New year frugalling commences. Save those pennies for January

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New Fred.

Em it is scary to look at it all like that but it helped me to think that a lot of the baby costs are temporary. You will be gradually using less formula now and eventually none. Likewise nappies, I found they didn't go through as many as toddlers as when they were milk-guzzling babies and eventually that cost disappears.
We are close to getting our 15 hours funded at nursery and later in the year 30 hours funded which will make a huge difference to us. Do you get that funding on the Channel Islands?
When that kicks in we plan to overpay on the mortgage and do a few house repairs.

Your childcare is about my monthly income em 😵 but I guess there is two of you bringing money in.

I'm tired as didn't sleep well, found some more things I didn't like on dds phone 😪 feeling pretty shit that I've not been careful enough with it. Thought checking it regularly was enough but didn't realise quite how sneaky she could be. Have told her she can have her phone back when I feel she is mature enough to have one, probably in about 5 years then!!

Morning,

Hopefully NSD for me today. Oh no there’ll be £2 for football. DS2s planned match is cancelled but we’ve secured a friendly and they need a contribution towards the pitch hire.

Meal planning and shopping list creating today. After last weeks monster shop, where we needed everything, I’m hoping this one will come in a fair way under budget.

@Girliefriendlikespuppies sorry to ear about dd and her phone. It’s scary what can go on without us knowing. Hope you can talk and she can build up your trust in her.

Thank you Snuggly. We miss him but we’re mending.

I’ve done some of my batch cooking, three portions each of hunters and honey mustard chicken ready for the freezer. I’ve a pan of tomatoes and veg from the fridge which will become red sauce for more chicken. DP has peeled a pan of potatoes for leeky mash.

£16 at Tesco for more veg and drinks. It’s fatal having a Tesco at the end of our road.

That’s how I’m looking at it snuggly temporary short term financial pain!

We can get free hours. Although we may not qualify because we earn too much. The gov is also looking to scrap free nursery hours for working parents too. Because in their view those who aren’t working need the childcare to get back to work....(or surely those who are need it to be able to continue to work....)

We’re moving Dd onto follow on formula soon and solids. So at least I’ll get my boots points for the formula!

Welcome back Duchess sorry to hear about your father.

Planning a nsd today as I failed yesterday and spent -
£30 on takeaway (we had an extended, totally draining, visit to MIL in hospital and CBA cooking)
£14 on ultrasun
£12 on reduced Morph eyeshadow pallet for a birthday present
£10 on 40 Duracell batteries (we go through a ridiculous amount and cheaper ones work out a false economy)

I’ve lots of washing and chores to catch up with today and I will make today’s and tomorrow’s dinner so we can just reheat. We do alternate days visiting MIL so this will make life easier.

Have a good day everyone

Wonder if yours is the same as mine @We3kingsoforientareandabump as the range is near IKEA. Mine is Gateshead

I let wreck know about the ultrasun. She has got some, thanks. I don't need any so won't get this time.

I think it's just certain new look stores are being closed. I saw lots of nice things I liked in the. DD spent most of her voucher £25, £18 Primark voucher, £5 greggs post dive, £23 game.

Nsd for me today despite going to Cardiff to pick up Dd2 . About time l had one ! Lovely sunny day here 🌞😄

Lifelong yes I live in Gateshead so that's my local too!

That's not very logical Em, of course parents who are already earning need funded hours!

I've ordered the ultrasun too, thanks born and I found an even better price of the SPF30 sports gel which ds & dh use. Just hoping it arrives in time for the holiday as it's giving such a long delivery time. It will get used anyway so doesn't matter.
Welcome back Duchess sorry to her about your father.
Girlie I'm thinking I should be more wary of what dd is doing on her phone. It's scary isn't it?

I have just ambushed dh and got him to sort through a crate that was lurking at the bottom of his wardrobe full of unused shampoos, shower gels and other things that "will come in handy for something, one day"!! We have enough shower gels, soaps and shampoos to last us most of this year I reckon.
More tidying and sorting today, gym class done this morning.

Well I thought I might manage my first NSD but no £6.57 in Lidl. All things I needed well except a 39p cookie for DS3.

NSD. Unusual for a weekend but all good!!

Just in roast dinner food coma now 🤤

It's really scary north we're one of the first generation of parents to have this to worry about. What's really shocking is how easy it is for children to join social media and find inappropriate content.

We've been into town took some bits back to Next so £20 back in, £6 in Greggs on lunch and £12 in Poundland on bits and pieces.

Slightly spendy but amazing bargains today:
B&Ms
Kingsize duvet set & cases £2 saved £12
Voile for bathroom window 10p saved 4.89
Plant pot and stand £3.50 saved 8.50
Lynx deo gift set with wash x2 £4 saved £8
Broiche choc 80p saved 39p
Large colemans mustard £1.00

Free mcdonalds latte
Free read of sunday mail in mc donalds
Spent £9.50 on above...still frugal. Id had my eye on the mustard duvet set and the pot and stand for about 8 weeks!

Lovely walk to all the shops too, 16,000 steps so far today, so thats exercise ticked too ;)

Mrs mad evans - thanks thats what we have for spagetti... and cardiff is near my neck of the woods

@Fearofawelshplanet hope you don't mind me asking you a question but we are looking to help DD2 to buy a place in Cardiff but we have seen about 8 houses and they are a terrible price and the areas are not even very nice. Do you live in the Cardiff area and if so have you any tips. We are especially worried about flooding because practically all of Cardiff is on a flood plane
Thank you in advance and don't worry if you would rather not say

NSD :)

NSD

Broke my sweeping brush last week, well my MIL's & she's been deceased for 14 years. I do have another one but I don't like it, luckily this month they're reduced in homestore&more.
However they've got the rotating heads 360 deg automatic sweeper for €8, does anyone have one of these? Are they any good? I've currently got tiles & timber floors. The house I'm interested in buying has carpet in living room & bedrooms & timber flooring everywhere else.

Girlie just saw about your dd's phone. I am dreading all this. It's so hard because to ban teens from socials altogether would deny them a social life. My Year 11 class share their revision notes on a WhatsApp group which gives me hope that some kids use it for good! Don't blame you at all for taking it off her. It is scary.

Nsd but about to do online food shop.

Yesterday we spent £53.72 in Tesco, £15.19 in Subway (4 Subs + cookies/crisps + drinks for £14 voucher plus a little extra for a drink upgrade). Then DS1 announced he'd forgotten he'd been invited to a birthday party and could he have a lift. So I gave him £15 for that and DH put £35 in the car and a new light bulb for the headlight.

Today was a NSD

I've completed 4 bags this week so I'm now caught up with that. Which means there will be a visit to the post office tomorrow. I have a set of bunting to make, a card, another bag and I have to put together ideas and source fabric for another commision.

NSD here too. A 12h shift helped. I’m off tomorrow, hoping for another NSD.