Remember remember it's frugal November

[LonelyOversharer]

Woo hoo! I've never done the new thread before!

Least he's passionate about something though North. I think that's a good thing. If he's prepared to find the funds too, you can't argue with that really, fair play to him.

Sunny I know this. DD doesn't. I've gone as far as telling her that's she won't ever be a millionaire following this field but that's it. She's so passionate and prepared to work at whatever she does. DS is looking at a Maths degree because he's good at it and he's not sure what else to do really I think. DD is always reading round, researching, doing extra. I worry about him more in some ways. DD has the drive and work ethic to figure it all out herself. I'm torn between reality and enjoying her enthusiasm. Parenting teens has it's own difficulties!

Well, for what's it's worth I have a different take on the value of degree subjects: I really believe in doing what you are interested in, as well as you can, and then see what's next. People who did the degrees they 'should' do rather than really wanted to do didn't do so well ime. In reality, a very small proportion of my Oxford cohort have gone on to use their degree subjects directly (20-odd years later). Those that have are mostly the scientists /mathematicians. They are, for the most part, academics, with a few in industry or scientific writing. Or teachers. They are not terribly well paid, with only a couple of exceptions. The people who earn the most are those that went into banking, or management consultancy and then industry (becoming senior bods in blue chip companies), and those who do IT/programming. Especially for tech companies or banks. None of those are actually directly using their degree subjects, although they may be using their general skills (e.g. you don't need a maths or economics background for investment banking but a numerical brain helps). The others who make money are the lawyers, but most of them did a law conversion course after a different degree, not a first degree in law.

In my first job post-degree (management consultancy) I sat next to a chap who read Egyptology at Cambridge. Never ever used it but loved it and earning pots now in industry.

I agree Seacow and actually among my friends those who work in academia are the ones who seem love their jobs the most. I sometimes wish I had followed that path but I'm not very self motivated and tend to procrastinate a lot!

There's a shortage of hairdressers, a good hairdresser can earn really well. Male intimate waxing pays very well. And so it should.

£5 in in nectar points for the December food shopping.
£81.40 out on whisky but our Sunlife £100 Amazon voucher has paid for that so it's still a NSD. 2% cashback from Kidstart.

2 more presents to get & I'm done.

I studied social science at uni with a focus on psychology and cultural anthropology. Then did a conversion to law after while working. My first job was a trust admin type one. Then I started my law exams and then moved to the legal department of the firm. I’m now back in trust admin - different company - much smaller only our office here not multi jurisdictional like my old place.

Dh studied sports science at uni and is now an accountant.

Today’s jobs are - budget spreadsheet - update with receipts, change bedding on both beds, two loads of washing.

We’ve just had to bath ds. He was due a bath this evening but he pooped. He hadn’t pooped since Friday and apparently decided to do it all at once. And then pee while dh was changing him.

We may go out for a walk later too.

Cag

I found a list including resturants for your love to shop vouchers.

www.love2shop.co.uk/COMMON/pdfs/l2s-voucher-retail-list.pdf

Exclusions on page 2.

Fluffy

Around here plumbing is where it's at!

Yep, does not surprise me.

All these manual trades are well paying & no student debts. There was an article in the mail () interviewing a post grad in a minimum wage job & an electrician the same age driving a Merc & running a property maintanance company as well as his electrician business.

Spends
£9 bus (Caglets' bus passes ran out but while DH is travelling with us it's cheaper to get family tickets)
£21 spare bedding - just normal, the brushed cotton did look super cosy but I didn't like the designs!
£7 food in Boots (I don't care it's only November I reeeeeally enjoyed that festive sandwich!)
50p weight machine - I am now very nearly 4st lighter than I was at new year! Yay!

Cagletini on the other hand has gained a little and is back above her birth weight so we have been discharged from midwife care yay :)

Fluffy Yes that is a huge thing. I think that we need more builders and plumbers and the like, and the world has got into a stupid knot where everyone feels that they need a degree in order to be considered worthwhile. I really think that has to change. Builders, plumbers, hairdressers, carers and all these types of people are what makes the world go round, and I'm delighted that at least some of them are getting the good money.

need Good idea to let your dd think it through. She sounds as though she has good sense and will figure it out in her own way.

Does anybody know when the Clarks shoe sale is? My ds is getting close to needing all the shoes replaced. Eeep!

Hooray cag and cagletini love a chunky baby!!

I’m out of bed and have stripped both beds to stop me crawling back in. Just have to replace bedding now. Dh is watching a film. Ds is napping.

Dh wants to “tidy the house” today. I want to go out. So I may leave him to it! Ha!

I have hit the wall. Or rather it has hit me. I've made the mistake of sitting down and now I feel totally exhausted.

I need to go out and get moving I think.

Snuggly and

Interesting re the degrees people do and what they end up doing. I had no clue what i wanted to do when I was 18yo so ended up taking nearly 3 yrs out and had a fantastic time travelling and volunteering. Nursing was something I thought I might enjoy and i liked the fact it came with a bursery (not any more ) The rest is history as they say.

My point being that 18 is really very young to make any sort of decision about what you want to do with the rest of your life and I honestly think its the best time to do all the travelling and experimenting before having to think about being a grown up. That said dd will have to take a year or two out before uni in order to save up some money.

Fluffy I'd have to be very highly paid to do that
Need parenting teens is exhausting in a totally different way to when they are younger. I'm relieved ds has come up with this plan, it is something for him to work towards and might mean we could visit him Down Under!
Budget spreadsheet up dated and it isn't great, but manageable I think!
Unpacking done.
Dd has had rehearsals for her drama show at the end of the month, ds has got a girlfriend and she is here at the moment. It's his first girlfriend so a learning experience for us all!
Mum has invited us for tea this afternoon which is great as I had no idea what I was going to do & means I can leave shopping until tomorrow.

I asked ds to paint a nice picture that I could get put onto a tea towel for grandparents etc for Christmas. This is what he came up with...

I just very stupidly went for a 48 mile bike ride! I am beyond knackered now. But it was such a lovely day, was with our club group, I was the weakest link, meh.

I only did a-levels, two I needed for my apprenticeship type thing (maths and physics) and two for fun. Lets just say the 2 I needed weren't the ones I aced! I loved my job though. Still not sure what the maths or physics had to do with it.

I do wonder what my dc will end up as. They are mostly arty dreamers. Dd2 is a teacher if ever I saw one, I'd not cross her on a bad day.

fluffy "intimate male waxing" is a phrase that makes me feel a bit quesy. I take it men now aren't like the men I used to meet!

Just made the dc pancakes for lunch, and will do roast chicken for tea on the sc. Must nap now...

Oh and cag 4 stone down after having a baby too is brilliant work. I was 3 stome up for four years after ds. I take it the less weight you carry the easier it is on your joints too? Dp is like this with his back, the fitter the better. And well done to your little dd2, she'll not be tinky long.

lonely 48 miles?! That’s huge! That’s the equivalent of walking all of our coastal paths around the island.

Every year there’s a charity round island walk. It’s an unwritten rule that you should complete it once during your time living here. I’ve attempted it twice and completed it once. It took me 16 hours to finish. You start at 2am on the longest day. For me the killer was the final leg - the final 3 miles to the finish. It’s all flat along the seafront. You can see the finish but seemingly never get there...!! Awful. I couldn’t walk properly for days after.

Most of it is on cliff paths so uneven ground and steep ups and downs. Beautiful views though. Stunning.

£5.54 in the co op.

Well done lonely, that's some distance for a Sunday morning

I'm now wearing my fantastic new Thermogen knitted tights and polo neck long sleeved base layer, and I look fantastically like the Milk Tray Man sexy.

Toasty warm though, so I think we're on a winner here.

I've gone through feeling sleepy to just generally feeling pissed off and irritable now. Looking forward to Blue Planet to keep me going.

You've reminded me to pay my Next account Sunny, all £6 of it Glad the thermals are working. The make such a difference.

Thanks for the thoughts re degree choices. I'm going to trust DD to make the right choices for her and be there for her. Same goes for DS, he just needs nagging more!

North Agree re teen parenting. It's easier practically, but emotionally tougher I feel. Watching them make their own choices and turn into adults, whether you agree or not. I find they open up a lot while driving or if I'm pottering in the kitchen!

Brill news on DD2 Cag And 4 stone is incredible!!! It will make you feel so much better physically, I am sure. Go Cag.

I came 4th in my race but didn't break 45, it was way more off road than advertised so all about position. I worked as hard as I could and stayed positive, usually get really negative.

Bloody hell Lonely, that's a right old ride you did there. Well done. No wonder you are knackered now.

Snuggly I reckon that's all linked with being so tired. No words of encouragement, just lots of sympathy.

North I've done a boyfriend for DD, not a girlfriend for DS. It's so weird isn't it. DD is a sharer so I'm up to date with her emotional up and down. DS not so much!