If things get tougher?

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

With everyone cutting down on usage,as it seems most people are.What I'm wondering is that the power companies won't be making so much profit and so they are going to probably put up prices even more using this as an excuse.It's a catch 22 for the consumer we just won't be able to win.Use it we pay big time,don't use it we still pay big time.I can see big troubles ahead.
What will the power companies do if we all can't pay and end up getting cut off,they'll make no profits then.It's just total madness and it's spiralling out of control.Someone should sort this out and soon.

bullet_2

Those of you with young children (under five, or if your children are older but small for their age), have a search to see if any NCT (National Childbirth Trust) sales are on in your area. The contact details, if not actual details of the sales, should be on the internet. In them, you can get good quality, second hand but look like new, clothes, including warm winter clothes for less than you'd pay in the shops. Might help a little when trying to limit the amount of heating used.

welshnoonoo

I have the gas man coming today as I want to make sure my combi-boiler is working to its optimum. Not all my radiators work, but I think I might start getting the kids to take a nice warm snuggly hot water bottle to bed rather than putting their radiators on - far more healthy!

My electricity bill came yesterday but as we are on a pre-paid meter which we inherited 14 years ago, it was nice to see a CR balance! Though I have noticed a huge rise in the amount of money I put into it.

I am definitely going to start making more stews and soups - so thank you for the inspiration there. I will get DH one of those soup flasks too - that will keep him happy (and warm!).

We are definitely more conscious of turning off all electrical items and lights etc, particuarly my 16 year old daughter who shouts at us if we don't!

Something Kittie said struck a chord with me - it is about living a more simplified life and living in the moment, afterall, tomorrow never comes!

mumoftwo

anguk wrote: »

I think all the council MOT centres are listed here:
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-mot

As it says in the article they're only MOT centres and don't do repairs so they don't have a vested interest to fail you.

Fantastic!! Thank you so much, didn't know that existed, I really appreciate it thank you so much.

I took it upon myself to have a look at the screen washers as they failed me on that as well (even they worked when I used them last week) and the estimated costs were £53.10 to "investigate". I popped the bonnet, saw that the rubber tubes came off easily, rinsed them all through, poked about a bit with a bit of wire through the tiny holes, put it all together and kept fingers crossed and... They worked!:j :j :money:

total time: 10 minutes, cost: None.

Now if someone knows how to put in a new horn behind the airbag.....

that would just leave the "cracked" shockabsorber brushes.

I am so much more aware of using electricity, not using the tumble drier so much, even though the weather is not good here. We have these stupid panel heaters : They called it" Total heating with total control" What a lie that is. But I refuse to give up my dishwasher (for now)

Thanks for the EMF info. I have tv, dvd, clockradio plugged in beside my bed and my OH has battery charger next to his, am going to remove it all and see if we sleep any better.. I so appreciate all the info and help and our little community where we all keep each other going.

:T :T :T :T :T :T :T :T

dorry_2

MRSTITTLEMOUSE wrote: »

With everyone cutting down on usage,as it seems most people are.What I'm wondering is that the power companies won't be making so much profit and so they are going to probably put up prices even more using this as an excuse.It's a catch 22 for the consumer we just won't be able to win.Use it we pay big time,don't use it we still pay big time.I can see big troubles ahead.
What will the power companies do if we all can't pay and end up getting cut off,they'll make no profits then.It's just total madness and it's spiralling out of control.Someone should sort this out and soon.

I am sure that everyone is cutting down, I haven't used the tumble drier since June, everything is now turnedoff, not left on standby.

We are burning all our packaging off grocery shopping daily, in our open fire so that we don't have to put heating on.

dh spent two days of his holidays chopping up wood from the garden, into burnable sizes for our fire!

marybishop

mardatha wrote: »

My last job was as nightshift cleaning supervisor in the Scottish HQ of HBOS. I saw all these fabulous cars in the underground carpark... BMW, Mercs, Jags, Lexus. Then the lift doors would open, out would come a skinny 20-something, smartly dressed blond & get in one of these cars... I used to wonder what on earth kind of salaries they were on...I wonder what they're doing now !

According to BBC Breakfast this morning, training to become teachers:eek: Not sure if that's good or bad!!

MRSMCAWBER

Hello Again

Right Im after picking Kitties brains -Hope you see this as i don't want to bother you with a PM

I have been sat squidged up in a corner trying to master crochet :rolleyes: ... and I THINK I have just got casting on and "single chain" in a fashion and after much chuntering -it saved on heating as I was producing that much hot air i was rather warm :rotfl: ..so Im gonna have another test run..then I would LOVE to have a go at a blanky like yours .... could I bother you for how many stitches you think I might need to cast on if im using a size 8/4.00ml needle and double knit wool ???
Think I might make 4 1/4 blankies and then sew them together... not expecting very straight edges mind.... mine might be "organic and rustic" looking

nicki_2

mumoftwo wrote: »

I took it upon myself to have a look at the screen washers as they failed me on that as well (even they worked when I used them last week) and the estimated costs were £53.10 to "investigate". I popped the bonnet, saw that the rubber tubes came off easily, rinsed them all through, poked about a bit with a bit of wire through the tiny holes, put it all together and kept fingers crossed and... They worked!:j :j :money:

total time: 10 minutes, cost: None.

Now if someone knows how to put in a new horn behind the airbag.....

A pin or needle works wonders for repositioning the washers or unblocking them

As for the horn, have you checked the fuse? Thats all that was wrong on ex's car when the horn stopped working, the fuse had blown

When it comes to the shock absorbers though I can't help sorry :rotfl::rotfl:

mumoftwo

nicki wrote: »

A pin or needle works wonders for repositioning the washers or unblocking them

As for the horn, have you checked the fuse? Thats all that was wrong on ex's car when the horn stopped working, the fuse had blown

When it comes to the shock absorbers though I can't help sorry :rotfl::rotfl:

Sorry to be dim, but where is this fuse? I mean, where can I find it? Is it under the bonnet or around the steering wheel?
That would be the icing on the cake, if it was only the fuse, and I have saved myself another £50 + :money: Thank you so much:T

Skint_Catt

The fuse is in the fuse box. Mine has two - one under the bonnet and one behind the glovebox. Check your manual for where yours is. My mum had one in the front (glovebox) and one in the rear - but the handbook never old us where the one in the back was and we never ever found it, :rotfl: It a box with lots of different coloured fuses in. The handbook will tell you which number the fuse is for the horn - pull it out (usually special tool included in the fuse box) and see if the metal link is broken (like an old lightbulb filament when its blown) - if its intact then its not the fuse, if broken then replace it for under £1!

If you need to change the horn and the steering wheel has an airbag you will need to disconnect the battery to discharge and remove it - don't disconnect the battery until you know you've got your radio code! Learnt that one the hard way!