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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

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:
Suchffun · 22/02/2011 10:36

DS has whiteboard pen stains on some of his sweatshirts - I don't see the point in replacing them, he'll only get stains on the replacements. And he got the stains at school with their stupid pens anyway!

Original poster
ImFab · 22/02/2011 11:04

I have chosen not to send my child to school in a marked top, it really doesn't matter what anyone else does.

I wish I had never posted now.

OP posts:
CrazyHorse · 22/02/2011 11:09

There is no 19:17 post!

This is the weirdest thread ever!!!

OADCB · 22/02/2011 11:12

Don't post and expect sympathy of you aren't willing to be criticised.

You are living beyond your means it really is that simple

Original poster
ImFab · 22/02/2011 11:14

19:14 post, my mistake and maybe you should hide it if you think it is weird.

OP posts:
Original poster
ImFab · 22/02/2011 11:16

I didn't post looking for sympathy Hmm. And there isn't anything that I can be criticised for. I posted for budget ideas. I am not willing to put my cat down because we have an unexpected bill. What a ridiculous idea.

Mumsnetters really are just going mad at the moment.

OP posts:
coccyx · 22/02/2011 11:17

Glad the cat is insured and you are keeping it
No way would i use second hand shoes for my children, especially not for school. They spend hours in them , need to be the right size and width

OADCB · 22/02/2011 11:17

Yawn.

Original poster
ImFab · 22/02/2011 11:18

The cat has been insured since she was 2 months old and I would never get rid of her because of a bill. I would go without if need be, not my children.

OP posts:
Original poster
ImFab · 22/02/2011 11:18

OADCB - feel free to leave the thread Hmm.

OP posts:
OADCB · 22/02/2011 11:19

That yawn was because you have avoided the question of what the stain Is and you just seem happy wingeing . Like you said you have a list of what you need to do. I suggest you do it.

QuintessentialShadows · 22/02/2011 11:19

I am sure the cat can easily be turned into a tasty meal. Wink
So keeping the cat happy and well fed, is in fact very good forward planning. At least you can pretend this.

OADCB · 22/02/2011 11:19

Think I will stick around thanks

Original poster
ImFab · 22/02/2011 11:21

I have not been wingeing.

I do not know what the stain is.

Happy now?

OP posts:
IsItMeOr · 22/02/2011 11:21

Sorry you feel criticised ImFab.

Just realised that my posts weren't explicit about the cat - didn't mean to suggest they should be put down, meant to suggest that they may need to be rehomed if you couldn't afford any more, but you have done the sensible thing and got insurance (ah, if only we had been as wise Wink).

GypsyMoth · 22/02/2011 11:26

White board pen stains!!! Evil!!

Take heart, weather will be warm enough to leave sweatshirts behind soon! Then school year will be done

Original poster
ImFab · 22/02/2011 11:28

She is 16 and it would be cruel to rehome her. It is a blip as we will get the money back each month to pay for the next. I just wanted ideas for budgetting as I could feed the whole street yet feel there is nothing to eat if the fridge isn't full.

OP posts:
IsItMeOr · 22/02/2011 11:45

You don't need to justify yourself ImFab.

We've been having to think hard about our almost 18 year old DCat. She seemed to be becoming doubly incontinent and stress of trying to keep toddler away from her "output" was becoming very hard. Fortunately seems to have been a minor inflammation successfully treated by short course of tablets and change of food. Phew!

CrazyHorse · 22/02/2011 11:55

OK - found the cat bit -must learn not to skim read!

I'm loving the weirdness, why would I hide the thread? Although, it's not so weird now I've realised posts aren't disappearing into oblivion.[disappointed]

If there is no money, there is no money, and your child will have to wear a stained item of clothing. Such is life. Mind you, if I had to choose between my DC having new shoes, and the cat getting treatment, I would go for the school shoes. It's a harsh call.

Do you bank on-line?..that way you can check every day how much money you have left.

Original poster
ImFab · 22/02/2011 12:02

The cat bit was hidden away, will give you that Grin.

I just wanted help with budgeting ideas as I know I spend too much money on food and shop more often than I need too. I just love to cook and bake and the kids love to eat!!

OP posts:
IsItMeOr · 22/02/2011 12:19

ImFab - I think you've just typed what your OP should have been tbh:

"I just wanted help with budgeting ideas as I know I spend too much money on food and shop more often than I need too. I just love to cook and bake and the kids love to eat!!"

Think that would have bypassed the weirdness, and got you more useful tips.

I've found menu-planning helps me avoid wasting food. Plus using left-over veggies to make into soup is a good suggestion I've heard elsewhere.

CrazyHorse · 22/02/2011 12:29

I found shopping on line helps - and not popping in to the supermarket if I forget something. Sometimes I feel like I'm stranded on a desert island, waiting for a ship to arrive with food, but it means I have enough, without having too much or over spending.

Original poster
ImFab · 22/02/2011 12:30

Good call. Might just do that.

OP posts:
BaroqueAroundTheClock · 22/02/2011 12:38

oh just send them in the stained top until the money from the insurnace comes back - at this stage in the school year there aren't very many immaculately dressed school children - especially if they're young ones, stains, chewed sleeves, all par for the course by this time.

OF course in reception they start of looking pristine in September........but after Christmas - approaching EAster they just go the same way as everyone else.

If you do still really want ot replace it just wait - it really won't hurt your DC

cupofcoffee · 22/02/2011 15:13

OP I understand about the cat. I could not get rid of ours just because an unexpected bill came along. Also people saying they would rehome not PTS, how easy do you think it would be to rehome an old cat with a chronic health problem?

Baroque I think you are right about a lot of uniforms looking worn at this time of year. My ds has chewed the cuffs of his jumpers and I'm not paying out for a new set just so they can end up in the same state in a few weeks!