The Best Is Yet To Come

Jessy103

Glad DD1 is OK, but what a scare for you all! 

With the wormer and flea treatments for the cats, we tend to get ours for the dogs from pets at home as they have a loyalty card and they often give you vouchers for things and so much off when you spend £20 or more. We also have their food set up as a subscription and delivered every month which you get a 5% discount on, might be worth looking into if you have one near you? x

slm6002

Worked the whole day but got some good chunks of work completed so glad I didn't stop half way.  I will have an early night hopefully and then be back up and running properly tomorrow.

Finished the popcorn garland last night.  Somewhere I have some red and white string, but cant find it anywhere.  I know before I changed my bed it was in one of the drawers at the side.  I wonder if has gone in the loft with the Christmas bits.  I was hoping to use it for hanging the new decorations.

On the way home I went to the supermarket.  Got some basics and some bits for the pack ups.  Bought my uncle one of his presents so can wrap that at some point.  Will transfer the money from the Christmas pot later.  A chunk of payments go out tomorrow and I think the bank will look very bare then until pay day.  Scanned the food purchased and have managed to get enough points for a £25 voucher.  I chose Primark as 2 of the children are wanting some type of clothing from there for Christmas.  A few more gifts that I wont need to pay cash for.

I really do need to keep up with the surveys as the vouchers I get from them really do help make up the shortfall that will be there in the months to come.

slm6002

Yay it is Friday.  DD1 is the only one still at work.  Her headache is starting to come back so I dropped off some tablets for her.  She will need to make an appointment at the GP's to sort some kind of plan out.

We had curry / pizza tonight.  Only DD1 and I like curry so the others had pizza.  I am really looking forward to it.  We had mini naan breads too and save the rest of the naan breads in the freezer ready for next time.

Managed to finish all of the decorations ready for the tree tomorrow at the museum.  Hopefully the tree will be medium sized (we don't get a choice normally).  I plan to walk into town and then on the way home DD2 can look at a few things for her secret santa, and I can get a few bits that I have on the list for Christmas.

I am out at a quiz tomorrow night.  I still haven't got my fuel for the car so will need to do that at some point this weekend.  But other than that I dont have much else planned this weekend

slm6002

I can finally hear some movement upstairs which means BF might be going home soon.  He is lovely but nothing gets done while he is here.  DD1 currently has clothes in the washing machine and I have washing to do.  It is also her turn to unload the dishwasher and I have a pile of dishes and pans to do.  I just need to get those bits sorted.

I gave in and put the heating on for and hour or so last night.  It was lovely having the air warm even though we were still under blankets it did make a huge difference.  Warm hoodies and jumpers are worn most of the time around here before the heating goes on.  It was just too cold last night.

My list for the shops is getting bigger, but at least everything will be done in one go.

LadyWithAPlan

I actually think that given how much money you have less - nearly £1k a month you are doing incredibly well - and as you are very clear on the budget you wont be accidentally wandering into debt as is v easy to do.

I also think things like using cheaper  shower gel (basically the same but in a non branded bottle) are great teaching moments.
Have you thought about showing the kids in a non scary way your monthly budget changes? Could be a great life lesson for them   - 99% of us go thru times of leaness and flushness and the quicker they learn the lessons on  budgeting and saving the better their lives  esp on 'wants v needs' 

Glad DS is healthy and hopefully the migraines will stop for DD - is it perhaps something she is eating that are triggering them?

slm6002

Thank you @LadyWithAPlan, the children have always been very aware of the finances.  They know that we are now receiving less but they are not scared or worried by it as they have seen us cope before.  By them knowing they are able to help save products by using a bit less or eeking things out a little.  It means they don't have me saying no all of the time but no thinking I am just being mean.  They know the budgets for things like Christmas and Birthdays so work towards these figures.  They know we have vouchers and coupons for things and DD2 helps me scan the shopping each time as she knows it will lead to a voucher and a treat for them all.

When DD1 went on holiday with her group of friends she was shocked to find them buying branded items for things really not needed.  Her friends come from well off families / people who like to spend money.  She did try to re-educate them but was a bit outnumbered.

Must get ready for my night out.  It will be one non alcohol drink and the entry fee for the quiz.  Hopefully change from £10

debtfreewannabe321

Have a great night out slm 😁

slm6002

We had a great night out and very cheap.  Friends would not allow me to pay for the quiz as they had invited me out.  I did buy one of them a drink but the other only wanted tap water.  Total spends (including raffle) £6.10.  I also won a prize suitable for DS on the raffle so that will squirrelled away for Christmas.

We didn't win the quiz but didn't come last and had fun at the same time.

Now about to take DS to work.  Will pop to B&M at some point to finish a few other peoples gifts.  My Dad is popping over with a suit cover for DD2's band uniform.  The plastic bag that we got with it has seen better days and he had some from his work days of wearing suits.  Better to recycle one than buying another.

DD2 managed to disappear for the whole day yesterday so I still have washing and dishes to sort but refuse to do her jobs for her which I think she is hoping I will.  It is the only thing I ask of her so she will do them.

Right must go or DS will be late

slm6002

DD2 kindly did the dishwasher so we would be able to wash another load.  DD1's washing put in a bag until she wishes to deal with it.  The washing machine is now on a roll.  1st load is in the tumble dryer and 2nd load in the machine.  Starting to feel as if the mess is now going slowly.  Another load waiting for the dishwasher, but will get that sorted later.

Filled up with petrol on the way back from dropping DS off, only to find that I had forgotten any form of money.  Went inside and explained that I would be 20 min top and would return with money.  So back out I went,  and all sorted now, but could have done without.

Dad has popped round to drop off suit cover and to collect scourer as he burnt his pan last night (fell asleep while it was boiling dry) and step mum will be home later today.  Think we will have lunch next and then I'll head to b&m to get those few bits (free parking on a Sunday)

slm6002

Just home from collecting DD2 from band.  At one point the other 2 were also out so I spent some precious quiet time alone in the house looking through the parcel of gifts that arrived today.  I rarely get any time at home alone now.  I have done some more shopping and have sorted 2 out of 3 of the children, as well as giving the relatives some ideas.  Really need everyone out of the house so I can get it all out on the bed and double check stockings look even and I haven't forgotten a present.  All survey vouchers have now been cashed in and the Christmas pot still has enough money in it to buy food and the last remaining items.

Postponed meeting my boss until tomorrow evening, which actually worked better for us both.  By coming home at the right time, it meant we could eat dinner before all of the clubs which was lovely.  This did mean they came home hungry afterwards and had some cereal.

Have signed DD2 up for 2 (free) events at the library in the school holidays.  She really does enjoy the events they put on as most of them are crafty type things.  We have also signed up for the outdoor cooking.  We haven't heard if we have got a place on any of the events as yet but fingers crossed.  She is also super excited as she found out that her friend who went to Australia for 18 months is coming back here to live and will be back at school in her class in January.  DD2 has just gone online and asked me to buy her a warm hoodie (the oversized ones) as she has been living in shorts and t-shirts and is coming back to cold miserable weather.  She is giving me the money but it wasn't expensive.  It will be her Christmas present to her.

It is really chilly outside and has been raining all evening.  I don't think we will get snow, but who knows, maybe it will be white in the morning.  No heating today though as I will soon be off bed where it will be warm.