From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

kayannie

Just in case you run out of ideas for the holidays(!!) can I suggest a treasure hunt in the garden, which my parents used to do for their grandchildren. 
Start by giving them a written clue to a hiding place where they'll find a second clue & so on until they find the 'treasure' in the final hiding place. The treasure can be something simple, maybe a sweet or two.
KA x

Greying_Pilgrim

Thanks KA - we'd have to relocate to someone else's garden or the park.  A treasure hunt here would last about a nanosecond 🤣  I must admit, I've had a proper look at the organised "treasure" hunt trail that I picked up in the library, and regrettably the majority of the places are shops - hoping to sell their wares, which is fair enough, if it wasn't clearly labelled as a 'children's' trail.  But we still have several other trails - and that's only Greying Town, there could be more elsewhere in the hols.

Tea has been munched, it was the remains of the courgetty ratatouille whizzed up with some HM tomato sauce, heated up (it made a 'rustic' tomato sauce), mixed with pasta and I cooked up 5 sausages and sliced them up.  So tomato, sausage pasta.  An ice cream for pud.

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Good morning MFW'rs

First day of the hols and it's raining 🙄

HM Detroit pizza and oven chips last night.  I used the new pan I had bought from hB to cook the pizza in.  It cooked well, and the pan is robust enough to not buckle, so that was good.  Although DH washed it up and left it on the drainer o/n and and I noticed this morning that water had stayed in the 'roll' of metal around the pan sides/handle and that was already turning rust coloured.  I wiped it with kitchen roll, but it would have stained a tea towel.  No biggy in a way, as I have more expensive pans that have rusted in that same location - so just a nuisance that they do it at all.  But the pan made a nice size pizza that yielded 8 slices, 3 have been frozen for another day.  The oven chips were MrS.  They were about £1 dearer than the ones I had been buying from MrL.  DH and LG had complained that the MrL ones 'didn't hang around in their digestive systems too long'.....  so I'm on the look out for another brand/type that won't break the bank for when I don't have raw potatoes/can't be ar$ed to make wedges.  They were supposed to be 'extra crispy', I'm not so sure they were - jury's out on whether they had any other positive/negative effects on diners.....

I have got a 1/2 workwear wash on.  I've no idea how to dry it, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.

I hear movement upstairs, so I better get the kettle on.

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

🙄  Free crap is never free is it.

A charity came into LG's school this week, to do a bit of awareness raising - plus fundraising 🙄 - as a friend of a friend of a member of staff was involved 🙄 This is what passes for 'enrichment' at LG's school.  Anyway, a shedload of promo tat was handed out, including pin badges.  LG brought one home.  I found the pin badge in the washing machine this morning 🙄, when I was getting DH's workwear out to peg out.  I have no idea how the badge came to be in the machine, as I haven't washed any of LG's stuff since they got the badge.  However, the 'pin' of the badge, wasn't fastened, and was sticking into the rubber door seal 😱  I pulled it out - and it doesn't look as though it has 'torn' (mercifully), but I'm wondering whether the rubber is thick enough to 'self-seal', or whether there will now be a tiny leak through that seal?  Grrrr!

DH and LG have gone for a pootle about, and as they were going to be passing MrL, they have a small list of shopping to get.  

The weather has improved, and we've not had the wall-to-wall rain that was forecast.  I have pegged out all the workwear wash, although how well it will dry is anyone's guess, as there is little breeze.  

LG was nagging to 'go out somewhere' this morning.  Our options were limited (I thought) due to the weather.  As it turns out, we could perhaps have gone somewhere, but I was also low on picnic options - my bad due to not going shopping on Thursday and then I went out for an impromptu coffee and catch-up with a chum yesterday morning.  By the time I got home, the traffic build-up had started for the end of term 'great getaway', so I didn't want to try to battle to the shops at that point.  Trouble is as well is that LG just wants to go 'somewhere', whereas I'm trying to come at adventures from a marshalling of resources point of view.  For example, I want to try to use an NT voucher to either visit somewhere we haven't been, or somewhere that would offer plenty to do if a) the weather is inclement or b) the weather is lovely.  With a little bit of thought, I'm quite sure that we can have adventures that hold something for everyone, but I'll admit we've got off to a shaky start.  DH took forever to get organised to go out, so we've passed midday and achieved very little.  Ho hum.

Edit:  I have made a banana cake this morning, using the last of the v. v. ripe bananas that I'd shoved in the freezer when I got loads in a.... MrS box, I think it was.  At least we'll have hm cakey to take a-wandering, if we ever get out the door....... 🤣

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

The shopping bill is in.  £14.40 spent.  I will update my siggie just now.  

I read something that rt mentioned on Cheery's thread about 'flow' of money, and it got me thinking.  Particularly about stagnant money/stagnant life.  Most of us - as MSE'rs - have known times where the cash has been short and life has been chequered with just trying to get to the next day and the next day,  But also - as MSE'rs - we've worked jolly hard (rarely has it been down to 'luck'), to turn things around and get to a stage where the books balance, and we are able to deal with emergencies because of a saved fund, and attempt projects on the basis of having a budget/loan structured to finance it.  

This 'new to us' car hasn't got a tow bar, so we can't use our cycle carrier at the moment.  LG had been talking about going to our 'favourite' air bnb (on the basis we've been there a couple of times), this holiday.  But the issue is that we've done 'a lot' of the easy activities when visiting that area, and the last time we were going to go, we were going to take the bikes and explore several very good off-road cycling paths.  Then the old car went kaput and the trip fell on the back burner.  Whilst we've replaced the car, lack of a cycle rack is still preventing us doing this - which is something that we all like to do.  Having a tow bar fitted isn't an inexpensive undertaking ☹️ But having the tow bar would give us back another set of 'options'.

Part of my 'grumpiness' about the whole issue of children gaming - with specific regard to LG, is that it can quickly become time consuming, even if not an addiction, and I'm worried that there will no longer be an incentive to 'go out and about and do something else'.  For a variety of reasons, but pretty much centered around changing weather patterns and an unreliable vehicle (we've sought to fix one out of two of the issues....), we really have gone off the boil with 'day trips' and visits, explorations and adventures.  LG has been bored on occasions (not that I can see a monumental problem with that, as such - they have the opportunity to find something to do), and although I don't think picnicing/visiting NT places/cycling/orienteering etc etc etc would 'crowd out' gaming time; a lack of activities is helping LG to 'grow' the idea that gaming could keep them entertained.  I realise LG is getting older, but it's true when we did 'more' in our spare time/at the weekends, gaming seemed to be mentioned less/had less of a pull.  Maybe it is simply down to age, but I'd hate to lose LG to permanent screen time by default.  

So I'm wondering, that despite needing more vehicle costs, like a hole in the head, whether we ought to invest in a tow bar now.  Or whether we use the money to go further afield, stay in PI type establishments and explore - for example - NT/Places that we've not yet seen.  

ed has been honest about the cost of 'staycations' - and I think I am going to be reporting the same pinch on finances, that even just grocery spends seem to have when the family is 'on holiday', however hard we try to contain it.  

Just musing, not necessarily looking for answers or solutions, but just thinking out loud and weighing up the pros and cons of spending (money that we don't necessarily have ring-fenced for a tow bar), versus not spending it (now).  I know joining your child in gaming is one way to keep an eye on things, and retain some sort of handle with online safety, or time spent  online etc, but I just cannot get enthused, it's not something I want to do.  A bit like, I will walk most anywhere, for a purpose or leisure, but I don't want to get into jogging/running, albeit you could probably do it in exactly the same places, for precisely the same purposes.  But it just doesn't interest me.  Walk or cycle, yes.  Jog or run, no.  

Greying X

redofromstart

Is it worth looking out for a second hand carrier that doesn't need a towbar?  We had this three bike one that strapped on a hatchback quite easily, but someone knocked a tin of paint over in the garage and it got ruined.  We then got one that went on roof bars (automaxi roof carrier) - indeed it is currently on the boys car, mainly because we have no idea how to take it off - which means you still have access to the boot, although it is tedious putting the bikes on and off. 

Greying_Pilgrim

Thanks redo - we've money sunk in a reasonable brand of tow bar carrier for the bikes, so don't really want to get a different carrier.  I suspect - knowing DH - that he wouldn't have any other type now.  Many (many) moons ago, we borrowed a boothatch carrier to take the bikes on holiday (it was just DH and I) and although it worked, DH didn't like that configuration at all.  If we put the bikes on the roof, you just KNOW we're going to drive into a MrL carpark and forget they're there............. 😱🤣 It would be easier if DH would consider a caravan (hard no), or trailer tent (firm no), which would make a tow bar a little more multi-purpose. 

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Afternoon MFW'rs

We went off for a little pootle this morning.  I have to say, if I had absolutely believed the weather forecast, we wouldn't have gone anywhere, but the general consensus of opinion was yes, we should go out somewhere.  Although I've noticed we're clearly out of practice at 'getting going', and DH and LG seemed determined to finish off some 'blockbuster film' that they both started watching this morning before they even thought about making breakfast.......... 🙄Then by the time they'd made breakfast and eaten it, and I'd prepped snap, it was after 10am when we finally hit the road...... only to immediately hit traffic stalled by an event that is being held locally which had closed roads for half the morning 🙄We'd only just got to the outskirts of Greying Town before Michael Ball  was clocking off R2 for his Sunday lunch 🙄

We went to a EH site.  I got to use my public sector card, and - as ever - the highly experienced volunteer on reception didn't so much as bat an eyelid, recognised the scheme immediately and knew which button to press on the till and we were in.  We got to explore the 2 main parts of the site (we have actually been to this site before, but it's a nice/interesting one.  There were a couple of things newly interpreted by volunteers to explore and then I returned to the car to get the picnic lunch.  We plumped for a dryish picnic table (there had been rain showers), but literally within moments of getting the snap boxes out of the bag, an army of wasps turned up - and they seemed quite aggressive, immediately going for our heads.  So we quickly repacked and walked away.  We actually left the site, and returned to the car.  We didn't eat in the car in the carpark, as we were actually parked in an old orchard, and there were quite alot of wasps milling about on the dropped/damaged fruit.  We went to a local village, where I had seen a bench, but there was literally nowhere to park the car, so we carried on and came across a layby.  Not glamorous, but quiet enough and safely off the - rural back - road.  

We ended up coming home the same way as we went, which hadn't been the plan, but is how it worked out.  It was probably a bit too far to travel for the time that we actually spent on the site, but we had no control over the weather, and it was quite an exposed site, with no shelter.  So it was a case of enjoying our time there, but knowing when to leave.  And now that I have used the card for entry, I know that it works, so we can begin to investigate sites we've not visited before, although LG was talking to a volunteer about the sites we had visited, and they seemed impressed we'd been to so many, so maybe we haven't done so badly.

LG was chatting nicely to the volunteer, it was nice for DH and I to see how they have grown in confidence.  They always have been quite happy in the company of adults (downside of having older parents I think), but sometimes shyness overtakes and they don't say much.  They were answering questions and having a full blown convo today 😁Part of the reason why we'd run out of steam with going places was that we'd tried to go to several places that had a connection with what LG had been learning in school - and there had been so little positive feedback from the class teacher, that we thought 'what's the point?'.  LG might as well spend the weekends inside our local MrT, or in front of a screen in their bedroom, like their peers, because day trips out didn't seem to be adding any value to their book learning.  And yet talking to the volunteer today - who gave the impression they assist with school visits - LG has been visiting all the right locations for the eras they've been studying at school 🙄

I've not thought about what to do for tea.  We had a curry/dhal plate last night, using curry out of the freezer.  Apparently the oven chips of Friday night got a tentative 'thumbs up', as they didn't have any 'express transit time' (😉) issues, but LG did point out that once vinegar is added, they are as soft as any other brand of chip we've tried (these were marketed as 'extra crispy').  

Not a wholly money-saving day, but made possible because we are getting back to a position where we can build 'fun' back into the budget.  I suppose it depends on what your definition of fun is, but for the time being, taking a picnic for a day out, is sort of the thing we like doing.  

Thanks Staffordia - I should have got round to trying out the membership benefits before now, but 'life' got in the way - but at least we've finally got back to being able to explore heritage sites 😁

Greying X

rtandon27

Hooray for getting out and about today!  I'm sure LG was delighted to get out and about and also have a picnic all in one day!  The memories you made are priceless so don't worry overly about a money-saving day, you have plenty of those to make up for today!

Greying_Pilgrim

Too right rt - and it was a frugal day, but I didn't want to make it seem like we weren't taking into account that we have a car to go from A to B, and there are petrol costs to consider etc.  But to be fair, we couldn't have done it "much" cheaper.  Although I am more determined - when we get in somewhere "free" - to try to make some sort of financial contribution/buy something/pay parking or whatever, because I realise that there are operating costs.  We were thwarted today because of the wasps - and I suspect that they were possibly affecting the cafe trade, as there were certainly no outside diners, and the ice-cream van didn't look open.  LG said they enjoyed themselves (I forgot, we found some ripe blackberries and I was able to stretch over and get one each for us to try - being extremely wary of a wasp that appeared to be guarding the brambles 🙄), and usually, when LG has had a good time, we - as parents - have an enjoyable time too.  

Greying X