From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

themadvix

I don’t think the Octopods care - we rarely have more than £50 credit with them - we top it up with our solar export payment in September and then as necessary. They’ve never tried to increase it (while we have solar and a battery, we also have the car and an electric shower, so we’re heavy users still). But others seem to have issues with them changing the dd, so I don’t know?!

It sounds like you had another lovely day yesterday - and that LG is really embracing the days out you’re offering. They will look back on this summer with fond memories I think!

Greying_Pilgrim

Thanks tmv for the energy info.  Our lot have changed the DD and consistently try it on.  I wouldn't mind if we were always in arrears, or didn't top up in the winter months or submit regular readings 🙄 I sure hope LG hangs onto good memories 😁

We have just been to buy a new pillow (for LG)  from d*nelm.  When did pillows get so expensive?  Naturally LG wanted the £40 one 😱  They didn't get it.  We settled for a twin pack that came in at £22.  We would have bought a more substantial pillow, but it was a box type, and d*nelm don't stock the pillow cases instore for those 🙄

I've just booked us into a cheapy film at the cinema.  Not one of the £1 jobs, but still slightly more affordable.  It's a lunchtime screening, so I have better get organised.  

Greying X

badmemory

Honestly I think LG has done so much more than most of their classmates.  Many of whom will have been in some form of childminders followed by 2 weeks on a beach moaning they are bored.  Then come into school saying what a great time they had.

As for energy companies.  They tend to want some form of balance left at the April bill.  They will juggle the figures for the DD until they get it.  My fully up to date account at the end of July shows them owing me over £700 & they still want over £250 a month DD.  I am giving them a pass on this at the moment as I have added solar into the mix recently, but come March there will be a conversation.  Next year the interest is going in my account.

Greying_Pilgrim

Thanks badmemory.  I don't know about LG having done more than their classmates - perhaps 'different' is what we've ended up with.  I mean like, as it happens, we're at week 5 before we've had a cinema trip, naturally there are classmates who go to the cinema regularly, and will have already seen all the 'summer blockbusters'.  As it is, we've only just now got around to seeing 'How to train your dragon' - although we had seen all the animated ones before - and I'm pretty sure LG has read some, if not several, of Cressida Cowell's books.  

It was an OK film - I think I prefer the animated version. Some of the special effects were a bit rubbish.  But I liked looking at the costumes.  Although having just been into d*nelm, I'm sure I recognised some of the duvet cover fabric as ye olde viking tunics..................... 🤣  However, LG enjoyed it (all that matters), and they did actually say, "thank you for taking me to see this film, mum" 😢  I admit I did shed a tear when Gerald Butler thought Hiccup was dead, rolled down my cheek and blopped on my top and everything...... 🤣

At least we didn't have to go to hB to get any sweeties.  It was a last minute decision to book tickets, and as it was, I got LG to pour a twist of sweets (resembles an icing bag, not too sure what the correct name is), into a paper bag and they took that.  The sweets were one of the bags won on the tombola at the weekend - so possibly each sweet was actually the same cost as cinema sweet treats 🤣 But at least they were already paid for, and LG seemed perfectly happy to take them.  

I'm hopeful I can summon up the enthusiasm to make a courgette crustless quiche for tea.  

Greying X

rtandon27

Dare I admit that I love those movies? (no kids & all my god-kids are adults!)

Greying_Pilgrim

rtandon27 said:

Dare I admit that I love those movies? (no kids & all my god-kids are adults!)

No problem rt!  My preference was for the animated versions - so it didn't help today that I knew what was going to happen next 🤣 But it's a good story - I don't think this version is 'better', but then I prefer the 'Little Women' with Susan Sarandon in it - others will prefer Liz Taylor's bash, or one of the more recent adaptations.  Room for all! 😁 

Actually, little kids were in the minority today - young adults and adults made up over 3/4 of the audience 😁

Greying X

redofromstart

I love the animated ones and cry for them too. 

badmemory

Then you get people like me that far prefer the book versions.

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning MFW'rs

Shopping done today.  We went to MrL, MrS and hB.  No boxes in MrL or MrS ☹️  But a) we were early - same time as last week, but...... b) the head honcho wasn't in the store this week.

I did end up getting another 'tr0phy' brand bag of rice in MrS.  It was n*ctar price at £13.50 - and whilst MrL is 1p cheaper per 10kg bag, I got treble points on my shop at MrS today, so I think it was prudent to get it from there.  £1.35 per kg for rice that we know cooks OK is good enough for me.

In total I spent £73.84 on my shop, but £13.50 of that is from the 'bulk' fund.  The only YS'd things I got were from MrL and it was a pack of hot dog rolls, 50% discount.  I eschewed the YS'd loaves, as they were all sweating in the cellophane and it's risking  buying a loaf of mouldy bread at this time of year.  

LG was reasonably helpful in the shops.  They are currently on the naughty step as they wrote some 'graffiti' in the house, which was unnecessary and unkind. It didn't help that a) they didn't really understand what they'd written meant, and b) they wrote it in the dust on the sideboard 😔 What can I say?  I prefer adventurising to housework.... The dust has now been cleared away to avoid further temptation.......

A chum has just messaged to invite us out to an activity centre.  I had to set aside my thoughts on whether LG should be allowed to go - the difficulty is being seen to reward poor behaviour.  But it's an opportunity for LG to be with a chum in the hols (we know them from club, not school), and I do want LG playing with kids where they can - they difficulty is finding kids who aren't nasty, bullying or self-absorbed.  Our 'club chum' is none of those things.  

Right, away to amend siggie figgie and to prep a picnic.  We can hopefully take it on somewhere after the activity.

Greying X

rtandon27

@Greying_Pilgrim

I know full well this is not politically correct to say - but hearing the term 'naughty step' is very reassuring - means you are bringing your little one up decently!

As to ramifications for actions, they can always be delayed, so that playtime can be had & restitution for being naughty carried out. - they are mutually exclusive after all!