The Quest - 2

Lula-Hula

There is both good & bad news tonight :rolleyes:

First off I received £10 from one of my neighbours for taking up his trousers He's a lovely old character who races pigeons, drinks in CIU clubs etc & has always been quite amenable to removing dead animals from my garden so I was happy to do it for nothing but he insisted as the local shop had tried to charge him £34 :eek:.

Secondly , my car failed it's mot . It needs a new windscreen as the chip that's been repaired has spider legs longer than 10mm or something or other. Also the hazard warning switch is faulty . So that was £54 spent on a failure :mad:. Fortunately I have windscreen cover on my insurance so have to pay the £70 excess rather than the £300 it could be :rolleyes: it still hurts though. What concerns me most is that since it came back from it's failed mot it's now displaying 2 warning lights; 1 which looks like some coiled up wire which according to the book is the engine imobiliser & another which looks like a teapot & is apparently a sign of toxic fumes :eek:

The windscreen is due to be replaced on saturday & the hazard switch on monday. I'm hoping that I will not have to pay the mot test price again & am quite prepared to wear a very low cut top to avoid this :shhh: I will also demand that they remove lighted teapots & coils from the display.

I took Dad out for a pub supper this evening & the total price for our 3 meals & drinks was £25 - not bad & as my food arrived about 2 minutes after Dads & DDs they gave us around of free drinks for the inconvenience I did have a sneaky look about the pub for potential fish but have to say that a Dad & a DD are not the best pulling partners :rolleyes:

I did get 2 x £2 coins in my change so they're in the pot .

The 0% card has taken a bit of a battering now & I have a suspicion that my finances are in freefall as I've just realised that DD needs new clothes, trainers & school equipment & I have a whole zero saved up towards future car costs like insurance, service & cambelts ... all due in november _pale_

I'm off to spend some quality time with my diary, calculator & pens & pencils ...

bye for now

lula
xx

InkyCats20

Hi Lula - might be totally wrong here (don't want to get your hopes up) but I always thought (& they do where I get my MOT done) that an MOT re-test is free if it's done within 14 days

EDIT - Some blurb on this linky might clarify, it's dependant on what you're having done by the looks of it

Horace

I didnt get a notification of any updates your diary either Lula

I have a thought about your blackcurrants - they were either eaten by birds or pinched by wandering yoofs:rolleyes:

Not much going on here - lost a few freezer contents after massive meltdown due to faulty wiring in my flat:mad: Ex OH came to stay as he wanted to pick up keys - he is coming back tomorrow night as he is picking me up from the hospital on Friday. He gave me £20.11 this morning:cool: and yesterday whilst he was on an inspection over in Coventry took me with him and bought me an icecream, a body thing from primark which needs to go back - I couldnt pull it up nor put it on over my head:mad::o and dinner cost him £3.50 in a lovely art deco pub where they do carverys (jolly nice it was too). Also he built one set of galvanised shelves which now grace my office and I discovered that the floor isnt level either so wedges of paper are under the feet:rolleyes: I must say they are jolly nice shelves and were Focus Payless range so cost me £19.99 as opposed to £50 for some that looked exactly the same:rolleyes:

Its rubbish weather here today and I have to go out in it - an unnecessary trip to Primark (I try and avoid the place because it encourages spending:eek:). S'pose I had better get dressed, I have been up since 6am. Its a 6am start tomorrow too as I need to have something to eat and drink before 7am after which time it is nil by mouth. Need to sort out a few sandwiches to take with me as well in case I get hungry after my op (hospital sandwiches are tasteless).

No fishing is being done here though - not yet anyway.

Lula-Hula

Morning all & thanks for all the lovely posts :A

Thanks for the linky Inky I did query this re test at the time & the chappy did say that as it was a windscreen rather than brakes or the like then I might well get it free ...

Horace my lovely, good to hear from you :j I do hope you're not getting too anxious about the op, will be pming you later with some fortifying words , great news that the ex is helping out :cool: As to fishing ... I wouldnt bother my dear, you are far too fabulous for what lurks at the bottom of that pond :A.

As to the lack of notification I think it's either a) because my Quest is all alone out on the main board or b) because I have been rather naughty & not very moneysaving or inspirational so havent earned the right :rotfl:

Anyway, I have woken up today full of positivity to get back on track & after much deliberation I have decided that my number one priority is to regain that £200 I had saved towards the gas & electric bill

Those of you who have been on my Quest a while may remember that I have in my possession a piece of paper known as *speaks in reverential tones* The Crispy Fifty . This item was received by me at Christmas 2007 & has been kept safe & warm in my passport for emergencies. I love & cherish it but I think now is the time for it to be put to use & I can think of no bigger emergency than not only having hurled myself off the DFW wagon, but then lying down on the dirt track so that the wagon can then roll over me too; crushing out every last drop of common sense

A tad dramatic for a wet & windy wednesdsay perhaps but hey, that's why you love me :rotfl: & I have a couple of hours to kill as I cant go to the allotment & as to doing housechores well, frankly I'd rather slit my own throat.

So, I have already regained £50 towards the fuel fund ... just need to find another £150 :rolleyes:

Now off to find a savings account that I can pay all this money into ...

I shall return


*newsflash* at 11am :

I have applied for an ISA & had to promise not to attempt to stash away more than £7,200 over the next year :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Lula-Hula

Morning all,

Trying to keep this positivity going now

No paid work today but still plenty to do :

Put a load of washing on Done
Trip to Tatco Done
Clean Kitchen & Bathroom Done
Wash floors Done
Hoover other floors Done
Tidy all mess Hmmmm working on it slowly & apathetically
Sort through paperwork In progress :rolleyes:
Put out recycling box before it's so heavy that I cant lift it Done
Redo realistic budget Done - not sure about the realism though :rolleyes:
Kick myself for overspending will allow Numpty the pleasure
Kick myself for taking eye off the plot As above
Kick myself for losing the ball or maybe vice versa
Donate a bag of blood after school & therefore ...
Get free tea & biccies yum, cant wait

Think good & positive thoughts for Horace who's having her yucky op today Doing fervently

good luck H :grouphug:


back later

lula
xx

Numpty_Monkey

I'll kick you tomorrow:p:rotfl:

Horace

Morning all - thank you for your kind thoughts and wishes Lula et al:cool: I had a surprise text this morning from that woman who used to be a friend - she was the one that told me not to contact her so I just turned round and said ok then please don't contact me ever again:rotfl: Guess her guilty conscience is pricking her:rotfl:

I have decided against taking my own sandwiches - I cannot look at food right now because despite having breakfast (I never eat it and usually a mug of coffee suffices) I am actually starving and I know the temptation would be too much to lick jam off my fingers:rotfl: The bag is packed, my other cheapo bag contains a bum bag with the all important claim form for my overnight hospital stay - I am hoping for £200:cool: with a little bit of money, a packet of mentos fruit sweets, a packet of tissues, a nail file, my keys (well it will have), I am wearing my cheapo watch, I have a book to read and my reading glasses which I keep forgetting to wear:rolleyes: I may even take some orange juice I have a tiny carton from Lidl.

Have a good day - Lula I would rather slit my throat than do housework too:rolleyes:

[Deleted User]

Hi Lula,

Positive vibes coming your way and less of the kicking yourself young lady!

Horace - I think I might have missed you now but I wish you a lot of luck for today, will be thinking of you.

Tea
x

Lula-Hula

Well, after a shaky & unwilling start I've completed most of my list

Trip to Tatco was a cheeky £39.93 of which £ 30.68 was on food. Yey again the bartenders have tried to rip me off by not giving me the £1.20 discount on my sauces :mad: Howeve, I blame myself as for the first time in ages I didnt check the receipt before leavng the shop. I was in such a hurry to get home & start on my beloved chores :rolleyes:

The stupid teapot lights are still lit up on the dash & as I have a motorway journey planned tomorrow I thought I'd better ring the garage to check them out. I could almost hear the service man salivating at the thought of doing a financial dissection on me but they cant fit the car in until 30th July :rolleyes: but he assures me that car is safe to drive unless behaving out of character. I reckon that when the hazard switch is replaced then the electrical fault light will go off ... not sure about the teapot with toxic fumes though

My new rugs have arrived & the theory that their very presence would annoy me has already been proved; 2 x trippings over already :rolleyes:

Also received a letter from Barclaycard announcing that they want to be my new best friend ... or at least they have enclosed a cheque with which I can do a balance transfer from another CC at 0% for 5 months. At first glance a reasonable sounding deal until I whip my calacualtor out & it reveals that the transfer fee will be £54 & as from January the rate will then go up to 19.9% .My total savings for the 5 months would be a mere £80 & then it would cost me more as my balance on CC2 is on a life of balance deal at 14.9 % . Hmmmm Mr. Barclaycard :think:, you're gonna have to do better than that
Did consider ringing them up now & trying to bargain but I cant be bothered & more concerned about escalating car costs at the moment.

I rang lovefilm to cancel & they offered me a better deal which includes a an extra 2 free films, then it's only £8 a month & I dont have to pay anything until September. Just as well as I've already cancelled the direct debt :shhh: .

I have also cancelled my accident insurance which was costing £10 a month, not a lot & of course now I will have my left arm severed by a toxic teapot & be unable to work or drive ... but will just have to rely on all those NI contributions paid, in order to get by :eek::rotfl:

I may be able to replace another £50 into the gas & electricity fund but have to do work out exact figures for the next 3 weeks. Out for lunch on sunday with family & then sis's birthday at the end of the month but the present fund is looking healthy so no worries there.

Cant wait to get new ISA & start filling it up with savings, although only for things like car tax etc :rolleyes:

Right must go check on my fishing nets :whistle:

bye for now
Lula
xx

Lula-Hula

Evening all,

I did start a post this morning but was then rudely interrupted by my workload :rolleyes:

Life has been very busy in Lulaville since my last visit. Friday I whizzed down to visit Wol, & Numpty who was also visiting, to do some 'helping' in the garden. I drank a lot of coffee, did a bit of weeding & came home with a car full of plants - far more than I earned .

Saturday I managed to get a friend round to help with the hideous task of removing the carpet from the living room :eek:. ( It had to be done as I'm sure Hollyberry is due back from her hol soon & I cant have her thinking I've done nothing :shhh:)It was grimmer than grim but it's now gone & all that's left are the floorboards which need a bit of sanding before the next stage. I'm now in a quandary as to whether I should stain them a walnut brown colour or paint them white as I originally planned & which will follow through from the hall

Anyway, Mr. Autoglass turned up to replace my windscreen & miraculously & as I suspected once the job was done the warning lights -curly wire & toxic teapot - disappeared :j boo hoo Mr. Renault Dealer you're not getting any of my pennies now :rotfl:It did cost me the £70 excess but it's great not having to go cross eyed to see round the chip.

Sunday was all about meeting family for lunch which was delicious & probably to blame for my increase in weight. It did cost about £25 & I had to fuel the car up too with £15 but needs must & all that :rolleyes:

This morning I took the car back to the garage for the new hazard switch & whether the low cut top helped or not I only paid £19.40 for the part & nothing for either the fitting or the new MOT certificate

I've paid £30 ( yes I know, only £30 ) off CC2 this morning so that's now down to £2,840 & I still have to pay another £30 to meet the minimum yet ... BUT I have made my first transfer into the new savings for bills account . With a bit of financial manipulation, ie not paying so much off the CC I have managed to claw back another £50 for the gas & electricity fund so now just need to find another £100 & then I'm back on top again.

Off to wander around the board so bye for now

lula
xx