Hello Readers
How is everyone in Blogland doing ? Wow it's been a busy few weeks here in the run up to Xmas but I think I have finally got everything ready and under control. All presents are wrapped, all cards have been sent and handed out, the house is all decorated and looking nice and festive, and other than Xmas day puddings, all the little extra bits of food needed have been bought and stored away ready to come out Xmas eve. I will be dropping youngest son at Bestie's a bit later so that I can do my usual yellow sticker shop and pick up the last few presents I need. I have been fortunate enough to get some extra hours work over the last few weeks which has enabled me to buy the boy's a few extra presents each.
My sister and her lovely partner came up from London for the day yesterday with a big bag full of Xmas presents which have gone under the tree for Xmas morning. They also came with a few bags of shopping for me bless them. My family and friends are pretty sneaky when it comes to helping me out as they know I am a bit of a stubborn git and refuse any handouts so they tend to do things without telling me so that I can't say no lol. They also pinched the electric key without me knowing and put £20 on the electric for me. I gave my sister a telling off but also thanked her. There is a 10 year age gap between me and my sister and I helped her a lot when she was a teenager and facing difficulties in her life that I will not go into. She see's this as her way of being able to return the favor and help me out now that she is grown up and settled with a good job. I am blessed to have some incredibly wonderful people in my life. They also treated us to lunch out yesterday, I had an all day breakfast which was absolutely delicious. But the best bit by far Readers was they brought eldest son up with them for the day. They live just half an hour away from where eldest son is staying with his Dad temporarily so I asked my sister if they would mind picking him up on their way and then asked my ex husband if it was OK for them to do so. If I get nothing else this Xmas then yesterday was the best Xmas present I could have wished for. I had an amazing day surrounded by a few of the people I love most in the world. Eldest son seem's to have done a lot of growing up in the last 3 weeks that he has been staying with his Dad, and I now feel confident that his moving out was the right move for him. I still miss him like crazy and can't wait for him to move back to this area once his supported living house has been put in place but I feel a lot happier knowing that he is doing well.
Anyway I better get on "no rest for the wicked" lol. I will be having tea at the Bestie's this evening after I have been shopping and will be bringing little S home with me for the night and having her for the day tomorrow to give Bestie a bit of respite as little S is Autistic and can be very hard work. If I get time and little S is not running rings round me by that time I will do my post about best buys from Pound land for Xmas presents for those on an extremely tight budget this Xmas.
Until Next Time
Much Love
Maria xxx
Sunday 18 December 2016
Wednesday 7 December 2016
Pound World Best Buys For Xmas Presents
Hello Readers
I was talking to a friend today about how expensive it is to buy presents for our little ones at Xmas. She told me that one year she was so skint she literally had £15 to spend on each of her 2 children. I asked her why she didn't go into Pound World or Pound land. Her response was "well they only sell cheap tat that breaks after a couple of days". I informed her that actually they have some pretty nice stuff and brand name items to and that if she should ever find herself in that position again she should really consider giving them a try. As a result of my conversation with said friend I have decided to put together a list of what I consider to be best buys for Xmas presents from both Pound World and Pound land for any of my Readers who should find themselves in the same position of a very limited budget. Today is the turn of Pound World.....
Girls
I was talking to a friend today about how expensive it is to buy presents for our little ones at Xmas. She told me that one year she was so skint she literally had £15 to spend on each of her 2 children. I asked her why she didn't go into Pound World or Pound land. Her response was "well they only sell cheap tat that breaks after a couple of days". I informed her that actually they have some pretty nice stuff and brand name items to and that if she should ever find herself in that position again she should really consider giving them a try. As a result of my conversation with said friend I have decided to put together a list of what I consider to be best buys for Xmas presents from both Pound World and Pound land for any of my Readers who should find themselves in the same position of a very limited budget. Today is the turn of Pound World.....
Girls
These recorders are available in Disney princess, My little pony, Frozen, Sofia the first, and Doc Mcstuffin
Disney princess tiara also available in blue Elsa from Frozen tiara
This is available in Doc Mcstuffin, My little pony, Sofia the first, Disney princess, and Frozen
Lovely little activity book
These cheer leading pom poms also come in blue and red
Cute set of fairy wings and a wand set
They have 4 of these dolls in store each dressed differently
Boys
Avengers light up yo-yo also comes in Disney Pixar cars and Spiderman
Mickey mouse recorder also comes in Avengers, Disney Pixar Cars, and Spiderman
Spiderman activity pack also comes in Avengers and Disney Pixar Cars
Cool little Cowboy set
Just like a Nerf gun only a fraction of the price
Does your little one like Pirates of the Caribbean ? If so they will love this pirate set
Most boys like playing cars and with this set you can get 10 cars for just £1
Unisex
Cute My first canvas
30 Colouring pencils
Drawing pad
Doctors and Nurses play set
Travel Doodler draw your picture, magically wipe it clean, and start again
Who doesn't like bubbles :)
A balloon modeling set for those budding balloon artists out there
A nice game to play together in the back garden or at your local park
Again who doesn't like bubbles lol
Play sand which is basically the same as kinetic sand but a whole heap cheaper. Comes in various colors
A bug viewer. Hours of fun to be had with this and educational too
All the items on this list cost just £1 each from Pound World. Today I have focused on younger girls and boys. Tomorrow I will focus on older girls and boys gifts from Pound land. This is NOT a sponsored post in any way. I just hope to give those struggling with a very tight budget some ideas on how to make sure their little ones have a nice pile of presents come Xmas morning without bankrupting themselves to do so.
Until Next Time
Much Love
Maria xxx
Tuesday 6 December 2016
Xmas On A Budget = Presents
Hello Readers
Xmas can be a very expensive time of year especially if you have younger children that are exposed to peer pressure. I am very lucky with my 3 boys they tend not to go along with what everyone else wants and as a result I don't end up with a never ending list come Xmas time. Here's an example, I asked the boys what they wanted for Xmas this year and here is what they told me.....
Eldest son = A Norman Price plush toy £7.99, A decent set of headphones £10
Middle son = A set of gaming headphones £15, Some notebooks and pens £5
Youngest son = Dr Who DVD £8, Magic sand set £4, Extra sand £4, Air hockey game £10
I save £30 every month from January through to November which means come the 2nd November I have £330 to spend on my entire Xmas. That's for everything presents, wrapping paper, tags, cards, decorations, food, and treats. I set a budget of £60 per child this year as things are a lot tighter than they have been in previous years. Now to some this might seem like a big figure but when you consider some families spend several hundred pounds on each child at Xmas this really is not that much at all. I am also very fortunate that I have a big family so they get lots of presents through them also. My children never feel deprived come Xmas morning and are always overjoyed with whatever they receive. As well as my 3 boys I have another 28 people to buy for at Xmas (yes you read that right 28 lol). I tend to spend around £5 on each person so around £140 in total. I usually buy 6 Xmas gift bags for £1 from The Card Factory. I buy 5 nice items per person from Pound land or Pound world and pop them into a gift bag for each person. An example of what might be in one is as follows.....
Ladies = A nice bottle of bubble bath, A nice scarf, A book or DVD, A box of festive biscuits, A box of chocolates.
Men = A bottle of shower gel, A matching deodorant, A book or DVD, A box of festive biscuits, A box of chocolates.
Children = A bottle of bubble bath, A set of play dough, A book or DVD, A chocolate Santa, Some chocolate coins.
Some people may feel that £60 is not enough to spend on their child and what can they possibly get for a mere £60 in this day and age but if you do your homework and know where to look you really can do well for £60. Here's what each of my boys have got this year.....
Eldest son
Norman Price plush toy £8
Set of skull candy headphones £12
Air hockey game £10
2 Brand name t shirts £5
Pack of 12 pairs of socks £5
A set of 3D virtual reality googles £10 (you put your phone in the device and you can watch movies and videos in 3D)
2 Shower gels £2
2 Deodorants £2
A Book £1
A DVD £1
A Chocolate snowman £1
A Tin of festive shortbread £1
A Bag of chocolate coins £1
An Emoticon pillow £1
Middle son
A Set of gaming headphones £15
A Set of 3D virtual reality goggles £10
2 Brand name t shirts £5
Pack of 12 pairs of socks £4
5 Picture frames to frame a set of laminated A4 posters £5
Set of 5 laminated A4 posters £5
Table top pool table £10
Notebooks and pens £6
2 Shower gels £2
2 Deodorants £2
A Book £1
A DVD £1
A Chocolate snowman £1
A Tin of festive shortbread £1
A Bag of chocolate coins £1
An Emoticon pillow £1
Youngest son
Dr who DVD £8
Batman Scooter £15
Magic sand set £4
4 Sand refills £4
Batman t shirt £2
Large army play set £8
Air hockey game £10
Foam dart gun £1
Avengers pencil case and matching stationary £3
A DVD £1
A Chocolate snowman £1
A Tin of festive shortbread £1
A Bag of chocolate coins £1
An Emoticon pillow £1
So you see each of my boys will wake up to a nice pile of Xmas presents and they each have exactly what they have asked for and then some. Don't be afraid to inform people you are on a limited budget and therefore can not afford to buy them an expensive gift this year. You could even ask them if they would mind a no gift giving policy this year (you don't buy for them and they don't buy for you). Check out stores such as Pound land, Pound world, B and M, Pound stretcher, Home bargains etc. They are not beneath you and save you a whole heap of money. The stores all my gifts have come from this year are as follows.....
EBay
Morrison's
Sports Direct
B and M
Pound land
Pound world
Asda
Store 21
Home bargains
If anyone wants to know where I purchased a particular item just ask in the comments and I will let you know. Cost for presents for 31 people this year £320.
Until Next Time
Much Love
Maria xxx
Xmas can be a very expensive time of year especially if you have younger children that are exposed to peer pressure. I am very lucky with my 3 boys they tend not to go along with what everyone else wants and as a result I don't end up with a never ending list come Xmas time. Here's an example, I asked the boys what they wanted for Xmas this year and here is what they told me.....
Eldest son = A Norman Price plush toy £7.99, A decent set of headphones £10
Middle son = A set of gaming headphones £15, Some notebooks and pens £5
Youngest son = Dr Who DVD £8, Magic sand set £4, Extra sand £4, Air hockey game £10
I save £30 every month from January through to November which means come the 2nd November I have £330 to spend on my entire Xmas. That's for everything presents, wrapping paper, tags, cards, decorations, food, and treats. I set a budget of £60 per child this year as things are a lot tighter than they have been in previous years. Now to some this might seem like a big figure but when you consider some families spend several hundred pounds on each child at Xmas this really is not that much at all. I am also very fortunate that I have a big family so they get lots of presents through them also. My children never feel deprived come Xmas morning and are always overjoyed with whatever they receive. As well as my 3 boys I have another 28 people to buy for at Xmas (yes you read that right 28 lol). I tend to spend around £5 on each person so around £140 in total. I usually buy 6 Xmas gift bags for £1 from The Card Factory. I buy 5 nice items per person from Pound land or Pound world and pop them into a gift bag for each person. An example of what might be in one is as follows.....
Ladies = A nice bottle of bubble bath, A nice scarf, A book or DVD, A box of festive biscuits, A box of chocolates.
Men = A bottle of shower gel, A matching deodorant, A book or DVD, A box of festive biscuits, A box of chocolates.
Children = A bottle of bubble bath, A set of play dough, A book or DVD, A chocolate Santa, Some chocolate coins.
Some people may feel that £60 is not enough to spend on their child and what can they possibly get for a mere £60 in this day and age but if you do your homework and know where to look you really can do well for £60. Here's what each of my boys have got this year.....
Eldest son
Norman Price plush toy £8
Set of skull candy headphones £12
Air hockey game £10
2 Brand name t shirts £5
Pack of 12 pairs of socks £5
A set of 3D virtual reality googles £10 (you put your phone in the device and you can watch movies and videos in 3D)
2 Shower gels £2
2 Deodorants £2
A Book £1
A DVD £1
A Chocolate snowman £1
A Tin of festive shortbread £1
A Bag of chocolate coins £1
An Emoticon pillow £1
Middle son
A Set of gaming headphones £15
A Set of 3D virtual reality goggles £10
2 Brand name t shirts £5
Pack of 12 pairs of socks £4
5 Picture frames to frame a set of laminated A4 posters £5
Set of 5 laminated A4 posters £5
Table top pool table £10
Notebooks and pens £6
2 Shower gels £2
2 Deodorants £2
A Book £1
A DVD £1
A Chocolate snowman £1
A Tin of festive shortbread £1
A Bag of chocolate coins £1
An Emoticon pillow £1
Youngest son
Dr who DVD £8
Batman Scooter £15
Magic sand set £4
4 Sand refills £4
Batman t shirt £2
Large army play set £8
Air hockey game £10
Foam dart gun £1
Avengers pencil case and matching stationary £3
A DVD £1
A Chocolate snowman £1
A Tin of festive shortbread £1
A Bag of chocolate coins £1
An Emoticon pillow £1
So you see each of my boys will wake up to a nice pile of Xmas presents and they each have exactly what they have asked for and then some. Don't be afraid to inform people you are on a limited budget and therefore can not afford to buy them an expensive gift this year. You could even ask them if they would mind a no gift giving policy this year (you don't buy for them and they don't buy for you). Check out stores such as Pound land, Pound world, B and M, Pound stretcher, Home bargains etc. They are not beneath you and save you a whole heap of money. The stores all my gifts have come from this year are as follows.....
EBay
Morrison's
Sports Direct
B and M
Pound land
Pound world
Asda
Store 21
Home bargains
If anyone wants to know where I purchased a particular item just ask in the comments and I will let you know. Cost for presents for 31 people this year £320.
Until Next Time
Much Love
Maria xxx
Sunday 4 December 2016
When A Family Pull's Together
Hello Readers
This weekend I have really felt blessed and loved. Only my family and closest friends are aware that eldest son has moved out as I didn't want to have to deal with the hundred and one questions that I would inevitably get asked until I had come to terms with the move myself. I am slowly getting used to him not being here but then I do talk to him every day lol. I am finding it hard to adjust to the silence, lack of mess, and lack of washing since he left. Everyone keeps telling me to enjoy it and that I have earned a rest and I am sure they mean well but I am finding it all incredibly difficult. My mum, sister, and 2 best friends have been checking in with me and keeping an eye on how I am doing. Youngest son was at respite this weekend so I got to spend some quality time with middle son. Yesterday was our towns annual Xmas street fair and Xmas lights switch on. Middle son and I decided we would attend both events and when we got home snuggle up and watch Xmas movies together. The Xmas fair was not as good as it has been in previous years but none the less it gave middle son and I the chance to get out of the house and do something together.....
Our little town looks incredibly pretty when you walk down there after dark now. Total cost to me for yesterday was £0. My mum gave middle son £10 to spend and £5 for me and son to have a portion of churros whilst we was there, and my best friend also gave middle son £10 to spend (they both know how incredibly tight things are here now eldest son is no longer contributing and this is their way of helping out as they know I am to proud to accept a handout so by giving middle son spending money it saved me having to do so). After the lights switch on I popped to Morrison's to see if there were any yellow stickers before dropping little O back home (she loves coming for a ride on Aunty Maria's mobility scooter lol. Unfortunately there were no yellow stickers but when we got back to the bestie's to drop little O off the bestie announced she had ordered a take away for all of us. This was a real treat for us and I was very grateful that I did not have to come home and cook. We had pizza, southern fried chicken, chips, and onion rings. We were both stuffed and I thanked bestie giving her a big hug and telling her she really didn't have to buy for us also. Her response was "I know things are hard right now and you are family I didn't want you going home to that cold house without a full belly". When we got home middle son and I put the little electric fire on in my room, snuggled up in bed and watched cartoons for the rest of the night.
Today I have been a busy bee. I had a lie in as youngest son was at respite. After I eventually got up I sorted the house, went to work for 2 hours, went yellow sticker shopping, came home and unpacked, sorted some washing, saw to the animals, did dinner, got the washing up done, got everyone bathed and ready for bed, and am now writing this post before going to sleep myself. I got quite lucky with my yellow stickers today bagging the following bargains.....
850g Grated cheese £1.10
A bag of melon slices 15p
A bag of pears 19p
2 Pots of mixed fruit 30p
6 Tomatoes 15p
A bunch of flowers 19p
4 Chocolate chip panetonne 36p
A tomato flatbread 5p
4 Cheese scones 5p
16 Activia yogurts 38p
A garlic flatbread 9p
A loaf of bread 5p
3 Boxes of 6 eggs 15p
Anyway I am off to bed now Readers. Hope you have all had a productive weekend.
Until Next Time
Much Love
Maria xxx
This weekend I have really felt blessed and loved. Only my family and closest friends are aware that eldest son has moved out as I didn't want to have to deal with the hundred and one questions that I would inevitably get asked until I had come to terms with the move myself. I am slowly getting used to him not being here but then I do talk to him every day lol. I am finding it hard to adjust to the silence, lack of mess, and lack of washing since he left. Everyone keeps telling me to enjoy it and that I have earned a rest and I am sure they mean well but I am finding it all incredibly difficult. My mum, sister, and 2 best friends have been checking in with me and keeping an eye on how I am doing. Youngest son was at respite this weekend so I got to spend some quality time with middle son. Yesterday was our towns annual Xmas street fair and Xmas lights switch on. Middle son and I decided we would attend both events and when we got home snuggle up and watch Xmas movies together. The Xmas fair was not as good as it has been in previous years but none the less it gave middle son and I the chance to get out of the house and do something together.....
This young lady couldn't have been more than 16 years old yet she had a lovely voice.
The local dance troop
The funfair
An old fashioned music machine
Santa's grotto
The high street lights
Library lights
Tree lights
Our little town looks incredibly pretty when you walk down there after dark now. Total cost to me for yesterday was £0. My mum gave middle son £10 to spend and £5 for me and son to have a portion of churros whilst we was there, and my best friend also gave middle son £10 to spend (they both know how incredibly tight things are here now eldest son is no longer contributing and this is their way of helping out as they know I am to proud to accept a handout so by giving middle son spending money it saved me having to do so). After the lights switch on I popped to Morrison's to see if there were any yellow stickers before dropping little O back home (she loves coming for a ride on Aunty Maria's mobility scooter lol. Unfortunately there were no yellow stickers but when we got back to the bestie's to drop little O off the bestie announced she had ordered a take away for all of us. This was a real treat for us and I was very grateful that I did not have to come home and cook. We had pizza, southern fried chicken, chips, and onion rings. We were both stuffed and I thanked bestie giving her a big hug and telling her she really didn't have to buy for us also. Her response was "I know things are hard right now and you are family I didn't want you going home to that cold house without a full belly". When we got home middle son and I put the little electric fire on in my room, snuggled up in bed and watched cartoons for the rest of the night.
Today I have been a busy bee. I had a lie in as youngest son was at respite. After I eventually got up I sorted the house, went to work for 2 hours, went yellow sticker shopping, came home and unpacked, sorted some washing, saw to the animals, did dinner, got the washing up done, got everyone bathed and ready for bed, and am now writing this post before going to sleep myself. I got quite lucky with my yellow stickers today bagging the following bargains.....
850g Grated cheese £1.10
A bag of melon slices 15p
A bag of pears 19p
2 Pots of mixed fruit 30p
6 Tomatoes 15p
A bunch of flowers 19p
4 Chocolate chip panetonne 36p
A tomato flatbread 5p
4 Cheese scones 5p
16 Activia yogurts 38p
A garlic flatbread 9p
A loaf of bread 5p
3 Boxes of 6 eggs 15p
Anyway I am off to bed now Readers. Hope you have all had a productive weekend.
Until Next Time
Much Love
Maria xxx
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