Settling in for the long haul

ohdearhowdidthathappen

I’m another one who doesn’t understand pensions… I’ve tried numerous times and still 🤯

jwil

The pensions board in the forums here is really useful. I've learned loads from it.

Dakota_Rose

That was a hot day! Took Mum for some appointments this morning and then collected the kids and took them round for some paddling pool time in her garden for a couple of hours, which was nice.

Low spend day from our home pots - some milk and dishwasher tablets picked up on the way home. I’ve ordered Little Miss’s school shoes and a pair of trainers reduced nicely in an online sale. I’ve also put Mr D’s treat money towards that walking pad. I really hope I don’t let myself down with this one and make good use of it.

I finished A Court Of Thorns and Roses today. I think I mentioned that I was quite enjoying it and found it similar to a mix of stories I had read before. It really reminded me of Beauty and the Beast, Twilight and The Hunger Games. For that reason, it was quite predictable but I still found it engaging. I’d rate it 9/10, purely for the page-turning qualities it had. This is book 17 of my 26 books for 2026 challenge.

RhiBi

it was a hot day with today set to be even hotter.

I put 35 books down as my reading challenge which I think was a bit ambitious given that Goodreads currently says I’m 7 books behind. I did finish one yesterday - Keep it in the Family by John Marrs, it was difficult in some parts because of the story line but the end was good with an unexpected twist, so I’m glad I persevered.

ohdearhowdidthathappen

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82099630#Comment_82099630

I never think to check other boards on here 😂. Thanks, will take a look. My pension is NHS, but DH has numerous pots 🫠

Dakota_Rose

We’ve set ourselves a daily budget for food shopping this month as we’re all at home full time and decided to do a shop every 4 days. This is working incredibly well so far as it really helps to avoid top up shops (I did need a milk this week) and we are choosing meals that we’re in the mood for eating but also complement each other in terms of shared ingredients. The result has been some really delicious meals and the children sticking well to their own snacks, which they’ve helped choose to a budget during the shop.

The uniform and school supplies pot is now almost empty but we have just some stationery to buy. Such a relief to have it all prepared in advance.

Now it’s time to start earning some extra pennies to pay off the credit card purchases from this month. I am buying on the card for points but there’s been some ‘whimsical’ spending there as we’re on holidays (I’m looking at you holiday clothes and walking pad 🧐 ). I’ve listed several small items on eBay and Vinted and have had some offers on a larger item already. I think I’ll hold out for a little bit more as other similar items are selling for the same or more than what I’ve listed it for. 5 offers in one day tells me it’s worth something.

Tonight’s dinner is burgers with salad and onion rings. Best get cooking!

Smudgeismydog

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82099241#Comment_82099241

Sorry to hijack the thread, but have you checked your State Pension forecast? You automatically qualify for National Insurance credits while your child is under 12 and you are in receipt of child benefit.

RhiBi

@Smudgeismydog yes I have and that’s all up to date. I have a small 6 year nhs pension which is just sitting there, and I’ve worked for local government since 2015. I’m 54 now so will be working u til 67 by which time I’ll have 24 years in the local government one.so how much that’ll add up to, I don’t know. We get a small annual pay rise, when unions agree, and I keep thinking that I should add that extra bit in my pay to my pension, but have never quite got around to it.

RhiBi

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82102092#Comment_82102092

well done on the budgeting, I remember how expensive school holidays were, it’s so easy for money to just run through your fingers. I always bought all brand new uniform for back to school, whether the old uniform fitted or not! Looking back, I do wonder why!!

Dakota_Rose

Thanks @RhiBi I always stock take first but this year has been pretty unforgiving with a new school being started and littlest destroying most of his being just 5 and having lots of mucky play 🙈. Anything that would be okay to reuse has been washed and put in the new uniform cupboard.