SueC

I think every one has had some good advice for you. They have spoken from where they have been and how they dealt with it. The key with a budget is that both have to be committed to it or it derails. Most of the time it is one partner who does the maths and works out the budget. The other partner usually looks at them as if they are totally insane, and cannot see any need for the budget. Because your husband is geting so upset about it, have you considered giving him the bills to pay? Tell him you need $xxx to be in a seperate account each pay to cover the groceries and whatever else you need cash for. Then arrange for an automatic payment for that to go into the account. Now you are covered and you know there will be food on the table. Make sure that your grocery bills before you do this are high! plenty of high price items to show that you really need this much! Next give him the bills. Explain that the heartache and the turmoil it is placing on your relationship is too much for you, and as he is the breadwinner and the head of the house, you would prefer it if he took care of these things. Ask if he would like you to write up a list of what is expected, how much and when. Dont ask if they are paid, dont panic if he gets a reminder bill. This is now his responsibility. And as long as you have enough for the household needs then let the rest go. and if something gets cut off, then he might wake up. Be aware of what you need in case the electricity is turned off, or any bill is unpaid. Not to nag him, but to have a back up plan. Now the fun. Each pay period take most of what is in the account out, you can vary it up and down each time. If you dont take it out, it will very likely be withdrawn by DH to pay for something he considers important. Now you need to buy the groceries, and remember to keep high price items in one transaction - they are the receipts you need to produce occassionally to show that you really need that much money. But when you have money left over at the end of the pay period, quietly place it aside somewhere safe. It is that money that you will use for preps and for the unexpected. If there is a birthday or something special coming up, then ask for a little extra, dont use your saved money. The key to this working is to give him back the responsibility of looking after the finances. This will allow him to think that he has control over the finances and how the money he earns is spent. Just remember. Make sure that the amount you need for groceries - the automatic payment is enough. Do not understate this as you will have buckleys chance of increasing it. (is "buckleys" American? - broadly speaking "no chance at all")

Oops - my bad, whatever you call the ground up meat - oatmeal goes well with it!

I have often used oatmeal to extend mince, you cant tell if you throw it into spaghetti bolognese or any similar dish. The oatmeal absordbs the flavour of mince and the texture appears to the same. remember that the starch effect will also need to be considered.

and it wasn't any relative of mine

The presents are opened, the skype calls have started and shortly I will put the Christmas dinner on to cook. Have a great Christmas Day! and an awesome 2013!

when we switched to naked ADSL for our internet, and voip phone we were offered the choice of paying $30 per annum to have our phone number listed. Needless to say I declined! we get no telemarketing calls, and surveys, and our phone bill each month is about $3 - $6. Loving it!

If you are still undecided about whether this is a poison, take a can of diet soda and pour it out on the green grass early in the day. at the end of the day, go back and see where you poured it. The grass will now be yellow and dying. Great for pouring over ant nests to kill the nest!

wow - a year or so in a whirlwind! and we are only reading your condensed version. Praying that your life settles down and you have a closer relationship with all your children. so good to hear from you

We only buy honey from the beekeeper. Often that is the cheaper way to buy it and it tastes better. I occasionally will buy honey from a road side stall, but prefer to know the supplier. so my honey is good old style honey from the hills of the mid north coast of New South Wales

and now life starts to get back to normal - or does it? we are finally home and the exhaustion levels are high, but have to go back to work ets. I think the parents need the honeymoon, (or at least the holiday ) more than the kids!

A casual photo of the lovely bride and groom, and one of her sisters. my girls looked beautiful! DD designed and made her own dress, but we bought the bridesmaid dresses.

What a wonderful day - it was sunny and pleasant - so lovely for the middle of winter. Bride was quite relaxed, I felt a bit rushed, after getting up early to finish her dress, I seemed to keep busy, then all of a sudden I was getting my make-up done, we finished, I had a very quick outfit change and threw the dress over the brides head and she was off to the car and church. Everyone else had left so I drove myself to the church, slipping in one door while she was being photographed at another door. The ushers were so busy talking to each other they ignored me, and I walked down to find my seat. Feel disappointed, as DH and I didn't get a chance to have any photos of just us or us with the bride getting ready. But these are minor things, they are married, the service went over well and we had a lovely day!

We are in Brisbane for the wedding of our 3rd daughter. first one for our family and so exciting!. Friday morning it was up early , to pick up the wedding cake, and the flowers, spent the day making bouquets, wedding rehearsal and finally meeting the grooms family. it was meant to be an early night but still had to finish the dress! Up again early this morning (Saturday) to finish sewing the buttons on the dress before all the activity starts! DD was intent on making her own dress, but just didn't get it finished So I am off now, buttons, shower and breakfast before the hair stylist and makeup artist, and photographer arrive!

Thanks everyone

thanks for the birthday wishes! loving the 'new' 'old' house. spent my birthday enjoying beautiful ocean views with the occasional yacht casually sailing past. Life is good!

we only use a dryer if it is raining, otherwise it is always out in the sun on the line. The 'new' place has a rotary line that is stuck in a low position so have to watch the length hanging down, but otherwise good. And yes the unmentionables go on the inside line

I am definitely feeling better. Still have the lingering cough, but it is no longer spasms and far less productive. I went back to work Friday, had Monday off and back again Tuesday. My general feeling is that I am improving. I have more energy, but still have a way to go. I think I just had a very bad flu I thought house - and have cleaned and looked to see what else could be a problem, but as I feel better, not going to panic in that area. Thanks for all your concern

tested negative to whooping cough and pneumonia so back to work tomorrow. The legionaires test will be another week. it will be good to get back to work, I have had nearly 2 weeks off

another 7 - 8 hours waiting. ... patiently ... good news - the girls found bridesmaid dresses, DD sewed most of her wedding dress and only has the embellishments and hem to finish and as it is only 1 month to the wedding, I need to think of an outfit , just need to be well enough to go out in public.

I have to wait another 24 hours before they will have the test results. I rang work and they said not to come in - another day - totally ran out of sick leave last week and have had another 5 days off since. Oh well at least I am resting. Thank the Lord for budgets, good pantry and being on top of the bills

I wondered about the house making me sick, I cleaned the venetian blinds in our bedroom and hung curtains to try and keep the room a bit warmer. So rather relieved that it probably isn't the house still very tired and now just waiting for the blood test results.

Since we moved to our 'new' home I have been sick. It started on the Thursday with a sore throat and generally feeling ghastly, plus lots of coughing. On the Monday I saw the Doc, who gave me a medical certificate for the next 2 days, and said I would just have to rest and use paracetamol. So Thursday I worked, Friday I managed 2 hours before going home. after another weekend resting and coughing I woke Monday morning with no voice. So back to the Doc. he is testing for Whooping cough. now I had whooping cough immunisations as a child and I had whooping cough as a child, so I really didn't think it would be that. But after a little research, there is a very high probability that I have whooping cough. the immunisation and the natural dose of whooping cough only gives immunity for a limited time (they talk of a couple of decades) question - do you know what whooping cough will sound like in an adult? I didn't and got a surprise to listen to an audio of an adult with whooping cough.If you are isolated and having to care for your family without medical help, do you know what to do for whooping cough? how long is the infectious time? what medication if any is required? how long will the symptoms last? can it re-occur? I guess I was surprised, and need to do a little planning, as my youngest DD has not been immunised for whooping cough as she had a bad reaction to the first injection. So if the tests say yes, then when she comes home on Wednesday (she has spent last week on a missions trip to a remote aboriginal community) I have to send her away again. Gran may have have a teenager at her place for a few days. I am hoping the test is negative, but also will appreciate a reason for feeling so rotten.

it has been a long hard week, but we are mostly all moved. DH still needs to go back and pick up a few things that we couldn't move until after the bond clean. How good is it? well the kitchen is so big that where before 2 steps one way and 3 steps the other way covered the whole kitchen, now it is 4 times as many steps. The first morning I woke early and sat in a chair watching the sun rise over the ocean. there are sea views to the north south and east. the rooms are all large, We will have a guest room and still have a rumpus / sewing room. On moving day 10 men from church turned up on our doorstep, and just got into it and moved us. a lady helped me with unpacking, 3 ladies provided food for morning tea, lunch and dinner. And i have had a lady helping today with the cleaning. there are sea views .... and sea views ... and more sea views

I made my plans - save so I could get to the next gathering. instead I have one daughter getting married, another just engaged and we are moving house, these on top of David needing more surgery earlier this year, no savings left ok plan 2 save for the next one!

Sure Cat, when do I book you in for?