All prepared for the month ahead?

Hello Dear Reader,

I have some well planned for and structured expenses over the coming year and each month we need to be careful stewards of our resources to not just live beneath our means, but well beneath our means. I know that the cynical amongst you will think that our well beneath our means is still very comfortably off. Believe me when I say, there are families out there far better off than ourselves who have nothing in savings and a zero balance sheet at the end of the month. We live beneath our means so we can live in warmth, make choices, have affordable hobbies and a lifestyle that makes us happy.

This month sees the first expense of our new double glazed windows. Our large Victorian windows flood the rooms with light but are leaking heat and money. I hate the cold and do everything I can to stay comfortably warm whilst balancing lower heating bills. We have set aside saving for this and then have two months to replenish our savings in readiness for the next tranche of home improvements.

I have a busy month ahead, I'm off to talk to the local Christians Against Poverty support group to share ideas on money saving, budgeting, menu plans and being a savvy shopper. 

I have two open house 'sewing bees' and so far have three ladies coming to sew. (I'll be back in touch any day so watch out for an email) No agenda on this one, it's 'student lead'. Two of the three sewers want to learn basic sewing techniques from using a sewing machine to cutting fabric and making the simplest thing. The second day, again student lead, is about learning new quilt blocks to liven up their quilting. If anyone would like to come and sew, email me as the more the merrier! 

I also have a school reunion to go to, a bakery workshop with an artisan baker, a Radio Cornwall Sunday morning phone in and in the middle of it all, a day out with my husband. I have two quilts to back, quilt and bind and a whole 'crumb' quilt to finish to use up all the scraps and odds and ends of fabric I have left from previous quilt projects. I might get time to breathe! 

That's just the fun stuff.............I also have prepared the following.

1. Read all meters and submit the readings online.
2. Stock take and sort my fabric.
3. Stock take and sort the dry food stores.
4.Stock take the freezer.
5. Menu plan for two weeks.
6.Write shopping list for week ahead.
7. Re-arrange my sewing room for two sewing bees.
8. Dig up and move plants in the garden - prepare for a lawn (not sourced turf yet!)
9. Order logs and split and stack on arrival.
10. Launder all the pillows.

Now over to you Dear Reader. Are you prepared? Half term is coming up so are you prepared with activities for the children? Are you ready for two 'eat from the stores' or 'very thrifty meals' to allow so slack in the budget for when the children are at home? Have you sourced free or low cost activities in your local museum, library, community centre or Sure start centre? You have two weeks to shore up your readiness so you don't end up reaching for your wallet too often.

If you have children, what are your plans for an affordable half term? Who has found a great get away deal and is making the most of a slow market? Who has games or activities planned? Take a look at Elaine's 'Im bored jar'. Woe betide any child of mine who ever uttered they were bored, I could keep them busy for hours! Who else, maybe childless goes away on holiday when no one else can and has bagged a late winter bargain! Brighten up the comments with your ingenious ways of keeping a family occupied with a week off school and a limited budget.

Until tomorrow,

Love Froogs xxxx