The 15k Paper Hat - It could be YOU!!!!!

too_much_debt

Oh I love the Tesco Value Jaffa Cakes, have been buying them for a few years now, can't stand McVities, the Jaffa Cakes only last about 24 hours in our house (if that) as the kids like them too.

We used to go camping every year when I was a kid and I hated it, it always seemed to be cold or raining when we first got there and I would sit in the car while my mum, dad and brother put the tent up. I remember one year when I was about 6 or 7 we went touring round Scotland and we stayed on a campsite that was on a steep hill, I was also very ill and was sick all over my sleeping bag and my dad gave me his. I remember we were camping when Charles and Diana got married.

TMD

starnac

my hubby loved camping as a kid. they had a trailer tent(?) and his dad would come home from work on a friday, they would pack everything up and just go. i think that's what he wants for us as well

too_much_debt

Had a night from Hell last night. Went to bed at 12.30am, at 1.45am OH's car alarm goes off, OH gets up and goes to stop it, alarm won't stop, he starts engine and still alarm won't stop, the alarm is very loud and it's very quiet outside as it's early morning (apart from the alarm). OH gets in car and drives around the block so he doesn't annoy the neighbours too much and also to see if he can stop it somehow. As he's coming back around the other side of the green (our house is one side he is the other) he notices a car behind him, as he's coming along by the bus stop another car comes from the roundabout ahead and pulls in front of him, men jump out of cars (they think he's nicking the car). They are CID, he tells them that he can't stop the car alarm, they try and see if they can help.

I am upstairs, kids are fidgeting, I can hear car alarm in the distance so look out the window to see if I can see where he is, then I notice he is across the green and I'm thinking that some nice people have come to try and help him (not knowing until later that they are CID). I am still inside watching out the window, feeling very sorry for OH, hoping that no neighbours come out and start having a go at him, I go downstairs and get the old AA card, I cancelled my subscription with them in June as I couldn't afford over a £120 for breakdown cover, OH was covered too, but it was all cancelled.

I find his mobile and his credit card and take the AA card, I make sure all kids are asleep and leg it across the green, car alarm is loud and I have to shout, I tell him to ring the AA and renew the membership, I tell him I have to get back to the kids so leg it back across the green (it's quite a big green). About 15 minutes later the house phone rings, it's the AA checking that OH is who he says he is and am I happy to renew the breakdown cover, I say yes.

Only one CID officer is left helping, he then says he can't help anymore, there is nothing he can do, they have disconnected the battery and the alarm is still going strong. OH comes home to warm up, he's freezing as he originally went out in trousers and a short sleeved t-shirt, that is when he tells me about CID pulling him over and doing a check on him etc. AA ring to say they will be there in 20 minutes. OH goes out, DD3 is awake now - brill!! I lie there and can hear the alarm in the distance, sometimes it sounds like it has stopped but then I hear it again. I want to watch out the window but have to wait until DD3 goes back to sleep, I wait 5 mins, next thing I know OH is coming back in, the time now is 3.55am, AA man was there with him for 45 minutes, had to knock the alarm out of the car to stop it, he said that the alarm had it's own back up battery and could have gone on for 2 days. I go back to bed and OH has a drink and some cereal, he has to be up at 4.30am to go to work, poor sod had been up from 1.45 standing next to a loud car alarm for nearly 2 hours and couldn't go back to bed and get some sleep.

So, at least tonight we don't have to worry about the car alarm going off, next door said earlier that she was awake for an hour due to the car alarm but that her husband slept right through it, it was really loud.

So a fun night was had by all - NOT!!

TMD

starnac

oh no TMD that's really awful. i've always wondered if a car alarm can drain the car's battery. obviously it doesn't matter anyway if it's got it's own battery. i'm surprised your OH doesn't have ringing in his ears due to the noise. funny that CID pulled him over. not funny for him though i bet. at least it shows they are doing their job though.

hope you have a better night tonight

too_much_debt

Thanks Starnac.

Last night was much better - no noise at all. It was just sod's law that it had to go off in the middle of the night, god knows how much it's going to cost me in AA Membership now, will wait until it comes on my statement, my account was suspended in June so they just renewed it so will come off my credit card.

Was going to get rid of my car but have thought now about changing to a smaller car, we are going to look at Renault Scenics as they have 3 seats in the back so should fit 3 car seats in. Had a look at one yesterday but was too expensive, need to find out how much my car is worth to part exchange, don't want to pay more than a couple of hundred pounds on top.

OH is off Friday so will probably go to Car Giant over at White City as they have lots of cars there so can have a look around and see if there are any other makes of car suitable. I've seen some Scenics with a 1.4 engine which would be brill as mine is a Hyundai Trajet 2.0 litre, would prefer to have a Petrol car as mine is Diesel.

TMD

savingholmes

Starnac - we went camping last year for the first time in years. The kids had a blast. We just left our belongings in the tent all day. We either didn't bring valuables or kept them in the car or physically on us....

There are degrees of camping.... Trailer tents can offer relative luxury compared with the £30 in the sale tent we were using LOL!

Just take croc type shoes to walk around in - then it doesn't matter if they get wet... Take clothes that are easy to put on - elasticated trousers or wide skirts a lot easier to get on in a tent than jeans! Most camp sites do have showers facilities so you don't have to be smelly all weekend if you don't want to lol!

TMD on the car front - I found meriva's were cheaper than scenics. We got a meriva diesel and are so pleased due to the lower fuel cost. I wouldn't want to go back to petrol now - we reckon this car saves us between £8 and £12 a week compared with our previous petrol automatic.... You can fit 3 car seats in both scenics and merivas...

tirlittan

Morning all.

Shelley - well done on savings, fantastic deposit you have there.

TMD - what a nightmare night. Hope AA membership won't be too expensive.

PAID - well done on negotiating, always worth it!

And thanks to everyone for cheering me up. I'm ok really. It's just that I feel I'm doing loads to bust this debt and still it takes over my life and such a long time to go still...I want a normal life where I don't have to count every single penny!

A friend came yesterday from Finland for a conference where I live and we met up with a few people. Went for a cheap meal and bf paid for my drinks. He's so lovely. But no wonder he doesn't want to live with me as I'm counting every single penny all of the time!

Anyway, it's all good. Need to sell more cd's to magp1e and put stuff on amazon. Landlord has bought us a new wireless router,so when that's installed, I hope my internet connection will be more reliable, fingers crossed anyway.

savingholmes

HI Tirl - the wireless router sounds good.

Debt busting can be so hard - especially as you say when you are in it for the long haul... One day it will be all paid off and then you will have all that extra money.....

tirlittan

Thanks SH, that one day just seems to be so far, far away...

savingholmes

starnac wrote: »

21 people/events?? that sounds a lot. birthday wise we've only got my sis, DH and DD left before christmas. although i'm sure DD will get spoilt. can't believe she's nearly 2 already. doesn't time fly!

belly dancing? that sounds fab. would never do it myself cos i'd be afraid once i wiggle my belly it would never stop :eek:

I am part of a big family. those that have kids - we just buy for the kids, but where there are no kids we buy for the adults still!

On the belly dancing.... Do you remember on Britains got talent... The flatleys or whatever they were called the father and son duo.... well ..... I just think it will be fun and will help me get a better shape and some exercise.... A lot cheaper than a gym and will get me out of the house in adult company at least one evening a week... I went to a lesson once it was a really good laugh as we were all rubbish and uncoordinated. The other good thing is that a lot of the people in the group were on the larger side so I fit right in :rotfl:

PAID I would defo recommend you give it a go.

TMD glad you got more sleep last night - and how annoying re the AA thing...