Getting shot of the mortgage sooner than 2049!

LittleGem

Hi bluegreen, if you haven’t already I’d definitely recommend Vinted for kids clothes, I’ve had some great bargains on there and it’s very easy to use 👍🏻

QueenJess

LittleGem said:

Hi bluegreen, if you haven’t already I’d definitely recommend Vinted for kids clothes, I’ve had some great bargains on there and it’s very easy to use 👍🏻

eBay is pretty useful for kids clothes and shoes too. Only trouble with online is that bundles are better value by the time you factor in postage.

Bluegreen143

@LittleGem thanks I’ll check out Vinted! Thinking it could be useful for coats particularly which are expensive.

I used to buy eBay bundles when the kids were small but don’t now. My kids (especially Monkey) are hard on their clothes and also usually only have 2x party outfits each (shirt and jeans for Monkey and nice dress for Bambi). Otherwise they live in T-shirts, joggers and leggings and you can’t easily find bundles of these online for older kids - I suspect they all tend to wear through them and put holes in! I do keep an eye on eBay for individual smart things like the party dresses though.

I know some people really pride themselves on their children looking well put together, in brands etc, but that’s not me. Once I took them to visit my mum for a special lunch and got them washed up and changed into party clothes immediately before leaving for there. My mum said “wow, I’ve never seen them clean like this!” 🙈🤣 I had a really sedentary, indoors childhood and thats why it’s so important to me that the kids get loads of opportunity to get messy and be outdoors, so I just find joggers and leggings the most practical thing because it allows them the freedom to move properly. Bambi does have some casual cotton dresses too but again cheap is better as she gets them muddy 😆

savingholmes

I agree kids need to be free to get dirty and not be too precious over clothes.

Bluegreen143

Really happy I cornered Red yesterday to talk about kids’ birthdays. Their birthdays are in December and it’s such a struggle to have to do all the gifts at once, so I wanted some help with ideas now to at least get birthdays out of the way. 

So we’ve decided on the following. 

Both kids are having parties at home this year. It’s Bambi’s first party, as Monkey had his first when turning 4 too. We’ll keep it simple/inexpensive and have half a dozen nursery friends, some snacks, party games and a craft station. She’s very into Frozen so going to do a Frozen theme but not go crazy buying stuff.

Will have a chat with Monkey (he’s turning 7) and decide on a theme - he had a pirate theme last year and the party was brilliant, we did an outdoor treasure hunt, treasure chest pinyata etc.

Presents for Monkey:

- Swiss Army knife (Red will keep this and Monkey will only use under supervision from his dad. He has his own hammer, screwdrivers etc and a small electric drill/screwdriver already and is very responsible with them and follows our rules)

- books

- either a game or dress up costume 

- smart shirt 

For Bambi:

- Frozen barbies (normally hate branded toys but it’s not my birthday 😆 she will LOVE these and it’s her first barbies. Plus both kids are obsessed with Frozen so will play together with them) 

- Elsa costume 😆

- books

- smart dress 

savingholmes

Good plan 

LittleGem

Sounds like a good plan! You’ll definitely be able to find an Elsa costume secondhand though understand you might wish to buy new as a special birthday present

Bluegreen143

@LittleGem I’ve bid on both barbies and costume second hand on eBay, but have budgeted enough to buy new if that’s doesn’t work out, I don’t mind as she’s not getting lots for her birthday but if we can get second hand even better.

Day off today. Annoyingly had to go to Lidl as our Tesco delivery got cancelled last night “due to technical issues” 🙄 £49 spent. A bit more than usual as I got steaks and cream to make steak, mushroom sauce and dauphinois tonight as a special date night meal for Red and I. I was complaining the other night about how he doesn’t give me enough attention as is totally focussed on his projects so he said let’s have a nice meal once the kids are in bed. He has just built me a lovely wee shed from scratch though so can’t be too hard on him! He also wants to build a wooden frame for composting (we do have a wee compost bin but apparently moving the compost will give us more space and keep it neater). 

Just done general daily housework and played some games with Bambi, it’s been a very quiet last day except going to Lidl and she’s now been playing a while in the playroom while I caught up on some diaries. Red did tell me off the other day (after I’d told him off 🙈) about me not being very proactive and productive and prioritising my time well and he may be right 🙈. Think I’ll go and ask if Bambi wants to bake some muffins with me as I’ve run out of my freezer stash for Monkey’s school snacks. 

I booked in to take the kids to the nice soft play near Monkey’s school as we have no playdate planned and it looked too rainy for the park (I always like to do something special on Friday after school). But now it looks really sunny! Oh well, I’ve paid now and they will enjoy it. 

In other news my front door is jammed shut and I’ve had to use the back door and side gate all day! But spoke to Red who reckons he can fix it (it’s happened once before) so I’ve not called a locksmith or anything.

savingholmes

Hope Red manages to fix the door. 

Kids generally love soft play - it was probably a good call regardless of the weather if you can cope with the noise. I always found it deafening.

Bluegreen143

@savingholmes weirdly the softplays near us are always completely dead after school (and during the day on school days, as I used to take them then when they were really small). They are awful and noisy at weekends and school hols though!! This particular softplay is also MUCH nicer than our local one (this one is close to school so still fairly convenient). Nicer surroundings to sit in, cleaner and newer, better cafe, just less chaotic all round. It is slightly cheaper entry too, but that’s offset by the fact you have to pay to park which you don’t at the local one. 

Was indeed very quiet today and the kids played nicely for 90 minutes and I knitted and then read my book 😍. When Monkey was tiny I used to have to go in with him, the best thing about having two is not having to do that as they have each other to play with 🤣

I’ve knitted the front and back on Monkey’s jumper now but I can’t cast on the sleeves til I buy another set of 3.25mm needle tips for my circular needle set, as I broke one recently (I tend to knit everything on circular needles now as I find it more comfy to hold plus my circular needle set is just lovely!). I wish I’d thought to pop into the local knitting shop for it as it’s on the same street as nursery and the school bus stop and so I’m there every weekday. Will try to go over the weekend as I do want to cast on the sleeves. 

I’m supposed to be going away with my mum and sister next weekend but we are now unsure if pubs and restaurants might be closed that weekend out of respect to the Queen’s funeral, which would put rather a dampener on a weekend away. Think it depends though, if the funeral is the Monday then I’m guessing things will be open at the weekend.

On the plus side Monkey’s school ceilidh has been postponed which is actually quite good as I was sad to be missing it when I was away!

Things I’ve done today:

✔️ 6am gym class 
✔️ 3x washings done and dried (but not away)
✔️ hoovered downstairs and mopped
✔️ general tidy, including the playroom which was a tip
✔️ baked muffins and brownies with Bambi 
✔️ did Lidl shop
✔️ played a couple of games with Bambi 
✔️ took kids briefly to school playpark then to softplay 
✔️ finished knitting front of Monkey’s jumper 

There, that makes me feel I’ve not been lazy today 😆

Red and I are having date night dinner - steak with asparagus, mushroom sauce and dauphinois. I’ve made brownies today to have as dessert. Only thing is I’m already tired. Last night I went to bed at 9!! Hoping I eventually get used to the earlier starts?!

Today’s spends (budget category in brackets):

£49 in Lidl on groceries (Groceries)
£12 on softplay entry (Kids)
£1.90 on a Diet Coke in the cafe at softplay as my energy was flagging 😆 (My fun money)
£3.50 on parking (Transport)

Weekend meal plan:

Tonight - chicken pesto pasta for kids, steak for adults

Tomorrow - I’m out for a girls’ night 😍, family are having pizzas (frozen not HM) 

Sunday - chicken risotto (Monkey will complain but the rest of us like it so he’ll just need to put up with it 🙄)