Double Trouble but twice as nice

Double_Trouble

boredofbeingathome wrote: »

Is the roof insulated DT? Sounds a daft question i know, but my sister moved into a house where some builder had just bodged it..they got extra insulation under the roof tiles and it made a big difference. You can also line the walls with extra boarding and insulation if there is no cavity, but it is an expensive and messy job- which would mean every outside wall doing- redecorating etc.

We have considered insulating the walls but the cost would be massive and we had all the walls replastered just after we moved in I couldn't face that again. The roof would be a big job too.

Can you tell my heart is not in this now if I could do my major remodel plan and if George Clarke was in charge that would be a different matter but OH didn't win the premium bonds this month so that will have to wait until March :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

DTxx

gilligansyle

Totally sympathise on the insulation front. My house, although terraced so not many outside walls, is solid built, no cavities. Who knows how much I spend heating the street outside! There is a university somewhere that has done a mockup of a house inside a hangar to see how much heat is lost to next door, so if you are rural too! Our water bills are low here too, but because we are on a very old 'common' supply, we can't have things like combi boilers because the pressure isn't reliable enough. But on the plus side, we don't have meters either!

Karmacat

I wish there was a way forward for you that was both cheap(ish) and sensible, DT. The premium bond win is looking like the best option for you at the moment, as it is for me

funnyflipp

Ugh! sympathies for the lack of motivation, I can understand you not wanting any more work done, I hate having the house turned upside down

All the best with the bonds until then I can recommend a furry dog! our front door needed a draught excluder until we rescued a particullarly fluffy creature who likes to guard the house, so now he just lies infront of the gap!! (not sure it's cost effective though as he does eat quite a lot :cool:)

Double_Trouble

Like the furry dog idea :rotfl:but ours went for adoption long story and probably for the best but a shame all the same.

Have decided to make use of the greenhouse this year. The garden has got a bit out of control since we sacked the gardener we now have the hedges under control but need to tackle other areas. We have decided it is the turn of the greenhouse we are not going to heat it so will be growing tomatos, cucumbers, peppers, aubergines, salad crops etc. as these are all things we eat regularly. We have also decided to buy plants rather than seeds except for the salad stuff as I feel the cost saving has to be set against the extra work heating etc. needed to germinate the seeds. So we have until early April to get the greenhouse tidied up and sterilised ready to start the new season. I will be happy if we can keep the greenhouse producing well, the grass cut, the hedges under control and the borders in reasonable order this year. We do have a veg plot as well but that is a step too far for this year as it is very overgrown maybe next year if the rest of the garden goes well.

Still have to do the weekend food shop tomorrow so the budget is going to be tight this week as it included the trip to Cardiff and also a train ticket for OS to come home for my birthday in a couple of weeks but I am hoping that it will be just doable - might have to take a calculator with me just to make sure

Other than that no great surprises on the budget front. The little ones have a birthday party on Saturday but thankfully it is a little girl and I have lots of girl's jewellery to choose from for a pressie and lots of card making stuff so I am going to get them to make her a card so other than a coffee whilst I am there it should be a no spend occasion . I am also going to make OH a card for valentine's day and I have looked on the valentine's thread and as I have candy sticks and humbugs left from Christmas I am going to make candy cane hearts and "bee mine" humbug bees so no cost there :D:D I think I might be getting the hang of this :money:business at long last. I have already told him he has to make me something for my birthday he is very arty so it shouldn't be a problem for him provided he doesn't leave it until the last minute. I need to think of something for his birthday in April I haven't got a clue at the moment as I have already given him cheques in the past so want to find something new will have to have another long bath I think :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

DTxx

Karmacat

Sweet! And good thinking on the garden - if you plan carefully (ask for plants from freecycle at the right time!) it *can* be cheap... start compost making now!

youareallhelpingme

Buy him a tank of fuel for the Lotus and pack a picnic and the two of you go off for a lovely drive.

Double_Trouble

youareallhelpingme wrote: »

Buy him a tank of fuel for the Lotus and pack a picnic and the two of you go off for a lovely drive.

That would be nice but I am not allowing him any budget for my birthday :D:D:D so I think buying him petrol would be cheating

DTxx

Double_Trouble

Karmacat wrote: »

Sweet! And good thinking on the garden - if you plan carefully (ask for plants from freecycle at the right time!) it *can* be cheap... start compost making now!

I haven't looked into freecycle I know you have to offer something first but I have lots of baby stuff so I am sure that could be sorted that is a very good idea KC :T

I would also like to look for a breadmaker I can't justify buying one because I gave away a lovely panasonic one in my pre LBM days because I felt sorry for some students that wanted one

As for compost I have some large very full compost bins so I am sure that should not be a problem haven't looked at it recently so may need a good turn over but should be nicely rotted by now they are at the back of the veg plot a part of the garden I have been avoiding visiting because it is such a sight but thankfully out of sight I shall have to be brave when this terrible wind dies down and go and investigate.

DTxx

taxi73

your garden plans sound great...will be interesting what you come up with for his birthday and what he comes up with for yours.