It's STILL tough and not getting better - so how are we coping?

northwest1965

Did anyone see watchdog last night and their report on Kwik Fit, I think it was appauling of them. Its not somewhere that I would go for a service personally but it makes you wonder where else this goes on

elona

Martin has a report on using council centres for MOT and it could be worth a try and save money.

We finally moved into our new house on 3rd Sept. but don't get internet till 22nd!!!!!!

I'm typing this in the library and trying not to let the fact our vendors would not allow us a second viewing as they were too stressed - but not too much so to prevent then removing seven made to measure wooden blinds and about nine light fittings that we were under the impression we had paid for. As well as lots of other fittings!!!!

I am determined not to let it spoil our appreciation of the house and can't wait to get winter stores sorted out. Have already made home made rolls and a huge pot of lentil soup in the slow cooker yesterday.

Our house now has neither "fur coat or knickers!!!!!;)

New blinds are on order but DH does not want to think about light fittings etc till we know basics like the heating, hot water and gas is safe.

Hug to everyone

Kitcaboodle

I bought some rings for making crumpets from Wilkinson. They are called something like 'poachette rings' but are the right depth for crumpets. They were £2.67 for two so I bought two sets. I might have a bash at the crumpet recipe this weekend!

I bought a large baking tray from Wilkinson when we moved in here a couple of years ago and it's been great, so I am hoping that these will bear up well too!

greent

elona wrote: »

We finally moved into our new house on 3rd Sept. but don't get internet till 22nd!!!!!!

I'm typing this in the library and trying not to let the fact our vendors would not allow us a second viewing as they were too stressed - but not too much so to prevent then removing seven made to measure wooden blinds and about nine light fittings that we were under the impression we had paid for. As well as lots of other fittings!!!!

G i ts!!:mad::mad: (((hugs))) Moving is stressful enough without pita vendors

The vendors of our house removed wall light fittings, made to measure blinds, pelmet fittings leaving fist sized holes in the walls!!, garden fittings (such as a wooden arch that was cemented into the ground and that the previous owners to them had installed!!), toilet roll holders, a shower screen from the bath and left the place filthy. We debated about legal action but their solicitor was an ar5e and I was 8 months pg with no 3 and v stressed and so we left it. It was only down to a chance remark just before moving that we realised they planned on taking the carpets - at which point we said that we weren't buying, so they left them. Oh, I forgot - they took a kitchen cupboard! - installed by the builders and the floor tiles were fitted around the cupboards, so there was a gap on the floor....

Some people!! Ours had always denied us a late viewing prior to buying. I would do it differently next time. (and there's us with the house we moved out of taking down pictures, filling in the holes, sanding & repainting them and even re wallpapering 2 damaged strips of paper. Oh, and of the day before the move, moving a wardrobe and discovering it wasn't painted behind - so painting that. The very last thing I did was vacuum the garage after it had been emptied...

Hope your new blinds are even better than what was there before and that you make your new house a lovely, lovely home

JayJay14

When we bought our first house the estate agents blurb stated 'luxury fitted kitchen. The was a sink unit, no even fixed to the wall, a base unit, the same, and a wall unit sitting on the flooe. You could see the drawings on the wall whee the fitters had marked where the kitchen should have been. The previous owners had been repossessed, kept a set of keys, then returned and stripped out the kitchen and left some units from the council house they had been given.
Suffice to say we got that house very cheap:rotfl:

Costco washing powder in the big tub - I've just finished my first tub, it lasted about 6 months or more and I used probably less than half the amount they said to.

Re the 0845 et al - we pay extra for them. I think you can get a package to cover them but we use them so rarely it isn't worth it. We have extra problems here in Hull as there are no BT lines so we are restricted to the local phone company, so also no packages which include broadband either. I think they are changing this but I doubt they will be cheaper as there is no competition. We get calls from talktalk and sky and the like about it but they can't sell us a package even if we wanted them to.

ceridwen

littleowl wrote: »

From the Net:
0845 prefix
0845 numbers replaced the previous range of 0345 numbers operated by BT and 0645 numbers provided by Cable and Wireless. The older 0345 and 0645 numbers were converted to 0845 numbers as part of the Big Number Change. Until 2004, 0845 numbers were changed at the same rate as a call within the caller's local call area, and were accordingly described as local rate numbers, or using the BT brand name "Lo-call". With few companies now charging domestic customers different rates for local and long-distance calls, 0845 numbers can no longer reliably be assumed to cost the same as a 'local' phone call and can in some cases cost more. Some fixed line telephone companies have started to include 0845 numbers in bundled call allowances.

It was always my understanding that "lo-call" phone numbers (ie 0845) cost more than "local" phone numbers (ie ones in ones vicinity). I used to get really annoyed at the way some untrained (or worse) staff member at the end of the phone would say "But its only a lo-call phone number charge" and ALWAYS gabbled the word "lo-call" so fast that it sounded like "local". At that point I had a tendency to use the phrase back at them in Received Pronunciation (ie speaking like wot Roger Moore does don't he....:rotfl::rotfl:). I got a bit fed-up with "playing that game" after a while though - hence one of my reasons for swopping to my combination of:
- looking up an alternative standard number and, if that doesnt work,
- finding an email address and emailing them

Its worked again this week - a firm told me to ring 0845 number to arrange a delivery. I promptly emailed and requested they phone me - they did:D. Delivery now duly arranged:D. I DID get requested to make the driver a cup of tea when I wondered if he would help me carry my new computer desk upstairs (as its solid wood ready-assembled instead of the rackety self-assembly cheapie type I currently have - and its b****y uncomfortable and now falling to bits). I said that I thought I could manage that:D - and wonder whether I should make him a sandwich as well - as he'll be delivering in the evening? Whaddya think?

ceridwen

elona wrote: »

Martin has a report on using council centres for MOT and it could be worth a try and save money.

We finally moved into our new house on 3rd Sept. but don't get internet till 22nd!!!!!!

I'm typing this in the library and trying not to let the fact our vendors would not allow us a second viewing as they were too stressed - but not too much so to prevent then removing seven made to measure wooden blinds and about nine light fittings that we were under the impression we had paid for. As well as lots of other fittings!!!!

I am determined not to let it spoil our appreciation of the house and can't wait to get winter stores sorted out. Have already made home made rolls and a huge pot of lentil soup in the slow cooker yesterday.

Our house now has neither "fur coat or knickers!!!!!;)

New blinds are on order but DH does not want to think about light fittings etc till we know basics like the heating, hot water and gas is safe.

Hug to everyone

Cheeky flippin' so and so's....

I thought it was automatic that one gets to view a potential house a second time if wanted:cool: I certainly did! I had an initial look on my own - and had virtually decided I'd have it - but then came back for a second viewing with my parents in tow to get their opinions. I only definitely decided - because they said most of the others they had been off viewing on their own on my behalf were even worse and said they thought I should buy this one.

"Too stressed" - huh...and I'll be a monkey's uncle.....:cool:

I almost wonder if its standard practice for vendors to "take the michael" like this. MIne accepted my second viewing - but they still got up to allsorts. I had assessed the husband of the couple when I viewed the house - so I knew he would do summat - the only question was what it would be - so I managed to prevent him doing most of what he was planning.....

pagangirl

All I have left is £25.50 a week after bills taken out (also on JSA) - all I can say is that I live very frugally :eek:

Annie - luv the tale of exOH's winter woollies - pmsl at that one - you are priceless :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Hugs to all going thru hard times
xxx

mama67

Kitcaboodle wrote: »

I really, really want to have a go at making home-made crumpets - but it would mean buying some metal rings to use to cook them in.

I used to love Warburtons ones, they were the only ones nice enough to have with just salt & butter. However, they have added something to them over the last year or so that disagrees with me, it makes me bloat up and get painful stomach cramps. I am fine with wheat & fine with yeast, so it must be something they use in the baking process. Want to try making my own with no nasties in it!

I also want to try making my own poppadoms & see if those can be cooked in the microwave as well as shop-bought ones (microwaved poppadoms were a wonderful discovery, no need for oil for cooking them - but the raw ones cost almost as much as the pre-cooked ones in our local Tesco & I've never really rated Pattaks which is all they do). Must find an Indian food supplies shop that sells Gram flour, etc!

So many recipes, so little time, especially as little one kept me up until 2:30am in the end last night!

Could you not use tuna cans with both ends taken out

See this has already been mentioned

RAS

Annie56 wrote: »

Well after paying all my out goings,water rates, electric,tv licence,and bt phone line and contents insurance and rent and council tax Im left with the grand total of 36 pounds (sorry pound signs disapeared of keyboard).

Have a look at eagerlearner's thread; not a huge amount but people can get goods/vouchers worth about £30 per month without affecting benefits.

Mystery shopping is work but most of the other things are not.