From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

Greying_Pilgrim

redofromstart said:

Do you remember how weezl used to tell people to go sofa diving to find enough tuppences to buy a pack of lard to have with nettles?  No idea why that vision came into my head but thought you would remember too.

Ha ha - can't say as it's one tip that has stuck in my bonnet redo - but I suspect i may have tuned out at the mention of lard, being as how we didn't eat it.  However, knowing weezl - nettles and lard would probably give you most/all the major nutritional food groups, at least in the short term 😁 I love that it popped into your mind though - see how much we all gain from MSE 😁🤣

Yeah, I know what you mean about the last-minuteness of requests from school.  Thing is, if the activity/event/trip is well thought out and pivotal to the curriculum, I don't see why schools hide behind their desks and don't inform you of the costs.  There will always be pupils/families that don't want to participate, there will always be pupils/families for whom the funding is a struggle, but I don't see how 'not giving details early on' helps anyone.  I am wondering whether for the December activity, places might be limited.  There are several activities that have been targeted at the Key Stage groupings, which is quite alot of kids, so maybe they aren't expecting everyone to go?  

Right, I am back from the PO and I have briefly used the hairdryer to get most of the dampness out of my trousers.  I was lucky in that it at least isn't pouring here.  

I've done a quick tot-up for the whole of the autumn term, listing "known" outgoings such as clubs/activities and costs (or ball-park figs) for the 2 known trips.  I **think** (if my maths is right), those costs alone swallow up 61% of the (potential) CHB available, and I've yet to purchase (from a chazzer, ideally), one set of activity clothing for one trip and it takes no account of any costs associated with any trips generated by LG's out of school clubs.  LG will probably require new school shoes too (although you can bet I will be maintaining them for as long as is possible, but LG's feet are growing....), plus there are several items of school uniform that are still required - we're eking out 'summer' uniform for as long as is practical.    We have half-term to consider too.  DH has booked some time off, but we hadn't factored in going away, just as well really......... 😕

Ah well, it's better to know what's coming and have some sort of budget - and at least we do have CHB to help with these things.  Thinking about it too, LG did receive some money (not much, but everything is gratefully received) from a relative, "for ice-creams" in the summer holidays.  Because LG was actually back at school when the gift was announced, the money hasn't been used.  Perhaps if LG wanted to go to either/both of the trips with their activity group, they could use that money?  LG is sometimes quite good at wanting to use their own money, rather than expecting mum & dad to stump up. I do appreciate that is quite an asset for a young person to have, but I think it's better in the long-term to try to educate our kiddo in money matters, as they are likely to have to budget for things throughout life.

Onwards and upwards!

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

I decided to pop to MrAl to pick up the bits that I get from there for LG's lunch box.  I have run out - and I know that whilst technically I won't need to open the packets until tomorrow, I had a bit of money left over in September's budget, so I spent that, and bought enough to last up until half-term, so theoretically speaking, I have no need to visit MrAl until November.  Which, given our local MrAl 😕; suits me fine....... I have updated my siggie.

I also used the trip to quickly pop into a chazzer that is in the next-door shopping precinct.  It's a children's charity that i like to support, but a) they have hiked their prices greatly, and b) the staff aren't particularly nice.  As it was there was nothing to buy today, they didn't have any of the outdoor gear that I was looking for , and although I did spot one item of clothing that was fairly priced (for what it was), I decided to keep my purse shut, as technically LG didn't need it, and I'll save my cash for this outdoor gear.  Who knows, I may not find anything in a chazzer, and may have to pay full price.  Which doesn't grate at all, given that technically the children will only need the clothes for a maximum of 4 hours on the trip.............🙄

I finished off the soup from yesterday for lunch.  Definitely soup weather.  

Right, quick whizz round finishing off/tidying up/sorting out and then it'll be school run time and then orf to activity.  

Greying X

badmemory

I don't agree with charging for recycling.  I am sure it means that a lot of people do not recycle at all & just put it all in the one bin.  There are people who won't do it even when it is free.  It is supposed to cost more to send stuff to landfill anyway.  It just sounds counterproductive.

peb

Gosh.  I can't see how people can budget with so many trips.   And are they all necessary/relevant?   I'm not of course suggesting LG shouldn't go, as you say they shouldn't miss out

Greying_Pilgrim

I just submitted my energy  meter readings.  I actually got prompted by a beebeecee article, but then see that there is a piece on MSE about doing it too.  

badmemory I think fly-tipping and bonfires are bound to increase.  What annoys me most about the imposition of this charge is that it is 'mid-term'.  Two bites of the cherry methinks.......

Greying X

EssexHebridean

I do think that if the school is organising trips for which soecific outdoor gear is required, they should also ensure that gear is available to be loaned to those who either can't afford to buy an item of clothing for "single use" or object to doing so on environmental grounds! 

BookWorm

Re the green bin waste. Would it be an option to join forces and share with a neighbour?

That way the cost pain is at least shared

(I do this with a neighbour and it works well)

Appreciate that may not be practical or even an option for all but wanted to throw it into the mix as a consideration

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening MFW'rs

I have to say, I agree with all that has been said, as you're coming at things from a place of common sense.  After today's episode at school, I don't know what the over-riding ethos is, but common sense is just not a factor, it isn't even playing a small, uncredited part. 

I am currently too incandescent to explain what happened - and don't want to out myself, but suffice to say muddy field, rain, insufficient monitoring of the naughty kids, and....... everyone else gets splattered from head to foot in mud 🙄 School uniform, school coat, hair, legs, arms.  Covered. 

In loco parentis?  Wassat then?

We managed to get to activity OK, and got to park in a slightly less muddy spot.  LG wasn't really focused, so it didn't go so well 🙄 Tea was lentil bolognese and pasta.  

Thank heavens it is nearly time for bed, and we can start the morning in a fresh, bright, new, shiny month.  What could possibly go wrong?

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Bookworm - sorry, I missed your post.  Yes, I wouldn't mind sharing as an option.  Our only problem is that the one neighbour is a newly installed tenant, they work 12 hr shifts, and I don't think gardening is on their radar.  Not too sure what the terms of their tenancy are, but thus far, there hasn't been need of a green bin as they haven't touched the garden, 6 weeks in. 

The neighbour the other side does do a little, but not alot of gardening and I'm not sure where they stand on the green bin.  Put it this way, if they realised they needed the service, and asked could they use our bin, there would probably be room, and we would probably work something out.  they may decide the little green waste that they have could be composted, or maybe they would be willing to take it to the tip themselves.  So it's certainly an option, but most of our neighbours are avid gardeners, and have possibly signed up already.

Greying X

badmemory

We have 4 bins.  I know that out of 10 houses at least 2 never ever put out the paper bin or the food/garden waste bin.  There is not a cat in hells chance that one of them at least is composting or taking to the tip.  With the amount of paper that comes through our doors!  Every year our council (of both colours in turn) sends out info on recycling & the relative costs, so I guess they can't read either.  Sorry folks rant over, but I do wonder why some people think it is not a good idea to save us all some money.  You should have been at the Xmas party in 2006 when I told a roomful of people that they were costing themselves money because they thought they were too good to recycle.  Whoops the joys of alcohol