If things get tougher?

[Deleted User]

Valli wrote: »

Wilkinsons give refunds, too!

I have found that Wilkinsons are very good about refunds and never quibble at all. My local one is great and the girls at the tills are so jolly as well I think its because I live and a large village and most of our local shops get used to seeing the same faces. I once bought an artifcial Chritmas tree complete with lights from Wilkcos and the first time I switched it on it started to smoke .It was returned straight away, and they apologised profusely and couldn't do enough for me.

brila

We have metal lintels too - so hung the curtain rods above it. You need longer curtains though!

I picked the new carpet sweeper up from Argos and I'm really pleased with it. I will keep the vacuum though and use it now and again, but for daily use the sweeper is the way forward. A lot lighter to carry upstairs too! I used some nectar points to pay for it and was thinking about saving them up from now on to pay for "energy-saving investments". Am considering a pressure cooker next, or maybe a solar charger? Nice to see them being used for something beneficial rather than wasting a bit here and a bit there on wine and food treats or saving them up for Christmas shopping. (I don't go to theme parks etc. so although these deals are worth more pound for pound they are a waste for us).

Found an old telephone in an office skip this morning and asked if I could take it. It is an old basic unit which doesn't need to be plugged into a power socket - just the phone line. Not sure how many millions this will save me, but I thought it was worth a go. Also scored some old telephone directories for DS to scribble and glue on.

I'm now hunting about the house to see what else needs electric but probably doesn't really. Am considering ditching hte internet (it eats so much of my time just by existing, and I would possibly be more productive without it). I do enjoy faffing about on it and do pretty well out of cashback sites and selling on Amazon, but maybe I would earn a better hourly rate if I just went to the library and HAD to get it all done in an hour? Library would be warm for free too! And I would have less computer time to spend looking for "bargains". Has anyone tried life without internet? Life without TV was a revelation for me and a major turning point in our lives - would not go back EVER!

knittingnelly

brila how did you go about getting rid of the telly? I would dearly love to be rid of mine but I'm dithering about it... do I get rid or just reduce or is that too hard if the darn thing is still there? Do you have kids? Do you find you get loads more done? Have you done Winter without it, and is that harder or easier than Summer? Phew, sorry to bombard you with questions

brila

I've done three years without TV and I get a whole world more done. I only have one child (nearly 2), so he hasn't got to a stage of really knowing what he might be missing. I started cutting down and then just went cold turkey. Still watch DVDs on computer (free trials on lovefilm) and tend to watch a series one episode at a time a few times a week. Only having 2 DVDs at a time helps to self-ration.

We play a lot of board games, read, talk (shocker!) and before child (BC) went out a bit more. Now at home with toddler I get stuff done and play with DS more than I would gawping at the box. When I visit people and they have the box on all the time and just end up staring at it, I am so glad that I no longer have one. The temptation is too great and I end up watching stuff I'm not even interested in.

I listen to the radio during the day. I don't find winter or summer harder really. Summer we are outside more I suppose, but in the winter there are lots of cosy indoor things to do. I always considered myself to be a light TV user, but I didn't realise just how much time I wasted staring at it until I got rid of it.

oldMcDonald

knittingnelly wrote: »

brila how did you go about getting rid of the telly? I would dearly love to be rid of mine but I'm dithering about it... do I get rid or just reduce or is that too hard if the darn thing is still there? Do you have kids? Do you find you get loads more done? Have you done Winter without it, and is that harder or easier than Summer? Phew, sorry to bombard you with questions

No telly here, either. Best thing we have done for years, getting rid of it. I have 5 kids aged 5 to 12 and there are less arguements, more reading and hobbies now the goggle box has gone. Time no longer whizzes past in a blur of childrens tv and soap operas but is now spent gardening, reading, talking....it really has been such a positive lifestyle choice.

There is a thread going regarding the TV licence HERE
A poll and thread about a forum member giving up their TV HERE

knittingnelly

Thanks for that brila and thanks for the link old McD, nobody seems to be regretting the decision do they? Don't think I'd better act till after the Olympics thou, something tells me the timing wouldn't be that good!

sb44

brila wrote: »

Found an old telephone in an office skip this morning and asked if I could take it. It is an old basic unit which doesn't need to be plugged into a power socket - just the phone line. Not sure how many millions this will save me, but I thought it was worth a go.

Everyone should have 2 of these anyway.

One for downstairs, one for up, unless you live in a bungalow of course.

If you have a fire and your electrics go you won't be able to ring anyone if you have a digital phone.

Wasn't aware of this until the local fire prevention officer told us when he came to do a free fire check.

ceridwen

Not to mention if you get shot of your digital phones - and replace with standard old-style ones - then you've also got shot of a health hazard. I had a digital phone quite some years ago now and got rid when I read how it was a health hazard to users (cant recall the details now - but seem to remember they are worse than mobile phones in that respect).

'Course there was also the fact that once in a while I overheard someone else's phone conversation on it - so it didnt take long before I wondered if anyone else could ever hear mine:cool:

Have got an idea the more modern digital phones might be even worse a health hazard??

These days I dont even see the advantages of having a digital one anyways - I've got two standard ones (one upstairs, one downstairs) and I make sure the downstairs one is one that rings particularly loudly (so I can hear it in the kitchen).

brila

It's never occurred to me to have two phones? We have one socket in the hall downstairs. But we have escape ladders and a phone box very close by. I would rather get my family out and then ring for help rather than wait for people to turn up in their own time. I once had to take a taxi to A&E after nearly an hour of waiting for an ambulance.

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

We just can't get digital phones to work in this house.they would ring and you would either get the person on the other end not hearing you or you would hear other people's personal phone calls.If you did get to talk to the person on the other end they would only be able to hear you for about 10 seconds and then my side would go dead.I got some plug in phones and have had no problems since and they were a fraction of the cost to buy.