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Housekeeping

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Original poster

I have totally run out of money and I have uniform and shoes to buy for the kids.

92 replies

ImFab · 21/02/2011 15:09

DH gives me all the money he can, and I get child benefit, but I am clearly rubbish at keeping an eye on what I have left.

OP posts:
scurryfunge · 21/02/2011 15:16

Can the uniforms be used a little longer?

Sell something?

Cancel a subscription?

Overtime?

BooyFuckingHoo · 21/02/2011 15:51

yes sell whatever you can. it will take possible a few days but I'm sure the uniforms will last a week.

also, ask if tehre is anything in lost property at school that you could have. my ds' school gave me a school jumper with the logo on it because i had bought two with the logo of teh attached school on tehm and tehy were £10 each so tehy gave me a really good one from lost property.

soppypreggyloon · 21/02/2011 15:51

Do school sell second hand stuff? Ours do- usually decent stuff that was never claimed from lost property.

OffToNarnia · 21/02/2011 17:13

If you manage to find a little money for shoes have you bought from supermarkets? my sons cost £10 and are fine. Also 3 polo shirts for under £3 [Tesco and Asda]. My ds has also had hand me down shoes from friends/cousins in the past. We also use school second hand sales. We got a school coat for £7 in Tescos. We are broke too!! Good luck, I do know it can be hard.

Original poster
ImFab · 21/02/2011 19:14

Thanks everyone, I had to go to a hospital appointment I wasn't ignoring you.

I only needed one lot of uniform and it has to be branded but was £5 and not the £13 I was expecting and my MIL has given me some money towards the childrens shoes.

I see I have money left so spend it but then have nothing for unexpected bills. This month alone so far the cat has cost us over £200 in unexpected bills and will cost us an extra £80-110 a month from now on so I need to budget a lot better.

OP posts:
SecondMrsS · 21/02/2011 19:18

This sounds harsh but do you need the cat??

I'm not a cat lover but even if I was hmm... cloth my kids... pay for the cat...? no brainer.

Original poster
ImFab · 21/02/2011 19:24

Things are not that bad but yes, I need the cat Grin.

OP posts:
OADCB · 21/02/2011 19:41

That's an expensive cat

Original poster
ImFab · 21/02/2011 19:59

Worth every penny Grin.

OP posts:
PaperView · 21/02/2011 20:01

why on earth does your cat cost that much?!

TheProvincialLady · 21/02/2011 20:03

I love my cat but if it was a choice between my children's shoes and uniforms and spending £100 a month on her - she would have to go. You will get into serious financial difficulty if you spend that kind of money you clearly can't afford. Unless you can cut down on other things, you must give serious consideration to the fact that you cannot afford to spend £1000+ a year on a cat.

harecare · 21/02/2011 20:05

You need to budget for the things you aren't expecting, as really uniform costs aren't unexpected are they?
Cats getting ill is a bit hard to prepare for, but if you add up how much in a year the kids need for shoes and uniform and divide by 12 you'll know how much you need to save for them each month. That way, when you see you have money left you'll realise it's not leftover money, t's what you need to get by.

harecare · 21/02/2011 20:06

I hope your cat is very old...

Georgimama · 21/02/2011 20:10

Is it too late to insure the cat so you don't spend £000s on medical treatment?

GypsyMoth · 21/02/2011 20:11

Cat got diabetes or something?

When pets take precedence over needy humans then I'd be taking a good hard look at myself! What does your dh say about the cat?

IsItMeOr · 21/02/2011 20:17

We are very comfortably off, and we balk at spending that kind of money on our elderly cat.

Seriously, you can't afford it, and you know it.

OADCB · 21/02/2011 20:19

ridiculous...and Im a cat lover

iwastooearlytobeayummymummy · 21/02/2011 20:25

my goodness do you really need to chose between your cat or your children?
is any animal worth £1000 a year over and above providing for your family?

GypsyMoth · 21/02/2011 20:40

It's worrying!!

Original poster
ImFab · 21/02/2011 20:42

I am not choosing cat over children! I was just saying why I had run out of money this month. The cat is old and insured and DH has just told me we will get back the money we have spent this month.

The uniform was unexpected as I have to replace something that won't come clean rather than been grown out of.

OP posts:
Original poster
ImFab · 21/02/2011 20:44

And she has been sneezing for 2 days so maybe isn't that well anyway Sad.

OP posts:
OADCB · 21/02/2011 20:44

So why is it going to cost you so much per month for cat?

H

Original poster
ImFab · 21/02/2011 20:44

She has to have monthly injections and blood tests as well as medication and food.

OP posts:
GypsyMoth · 21/02/2011 20:46

I don't understand either.......and insurance pays out on age related Illness?

iwastooearlytobeayummymummy · 21/02/2011 20:49

Phew, thank goodness for insurance!
How old are your DCs?
Any chance of swapping/begging outgrown uniform from friends and acquaintances?
Our local shoe shop always has a half term sale on last season's school shoes this time of year too.
But I do feel your pain as I've just had to fork out for a new blazer for DS and no second hand available