to wonder what the fuck to do now? (Immediate financial problem)

[Margaritte]

We are on a very tight budget for the next couple of months. We know this, and have got advice from StepChange & I posted a thread on here for recipe /shopping advice.

However, today our card declined trying to pay for £22 or so worth of shopping. We were not expecting that, and now I am very worried and starting to panic

We have some food in for dinners. No packed lunch food though, for ds1 & 2 and dh. We have no milk (well, enough for a bottle tonight for dd) and are down to 3 nappies.

Payday isn't until end of next week, so have to do something until then.

What a wonderful thread. Well done, OP, for all your tenacity and hard work. I really hope that things get better for you and your family soon. And well done also to those who have invested so much of themselves in supporting the OP - your kindness is both humbling and inspiring.

We'll be catching up with the offers of support asap. Thank you everyone. Margaritte has been ill - but I'll leave her to tell you if she wants to. It has set her back quite a bit with getting the tasks done but she will be back on the case this weekend.

noeffingidea what a brilliant recipe for nut roast. I'll add that the recipe ideas next time I update that post.

I think Margaritte made the DCs lunches for school even though they are entitled to FSM. I am hoping the 6 weeks of lunches during the summer holidays won't be an extra problem for the family.

Thanks, sadwidow. I think you can also use stuffing mix as a base for lentil sausages as well, but I haven't tried that one. I just vaguely remember reading it on MSE.
Here is my recipe for lentil sausages
2 tablespoons of red lentils, to 1 teaspoon of crunchy peanut butter (basics again). Cook the lentils for approx 10 minutes until they go soft and mushy and as dry as possible. Add mixed dried herbs/spices (I like smoky paprika, but whatever you have in helps). When cool stir in peanut butter. Add a little flour/breadcrumbs if the consistency is too runny. This makes 2 sausages or 1 'burger' , so multiply ingredients for the number of servings you want.
Very useful in a family where some people eat meat and some are vegetarian as well, because you can do things like sausage and mash for everyone.

Sorry, should have added, I fry the lentil sausages in a little oil, just to brown and crisp them up a little bit.

Did she receive your nappies cookie? That was very generous of you and 280 should keep her going for ages surely.

MyPelvicFloorTrainsItself

I don't think Margaritte has been on line since yesterday lunch time so won't have seen your post.

I have gone through my PMs because I know I PMd her when TheCookieMonster asked if the nappies had arrived. For some reason, they were having difficulty in PMing each other. Cookie said she had changed her registration. So I found the date when Cookie asked Margaritte to PM her again on the new ID then went to my inbox for that date.

On Thu 25-Jun-15 20:13:45, Margaritte confirmed to me that she had PMed TheCookieMonster about the nappies.

I did get the impression that the two boxes of nappies HAD arrived, although that wasn't said explicitly as Margaritte is quite confidential about the support she has received privately, which I understand.

HTH

Ok.

If you have PayPal then pm me your details and I'll send you a fiver. Call me stupid or naive if you want but I'd hate to be in his situation especially with little ones.

to Margritte. Hope you feel better soon. xx

I am waiting for a phone call from Margaritte some time today.

She is now on Summer Holiday duties so it is a bit more complicated. (We usually select DC3 afternoon nap time for a phone chat when DC1 and DC2 are at school). And NO - I didn't know Margaritte in RL before this thread, I still don't know her in RL.

I'll update the thread when I know where Margaritte is up to.

*SuperFlyHigh - Your mum sounds wonderful Thank you for sharing all her tips with me.

noeffingidea I will be adding your recipes to the 'cookbook' I made from the ideas here (A notebook filled with them) They sound great, and easy, which is perfect for me.

Kampeki Thank you for the moral support Its been so lovely to be able to read it all back when I'm flagging a bit.

MyPelvicFloorTrainsItself I did receive the nappies from TheCookieMonster I messaged when they originally arrived, though I think the confusion was because TheCookieMonster had NC, and so my first message hadnt reached through to the inbox. I am very grateful for them too

Champagne Thank you - I feel much better. I have to be a bit careful (post surgery) Although the issue is now sorted, and I feel pretty good now.

I've got a few bits to do, and then will update

I have just spoken to Margaritte by phone.

Let me do this link whilst I remember (Tesco school logos)

www.clothingattesco.com/icat/embschoolwear

DC1 is in secondary school and every item of school uniform has to have a logo. I remembered reading another MN thread where other Mums were unhappy that a t-shirt with a logo meant they couldn't buy 'back to school' items from Tesco or George (other supermarkets are available).

Thank you for the link sadwidow I've checked the list on there, and DS1's school isnt on it - does this mean I can organise it in anyway?

So the situation here has picked up a bit, as in that I feel slightly more on top of things instead of in a blind panic I still have a lot of the suggestions to put in place, and am working my way through them. I was unwell for a while, and ended up having day surgery. However feel much better now So am back on here and ready to go!

I have a notepad filled with most the recipes on here, and want to write down all of them when I can. I'm still struggling a bit with meal planning, am trying to get a grip on though.

We have the school holidays now, and I'm at a bit of a loss what to do. The link upthread helped a lot. I'm trying parks and crafts at the moment. It's a bit of a relief that we have the time off from paying out for DS1's bus fare - I'm aiming to put the money aside for when they go back.

I'm going to come on here as often as I can again. It's a shame that I havent been able to, as I feel myself flagging at times. However all is ok now (health wise) So I intend to get myself sorted.

Luxme I have sent a PM.

Thank you for offering to help.

Margaritte,

DS1's school isnt on it - does this mean I can organise it anyway?

If I recall correctly (from reading the other MN thread) any parent can submit a school name and then Tesco approach the school to confirm logo/permission. Once Tesco have the permission from the school, it is added to the list of 'available logos'.

Apparently, this is a great saving for many parents who have to buy school uniform with logos on every item. Tesco applique the school logo - in the specified area - on their 'back to school' savers range.

So - you apply via the link I gave you. Then Tesco do the rest....

I'll see if I can find the original MN discussion.

Here you go:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/primary/2376245-How-much-are-logo-polos-at-your-school

I forgot that the school gets a % donation for every embroidered item of clothing supplied. That's an incentive for DC1s school to join the Tesco School Uniform Embroidery service.

usualmum I have sent you a PM.

noeffingidea

I have shared your burger and sausage recipes on the smoky paprika thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2436629-smoked-paprika-belongs-on-everything?msgid=55826606#55826606

You are becoming famous!

Am trying your recipe this weekend noeffingidea Sounds lovely.

So I'm sitting down tonight and doing an actual meal plan without stressing about it. I have so many ideas for meals on here, it's just hard to know what to choose!

Hello - I'm just posting to apologise for not being on here recently. I haven't been able to access my account for the last month or so, and have just had it reinstated by MNHQ.
I will reply to any PM's I have, and then be back on here to update.

I've caught up on all PM's now - I'm so sorry I've only just been able to
I hope I haven't offended anyone, or caused problems.

Have to go & do the school run, though will be back on later.

Margaritte,

I am trying to respond to your PM but it won't let me send. (Possibly because of JeffHackergate). I think JeffHackergate happened about 2 weeks after we last spoke and we were all forced into a 'forced password re-set' about 3 times in a few days.)

I did check to see if 'Margaritte' was on the hacked list and it wasn't, but if you had a previous user name I wouldn't know it.

MN peeps were de-registering and re-registering to make sure that computers/passwords were safe. If you missed the daily updates form MNHQ then I am sure that you would have been more than confused about why you couldn't access your account.

I haven't changed my username because of this thread in particular. I did however, have to go through all the password re-sets.

I am so glad to see that you have re-connected - especially because it led to some MNers suggesting you were not authentic.

Ring me any time up to 9.30pm (Ringo has done his evening walk and had his meal. He's on his decking now! The world of a dog is so simple when they are adopted by a caring human. ) I did see a number come up on my phone this afternoon but because my phone doesn't 'recognise it' (that is saved) I thought someone else wanted to sell me yet another new boiler!

SW x