May - living on fresh air challenge...

Frith

Yes. They have both gone up a lot because the insurance is so much now. The insurance for Beavers adds £10 per term now. The insurance for gymnastics adds £10 per half term.

The gymnastics is complicated because they don't stop during the holidays (except a week in the summer) so they aren't really charging by the half term as such.

I think both are quite reasonable. Beavers is the only club available locally. Gymnastics is in the nearest town (10 miles away) but youngest son is taught in a class of 5.

I can see I'll be doing the piano lessons myself though!

Liz

Frith

Sunny again today following terrible thunderstorms last night! I sat on my window sill (on the inside!) watching the lightning for about an hour.

Anyway, Sainsburys today :-S I'm trying all the economy range now, "Basics". I always did use some of that range but used the usual Sainsburys stuff as well. Stuffing is 14p and a packet of jelly is 8p! The stuffing can have some herbs from the garden added to it and some dried apricots and the jelly is for a trifle. Crumpets are 35p but we've had the Basics pack for a while. The one thing I couldn't find was cheapy washing powder. We have to have non-bio (for eczema children) and they didn't seem to offer that very cheaply.

The freezer still has plenty of stuff in: chicken pieces, prawns, sweetcorn and peas and a strange bag which could be any variety of soup or possibly some tomato sauce I made! Also some homemade baked beans from a while back which are *really* dull so I put them in casseroles.

Also bought cheapy apple juice to make some more ice lollies, lots of bread, tuna and a sunhat for little son as he does "Forest School" and we had to borrow a hat from one of our neighbour's boys this week!

I stayed at mum and dad's for lunch after Sainsburys so that was a free meal. Also had another 6 eggs from there and mum has finished another Action Man garment! My handiwork can be seen here:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=863631&l=20568&id=670743383

and I got the patterns off another MSE person on the Old Style forum.

So that's if for now. The boys are away this weekend so I now have to clean and tidy. After Dr Who I'm going to sort the garden (its a very small courtyard sort of garden so that means pulling a few weeds out, watering the pots then brushing and swilling the patio and paths down from the waterbutt).

Then it'll be Casualty watching with the cat. College work tomorrow!

Liz

CRANKY40

Why has your CSA stopped?

Frith

Why indeed.....

Frith

I'm not much good at TLA's (Three Letter Acronyms) but I think not spending anything is a NSD?

A NSD today!

Its a really beautiful day, sunny and warm. I've listened to the Archers, done a couple of hours of college work (2 units left to do and they're both nearly finished), tidied, done load of washing which dried quickly outside, phoned my sister and finished mending the boys' bikes. The bearing on the front wheel of one bike is not quite right but I can't mend it. At last they are both useable, though!

Also weeded the garden and tied back the clematis/climbing rose at great danger to myself as they're completely interwoven.

Just want to have a good tidy of the living room before the boys come home.

Had porridge for breakfast and poached eggs for lunch so not a great deal of food used up there.

Normally on weekends when I am by myself I am very restless and feel I should go out and "do something" both days but pottering about has been fine today. Although the sudden good weather has helped!

Liz

kizzykizzywizzy

Hi Acey, one thing about thin air, it's not fattening!!
I have read your old thread, quite a while ago, mind, & I'm really pleased to hear that you've sorted out your heating. We had ours done with warm front it's great!
My Daughter has just started Beaver scouts, it's £24.50 here a term, I think it's really good value & she loves it - so far. Some of the after school activities are so expensive, especially when you have to buy kit etc, so I think it's great.
I saw what another poster said about leaving £200 in their bank account - just in case, I do exactly the same, it's a great idea, now I'm debt free, but when I was in your situation, there's no way I could've done that, or put anything away for the car etc, as every penny was needed to live, in an ideal world it would've been great. My friend used to almost laugh at me when I said I didn't have savings, but how can you save, when you haven't got anything??
I'm really into 8p curry noodles at the moment, not very filling, I suppose you could splash out & use 2 packets, as for sarnies,grated cheese & onion, mixed with salad cream are scrummy, I make up a batch of filling & it lasts a couple of days in the fridge, so not only yummy but easy.
Hope you are able to eke out what you have
Take Care

Frith

Thanks, KKW. And well done on becoming debt free!

Warm Front were great! We have 3 storage heaters now (just had a woodburning stove before), also had the loft insulated and the windows draftproofed.

There really isn't anything else except Beavers locally. I'm hoping mum will give them piano lessons as they will probably play up less for her... My brother offered to give them trumpet lessons and sister plays the flute so we shall be alright there! My brother and sister were in a brass band fairly locally for many years and that was free I think and the social side was great including trips abroad twinned with other bands. Although this is all in the future.

They aren't keen on cheese in sandwiches, for reasons known only to themselves, but like tuna and mayo, egg mayo, peanut butter and jam etc. Or samosas when we're feeling rich!

Liz

Frith

Well, the mortgage company have taken last month's mortgage from my account. They have not taken their charges (which is a good thing as there isn't enough money in!) No replies to my letters to either the mortgage company or my bank...

Child benefit and child credits will be paid in tomorrow so there will then be enough for the charges and the rest will go towards this months bills.

Can't think what to make for tea tonight. Must also have a quick tidy. At least the garden is perfect now!

Liz

Frith

And today is a NSD! (which kind of goes without saying).

RAS

Well done.

Have you plotted out how the money is going to come in and go over over the next couple of weeks?

And may you cna meal plan on the contents of the freezer to see if you can get there. have you encountered the store cupboard challenge on the Money Saving Old Style Board?