Juggling mum/work life, whilst looking after my future self, both financially & healthily

mumtoomany

Sorry posted too soon! 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2640225/weezl-and-friends-phase-3-sitting-pretty-with-kitty#latest

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2824812/weezl-and-friends-phase-4-recipe-testing-christmas-treats#latest

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1007423/50p-a-day-til-christmas-healthily-weezls-next-challenge#latest

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1157641/50p-a-day-til-christmas-healthily-weezls-next-challenge-part-2#latest

Should keep you occupied. Some good ideas and recipes. Hugs, mumtoomany.xx

missymoo81

Thank you @Liselle. I have a little compartment in my bag. It might be worth putting them in there. Or I’ve started keeping receipts in the centre console of the car. Am def going to take photos straight away though. 

Thank you so much for the bed time reading @m@mumtoomany I will very much look forward to reading those shortly. 

Well OH has gone from bad to worse and is in a right downward spiral. Doesn’t help a certain cheap airline we’re playing silly bu&&ers and nearly didn’t let him on his flight, then the train was cancelled  so he had to wait 2 hours for another. He’s currently en route. He just needs to get through until tomorrow night when he has his counselling session, which usually helps him see reason and doesn’t put all the pressure on me to fix… 

I really hope every evening isn’t like this, I’ve not stopped since 6pm. I’ve made a huge batch of bolognese/chilli/savoury mince, which is now in the fridge. Took aaages for some reason. I’ve made banana muffins and made the children’s lunches. I’ve tidied up and put some bread on in the bread maker for OH. We had spag Bol for dinner. I asked Roo to put a wash on and hang it up as it was his pe kit, (which I’ve never done)  I asked May to do the litter tray and feed the cat, both I would normally just end up doing. I’m going to ask for help more often, they’re lovely children but very lazy, and I have enough on. 

I’ve cancelled swimming through the holidays as never sure if we’ll be home,
Which saves £56 a month and I’ve been thinking of free summer holiday activities. 

Beach
bike ride with picnics
free events on in the city
fire pits
bbqs 
board games
films
visiting my sister
visiting my friend and her children

Anyway, need to get some bananas. Thanks again for being so lovely. I really do appreciate you all.

Blackcats

I wonder if any of these resources might help you to support May.  Might save some money on private tutoring.

https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/resources/online-courses-and-learning-for-children-and-teens/

missymoo81

Ahhh @mumtoomany some of those links don’t work 😢. I’ve read weazls thread years and years ago, do you have a link to the actual meal
plan she used to feed the family of 4? I remember it being really good. But I can’t find a working link? Sorry and thank you. 

And thank you @blackcats, I will definitely have a look! So kind of you. 

fionaandphil

Just popping in to say hi and sorry to hear things are so difficult right now. 

If you're shopping at Lidl have you downloaded the app? Usually some good offers on it to knock a bit more off prices. Sometimes also get a free bakery item so that could be your treat?

Summer ideas, what about library? They quite often have events on over summer. DS also likes baking if it's not nice weather and it kills 2 birds with one stone.

Regarding school, I'd check first to see if they have after school or lunch sessions for extra practice and revision that might help.

Try and make sure you look after yourself too, even if it's just sitting in the sun with a cool drink and a book x

missymoo81

Thank you @fionaandphil, I forgot about the library! I’ve added that to my list! And yes I use the Lidl app, and the nectar app for Sainsbury’s which I find very helpful and money saving. 

I’m going to email the school as they’ve ignored my last message and request a meeting and see what they can do without her missing lessons. 

And thank you I do need to try and calm myself and relax. I need to read, I have books but I’m struggling to get into them. I will try harder or maybe check out free kindle stuff.

Well I haven’t gone into the gym today we didn’t get into bed until late as didn’t pick up OH until 1030pm. OH is very quiet but we didn’t argue, he’s working today so I’ll see how he is when I get home. 

I’ve got a long day at work, I will take lunch and breakfast with me. I’m going to turn some of the bolognaise into chilli for dinner with rice. Everyone ate it yesterday eventhough it was veggie. Only one to comment was Roo. He just said he liked meat but he also liked that. So I’ll take that as a win.

Just looked at my bank account and see that my tv licence has halved, which will be helpful. I’ve taken the diesel and the food shopping money and put into money pots on my account so I know what I’m using.

mumtoomany

Morning missy. The website that weezl set up has been recovered by thrifty lesley. She was one of the original contributers. She has updated some of the prices. It is cheapfamilyrecipes.co.uk. Her own website is full of great cheap ideas too. Thriftylesley.com. She has a Facebook page too. 

If you have time to fall down a rabbit hole, have a look at atomic shrimp on YouTube. He has lots of videos about food, foraging, cheap recipes, etc. There are also lots about computer/phone scams, I ignore these.

Tv licence will be back up next month, they sent a list of payments to me, I still have a paper licence, luddite that I am. 

Hugs, mumtoomany.xx

debtfreewannabe321

Hi Missy I started a reply ages ago then got distracted and then life was happening, I will start again
Regarding you searching a new job, I am not sure exactly what you do but I will just tell you what DP did...he changed his job almost entirely from what he did do with the help of a recruiter. So he stuck his CV on Indeed and one of the recruiters messaged him, they had a video call which seemed to last hours. DP told him what he currently did and that he would like to change but wasn't sure what to, the recruiter asked about other skills he had (he knows a lot about computers and programming self taught) and they made a new CV, recruiter did all the leg work (as DP was still working like you are) and set up interviews etc. He was absolutely worth his weight in gold and DP landed a dream job in the same sector he was already working in but a totally different role. Would it be worth you putting feelers out on indeed or elsewhere to do the same. I think you said there isn't many roles locally to you in the same job, but what about all the other skills you have? They may be enough to help you land a good job in something different. Sorry if you have already thought of all this and disregarded. 🙈

With ref to the emergency fund, could you set yourself mini targets and try and sell things, do surveys (or get your DH to?) and TT over to it. I did this when I was moving last year and managed to save a significant amount, it really did all add up. 

Also regarding private tutor, would you or DH have time to sit with her in the evenings and work with her on the computer? I homeschooled for a while and there are some fantastic sites out there (seneca was a good free one, also ed place and <<I have forgotten the other places now>> I bet if you google there are lots more for a small fee every month or free. Also YT is a fantastic place for explaining things to kids with tutors/ teachers on there doing lessons for free. 

debtfreewannabe321

Oh and regarding your DH also....some places your face really doesn't fit. Perhaps it is a cause of why he is feeling down and depressed too. perhaps there is a better job out there for him so I would suggest he do the same too with ref the finding a recruiter. 
I have known people to become redundant or quit jobs through poor mental health and completely change career path. One guy in the building trade I know is now a spiritual healer! Another I know was a police man and now runs a B&B...if DH is feeling a change perhaps ask him what he fancies doing. We spend so long working in our lives I think we should be happy  

missymoo81

Just clicked on thrifty Lesley’s website and it is awesome! Thank you! I will have a lovely time reading that! 

Do you know why tv licence has gone down for the month, I thought it was because I’d done 6 months but I’m not sure it’s right.