Making savings before it's too late

Have spent the afternoon reading through the thread which I have really enjoyed. I have picked up some useful ideas too. I hope to continue to take part as I really must stick to frugal living as I am on basic state widows pension(no credits because of savings). My husband (who seemed as fit as a flee) sat down in the kitchen and died 20 months ago . I was so pleased to see Kitty raised the subject and gave such good advice stressing some of the problems which perhaps people do not think about. I know that I was glad that we had both made wills because without one even the sweetest people can turn "nasty" and also bank accounts which are in joint names are "available" single names are a hell of a fiddle to get sorted.Happy NY all jac.xx

welcome jackel, sorry for your loss. I bet you still get the odd letter or bill, I did for over two years. I couldn`t wait to get on an even keel, once the shock was over. It was the old style `chin up, chest out and just get on with it, keep busy` attitude, which I see so often in people in similar circumstances. We cannot change the past but we can plan to make the future as comfortable and as worry-free as possible and no-one should underestimate being worry-free probably equates being debt-free with a bit over to save

I have been working on my energy costs, now that temperatures outside are so low. I have an unusual house ie very low energy loss (eco) but I still use a heavy curtain on the big windows in the lounge and my bedroom. My stove for ch is wood pellet and fuel cost has gone up a lot, per bag, due to pellet powers stations and a shortage of suitable wood. I have a physics background and finally did some sums. Cost of electricity v kwh from the fuel, taking energy efficiencies (losses) into account. To my surprise, electricity is cheaper by far, only because the house is so highly energy efficient. Yesterday I gave my stove a clean and am now comfortable in being able to eke out the fuel I already have. My heaters are on now, thermostats controlling them. I am aiming to use up all bar one bag, for when/if I move. To be comfortable with the electricity cost pm, I will increase my monthly estimate on m/s money. I was buying 25 bags for £75, now £93 for 25 and not available :eek: and I have to lift, carry and store by myself. My neighbours are in panic mode, one forking out for a half pallet ie 50 bags, with a first come first served deal. I have explained the electricity v pellet cost but there is an old fashioned thinking that electricity is most expensive but that depends on the available heating source and in our case only v pellets. Up to them now but my conscience is clear re explanations. They are elderly btw, same type of house, don`t have science backgrounds and find it hard to grasp

So stash busting continues today, making a present for dd birthday, lovely socks and probably a lovely faire isle hat as she is outdoors a lot. Costing me nothing new

oops, I forgot to respond to the kind people who suggested ways of seeing various shows etc. Thank you for that, I live a long way from any big town but it is certainly a distinct possibility via an overnight coach trip in the future. All that is on the back burner for now, got to see if I move first

Thanks for the info re watching ballet at the cinema. I wasn't aware that happened. I have watched shows/musicals at the cinema before (Billy Elliott, which was live and The Railway Children, a pre-recording of a live show).

The tickets for the Royal Opera House were £20 each, admittedly we were sat in the balcony, but not right at the very back and the seats were 'good enough' to watch the performance.

I have been grocery shopping and I don't want to hear from my 2 teens this week that 'there's nothing in'. Listening to a comment on the radio last week about treats for children, someone said as a kid they had a 'treat box' and though I never did, I do remember school boarding school books being full of them, so today I've divided up the chocolate treats between DH, DS and DD and it's up to them when they eat them, but once gone they aren't being replaced until the next shopping trip.

Spendless wrote: »

I have been grocery shopping and I don't want to hear from my 2 teens this week that 'there's nothing in'. Listening to a comment on the radio last week about treats for children, someone said as a kid they had a 'treat box' and though I never did, I do remember school boarding school books being full of them, so today I've divided up the chocolate treats between DH, DS and DD and it's up to them when they eat them, but once gone they aren't being replaced until the next shopping trip.

I hope you have better luck doing that then I did trying the tuck box, almost caused war in this house with the lads just stealing off each other, in saying it didn't take a lot to start a war during there teenager years.