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

peb

I've just caught up.

Only thing I would say is have you read Peter Duck?   It's borders fantasy so it depends on how M feels about it.  Definitely don't get him Missie Lee without reading it first.

You may of course already know the above.

Bluegreen143

I haven’t read Peter Duck yet but I don’t think he’ll mind if it’s a bit fantasy-esque. Many of the other books he likes are very fantasy/magic/adventure so I don’t think he’ll have a problem if it’s not realistic! And he has a very good level of comprehension and understanding (we’re currently reading The Hobbit together). Hopefully he likes it anyway! I suppose I could give it a read before I wrap it.

peb

I think he'll be fine then.   Just maybe read Missie Lee first - or read up on it!

Bluegreen143

Evening all.

My new (to me) Fitbit arrived today (£39 from eBay). Very pleased with both it and my stepping progress this week. (I may have mentioned we’re doing a step challenge at work). 

Today I’ve done over 14,700 steps and 65 “zone minutes” (ie moderate exercise as detected by the heart rate monitor). 

I actually went for a cold-water wild swim with friends too and took it off then so would have gotten even more active minutes on top, although we weren’t in for ages because it really was much colder than when we went two weeks ago 😂. 

I think this will be the last time we go this season now. The evenings are drawing in too much now for after-dinner swims, and I’m not one for cold water swimming year-round anyway. I’ve been LOADS this year, as well as out several times in the kayak, so I do feel I’ve made the most of it despite the rubbish summer weather. 

Nothing much to report budget-wise, as I haven’t really spent anything, so it’s all ticking along nicely. It’s quite a busy week for us, but not an expensive one - so far. I am going for brunch with friends on Sunday during the day and then a comedy gig in the evening (a friend gave me a spare ticket to go with her which was kind!) and I will need at least some taxis on the day to achieve these without a car I think. I might see if I can cadge a lift with a friend to brunch or figure out public transport as it’s not in the city, it’s in a neighbouring town so will incur a bigger taxi fare. 

Meals today 

B - blackberry and banana milkshake for me (the kids had cereal today)

L - leftover salmon, broccoli and peas from last night, with chopped avocado and a bit of mayo and sriracha 

S - erm, illicit snacking on cheese and haribo may have happened…

D - falafel/hummus/salad wraps with cheesy chips and extra salad (my friend short-notice joined us for dinner, so I made the cheesy chips to stretch the meal out a bit. I was short on options as our cupboards are always bare on Wednesdays before our weekly shop!).

Bluegreen143

So my little Monkey is now off on a camping trip with the Cubs. How is he old enough?! He’s been incredibly excited so I hope they have fun. He’s doing archery, climbing and lots of other fun activities while there.

As I know we’d be out dropping him at the coach before dinner time, I made baked potatoes in the air fryer and a bunch of toppings earlier in the day, then we just had to reheat the potatoes in the air fryer for 15 minutes and serve everything. Worked really well and I‘ll do that again as a make-ahead meal. 

We have a nice weekend planned. Tomorrow Bambi has a playdate with one of her old nursery friends who is coming round with his mum, then Red’s friend who lives up north happens to be visiting Glasgow so is popping over for dinner with his little girl. 

On Sunday I’m going for brunch with friends, because my own friend who lives up north is unrelatedly also visiting 😅. Then in the evening I’m going to a comedy gig with another friend. 

Plans for meals - we’re doing pizza oven pizza for Red’s friend on Saturday then lasagne on Sunday, but making double so we can have it on our busy evening on Thursday too. 

Floss

Sounds like you have a great weekend planned.

Bluegreen143

Been doing a little bit of birthdays & Christmas purchasing - just for the kids. 

The kids’ main thing for their birthday is getting their rooms done so they stop sharing, but I’m hoping it won’t actually cost us too much of our money, as we have £244 in a savings pot for this (money my dad gives us to use on them). I’ve asked Red to pull together a budget for the work needing done:

- the over-stairs cupboard being demolished and a built-in bed/storage/desk being built in Bambi’s room 

- both rooms being painted 

- a simple desk being made under Monkey’s loft bed 

Red will do all the work so the cost is for paint, painting supplies, wood etc. 

We will also need to buy either curtains or blinds for Bambi’s room and light shades for both rooms. 

In terms of nice stuff for the rooms - my mum and sister have agreed to get some decorative things like posters, fairy lights, reading lamps and bedding between them for the kids’ birthdays. Red is going to ask his mum to buy them both a beanbag chair. 

As well as the rooms, we agreed we will buy them both one thing to open plus a couple of books. I’ve bought Monkey a small games table (football/table tennis type thing) for his room from Argos for £50 which he will love and will be great for when his friends are over. And a couple of books, second hand from eBay (so £2-3 each). And that’s definitely it for him. 

We haven’t decided what Bambi’s “present to open” should be but I want something that’s not just a random toy but will make her room cool. (Basically they don’t need any more toys for the rest of their lives 🤣. Plus they mainly play with cushions and blankets anyway?!). Just can’t decide what to get her!

I’ve moved on to buying books for the kids for Christmas and have gotten several, again all second hand from eBay which I’m pleased with. I will get them both a Lego set for Christmas but small/medium, not a big expensive one. And want to get them a game each - thinking junior scrabble for monkey, who is learning to spell, not sure yet for Bambi. 

Bluegreen143

Oh and on another note, I walked 18.5k steps yesterday (and 51 zone minutes) so I’m pleased with that! Definitely feeling it after a week or so of increased walking. 

Debsnewbudget

Bambi might like the Clack game.  Its great for all ages to play and all my family from 3 to 60 play it.

LittleGem

Have your kids got a yoto player? It’s a great gift in that it’s not a toy and you can ask people to buy the story cards for Christmas/birthdays.