SINKING FUNDS UPDATE.... I've changed them....again!
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- čas přidán 28. 02. 2024
- In today's video, I share my sinking funds update for February 204, however, I've changed them again. I am hoping that this system will make it clearer in my mind what I'm doing with them. Remember, personal finance is a personal journey and can be ever evolving - like I'm showing! Links below :)
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When we went to Disney we went half board and I am so glad we only had to pay for one meal a day. We also took our own snacks ie packs of individually wrapped brioche etc. We also took the Robinson's mini juice shots, so we could fill our water bottles at the hotel each morning (or around the park) and add a shot of the juice to save buying drinks in the parks. Hope you have a blast at Disney!!
Ooh the squash tip is good!
Honestly so proud of how your doing Nicola.
Delighted you’ve booked Disney, I know how important it has been for you to do this.
With regards to food is to remember the kids won’t really care or remember what they’ve eaten. They will be too enthralled with the park. Take as many snacks and bread products, drinks as you can and top up at a supermarket. You (they) will want a Micky pizza and ice cream obviously. Just for three days forget about healthy eating and let them have junk food. It won’t hurt as long as they don’t throw it up after a lively ride.
Just enjoy it.
Thank you 💜
I like your school holiday folder. I would also add a small page at the front with a list of activoties and things you would like to do with your boys. For example, soft play, picnic in the park, local museum and ice lolly treat. You could even break it down into wet weather ideas and dry days. It might make planning easier and you could ask the boys for ideas as well.
That’s a fab idea 😍
When we took ours to Disneyland Paris when they were young, we ensured we really filled up on breakfast which was included in our price, we also took as many snacks ourselves. 😊
Snacks seems to be a common theme ☺️
I like your new school holiday binder. I can see how that would work better for you. Great job changing what wasn't working ❤
Thank you 💜
Love your new set up school half term is such a struggle at times. Am new to envelopes currently using a A7 binder for food ect and love it no more overspending.
Thank you 💜 I love cash stuffing ☺️
Maybe if you have room in your suitcase, you could pack lots of snacks for Disney so that you're not buying absolutely everything in the park? It might help a bit at least!
That’s a great suggestion! Will try and do that ☺️
So pleased you’re all going to Disneyland , you’ve got a lot of great tips there definitely take in snacks add maybe those little fruit squirty squash you can buy so small can fit in your hand luggage each day ❤❤
Yes to the squash! Great idea ☺️
I no longer have to budget for school holidays but i always broke them down into seperate savings to give me have clarity 💜
I don’t know why I haven’t done it before now 🤦♀️
I personally don't find Clarks last any longer these days 😢 and i cant justify the price. I loved your half term binder x
It is expensive now 😕 and thank you ☺️
I went last year and I highly recommend the half board meal plan. In terms of value for food it is actually really good and then you don’t have to stress as much. Fill up on breakfast and then have a big buffet meal. Also, there is a shop in the train station where snacks like crisps and chocolate bars are cheaper.
Thank you for the suggestion ☺️
When we went (3 kids+2adults) to disneyland, we took refillable water bottles (lots of water fountains in parks) and the small squeezy squash for the kids to add, we also took lots of snacks for lunch (brioche rolls, crisps, raisins, choc bars etc) and we actually found that very handy because they could eat parts of lunch while queuing or we could sit and eat. This saved us a fortune. Eating on site or in the disney village is very expensive - in 2019, it was around €100-€120 for 5 of us per meal, and that was just the fast food type options. We had bed and breakfast so that was covered.
Oh my gosh, that's so expensive! Thank you for the tips :)
Lovely to hear from you. My cousin just took her grandson to Disney and she did a genius thing. She went to primark before she went and bought cheap Disney pjs, T-shirts , bags and paraphernalia to use when there and saved an absolute fortune. We took Tom for his 7th birthday to Disneyland Paris - the biggest shock is the food cost . It’s obscene and really not very nice. Take lots of multi pack crisps and sweets (I know that sounds unhealthy but believe me it’s all fast food there and incredibly unhealthy anyway). You will have a fabulous time and even now we still refer to it as our favourite holiday ever. Enjoy every second x
Love the Primark tip - definitely going to go there beforehand! You’re not the first person to say the food isn’t great… will try and pack as many snack-y things as I can ☺️
Living in Florida and as annual Disney passholders some suggestions that will help, first bring backpacks with your own drinks and some snacks, even sandwiches if you want, rain ponchos, and extra socks if it rains and feet get wet. Also, when you can, order kids meals for yourself, they are good sized and half the price of an adult meal and Disney doesn’t care, especially at quick service areas. Not sure about Disney Paris, but it’s usually the same with Disney.
Hope this helps a little. From April 😊
Great suggestions, thank you ☺️
For the school shoes; maybe try shoezone (if you have one near you), they have the same type of shoes cheaper. You could have them measured at Clarkes then go elsewhere.
For Disney if your going to America, you could try and do couponing when there, or see if any American friends could send you some coupons ahead of time to save money on food. Or if it’s France, you could budget how much things are by researching costs of foods and where might be cheaper like markets etc.
What type of pens do you use on the laminated paper?
You could do £5 for the Easter and half term trackers, but I think it might depend on how many kids you have and budget etc.
I loved the yellow binder. 🤩 I liked how you didn’t make it complicated, and explained things well. New sub. 🤩
Thank you 💜 and just using a sharpie on the laminated paper - it comes off with nail varnish remover ☺️
We took snacks with us and filled up at breakfast and dinner with half board catering. We also took a bottle of squash with us so not reliant on buying fizzy drinks. There were lots of water fountains available in the park so take reusable bottles.
When we did buy snacks in the park we found that we could quite often share a portion rather than one each.
We budgeted for daily spending in gift shops and ice-cream / puddings etc - depending on the age of children they might have their own pocket money to treat themselves?
We had a magical time and in 2019 if staying in Disney hotels you could get free hot chocolate and coffee from a coffee machine - don't forget to take an insulated coffee mug - handy for mid morning top up of caffeine which would have cooled down to drinking temperature from breakfast time 😉
School holidays are never ending, always 6-7 weeks until the next 'break'. I budget each month for the essential summer holiday club our one needs to attend as we dont have enough annual leave to cover the hols.
Ooh I love the coffee tip! Everyone knows how much I love a coffee ☕️
You need a Clarks outlet! There is also an online outlet
Ooh I did not know that!
Practical tips for your Disney trip, check all your passports have at least six months to the expiry date for your return date. Make sure you all have up to date GHIC cards and travel insurance. The international emergency number with English speakers is 112 in France. Take 5 days medication with you in case of travel delays. I’m sure you will have all this covered. Make sure you can carry your luggage if travelling alone and hold your children’s hands at the same time. Also test that your luggage is light enough to carry up long flights of steps etc. I would think a backpack each. Enjoy making memories!
Thank you for the tips! ☺️
Just a suggestion but it could be you could simplify it further. Do you have an emergency fund? Unexpected repairs etc come out of that. No need to categorise it except to write up when used, how much and what for.
Envelopes= Groceries ( food, toiletries, cleaning and pets ), Children ( school, clothes/shoes and holidays ), Celebrations ( birthdays, Easter and Christmas ), Repairs ( car and house ), Self care ( beauty, massage, clothes and haircuts ), Medical ( doctor, dentist and pharmacy ), Car ( petrol, fees and tyres ).
I think from memory you have another binder that covers fixed costs for insurances etc?
Exciting times ahead for you even though I imagine it is daunting too. You are doing so well and I hope you and the boys have a marvellous time at Disney. Sending much love to you from New Zealand.
Thank you 💜 that’s definitely something to think about!
As I know to my cost if you don’t care for yourself you can’t care for others , it doesn’t have to be very expensive , a regular hairdo or massage can boost you so much .
Also as I have had to reduce the amount of care I can give others it is amazing how people turn and that includes people who you are asking for help ,sorry had a bad week , take care ❤
Hope you’re ok 💜
Sending hugs 🤗💖xxx
Child benefit is a great resource which is a blessing. My son is grown but I assume it is still paid for each child. xxx
It is! It goes towards their childcare costs ☺️
I don't know if you ever need more than one prescription a month. If you get a pre paid prescription certificate (you can pay monthly £10 approx for 10 months). So if you need more than one prescription you don't pay any more.I pay my daughters for her birthday!
So chauffed that you are going to Disney I know its been your dream to take the children. X
Thank you 💜
We went to Disneyland last year - so some things may have changed but this is what I found….. The food is expensive. We had a meal plan (breakfast and dinner), and I actually think we didn’t make the most of it, because we wanted to make the most of early magic hours, so rushed breakfast, and the restaurants we booked were all you can eat, which were not worth it for us (kids are little and can’t eat much in one sitting) and not the best quality (but choice was good for picky eaters). We’re going again later in the year, I’ve not booked a meal plan, but planning to take fruit and brioche for breakfast, sandwiches and snacks for lunches, and get the Mickey Mouse pizzas at the quick service restaurant for dinner (these were reasonably priced). Ice creams at the March hare were nice, good value and huge (easily shared). They have water fountains to refill bottles. My son is a big Peter Pan fan, and he was in dress up, so they gave us a queue jump for that ride (apparently a lot of cast members will do this, though not guaranteed). The merchandise is expensive, so we limited the kids to a £20 gift each on the last day. We also bought Mickey Mouse ‘ears’ here for a couple of pounds and took with us (super expensive there). Take poncho/lightweight water proofs. The photo pass is cheaper if you prebook - we didn’t, but you can get a temporary photo pass (ask the first photographer who snaps you for one, and then ask for each photo with rides or characters with photographers to load the photo on. You can then review at the end of your stay to see if worth buying).
If you’ve not booked flights, the drive is so easy. Most importantly, have a wonderful time!
Thank you for sharing all that! I’ve made notes ☺️
We went to Disneyland Paris. I suggest cereal bars as filling snacks. Definitely use the early magic hr if you have it - so much quieter. Head the ride that the children want to do the most. Enjoy yourselves xx
I hope you are receiving monthly child support for your children.