Debt free in ten years-my new, more realistic challenge.

PinotGrigio41

:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j

Oh my goodness your a Granny Pooh and somehow I missed the amazingly fabulous news !How did I manage that ? I am so rubbish ! So nearly a month ofter gorgeous babe was born, I am finally gettign with the programme so I am sending you very huge congrats, big hugs and everything else that I should have done amonth ago !!! I bet you are still all grining from ear to ear arent you ? !

Enjoy the cuddles Granny Pooh !!!

Oh and well doen with everything else you have been doing also. You ahve been remarkably busy. I hope you are feeling ok and the mask is working a bit better for you now xxx

HappyNow

Hi Pooh, hope you are well

Just popped in to say that loft insulation is available FREE now to everyone, so no need for you to price up for it. Depending on your circumstances, you might even get paid in vouchers to have it done!! Have a look at this:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/free-cavity-loft-insulation

Your local council website will probably also have details of a local company doing it if none on that list suit you. My house is being surveyed on 1st August (for loft insulation only - our property-build means we can't have cavity walls done) and we will be getting it done completely free, even though we would exceed any means-testing, so it really works . I think the scheme only runs until September, so if you're interested don't hang back too long.

Hope this helps

poohbear59

Thank you Pinot. I have been sitting having a cuddle instead of researching insulation.

The mask is making my waking time so much clearer than before. I didn't even realise how bad I was until a huge mist was cleared. We are still trying out different masks to try to find one that will stay on without too much leakage.

Happy, we have enough insulation to mean we need to pay to have it topped up to the recommended level. DSIL and DS3 insulated DD and DSIL's house last weekend and have promised to do ours. DH could do it but he is finding awkward spaces a lot more difficult to work in than the youngsters. The breakfast room and hall are vaulted ceilings with virtually no insulation so we are going to have to find about £600 to do them properly. I think we will have to do minimum payments for a few months so we can get the work done.
If the house is well insulated we can hopefully cut down on fuel costs.

brizzledfw

Hi pooh..sounds like a good plan re the insulation, combined with making minimum payments. We now have PV panels and I am sure its is bring our bills down (as well as generating) and as none of us want to pay for energy I think insulating properly and efficiently has to be a good use of your money.

So pleased re DGD. Congrats again!

Chin up hun and 'speak' soon!

Brizzle x

grannyx2

Oh new baby cuddles are the very best, especially when they are with your own beloved grandchild.



Gx2 x sprinkling some warmth and happiness your way

poohbear59

brizzledfw wrote: »

Hi pooh..sounds like a good plan re the insulation, combined with making minimum payments. We now have PV panels and I am sure its is bring our bills down (as well as generating) and as none of us want to pay for energy I think insulating properly and efficiently has to be a good use of your money.

So pleased re DGD. Congrats again!

Chin up hun and 'speak' soon!

Brizzle x

Thanks brizzled. Things have gone a bit awry but back on plan today and DS2 is starting to lay the insulation in the loft today.

grannyx2 wrote: »

Oh new baby cuddles are the very best, especially when they are with your own beloved grandchild.



Gx2 x sprinkling some warmth and happiness your way

As you can imagine I have spent many days at DD's cuddling my GDD.

There have been a few problems but she was weighed yesterday and has got back to birth weight :j:j:j:j Almost 5 weeks old so she has been a litttle slow.

Today DSIL has taken the day offf work as the baby has a hospital appointment so I am taking the opportunity to catch up on things.

Today's plan;
Check direct debits make sure we have enough to cover them this month.:o
Order insulation for vaulted ceilings
Phone plumber to chase up quote

We asked our plumber/heating engineer friend to come and look at our present system. He says the pump is in the wrong place so it is either pushing water and it should be pulling or the other way round. I already can't remember which way round it is .

We also have no thermostats anywhere on the system. If we have one fitted, when the water in the tank is hot it will then shut a valve and the hot water then goes into the heating system :j:j:j

Hot radiators would be a luxury but possibly quite easily remedied :j:j:j It may cost about £200 for parts and labour but worth it to make best use of the wood that DH spends every weekend chopping.

Still haven't found anyone to iron the holiday cottage bedding so I have my sons and husband doing it. A saving of £20 a week. :D

Does it sound as though I have slaves? I don't force anyone to do these jobs. They do it voluntarily, honest.


I am blessed with husband and sons who are happy to do things around the house and garden.

poohbear59

Well, I checked the direct debits and standing orders. Bad news is that ATM we don't have enough in the bank to cover them
If wish I didn't look at it all so late last night as it did keep me awake.

Today's plan HAS to be to find some extra money to pay them. We have most going out on 29th and a few more on 2nd so it doesn't give me much time. I increased monthly payments to credit cards so we could pay them off faster so I can go back to min payments but I would rather not.

The hens aren't producing so I can't sell any eggs It would be a pebble in the ocean but every little counts.

My shortfall is £470 !!! Trying not to feel sick It should help me to lose weight though I am still able to find positives in all of this.

DS2 is still insulating the loft. He says it is so hot in there he has to keep taking breaks. It isn't easy doing it alone.

poohbear59

It is so cold today I think I am going to have to give in and light the fire. I have three layers on but we have grey skies and mist up here.

I meant to say earlier that I welcome any help/ advice anyone can give. I am thinking that I am becoming so stressed about it that I am not thinking straight, coupled with lack of sleep = confusion.

We have enough food for at least three weeks. May run out of milk and cheese but I am sure one of DSs will buy some. Food etc is no problem it is more the need for some cash to cover DDs and CCs.

And DH may be paid tomorrow and have some money in the bank by mid next week.

ETA methinks that maybe the loft is not so hot today so may go and give DS a gentle poke into the right direction to finish main loft today.

grannyx2

poohbear59 wrote: »

Well, I checked the direct debits and standing orders. Bad news is that ATM we don't have enough in the bank to cover them
If wish I didn't look at it all so late last night as it did keep me awake.

Today's plan HAS to be to find some extra money to pay them. We have most going out on 29th and a few more on 2nd so it doesn't give me much time. I increased monthly payments to credit cards so we could pay them off faster so I can go back to min payments but I would rather not.

My shortfall is £470 !!! Trying not to feel sick It should help me to lose weight though I am still able to find positives in all of this.

poohbear59 wrote: »

I meant to say earlier that I welcome any help/ advice anyone can give. I am thinking that I am becoming so stressed about it that I am not thinking straight, coupled with lack of sleep = confusion.

We have enough food for at least three weeks. May run out of milk and cheese but I am sure one of DSs will buy some. Food etc is no problem it is more the need for some cash to cover DDs and CCs.

And DH may be paid tomorrow and have some money in the bank by mid next week.

I think you have answered your own question with the final line in the 2nd paragraph above. You only need to pay the minimum and much as it is nice to pay more to bring your debt free date sooner, it is not possible to do it this month without causing you stress and possibly making you ill.

I would say cut back to the minimum payment this month and then if you can pay a bit extra next month when you have the extra.

((((hugs)))) as I know its hard.

Grannyx2 x

poohbear59

Thank you granny. I think I just needed a voice of reason to allow me to reduce payments. We have been overpaying on three cards.

I have also spoken to DS1 and asked for something towards his keep for the month. He can give us some as soon as he is paid.