One income family of four - can we get ahead even after pay cuts?

Bluegreen143

Went to Lidl to stock up on household goods and toiletries:

Total £40.48
Bleach
Washing up liquid 
Baby wipes 4pk x2
Dishwasher tabs x2
Nappies 78pk
Antiviral spray x2
Bin bags x2
Tin foil
Batteries (AA & AAA)
Soap 4pk
Baby bubble bath 

Shampoo + conditioner
Shower gel
Hayfever tabs x3
Mouthwash
Toothpaste x2
Shaving gel
Kids toothbrushes 2pk
Razor

Also picked up a Lego grab bag and couple of packs of stickers (£4.57 total) to put away in the Christmas cupboard for stocking fillers.

Bluegreen143

Oh meant to say I put £30 petrol in the car too... doing that beach trip then picking up & returning my MIL yesterday has depleted the tank more than I thought it would. I need to do another two round trips to MILs on Thursday/Friday to drop off & pick up Monkey for his sleepover so thought I’d better get some petrol before Red goes away tonight, would rather not have to take the kids. The tank is 3/4 full now but not sure how long that will last. One of my big resolutions this month is walk more, drive less! 

Bluegreen143

That was Red away for his week's training after dinner tonight. We've only spent one day apart since the week before lockdown (when he had training earlier in July) so safe to say the kids and I will miss him lots. Bambi in particular is a real daddy's girl and the poor thing is too young to understand that he's going away for a week.

Meals today:

B - toast & jam for the kids, weetabix for me 

L - tuna pasta, fruit

S - banana mini muffins, home made fruit puree, blueberries 

D - salsa chicken burritos

Made mini muffins with the kids and started two sourdough loaves to bake tomorrow.

Red is such a sweetheart, in preparation for going away he bought a bunch of little bits of plastic tat for the kids and treats like chocolate for me and filled a drawer with them as a surprise for me. Bless him, he's so thoughtful! Means if we get one of those rainy afternoons where time is dragging I can surprise the kids with some new bits.

Baileys_Babe

Will, you and the children be able to video call Red in the evening for a quick catch up and a bedtime kiss?

Bluegreen143

Yes @Baileys_Babe, we should be able to each day. He’s in training not actually working so think it finishes at 4 tbh! And then he will be bored as there will be nothing to do. I don’t think he’ll go for a drink with the other people on the course or anything as he is quite cautious re covid. If it was me I’d go a nice long walk and have taken a stack of books but he isn’t massively into walking and doesn’t enjoy books. All his hobbies are home based (woodworking, gardening) and difficult to take on the road. I expect he will come home with detailed drawn out plans drawn up for some home or garden project I’ll need to then find the money for!

Baileys_Babe

It is good the will be able to keep in touch

I would be the same as you and take a pile of books and relish the peace and quiet.

Bluegreen143

Busy but great day today.

Bambi woke up uncharacteristically early - 6am - I tried to bring her into my bed for an extra hour but gave up at 6.30 and got up with her. By 8am I was showered, we were all dressed, we’d had breakfast, beds were made, kitchen was clean and tidy and I was hanging a washing on the line while the kids played in the garden. 8.30am I took them out for an hour’s walk to the park. We had friends arrive just after 10am for a garden playdate so the early waking was really a blessing as had we got up around 7/7.30 like usual we’d never have made it to the park. Our friends left at 12.30 and safe to say after a park visit then two hours of running about with friends in the garden the kids were tired, especially Bambi! A quick lunch and she settled instantly for her nap at 1 and went through til I woke her at 3. 

Monkey spent ages just sat doing a sticker book and listening to nursery rhymes so he must have been knackered too. I made a peach crumble, chilled out on these forums for a bit then Monkey and I read, did a big puzzle and bounced on the trampoline. 

After I got Bambi up we read some stories then I did art with the kids. A new activity today that Monkey absolutely loved (Bambi did lose interest quickly but it was too old an activity for her tbf). I cut out big circles from watercolour paper and let them decorate them with watercolour paint, chunky watercolour pencils and glitter glue. When Monkey was done his I punched holes all round the outside and gave him yarn cut into lengths with the end reinforced with tape and he practised “sewing” with it weaving it in and out of the holes and across the paper. He’s requested doing more “sewing” tomorrow which is fine as he’s still got an unused decorated circle left from today.

After the art session we did snack then it was 4pm, and by some miracle between 4 and 5pm the children played nicely together for pretty much a full hour without arguing or wanting me. They did pull blankets and cushions out in the living room and turn the easel upside down to make a “fort” but as they were happy and giggling away I left them to it! Then it was tidy up time, TV time and dinner, they played in the garden for 20 minutes while I cleaned up, bathtime including a video call with daddy, and both in bed by 7.30. All in all a great, fun day, both children very well behaved and no money spent!

Meals today:

B - apple & peach overnight oats

L - lentil soup, homemade rolls, fruit

S - banana mini muffins, peppers, cucumber (for the kids... I did eat most of a big bar of while nut dairy milk through the day...)

D - bacon/cheddar/broccoli/pea instant pot risotto then peach & nectarine crumble with custard 

Used the leftover risotto to make arancini for lunch tomorrow which I’m so excited about! Think I’ll oven bake them tomorrow though rather than deep fry - a bit healthier and less faff.

WelshKitty85

Ooh...I love arancini & have risotto on the meal plan this week. Don't know why I hadn't thought of it myself but thanks for the idea!

Sounds like you've had a lovely day & all the better that you didn't need to spend anything to achieve it.

missymoo81

Ah sounds like a lovely couple of days! Loving the peach porridge and crumble. I love peaches!

Bluegreen143

@missymoo81 can you tell we had masses of peaches and nectarines in the fruit box this week! Although a non MSE confession - we got plums too and when I had checked the fruit bowl they were all off and mouldy! Gutted as there’s lots you can use plums up in, I just lost track of them.

@WelshKitty85 I’ve not made arancini for a long time, was so excited to realise how much leftover risotto there was 😅