It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

Gigervamp

Oh, poor pup. Did you have to pay up front? When our lab had an op, the vets claimed it directly from the insurers. Good job really as the op was £470 plus the follow up costs which took it to nearly £600.

Thank goodness we had insurance!

missychrissy

I had to pay over £300 last month at the vets for my little dog. She's not insured. I have often thought about insuring her but over the years I have never had to pay out more for vets bills on any of my dogs than the insurance would have cost. Perhaps I've been lucky. However, my present dog looks like she might be the exception, but at 9 years old I think I've probably left it too late to insure her as the premiums would be very expensive.

Primrose

Missychrissy - If you feel you've left it too late to take out insurance for your little dog, perhaps you should consider setting up a Doggy contingency savings account for her! Not in her name obviously, but if every month you put away a regular sum, telling yourself this is the money you would be paying on an insurance premium, you will have some money available for her emergencies if you need it. You could, of course, use a 12 month regular saver account for this purpose which would earn you higher interest but then you wouldn't be able to access the money at short notice. It all depends on whether you have other savings available.

missychrissy

Hi Primrose

Your post made me laugh. I have 3 regular saving accounts going, one for Christmas and the other 2 for my sons' weddings (first in May 2010) and the next in the think tank. However, you are absolutely right, I need to build up a 'Daisy' fund, but with four sons, all with girlfriends and some with children it is hard to spread my money any further.

kidcat

Oh BigMUmmaF - thats sounds awful, I know what you mean about vets a couple of years ago I took our uninsured cat in and was told he would need an x-ray, being very short of money at the time I queried cost, and was told £80 - £100, they called next morning to say that they had done the tests and operated, and that they would call back with news later again I asked about cost and was told £150 at that point.
I started to get worried about paying and explained that money was an issue, the vet promised that no more charges without asking. Later next day they said another op was needed and that the cost would be hundreds more - so I made the heartbreaking decision to not proceed, the vet called me back and offered to perform the op for free and only charge for the drugs, (he said about £30) which made the bill as far as we knew £180. We agreed and they went ahead, I collected the cat two days later and the bill was £470. After making a fuss about the cost they allowed us three months to pay but it was very hard. And I have since set up a fund to help pay towards treatment should it be necessary.

Insuring them seems pointless if you have to pay up front for the treatment the claim back,

Hope everything goes ok on your next visit.

mummysaver

Oh haven't seen this thread for a bit! Hello to everyone!

Well as always my preparing for tough times takes the form of food storage and stocking up, this time napolina toms, which are 4 for £1 in Asda at the mo! oh thinks I'm preparing for armageddon and know something he doesn't!

Still have all the throws from last winter and the extra duvets for under our sheets, amazingly the kids now fetch a throw if they feel chilly - all my nagging must've paid off!

Actually, most of the stuff that we originally started doing to save money, or simply because we didn't have the money anyway, have now become second nature. So we need some new ideas, or perhaps reminding of old ones that we never tried - any help peeps?! x

andan

Hi guys, nice to see this thread making a reappearance. It sounds like people are doing ok at the moment and using their money skills to get them through the times.

Currently in my house hold times are ok, i am making more money where as my partner is experiencing less work. We are getting by through using all our tricks of the trade and any surplus is currently being saved in case times do get tough. However everything is getting paid with a fair bit left over, so we can not complain. Our eon tarrif ends at the end of October though so am a bit concerned as to how that will hit us.

For the time being though we will continue on with saving and stretching the money.

missychrissy

mummysaver wrote: »

Oh haven't seen this thread for a bit! Hello to everyone!

Well as always my preparing for tough times takes the form of food storage and stocking up, this time napolina toms, which are 4 for £1 in Asda at the mo! oh thinks I'm preparing for armageddon and know something he doesn't!

Still have all the throws from last winter and the extra duvets for under our sheets, amazingly the kids now fetch a throw if they feel chilly - all my nagging must've paid off!

Actually, most of the stuff that we originally started doing to save money, or simply because we didn't have the money anyway, have now become second nature. So we need some new ideas, or perhaps reminding of old ones that we never tried - any help peeps?! x

I'm in squirreling mode too. I bought 8 tins of Napolina tomatoes in Asda the other day. Also, their beans and sausages are 20p a tin, cheaper than beans alone and their curry sauce is 4p a jar (havn't tried this yet). I am making my own wine and the cheapest place I have found for sugar is Home Bargains and B & M at 69p a kg. Does anyone know of anywhere cheaper?

Gigervamp

Poundland do 1.5k bags of sugar.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

andan wrote: »

Our eon tarrif ends at the end of October though so am a bit concerned as to how that will hit us.

Hi andan

Sounds like you are on one of our price protection tariffs. Several of these are coming to an end on 1 October 2009.

We will send you a letter before then confirming the end of your existing product and offering you a replacement.

The replacement will be a similar type of tariff where your prices are also protected but this time until 2011. Prices on the new tariff will be higher than you are currently paying.

Don't worry if you feel the new tariff is not for you. You can change to another easily and quickly. Just give us a call or switch through our website.

This might also be a good time to make sure you are on the best deal for you. Pop your details on to one of the comparison websites to see how we do. For the most accurate results I would put in your annual usage in kWh rather than a monetary figure.

If we don't hear from you we will automatically put you on the tariff offered in the letter as this is the closest available to what you are now on.

This product will not have a cancellation fee so you can change to another tariff/supplier without being charged should you decide later this is not for you.

One thing to be aware of is we don't give discount on final bills when you change supplier.

Hope this eases your concerns a little. Give me a shout if you need more info. Always happy to help.

Malc