Stopping the backsliding… a family of four no longer living beyond their means

smudge56

Lidl’s bags for fruit and veg are suitable for the food waste bin. I always grab a couple as I also use them when I’m buying from their bakery. The tiny bakery bags just don’t cut it 

Bluegreen143

We do take our food waste out nightly, we found we attracted flies if not. 

Good tip on Lidl bags, I’ll probably still buy some but try to top up by putting fruit & veg in the bags when I shop at Lidl, knowing I can reuse them. 

Very pleasing to wake on a Monday and not be working! Time for a list 😂

KIDS
- spend at least 10/15 mins having fun together (wrestling usually does it, or if they want to play a game or whatever).

- read lots to both kids.

- do a reading lesson with Bambi and get Monkey to read to me and practice handwriting (his weak spot, requires a bit of summer practice).

- cycle to the library together (must check opening times first, as I think it may not open til 12 on Mondays).

PRODUCTIVITY
- get kitchen & dining room totally tidied (bit messy after a busy weekend and hangover yesterday).

- continue decluttering and organising downstairs shelving - I did the kallax that the kids’ arts & crafts supplies live in yesterday and they look so much better, plus I’ve freed up a cube through decluttering and moving things around. 

- start a loaf of sourdough.

- soak and cook a batch of chickpeas.

- laundry - do a load, put away it and the clean load sitting there.

- text various friends to finalise this week’s plans (looks like another mum is hosting Saturday’s event which is good!).

- knit that jumper!! Only got about half of both sleeves to do and then sewing up. 

Did I mention that Monkey wanted to sleep in the tent in the garden last night? He ended up doing it himself, because Bambi was meant to as well but chickened out at 8.30pm and came inside trailing her stuffed animals with her 😂 he loved it and I’ve told them I’ll join them tonight. 

PS because I tidied and decluttered the arts & crafts shelves yesterday, I’ve come down to Monkey playing with kinetic sand for the first time in a really long time. It always amazes me just how much more independent play you get out of them if you tidy up and they can actually find everything! 

fionaandphil

I second the reusable bags.  I have the ones from the watery river, but I also picked some up some smaller ones from Aldi and they are just as good, always on the go in our house.  I use plastic one time use for fish and meat as I tend to buy this in bulk and freeze at home, but everything else in reusable tubs.

The sun is shining here so first lot of washing is out and I've just taken down the door curtain and popped that in the washing machine.  Off out to the garden next to pick some veg to have with tea, I will try and get grumpy teenager to come and help, and if not he can go and clean his bathroom 

Have a fun day

tiddles

Tesco sell the Joie reusable bags in a pack of 6 for £4.80 with a Clubcard - cheaper than Lakeland!

Bluegreen143

Sounds like a good day already @fionaandphil!

I forgot to round up my spending yesterday - doing it now as I want to keep in the daily habit:

Taxi home from night out (personal budget) £13
Actually cost £26 as halved with Red. Stupidly this cost £5 more than it should have as I accidentally pre booked it to the wrong address on the street, so we couldn’t find it and then it got cancelled (which has a £5 charge). Luckily we got another right away 🙈 I know this is an expensive taxi, but obviously the night was otherwise v cheap - bring your own booze type situation and we brought wine and beer we already had in. We h

Online subscription (personal budget) - £23.35

Groceries £95.48

As for today’s list:

KIDS
- spend at least 10/15 mins having fun together (wrestling usually does it, or if they want to play a game or whatever).

- read lots to both kids. ✔️ Read Monkey a chapter of his current Harry Potter book, Bambi a whole Noddy book AND read two fairy tales to them both. Winning at motherhood 😂

- do a reading lesson with Bambi and get Monkey to read to me and practice handwriting (his weak spot, requires a bit of summer practice).

- cycle to the library together (must check opening times first, as I think it may not open til 12 on Mondays). It opens at 1 so going after lunch 

PRODUCTIVITY
- get kitchen & dining room totally tidied (bit messy after a busy weekend and hangover yesterday). Done kitchen and started on dining room (they are actually two halves of the same room 😂)

- continue decluttering and organising downstairs shelving - I did the kallax that the kids’ arts & crafts supplies live in yesterday and they look so much better, plus I’ve freed up a cube through decluttering and moving things around. 

- start a loaf of sourdough. Fed starter in prep for mixing the loaf later 

- soak and cook a batch of chickpeas. Soaking now 

- laundry - do a load, put away it and the clean load sitting there. Put away clean load and next is in the washing machine 

- text various friends to finalise this week’s plans (looks like another mum is hosting Saturday’s event which is good!). Texted one friend so far! 

- knit that jumper!! Only got about half of both sleeves to do and then sewing up. 

- new item on list - write packing list and meal plan for our holiday next week

- check pantry and household item stocks and list things which are running out, so I stop being caught out!

Bluegreen143

Cycled to the library with the kids, which I’m very pleased about. This must surely be the ultimate frugal summer holiday activity?!? Fresh air, exercise, free books & DVDs (the latter are to take on holiday next week as there’s no TV signal or internet there, just a DVD player). 

While there the nice lady at the desk sorted us new cards, which is an annoying admin task that I’m glad is done. I used to just give our names and addresses, but the library has a new system and it’s very tricky for them to find us with no physical card now.

For some reason this reminded me that now Bambi is five (errr, has been for the past 7 months) I need to sort her a bus pass too. Here in Scotland kids and young people all get free bus travel but they don’t get a pass til they’re 5. It’s the sort of irritating online form where you need to look out tons of info before filling it in, so I keep putting it off! 

Bluegreen143

Ok, packing list for holidays (not inc Red’s stuff, which he will pack himself). 

If the weather is forecast to be hot we won’t need as many clothes, as they’ll just wear swimsuits & tshirts a lot and stuff will dry hung outdoors, but there’s no washing machine there so if it’s wet we need plenty changes. We’re slightly scarred after not taking wellies on last month’s extremely wet holiday!!

KIDS
8x T-shirts or dresses (depending on child!)
8x shorts/trousers/tights (again depending on child!)
8x underwear & socks 
2x PJs
Hoodie 
Thin waterproof jacket + padded gilet 
Trainers, crocs, walking boots (will also add wellies if it’s forecast to be rainy)
Sunglasses & sunhats
Swimsuit
Waterproof trousers (unless it’s forecast to be really nice 🤞🏼)

Special night time stuffed animals for Bambi
Allow them to choose a toy or two and puzzle each 
Current chapter book each plus a couple extra picture books
Folder with paper, pens/pencils, sticker books
DVDs
Pocket money wallets

ME
6x dresses
2x cycling shorts (for under dresses!) plus mix of tights & footless tights 
Joggers & casual top x2 for hiking or cold days 
Trainers, walking boots, wetsuit shoes for the beach 
Hoodie
Waterproof jacket 
Sunglasses - need to buy before going as lost mine - & sunhat
Swimsuit
Waterproof trousers (unless it’s forecast to be really nice 🤞🏼)
PJs
Underwear, bras, socks

Little handbag with purse 
Charged kindle plus a paper book 
Notebook & pen
Phone & charger
Knitting
1000 piece puzzle - I always do one on holiday - I’ve got a couple I’ve not done waiting on a shelf 
Pack of cards

TOILETRIES
Toothbrushes & toothpaste 
Deodorant
Shower gel
Shampoo & conditioner 
Brushes & bobbles for Bambi & I
My makeup bag 
Sunscreen 
First aid kit (most importantly paracetamol, bite cream, tick remover and plasters) - must get more calpol 

HOUSEHOLD
Water bottles
Snack and lunch tubs (for picnics and leftovers)
Good kitchen knife 
Staples like olive oil, tins, spices depending on mealplan
Washing up liquid & dishwasher tabs
Toilet roll

OUTDOORS (Red will pack this stuff tbh but good to compare lists)
Kite
Fishing rods and tackle
Bag of beach toys 
Inflatable kayak & life vests 
Wetsuits for kids & I (Red hasn’t got)
Flint & steel and pocket knife 

I’m sure I’m forgetting things!!

EDIT the BBC currently reckons it’ll rain every day we’re away 🤣 I do find the BBC’s accuracy levels for weather leave much to be desired, but I guess I’ll be packing the wellies & waterproof trousers!!

smudge56

It’s Scotland. It’s summer.  It’s the school holidays.  Of course it will rain 

Baileys_Babe

I would rather pack the wellies and waterproof trousers and not use them than leave them at home and it rains. 

Will the waterproof trousers pack inside one of their welly boots?

Floss

As a child, holiday packing for the North East meant Aran jumpers, wellies, bathers & cagoules!