From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

KajiKita

How’s Mr GP now? Will he be going back to work tomorrow?

KK

Greying_Pilgrim

He's better than he was (actually by a long way), but his hearing is still affected.  He's another consultant appt (thankfully), but yes, hopes to return to work.  

Greying X

teapot2

I watched it too GP, first time I've seen the Xmas ads too think they start the minute Halloween is over 🙄.  Apropos of nothing I remember back in the day there were no holiday adverts on TV until Boxing Day 

LotsOfTea

Years ago when I was studying I took a course on marketing and one of the topics we looked at was how the environment in a supermarket is 'optimised'. There's a huge amount of money poured into studying how you can make people spend more money from the layout to the music, smells, lighting, colours, fonts etc. The idea is to get you not paying attention and in a suggestible state so you buy the things they want you to buy and not just what you came in for. It evidently succeeds because a lot of people buy too much and end up wasting food. It's not even really their fault, the environment is designed to make you do it. Those of us that manage to resist that are in a minority.

Greying_Pilgrim

LotsOfTea - the supermercados are mostly wasting their time with their wiley ways with me!  But I know what you mean - and shelf placement is another thing.  Although MrA and MrM have not thwarted me by putting goods that I needed to buy on the bottom shelf (essentially the floor in our MrA), with stock right at the back.  The one load of goods were tinned.... meatballs iirc in MrA that I'd sorted out to buy for a FB donation.  And rather more strangely it was h0rl1cks in MrM - the traditional powder, not the instant.   It was always on the bottom shelf, and for all intents and purposes looked oos, as it was so far back.  It was when I was doing the shopping for the parentals, and I more than once got down on my knees and flailed about to get a tub.  And yes, dear reader, I did pull the remaining tubs to the fore, so that others wouldn't have to go through the ignominy of prostrating themselves on MrM's shopfloor 🙄  I have no idea whether h0rl1cks instant is good, bad or indifferent, but it was things like that that make sales fall off, and then the retailers/manufacturers say there is 'no call' for the traditional version.  

Right, MrS have messaged to say that the uniform is in store.  So I'll nip to get that just now.  

I'm a bit niggled, as the rain promised by the beebeecee hasn't arrived.  We've a good stiff breeze, so washing would have begun drying.......  

DH is moithering about money again.  What's the solution folks?  How do you stop someone descending into the poverty mindset?  We're not flush, but we're in a far better position than we were 2 years ago, and I've built budget pots and an emergency fund back up, and whilst we couldn't manage long-term with zero income, we can manage this episode at this moment in time.  I mean, if DH is mentioning worries to elicit re-assurance, then I've provided the re-assurance, but how to stop things getting into a spiral of 'it's all my fault' (which it isn't).  

Best crack on, second cup of coffee is drunk and there's chores to attend to.

Greying X

KajiKita

How about if you literally did a full budget session with Mr GP?
So show him your total household income from all sources.
Then the outgoings; bills, food, clothes, fun funds etc.
Show him that there are savings being made every month (otherwise the EF / Windows fund would never have existed).
Show him the actual impact of him not working (he will know that there is one and is probably guilt-angsting about it, so tackle it head on) and what it means for you you as a family (I'm guessing it means you can still afford everything and have *some* EF left, but it's put the windows project back by a few months?).

Some real, tangible data might help him 'see' the real picture?

KK 

Greying_Pilgrim

KajiKita - I have tried that, but DH's eyes glaze over at the mention of anything that may be regarded in the 'adulting' category (thanks Watty for reminding me at how useful that word is - and how overrated the concept is! 🤭).  He trusts me to divvy up the income, he trusts me to say 'yes' when we pull the trigger to buy 'X' (whatever 'X' is - car, windows, new boots, holiday break etc).  Facts and figures aren't reassuring to him - not in the way that you describe (which would reassure me).  The silly thing is, before DH and I got together, he was very much fly by the seat of his pants with money, reliant on credit cards and overdrafts, and was on a teeny-tiny salary.  We sorted everything out, and he now uses his cc as a 'tool' and pays off the balance each month.  And yet if I wasn't around, DH and LG would just spend, spend, spend - mostly for convenience or speed.  My MSE skills are only faintly rubbing off on LG.  Although they are getting a little better and more thoughtful about their purchases.  But I agree with you KK - in theory, if someone shows you the post office savings book, the bank statement or online bottom line, then you should be able to derive "we'll cope".  It doesn't work like that some how with DH.  Although you're making me think more about "why" DH is like he is - and there are some parallels with his youth/home life..... mmmm, Thank you, I'll have a think some more how we might tackle this - I don't need the stress for the next 30 days, and he surely doesn't.

So I popped to MrS to pick up the school uniform, and I also picked up some hot water bottles.  We've had our current batch longer than recommended, so they need to be replaced.  I also picked up some gravy granules (random), but I want to make some stews etc, so will need them.  Also, spent some more of the bulk budget, by trekking out to the Farmer's Mercantile and picking up some spuds.  I now have (hopefully) enough to last until the otherside of Christmas, and hopefully into the NY.  33p a kilo for dirty spuds in my favourite varieties, ain't to be sniffed at.  Even if I have gone all soft and pampered and used to washed tatties...... savings is savings!

£11.00 on non-food, 62p on food and £12 bulk budget spend.  Edit: siggie figgie updated with correct figures, had lumped food and non-food expenditure together 🙄

Unfortunately 'man'-handling the tattie bags into the car got my coat and top covered in summat (dunna ask 🙄) and so I've popped them in the washing machine.  You watch the weather turn the minute I peg them out...... 🙄

Ta for popping by.  Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

I took a picture of the buns that LG and DH made yesterday.  Only 6 are decorated, as there were only 6 sweeties left.  LG had bought some rather expensive (to my mind) novelty sweeties at the EH place.  To be utterly fair to them, a) they had shared nicely with us on holiday, and b) suggested themselves that the sweets were used to decorate the cakes.  Luckily there was a bar of dark choc in the cupboard (I know - who am I???) to whip up an impromptu ganache.  The undecorated buns have gone in the freezer for another day.  


Greying X

themadvix

The buns look delicious! 😁

I hear you on dirty spuds - it's the one thing I really hate about being so self-sufficient (or buying from R'ford) - always having to wash the potatoes!

Definitely worth considering another approach with DH - forget the next 30 days, it might pay dividends for the rest of your lives! 

badmemory

I wouldn't worry too much about the hot water bottles.  I use mine all day every day AND I use boiling water & they have lasted well.  The only time I had any trouble was with a spare that I did as they said & left empty & it perished in months.  I always leave them part full now.