From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

beanielou

Sad to read schools still have this expectation that parents have an ever ending supply of cash at the drop of a blooming hat. 

I still remember with sadness & embarrassment having shall we say a robust conversation with a P.E. teacher as I was unable at the drop of a hat to replace a piece of kit for my DS at the drop of a hat.  Gah. 

rtandon27

WOW GP - I was shocked to read that LG's school has such monetary expectations on short notice and that there is a stigma associated with speaking your peace regarding their inability to plan ahead and notify parents in a timely manner about expected financial contributions.  I've not been blessed with littlies, but had I been, I would have so been "THAT" mother that speaks up & raises SH*T at the drop of a hat!  Yes, my Mom on many occasions embarrassed me by her forthright manner (and still does for that matter) so I suppose I've learned from example 🤣

debtfreewannabe321

Morning Greying, just catching up. I've had some surprises with kids expenses this month too. Yesterday I was handed a letter with demands of payment by Friday 🙃 for two children and adult tickets to watch the kids passing out parade at air cadets. This is right after I've just paid out, over the course of two months, £350+ on uniform. I think I turned the air blue last night when that arrived. And they asked we bring extra cash for raffle 🙄🤣 ummm ....!!!!!!. We live in a small market town and I've noticed there are two types of kids ...those who go to army cadets and those who go to air cadets. I didn't notice this before I joined them up. Army cadets are given everything free. Air cadets are not. I feel it is clearly slightly elitist in the way it is run expecting parents to have money for everything they run and at the last minute. I didn't join them up to army cadets because their big brother and dad are in the army and I wanted them to have something for themselves....my mistake 😂 it would have been easier to just chuck them in the army one. Sigh.

Oh and btw all your dehumidifiers sound very posh. Mine has an on and off button and flashes when full and that is the extent of it. 😳

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning MFW'rs

beanie - isn't it pants that we all remember this cr*p all these years later 🙁

RT - It's always been an issue, but I think it's just got worse as school budgets have shrunk and there is more pressure to do more "stuff", and there is much more 'commercialism' in schools these days.  I was thinking of you yesterday when the latest missive landed.  It is so appallingly condescending - not quite "would all the poor people identify themselves and line up to report to the school office....."  - but not far off 😉  Anyhoo, I am picking my battles and as the only financial outlay for this latest thing is associated with an additional, but voluntary, bit of the activity - we'll choose not to get involved with, and therefore won't need to pay.  

So, LG has paid over their £30 deposit for camping, so it is all systems go😁and they checked the letter, outlining the payment schedule this morning, and worked out how long there was to save the next tranche (£15).  So it appears that they are still 'interested' in the process.  I think it's next week they are receiving the 'all about money' session from the third party (a commercial bank 🙄) trainers in school.

It wunna us with the winning euro££ions lottery ticket, so LG won't be camping in a gold-plated tent 🙁

I'm going to double check the weather - I didn't think it was going to stay dry today - but if it does, there is quite a bit of a breeze, so I may put out some of yesterday's clothes that didn't fully dry.  Saves having the de-humidifier on.  

I had slated another curry plate for tea tonight, but I think given the slightly colder conditions, I may well morph it into 'bottom of the fridge' casserole.  Get me - with my 'using every scrap up' 😜.  I'll be earning my mse'r badge afore ye know it! 🤣

I need to pop into Greying Town to deposit a cheque.  No sense in rushing as the bank opens later on a Wednesday morning.  

Right, can't think of owt else MSE to witter on about for the mo, so I best shift-a-tail-feather.

Lovely to *see* you.  I remain grateful that you're here with me.

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

DFW321 - I missed your post there!  Soz.

Oh bums to "picking the wrong" cadet unit - I think I would have used your logic too though, in that family situation.  I wonder sometimes if these organisations whether it is school, or athletics clubs, or scouts or cadets, or youth orchestra or choir, forget that we all have a "life" and that it contains many aspects - not just their particular activity.  So whilst they are "only" asking for £10,£50,£100 or whatever, they forget that school too could be asking for £10,£50,£100, as could brownies or nursery or...............And I only have one child - I can't imagine the pressure if you have several children.  

However, if it helps - I'm actually really, really glad that you have supported your children into the cadets - I do actually think that well run youth groups (whatever their 'flavour') can help kids sooooooooo much.  It does depend on the calibre of leaders though.  We are super lucky with LG's group, the leaders are down to earth and realistic, but also want so much for the kids to blossom in their time with them - whatever 'blossom' means for each particular child.  We're very blessed to have found them and been allocated a place.

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Evening MFW'rs

Well, my walk into Greying Town was good.  Free exercise, deposited the cheque, moved some money about, got balance updates, and didn't spend any other money (a quick browse in a couple of chazzers didn't yield any "must haves").

Walking home I passed a frightfully pawsh tennis club and a tennis ball came whistling past me and carried on down the road.  I figured if it stopped I would pick it up and return it - the players had anticipated I would and I heard an "Excuse me" ring out from the direction of the courts.  Anyway, luckily the ball did stop - it was on the top of a sloping road, and frankly, had it continued I would not have gone after it, as I needed to take a footpath off a few yards down.  But pick it up I did, walked back to the courts and threw it back over the fence.  At least I got a 'thank you' from both players, so that was appreciated.  

Tea this evening was vegetable and bean stew, using up all the veg in the bottom of the fridge (except 2 sweet potatoes that will work for something else), a couple of onions and some celery, a box of passata and an assortment of beans.  10 mins in the PC cooked it up lovely.  I partially blitzed it, as it was slightly too watery.  Then I made some dumplings and put them in for 25 mins - I boiled up the PC to get to hot and then turned the ring off, so there was no pressure, just heat.  Have to say, it worked a treat and for once we had lovely fluffy dumplings.  I cooked up some of the MrL maris piper tatties and mashed them.  We were all stuffed, and there was stew left over for another day.  Just the dish for the cold weather though.  

LG had a good day at school and did well in their various tests and got moved onto the next stage, so that is good news.  

I found that January wasn't as 'long' seemingly, as previous January's have been.  Overall it has been a good month for us.  I think I am particularly proud of the fact that I managed to come in under budget for the groceries.  We didn't have 'loads' of stores from Christmas - as we simply don't buy much 'for' Christmas (I know, I'm an auld scrooge), but we don't have a huge family,are vegetarians, we don't entertain as a matter of course, and whilst we all like a treat, we do also get bored pretty quick, and crave 'pedestrian'.  But I did make a large dent in the stores that we had brought over from the rental with us.  I am glad about that, as I think I had put up barriers as to why I couldn't use the stuff, rather than just getting on and using it.  Now we have had meals that have used the ingredients plus we have cooked beans etc ready and waiting in the freezer.  

I was chuffed that LG was so enthusiastic in getting involved in saving for their trip in the summer - I didn't expect them to, plus I am surprised that they maintained that enthusiasm for all of the month, and now it looks like they are interested in continuing into February.  Although the window money isn't sorted yet - we have got the unexpected boost from DH's work bonus, so that pot will probably look healthier than I had hoped.  

I only managed to finish one charity blanket this month - but that's at least one, so progress.  And I am mostly chuffed that my mood/emotions have been alot more even keel than they have been for a long time.  Naturally, I didn't attain perfection, but by focussing on how I act/react, it has definitely helped me to be much calmer.  I have felt better about myself, and I think it has had the knock on effect of making it easier to concentrate on the job in hand and helped with my patience levels.  Overall I would give myself a 7/10 for the month, although in terms of effort, I think I deserve a 8.5/10, as I really have tried to do better, and have managed to sustain the focus - even after several (small) set backs.  

Today I am grateful for these 3 things;

finishing off yesterday's clothes drying outdoors, and putting away fully dry clothes
there was money to shuffle and the bills/credit card bill will be paid for February
lots of progress made, and Family Greying have ended the month pretty happy = priceless.

Ta for popping in and reading.  Appreciated.

Greying X

beanielou

Glad that you have had a good January 

Cheery_Daff

Well I definitely thing you deserve 10/10, although I know you won't accept that, so I shall say let's agree on 9/10 😊 Excellent work 😊

What is your focus for Feb? Saving for LG's trip of course, and the windows - any other plotting and scheming? Xx

Greying_Pilgrim

Cheery_Daff said:

Well I definitely thing you deserve 10/10, although I know you won't accept that, so I shall say let's agree on 9/10 😊 Excellent work 😊

What is your focus for Feb? Saving for LG's trip of course, and the windows - any other plotting and scheming? Xx

Aw, you are kind Cheery I am glad that I included the challenge myself to 'banish shrieky Greying', and I think this will be an ongoing thing for a good while yet.  Whilst I hope I don't have all the same situations and environments that we faced over the past few years, I do also know my reactions were brought about by accumulating - or as Daisy mentioned, stacking triggers - so I won't be able to do a complete change overnight.  

Finances wise, it will be continuing to encourage LG with their camping savings, and the windows will be an ongoing thing - even if we start to incrementally fit new windows.  Then in terms of the house, we need to fund paint and repair/maintenance things - as well as find the time to do it.  I don't think that we will be able to have a holiday this year - well, I mean what people think of as a holiday; a week in X or a fortnight in Y.  But I am hopeful that we can continue to save into our holiday budget line which will afford day trips and/or a night or two away here or there.  We are members of NT and EH and both will be coming up for renewal at Easter.  We got a good deal last year - hence both memberships, but I don't think we can afford both this year, plus joining discounts/incentives won't be available, so I think we will be cancelling the NT membership.  Having said that, we need to make the time to go places whilst we are still members.  

February also contains half-term.  DH hasn't time booked off, but I will need to amuse LG - and some of the CHB will be diverted into funding activities during that week.  Plus I need to manage the grocery budget so that the week's holiday food is accommodated, and doesn't bust the grocery budget - as that is still my only real mechanism to make savings of any sort.  

So as you can see, nothing huge, or wonderfully exciting, but if we can sort of carry on with all the 'small things' through February, it will help us on our way to meet our bigger goals.

Greying X

redofromstart

Will you need to buy any kit for the LG camping trip?