Single and in debt.

runmichellerun

Hello all

Long time no write!! Haven't been on the board for ages because I have been very very naughty with my credit card and put lots on it. So I haven't even looked at MSE because of the guilt.

Anyway, I think I have bought most bits for xmas now so I'm back and ready to tackle everything again. Fortunately, it's nowhere near as bad a debt as it was when I first started, and have about £500 on the CC now (it was down to £250 before, and I was planning on paying it all off this month - oops)

So, I'll go and update my signature in a bit and will be good for the rest of the year

Love life, well the date at the zoo with the one guy was good, but the chemistry wasn't there so I got in touch with another guy from Plenty of Fish and went on a few dates. It has been going very well so far. I genuinely like him but still constantly have 'the fear' (e.g. why would he want to be with ME rather than one of the other fantastic girls in the world) but I'm working on fixing it and convincing myself that I AM worthy of being with. I wouldn't say it's at the stage where I'm not single anymore, but I'm officially off the market for the time being!

Weight loss - let's not go there

The whole car topic interests me. I have to take mine in for an MOT in the next couple of weeks and have been told that you can take it to places where they only do MOT's, and none of the fixing, so they're unbiased. I'm going to try my local bus company probably. But it's not easy being female and on your own - the mechanics msut instantly think you know nothing about cars (which, in my case, is true) so will try and rip you off.

Right, will try and catch up on the thread. Feels good to write everything down!

rmr
x

SunderlandBlackCat

bathgatebuyer wrote: »

I'm sure these main dealers get most of their business through company cars and the like where people just go in and say, "Yeah, just do it".

It used to be a requirement for cars under warranty to only be serviced/repairs at main dealers & at the exact times specified so they pretty much had captive audiences.

The annoying thing is that any bodywork for dents, panels replaced etc, they would send it to an independent bodywork specialist that would have done the work for you for about a third of the price if you could go to them direct.

That law was changed a couple of years back & now it's basically just any VAT registered garage or something like that but the dealerships still haven't adapted. I know a few of the local dealerships near me closed just because of the sharp downturn in servicing & repair work.

SunderlandBlackCat

runmichellerun wrote: »

I have to take mine in for an MOT in the next couple of weeks and have been told that you can take it to places where they only do MOT's, and none of the fixing, so they're unbiased. I'm going to try my local bus company probably.

I've read Martins tip on using local council MOT centres but I've not heard of using the bus company's. I'd have though their rolling road (The sets of rollers your front & back wheels go on) would be set up for busses rather than cars . Good luck though.

runmichellerun wrote: »

But it's not easy being female and on your own - the mechanics msut instantly think you know nothing about cars (which, in my case, is true) so will try and rip you off.

I don't think it's just being female, I've got half a clue but I get a very different reaction if I drive my car up wearing a suit to if I drive up wearing a set of clothes that look a bit oil stained.

sarahb123_3

Lula-Hula wrote: »

Hi Sarah, sorry i didnt get back to drink empathetically - got chatting & didnt get to bed until 2.30 - now cant stop yawning.

No worries, had my chocs to keep me and the wine company while watching "Spooks." Hope you were chatting to someone nice;)

runmichellerun

SunderlandBlackCat wrote: »

I've read Martins tip on using local council MOT centres but I've not heard of using the bus company's. I'd have though their rolling road (The sets of rollers your front & back wheels go on) would be set up for busses rather than cars . Good luck though.

I can see why you'd think that - I found it odd too - but on this forum there is a thread for local MOT testing centres and someone has been to the one I'm planning on going to. They had just a little car like me and didn't have a problem. The centre also does MOT's for taxis.

sarahb123_3

Well the car is fixed:D It was only (huh!) £137 in the end and that included a new tyre as well which I knew I needed, luckily I found 20p on the floor outside their door so only had to pay the other £136.80:D They didn't get it done in time for me to work today, but never mind, would rather that than a £300 bill. Couldn't tell you what was wrong with it as they kept using those big words again, but have got it written down somewhere and will check with my dad later that I haven't been swizzed.

Anyway, upon our happy reunion, my car and I set off for the shops. I went to the pay and display and I only had a pound and it wouldn't give change, the old me would have just paid it, the new me will not be tricked out of 50p change, so I quickly popped into the poundshop to see if they had anything I needed so I could get some change. There I found a bottle of Stardrops cleaner which I have been trying to track down for months after reading about it on the Old Style board. Was doing this-:j :j :j :j :j in the aisles. Ridiculously happy! Now I shall be able to clean the whole house for pennies. I won't as am too lazy, but the opportunity is there:D

Then I went to get a storage box to match my others to put my bedding in, as I had put in on challenge thread. They are usually £15, but they were reduced to £10 and it was 20% off day, so it was £8. Did this again-:j :j :j :j :j .

Next stop shoe shop for a browse. They had a lovely pair of shoes for £50, on closer inspection they were £25 in sale. I genuinely do need a flat pair for work so had to get them. :j :j :j :j :j

Next stop textile shop for net curtains. Found the prettiest ones in the world with little pink and purple flowers stitched in. They were £20, not sure if that's a good price, but they are lovely.:j :j :j :j :j :j

So all in all a good day. Must do this positive thinking thing more often:D

Lula-Hula

Sarah, that's fantastic news, yay for positive thinking, I now have net curtain envy though .

SunderlandBlackCat

runmichellerun wrote: »

I can see why you'd think that - I found it odd too - but on this forum there is a thread for local MOT testing centres and someone has been to the one I'm planning on going to. They had just a little car like me and didn't have a problem. The centre also does MOT's for taxis.

Nice one - hope it passes.

SuSu1871

Hi Sarah

Great news on the car front (and net curtains, shoes and stardrops fronts too!) I think I've been v lucky with my mechanic (recommended by my MOT garage, which was also recommended). He's had to do loads of work on my French pile-of-merde car, but it's always less than he quoted and he always takes 10% off for cash! Shame the car needs work, but I can't afford to replace it yet. Booo...

Bit self-pitying today. I've been having problems with my neck/shoulders for months and got the results of my MRI scan today. Did some internet research and it looks like I've got disc degeneration in 3 discs in my neck. From what I've read, there's not a lot I can do about it, but I'm seeing a specialist next week, so hopefully he'll tell me more about it.

Feel a bit miffed about it, but hey, there's nothing I can do so I may as well just get on with it Anyway, there's been loads of lovely news for me to focus on recently. Two of my friends are pregnant - both been trying for years and both due in May! And...my other friend got engaged at the weekend!! So, you know, it ain't all bad eh!

Oh, I've told my gal pals at work about the bloke (the dirty texter!) because they know him. They can't believe it!!! Feel good knowing I've told tales on him :rotfl:

sarahb123_3

SuSu1871 wrote: »

Bit self-pitying today. I've been having problems with my neck/shoulders for months and got the results of my MRI scan today. Did some internet research and it looks like I've got disc degeneration in 3 discs in my neck. From what I've read, there's not a lot I can do about it, but I'm seeing a specialist next week, so hopefully he'll tell me more about it.

Oh SuSu, that's not nice news,:grouphug: hopefully your specialist can give you some more positive information on it, hope you are feeling better today.

SuSu1871 wrote: »

Oh, I've told my gal pals at work about the bloke (the dirty texter!) because they know him. They can't believe it!!! Feel good knowing I've told tales on him :rotfl:

Excellent! Hope word spreads and the dirty texter is henceforth referred to by all and sundry as "Mr xxx, oh you know the one, the dirty texter.":D