It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

mumoftwo

silvercharming wrote: »

Mumoftwo, my first step would be to call the manufacturer's helpline. They can tell you what the problem is, how easy to fix, the price they charge for the part direct, and if it needs a repairman, they can recommend one.

Step two, post on the moneysaving in my house board, and get some advice on how easy it is to do yourself, or how much you should pay someone else. There are lots of 'how to repair' manuals and websites out there. Google is great!

Step three, start shopping around to check if you can get the part cheaper than the manufacturer's quote. Often you can. If the cheapest supplier is Partmaster (lots of manufacturers go through them) there is a 10% off code on the vouchers board.

Step four, if you are recommended to get a repairman, start calling round for prices. One tactic is to tell everyone you call that you want their BEST price, fully receipted (labour, VAT etc, - if you don't include in the price now you ain't getting paid for it later). Also state you can get the part for £xx, if they can source it cheaper they are welcome to source it for the price you can get it for. Make it clear you want their best price now as you will go with whoever has quoted the cheapest once you have phoned each repairman once, and that you will require a full receipt for their work (ie no 'off the books' quotes, you'll only end up getting stung - a reciept on a repair is basically a warranty on their work).

Step five, order your part and/or book your repairman

That is brilliant advice, thanks for taking the time to reply, definately going to do this!!

Optimisticpair

annie123 wrote: »

Sorry to the Scottish mice, but its 30c here, clear blue skies, and I'm a happy bunny at last:j
Inside painting the hall still today, whist paint drying, pop outside for R & R and a nibble at a strawberry or 2
S*d any money/family/health problems etc, today is my day off from worrying:D

Wise words. Worrying just gives you wrinkles.

Today I'm having a Praise the Beetroot Day.:rotfl:

Here's why :rotfl:

Seeds are cheap, it is easy to grow in a few inches of soil, it grows fast and quick results are always cheerful to see. Space efficient - the baby ones you can eat and the rest you leave to grow on.

You can eat the beetroot after boiling it for the liquid to make wine and pickle the rest to use or give away as presents.

Primrose

optomisticpair - And another of the unsung praises of the beetroot is that if you eat it regularly, you'll never need to spend another penny on ExLax chocolate. It performs wonders in the bathroom department.:rotfl:You need one Immodium tablet for every beetroot you eat!

Kittikins

Beetroot wine, do you have a recipe? I'll happily join you in a Praise the Beetroot day, DD and I love them, au naturel, roasted, on HM pizzas (I dare you to try it, they're scrummy), but I've not ventured into home made wine yet and like the sound of that

Larumbelle

Don't forget beetroot and chocolate cake! The beetroot cancels out the naughtiness of the chocolate. Wine sounds good - I might try making some!

Chipps

mumoftwo wrote: »

Oh, I wonder how much it would be to buy a new heating element for my dishwasher, just discovered it doesn't heat up the water, so is trying to wash my dishes in cold water, I have been wondering for days why my dishes weren't that clean when they came out

I will have to have a nosey around MSE to see if there is a thread somewhere about doing your own repairs. It is another thing in already an increasing list of things going wrong in the house. I sometimes do wish I had an OH who could those things himself without having to get someone expensive out.

We had a problem with our tumble drier - it stopped working & had an ominous smell of burning:eek:

Took the back off, and found a rather burnt looking thingummyjig. So we did a search on espares (disclaimer..."other parts companies are available":)) and found the part for £3.49 plus £2.95 postage. DH took the old part off & replaced the new one exactly as he found it. The tumble drier is fine - and only cost £6.44 as opposed to the price of a new one!
(the thingummyjig was a capacitor - we identified it by the picture on the website & the writing on the side!)

smileyt_2

lauren_1 wrote: »

I really feel you pain! I was in the same boat not so long ago, eventually they pulled their finger out after 4 and a half months. Hopefully you wont be waiting that long but as soon as you run out of savings the effect is pretty devastating to say the least.

Get on their case and dont listen to their BULL like i did.

Hi Lauren, don't worry, I wrote a very stinky letter to them and posted it this afternoon. Plus I contacted Housing Benefit (again) to tell them I have no income and regardless of the fact that JSA obviously haven't contacted them, they should be paying my rent.

Four and a half months!:eek: Someone needs shooting for that! I asked in my letter if JSA would pay the interest if I went into overdraft due to their catalogue of errors. Will be interesting to see what their reply is. They should get the letter tomorrow.

Spendless

Hi everyone,

Since I started working DH works from home when he can and on the days he can't friends and relatives step in. To make things easier for when MIL has kids at my house I started making a snack in advance, putting it in tupperware box in fridge so kids can get when they come home from school - unfortunatley they have either 'hung' in the fridge too long nosying at what was in there or not shut the door properly and a fly got in. :eek: I discovered it when I went to take the chicken fillets ouut for yesterdays tea -:mad:. Have had to bin anything opened cos don't know what else it had been feasting on. Kid ban now on the fridge. 2 days before payday when I could do without having to shop!!

On a brighter note, Mr S has been looking for a replacement computer chair, but not seen any below £50 and not as good as good as his broken one. Tonight he's found someone selling the parts he needs to repair his.

Me and DS have also had our haircut for free :money:sooo glad my mum's a hairdresser.

lauren_1

smileyt wrote: »

Hi Lauren, don't worry, I wrote a very stinky letter to them and posted it this afternoon. Plus I contacted Housing Benefit (again) to tell them I have no income and regardless of the fact that JSA obviously haven't contacted them, they should be paying my rent.

Four and a half months!:eek: Someone needs shooting for that! I asked in my letter if JSA would pay the interest if I went into overdraft due to their catalogue of errors. Will be interesting to see what their reply is. They should get the letter tomorrow.

Needless to say Bankruptcy is about to bite my behind. Not one creditor was prepared to halt the charges, accept what I could pay or suspend my accounts until Income support paid up, they shot them selves in the foot really, if they had waited I could of started paying full amount but unfortunatly they whacked on every charge under the sun and forced me down that route, i'd never be able to catch up.:(

smileyt_2

lauren_1 wrote: »

Needless to say Bankruptcy is about to bite my behind. Not one creditor was prepared to halt the charges, accept what I could pay or suspend my accounts until Income support paid up, they shot them selves in the foot really, if they had waited I could of started paying full amount but unfortunatly they whacked on every charge under the sun and forced me down that route, i'd never be able to catch up.:(

Lauren, that's terrible! Have you contacted your MP? I'm sure I also read somewhere that you can ask JSA/DWP for compensation, although it is discretionary. It might be worth a stab. They shouldn't be allowed to get away with this. On the other hand, perhaps you don't need the stress, what with a wee one on the way.