Courgette resets her sights

I think ours do too. Problem is each of us has a card and only one is set up for reminders plus it goes to my email account that had 9000 unread in it so it's easy to miss. Easy to solve just need to do it

Hello, yes been on holiday! Thanks for posting Iona - I'm struggling to remember who the rude people were though! Shows I've obviously moved on .

Had such a great time away, will be having many more holidays and experiences from now on! And it certainly gives a lovely thing to focus all the frugality on.

Unfortunately we're now completely skint and all the easily accessible savings accounts have been plundered. We've got everything except food covered until the end of September but obviously we will need to eat at some point. It was a sort of conscious decision to run out of money so it's no surprise. What I mean by this is that I was absolutely desperate to go on holiday, DH less so due to how up against it we are financially right now. I didn't want to put it off any longer and was/am prepared to sail very close to the wind financially until invoices start being paid again in October and November. No regrets but it's a very unusual situation for me to find myself in!

Anyway, holiday really focused my mind, as these things tend to do. We want to spend more quality time together. We have had one weekend without the children since we had them and that does put a strain on the relationship. While we were away as well as spending loads of lovely time together we also ate great quality food and we both felt so much healthier as a result. We are prepared to increase our food bill for this feeling to continue. We have also had a decent chat about money and about how we organise it. It feels all rather academic at the moment but once we actually have some money we are looking at a totally different way of managing it. I'll explain more in a couple of days.

Anyway, today is September 1st and I always consider this to be New Year's Day (far too long in education clearly!)

My New Year's resolutions are as follows:

Health:
Be able to do 10 pull-ups
Be able to run 10 km
- Both of these things without feeling like I'm gonna drop dead afterwards

Wealth:
Income up to £500 a week every week minimum by Christmas. This will include DH's job, my job and eBay shop
Have organised our banking

Family:
Tuesday day time dates for me and him while small people at school
More structured activities - these boys needs tiring out! Possibly park run, swimming lessons, football lessons, cycling
Would like DS3 to be able to confidently ride a bike and swim by next Easter

Home:
Bit vague but needs to be cosy, welcoming and clean and tidy. It's none of these things right now!
Start making bread again - German bread was so delicious and didn't make you feel grim however much you ate (trust me on this!)

It's the start of birthday season in our house now so lots of expenses there too. DS3 is totally paid for, just his party to do tomorrow but DS2 and me are not at all. I'll have to have a good think of things I'd like that are nice but very cheap. I'd like an apple tree for the garden and some herbs but doubt this is the time of year for that. I also need a new rucksack as the zip has gone on mine and I don't think these things are particularly repairable. Will have a think

Totally gorgeous party for DS3 this afternoon. Picked a natural location rather than hire anything or, shudder, host at home. Cost about £30 including bus fare. Totally great day!