/info on offers etc. 

Re. the bedroom, I'd go for plain colours for the rug/lampshades/walls etc that fit the minecraft theme but can be adapted later on. Keep an eye on places like freegle. Or if you have a sewing machine and can sew, make a tie-up blind (using cuphooks and dowel) yourself, or even curtains. You can probably find decent fabric in a CS to do that if you take your time. I've done this a number of times. You can use old fleece to line a blind or curtains (or hang separately using curtain wire) as extra insulation. 

Have a look and see what paint is on offer/reduced (sometimes there are returns or discontinued colours). Paint one wall at a time, so if you run out you can paint the remaining wall(s) white. Look in CSs for picture frames/notice boards/mirrors and accessories, or maybe even get the kids to do it. Give them a budget and get them watching old episodes of 'changing rooms' 😂

My SIL has done a fantastic job recently, having moved house. As it's so different from the old one they sold almost all their furniture and have replaced it with stuff from gumtree. She thinks she made more on the old stuff than she has paid for the new, which has covered the cost of paint. She's not working, so has time to do all the searching, but it shows what can be done. 

missymoo81

@slm6002 no unfortunately not as both of us on paper earn too much. 

@Baileys_Babe I will have a look. I’d love to be able to make one myself but I’m
not very crafty minded. Although I do have a tiny cheap sewing machine….

Money wise I have stuff I can sell at home, that I no longer want or need. I just need to pull my finger out and sell them when I get back. I have worn once Mammut walking boots and unworn gymshark clothes that would all fetch a bit.

I’m going to set myself some rules ongoing:

No coffee from Costa unless on a long journey then get OH to pay 😊
No buying books (I didn’t buy any earlier in the week, as realised I have lots at home and the library is also back open)
No buying sports clothes, as I absolutely don’t need any! 
Do not be lazy and turn down work.
Shop at Lidl not COOP for one offs, there’s only 5 mins in the journey time!

slm6002

Freecycle is often advertising bits and pieces for free plus often half cans of paint. You might get lucky

slm6002

You can even put wanted posts on there and someone might be getting rid of just what you need

missymoo81

Oooh thanks @slm6002 I am signed up, I haven’t looked on it for ages, but I will! 

missymoo81

Ah @greenbee so sorry, I managed to miss your post. Thank you so much for taking the time to write it. I will def look at the grocery challenge. I used to follow this all the time. 

Hmmm I’m wondering if a bright green rug might suffice. I’ll put my thinking cap on re the curtains. The duvet covers aren’t expensive and I have cushion inserts. I can probably get cushion covers quite cheap too. I’m refusing to pay £29 for a lampshade too. 

Thank you all for your ideas. I just need to take my time and sit and think rather than panic. Thank you all so much. 

greenbee

You can make lampshades too! Have a look at instructions and see whether you want to risk repurposing the current one, or will buy an old CS one to play with. You may be able to sell the old one.

missymoo81

greenbee said:

You can make lampshades too! Have a look at instructions and see whether you want to risk repurposing the current one, or will buy an old CS one to play with. You may be able to sell the old one.

Oooh can you! I think I have a spare one?! 

All of the children’s current bedroom stuff I’m pretty sure I can sell as a job lot as it’s al lovely and cost a lot new. So maybe £50.

I may have found some fabric that would work for a blind too….. but I wouldn’t really know where to start. 

WinterWarrior

Not sure if it’s been said, but you could get plain curtains or blinds from Argos basics range or whatever to coordinate with the minecraft bits you do find? Or use one roll of minecraft wallpaper and put it into cheap frames to hang on plain painted walls. There will be lots of ideas on Pinterest.