Peonie's journey to smart money management

Peonie

We had a lovely homemade beef stew last night.

Over the holidays I did my first home cooking day and made enough beef stew for 3 meals, meat and potato pie filling for 4 meals, cooked a gammon joint that we ate over 4 days and a soup, it also was very good, using the gammon water that we also ate over the next 4 days.

Around November I slipped back into my old ways and the garden composter enjoyed too many vegetables; but I'm now back to cutting up the vegetables and freezing them for using in soup.

Peonie

The £5 I get from the Halifax each month has been moved into the ISA; making the total £10.080. It's only a little change but it adds up.

We've had a quiet weekend; we went to the cemetery and watched films. I had hoped to go for a walk but the weather is miserable.

coldcazzie

Peonie wrote: »

The £5 I get from the Halifax each month has been moved into the ISA; making the total £10.080. It's only a little change but it adds up.

Is the Halifax account your main account or do you have an additional one for the sole purpose of collecting the £5 every month (ie by transferring £1k in and then out again immediately)?

Peonie

Hi Caz, The ISA is with the Halifax so I had to open a current account with them to transfer the ISA funds in throughout the year; so by transferring £1,000 in and out every month I get the £5 bonus each month and an additional 0.2% on the ISA balance at the end of the year. So no it's not my main current account but I did not open it purely for the £5; although it is a nice extra to get.

coldcazzie

Yes I see... what are they like as a bank? Customer services etc?

Peonie

I've only been into 2 Halifax branches and both times the staff were good and knew the products; it took a few weeks to get the internet banking sorted. I normally do not trust the information I get from the telephone banking staff; but I felt I could trust the information the First Direct staff have given me and the internet banking was available to use within 48 hours.

Lixi_2

Hey Peonie

I just caught up with your diary! Hope you had a good Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Have you tried electric blankets? I saw your post where you said you and your other half have different temperatures. So do Mr L and I. We stayed with friends about a year ago and were so impressed with their leccy blanket that we bought our own - it wasn't expensive and has split temperature controls. Absolute luxury I tell you. Just thought I would mention it!

L xx

gallygirl

If God meant us to be cold in bed he wouldn't have invented leccy blankets

Lixi_2

Too true Gallygirl, that made me smile!

coldcazzie

Lixi wrote: »

Have you tried electric blankets? I saw your post where you said you and your other half have different temperatures. So do Mr L and I. We stayed with friends about a year ago and were so impressed with their leccy blanket that we bought our own - it wasn't expensive and has split temperature controls.

It seems to be quite common. Where did you get yours from Lixi? Perhaps I shall invest in one for next winter

gallygirl wrote: »

If God meant us to be cold in bed he wouldn't have invented leccy blankets

Indeed not :rotfl: