Thursday FLY - Come and join us!

[SimplyWantsAMagicWandPlease]

Bore da! Good morning!

mission

TM Money worries are a real PITA and it is so easy to panic with them. Take a deep breath and step back. Look at what you have coming in and going out, then prioritise your debts. Let creditors know your circumstances and see if you can reduce/freeze any payments. See what your paying out that you can live without and stop it and....

God I'm being v patronising, sorry, so long as you have a roof over your head and know there's food to make a meal, don't panic too much.

And we're here for you

TM I tried to post on your blog but I couldn't figure out an easy way to do it?
When I worry about money I feel physically sick. That's why I do a job that I hate! I feel like a miner going down the pits, but I need to help keep a roof over our heads. You're right if I had two kids to find childcare for it would swallow my salary.
What was your previous occupation?
Your blogs are so well put together.

Thank you ladies

Well DH boss have handed him a cheque in the last 15 minutes, so at least we can eat and sort school lunches etc till the end of the month.

GO DH is working from home on Tuesday and all those calls will be made then, we dont want the children to pick up on stuff, they understand that we dont have enough pennies for certian things though

Star I used to be a facilities Manager for a top three software company in Reading (Berkshire) and it is a full time, hands on, role with far too much travel for me. They didnt want a part time person and also based down south.

Swan I need this operation, partly for my sanity. I am so tired of looking like a pregnant drag queen with no brests. I will be able to wear my prostectics after this. If I put it off I may never have it done, as it has taken a lot of mind over matter to get to this point. Also I live in a really rural area and if I gave up the car, we would never get anywhere. 1 bus an hour if you are lucky, that would mean no swimming, toddler groups or anything during the day.

thanks again

Hello again all.

I'm sorry to hear of your financial concerns TM. I am really very ignorant of most financial things to do with houses and families (I can run a theoretical business on paper as business management was part of my course but that's completely different). My dh is very good at shopping around for equal cover but cheaper insurance, electric, phones etc so I leave it all to him. Sorry that I'm no help to you.

swanriver I think you forget that 1) my kids are in school all day and being teenagers are very independant (they're down the park playing footie with other local kids atm) and so I have a lot of time at home with just the cat and dog for company (therefore peace and quiet) and 2) I have recently started on a career break and I'm loving it. I was quite unwell for a few years and since being better I've worked part-time so this time to myself is to make up for the time I was ill and it's like a loooong holiday!

I've done everything on my list except the hoovering. I think I'll do that after I've made tea. Bye for now.

Simply and TM - hope I didn't offend either of you - completely see the car sit too.
Simply - I love you being in a happy mood, I was just teasing. I feel happy often for the some of the same reasons as you...

Just had four little girls in house (not getting on alas)but now dd is doing her homework, and two have departed
leaving one to play with ds2

Also, wanted to say from very recent experience - now thankfully resolved - the banks are being b***ds over temporary overdrafts and not showing any long view, their computers are just shutting down on any criteria which they perceive inadequate (sorry haven't said that very well, but you wll know what I mean)

TM just don't threaten to leave us again LOL - you need us for support if you're having problems! That's why this thread is so special, I think.
Anyway, there's not a lot you can do other than be as frugal as possible I suppose. Have you spoken to the rest of your family? They may not be able to give money but they may be able to help out with a meal a week at their house etc?
swan hope little girl party went ok?!
I know I complain about money too, as do we all - it's the worst thing, isn't it, stops you enjoying your life!

TM I know that feeling over money. Financially things here are shocking too - hence my going back to work, even though I would SO much rather not have to until DS2 was at least at nursery. It is definitely worth trying to arrange something for your debts/credit cards though. We ran up lots of debt/credit card bills during our failed attempt to re-locate (when our hous esale fell through 4 times and we ended up paying mortgage and rent enlessly LOL) and had to make arrangements for re-negotiated monthly payments. you could contact the Consumer Credit Council who will look into all that and advise you for free.DH boss sounds very kind - at least you've got some breathing space for a bit....Hang in there..things will work out in the end.

everyone-else Hi!
sorry to be brief but headach has developed into full blown migraine and I'm off to lie in dark room for 1/2 hour.
Hopefully BBL

TM Are you a bit of an IT whizz? I know what you mean about not having a car I used to live in a village near Aldershot. I didn't drive and the bus came twice a day, once in the morning towards Farnham then in afternoon towards Guildford!!! That's how I learnt to cycle at 21 yrs Ha!ha! I used to load my shopping in panniers and sometimes cycle with toilet paper under my arm! Don't think I could do the hopping & two kids on the bike now! That's why I moved back to London close to my parents (even before kids!) I do think that big business is heavily loaded towards London. Where are the UK's Milans, Barcelona, Valencia As a country we are very poor and spreading the wealth,culture and general amenities around the country.
have to go Ds locked in the loo!

Hi swan. Sorry, I should have put a smile at both ends of my post and then you'd have known you hadn't offended me! Going off on a tangent as I often do, silly things make me smile like earlier today when the person in front of me at the cash point thought her transaction had been declined so she left. The machine then started giving out her £50 as I took up my turn as she was out of earshot (I know, 'cos I yelled "Excuse me!") so I had to wait for her money then run up the road after her. Luckily she'd started queueing at the next bank's cash point and could confirm that she'd asked for £50 but hadn't received it and I then gave it to her. She said that people in our town must be very honest. I was a bit miffed afterwards that I hadn't thought to tell her that I'm from 100 miles away originally but it doesn't matter, I guess! Whenever I read your name, I misread it as Swansea. It's in South Wales which is, as we all know, God's country!

galen and TM I hope your financial situation eases soon. Perhaps you could check with the Citizens Advice Bureau that you're getting all the benefits you may be entitled to, etc? We were quite short for money when our children were small but we were able to afford for me not to have to work until they were both in 9am to 3.15pm school, so that was good. I can recommend this book. Love is Not Enough: A Smart Woman's Guide to Money by Merryn Somerset Webb. I ordered it in using my local library and it cost 50p to do so. I intend reading it again and giving it to my children as I think it was full of useful advice. TM Please don't leave us. Just pop on to say hi if it's too much for you to post more than that. {hugs}

I'd better stop waffling and go and do something. Oh, I did some swimming earlier before my appointment. I need to write down how long it takes me to travel, change, swim a decent number of lengths, shower and change back. Then I'll know whether I can fit it in in future occasions or not.

You all made me cry. I am so lucky to have you in my life.

Don't cry hon. You know how lucky you are to have your three beautiful boys in your life and your health and us wonderful girls too who needs cash anyway?!!

Hey, I was so excited today! I pushed off from the side in my swimming lesson, with my head under the water (a first, even in the bath!!) and opened my eyes under water!!!!! Then I actually floated (for about one second) before sinking to the bottom again like a stone. The teacher says to me, I don't mean to be rude, but it's all in your head, dear!
LOL

mad sorry tea or galen or anyone else with boys! Do you have train table for your boys? Just considering getting one for DS's birthday in a few weeks. He loves his train track but doesn't play with it much - thought he might if it was out on a table, he always loves them in shops/other people's houses etc. Recommend?

Wendy what would I do without you lot.

Yes we have a train table, it is rather battered now, MIL bought it for us and it has trundles underneath. it was used a lot, but it isnt big enough for them now. GLTC has one you can pop under a bed, which would hold a large train track. We just put them up in DS1's room now. Will Be back with link

Oh and I bet it is all in your head, but I thought I would sink without brests . But well done

here

Thank you Tea it looks good but a bit ££ as GLC is! DS has a large bedroom, so there is room for a table! I do just set it up on the floor in living room but not often enough and he does seem to love those tables! I just thought better to play with a smaller track more often and can still have big track on the floor. A basic one in argos for £50 but no sizes on it. Toys r us do in the sale at £100 with millions of bridges, engine shed stuff with it.
We are your second family, Tea

Hi all. Back from Tai chi, feeling very zen .

Tea - sympathies - I hope things look up. Did anything come of the work for the Bra lady? Or would you consider childminding - you'd be fantastic at that.

Wendy - Can't help with the train table. I just keep setting it up (along with the farm set, castle, dolls house etc) although DS enjoys setting up himself now.

Today
DC home work - Not done, DS forgot to bring home
clean bathroom DONE
clean kitchen Not done
laundry 1/2 done
taichi DONE

BBtomorrow.

Wendy Glad you enjoyed your swimming lessons. You sound a bit like me when I learnt to cycle as an adult. It takes a little bit of bravery. Ds has a wooden train set but we don't have the room for the table. He now has so many bits it like figuring out a jigsaw puzzle. The boring bit for me is the push the trains around.
I'm so tired now.
Last week I changed to a 9tog quilt and then the weather got warmer. I'm a rubbish sleeper and have to have optimum conditions!
DH is out for a parents evening then a pub quiz. I'm going to go to bed early.
Night all. Try dreaming of something nice like winning the lottery.

Night all - thanks for advice. DS doesn't like the setting up bit with trains. I thought that was supposed to be half the fun! He likes the pushing them round the track bit. You are right star - a lot of bravery.

Back from night out with some ladies
no train tables here - or room for one, but ds loves playing with his track and also loves pushing things as you say on raised levels - sometimes just any low table will do for a string of magnetic trains.
He has only just started setting up by himself (aged 7), but adores playing once it is set up by DAD. He's been traintracking now for five years - sometimes tracks go right down the corridor

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