From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

Greying_Pilgrim

rtandon27 said:

GP - could you set a monthly reminder in your (new fancy) phone?  I often put in reminders for things that I'd ordinarily forget, such as booking doctor's appts at 8:30am whilst I'm on the train commuting & trying to catch a few extra zzzzzz's!

I..... forgot to!  🤣 Thanks sweetie 😘 

Greying X

Grumpelstiltskin

GP  I know things are worse now than they use to be with what children have got but when my son was young ( he is 51 now ) he went to a primary school where some of the children had parents who were rolling in money and some of the children had parents who wanted people to think they were rolling in money

I always explained to him we lived a different lifestyle to some of these families. He was told whatever he had been given  we had saved up and paid for it in cash before he got it . We explained that some other people just went into a shop and flashed a credit card and took what ever it was home and that they would still be paying for it in X months time and paying Y% interest.

Greying_Pilgrim

Grumplestiltskin - we live in an area that has always had a high proportion of 'keeping up with the Jones's' households.  LG wasn't too affected by what was said.  I mean, for sure, every kid wants to join in and not be left out, but actually DH was more put out that this kid had chosen to pick us not attending an optional leisure-time event as evidence we were poor.  They also came out with some nonsense about something else too, but I won't talk about it, as it is not money-related.  

I think LG is like any other child - you could buy them the moon on a stick, and they would still ask for more.  But for the most part, they are happy with what they have, and are becoming a bit better about using their own money to make purchases.  Yes, they would buy all the plastic tat if we let them, but compared to alot of kids, they have a modest amount of possessions and for the most part look after them reasonably well.  

Sometimes kids comments come from a place of hurt about their own circumstances.  I think this was probably the case in this situation......

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning MFW'rs

I remembered to submit my meter readings!  Go Me! 🤣  We're in credit - as you would anticipate in the summer - to the tune of about half a month's normal DD. 

DH and I had fish finger salad wraps for tea last night - we took the opportunity as LG ain't overly keen on fish fingers.  What I wanted to say was that I used some of the pollock fish fingers - MrS own brand that I bought a couple of weeks ago.  I think they were something like £1.12 for 10??  Anyway, they were far better than the MrL offering.  I didn't see any grey bits (doesn't mean to say there weren't, but sometimes the MrL offering were all grey......), didn't taste sour nor overtly 'fishy'.  As you know, we don't eat much fish, but on the occasion I buy fish fingers in the future, I wouldn't hesitate - both the pollock and cod versions were worth the money, I would buy either of these products again.  

The CHB pot has been decimated with uniform purchases, and I haven't even bought all that is needed yet 😬  The most expensive branded item still has to be bought - and I need 2 😬  Although 'expensive' is relative - it's the most costly for LG's school - it would be peanuts compared to other school's costs.  I was in the local uniform outfitter place the other day, and a mother was buying a blazer for her kid - it was only a young teen size, was comprehensive school blazer fabric and I'm pretty sure the price of £65 was mentioned 😯 So yes, gentle reader, I AM counting my blessings that at present, uniform costs are 'lowish'.  I'm not complaining - I suppose it's the nature of kids growing up that the costs rise, and we've certainly been lucky this last year that LG was given some branded uniform from a friend, and not only did LG wear it cheerfully, it has just about lasted the full year.  I don't think the items are good enough to donate on into the pre-loved uniform scheme, but it helped us out, no doubt.  

Right, best shift a tail feather.  

Greying X

badmemory

School uniform is one of the (many) things that annoy me.  When it was just grammar schools then expensive uniform was quite normal.  When they brought it in for all schools including primary the original idea was to avoid high pricing & to "level up" & not having some pupils wearing designer clothes.  It was not so that all children would be wearing the equivalent of designer clothes.  Sorry rant over!

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning MFW'rs

Rain stopped play on only the second day of the hols 🙁  Will have to have a re-think of what to do today, although we've got plenty to gather for various trips and there is always the school-uniform to purchase lurking in the background.  I do seem to be haemorrhaging cash at the mo tho.  LG is also (un)helpfully suggesting activities that all cost ££'s......  

We went to a nearby  market town yesterday and managed to gather some bits and pieces for our summer adventures at reasonable prices.  We enjoyed our picnic lunch in a park that has been created in industrial wasteland (nicer than it sounds, honest), although I discovered that our favourite (useful size) flask has given up the ghost, and so my lukewarm coffee was not so enjoyable.  It owes us nothing, it's got to be something like 15 years old, at least, was a stan1ey brand one, and I got it from teekaymax, so it wasn't the most expensive flask ever, but it was just the right size to take a couple of cups of coffee or hot chocolate, on a bike ride.  We used it most weeks, and multiple times a week during holidays.   I seem to remember that LG dropped it several weeks ago, and whilst it was all steel, no glass (anyone remember when all flasks were glass lined?), I don't think it survived that 'bounce' 🙁  We called in on a chum, on the way home, and received some delicious HG produce.  The courgettes I used in a sort of ratatouille (hadn't got any aubergines) for tea, served with pasta and topped with an omlette that used all the eggs that were BB yesterday.  We also enjoyed some fab fresh picked fruit with icecream for pud.  Can't be beat.  Riches indeed.  

Right, best shift a tail feather - unfortunately it's to spend more money 🙁 But at least it is on things that would be bought anyway really.......  

Greying X

debtfreewannabe321

Kids and money saving don't seem to be two words that mix eh. I've also been haemorrhaging money on only a few days out too. It's crazy how expensive everything is these days. We paid over £25 just to get into a swimming pool the other day for three of us.....that was me palming the kids off as kids instead of adults when both were supposed to be adult prices. It would have been another £10-15 on top otherwise 😲😱
Hope the rain stops soon 😁

kayannie

Many years ago, I had a lovely flask which had a glass lining. In the heatwave of 1974 I filled it with a cold drink & ice cubes. I made the mistake of giving it a shake which smashed the lining! Just realised that was 50 years ago - am I the only one on here old enough to remember that summer that lasted for ages, a bit different to now! 
KA

badmemory

Funnily enough I don't remember the one in 74 but do remember the shortish one in '63 which is the only time I have been sunburnt.  I fell asleep in the sun at a lido & burnt the backs of my knees.

beanielou

I remember the scammer of ‘84. 😎