Peonie's journey to smart money management

Peonie

There a few things I forgot to tell you yesterday. For our drive to London to took a picnic so we did not have to buy food. We visited friends in Cambridge for a couple of nights and had a cheap mini holiday.

My sister has gone on holiday for a week. She asked to do some things at her house while she's away. Yesterday and today I left the car at home and walked.

I went to the garden centre and spent £10 on plants.

I had been ill so had to buy a couple of prescription items.

I bought 2 packs of 'sell by' chicken today, it's already been split into 8 little bags and is in the freezer. I bought a few other 'sell by' items.

One of the cats brought 2 dead mice into the house.

I gave 2 home sewn presents to friends and they love them.

Peonie

Tonight I picked up 2 packs of 'sell by' bread rolls for 15p each. They're gone into the freezer.

I only have 1 night out planned in the next week and that's to a friend's house. So socially I am going to have a low spend week.

This weekend a few of the kitchen units are going to be installed. Hallelujah. :T I'll probably have to make a few trips to a DIY store to buy bits and bobs and look for wall tiles.

We have also booked hotel nights and tickets for a show. We're staying in the Victoria station area. Can anyone recommend any MSE places to eat.

Tomorrow I'm going to hit the work bookswap. Every large workplace should have one. I get to try new books without buying them and keep them for as long as I want without getting a fine. Perfect for me.

Did I tell you our electricity and gas bill has reduced from £92 to £24 a month. We really must use less than expected.

Our clothes keep drying with a damp and musky smell. We've even tried putting them in the dryer. Does anyone have any suggestions?

One more work day and it's a long weekend. Lovely.

Mortgage_Reduction_Novice

Peonie wrote: »

Our clothes keep drying with a damp and musky smell. We've even tried putting them in the dryer. Does anyone have any suggestions?

It sounds like your washing machine might need cleaning (I'm amusing you are drying outside or at least on a maiden with windows open?)

You can clean washing machine a few ways:

Best commercially availible product I've used is Service It

If you're after a more MSE version then... washing up liquid and a cloth to clean the seal and drum. Then short wash (empty drum) with a little vinegar or soda crystals followed by the hottest wash possible.

Peonie

Thanks MRN, I'm going to try the MSE version straight away. Cheers.

shala_moo

Hi Peonie, good to see you.. sounds like you've had a busy month, excellent news on the elec & gas.

MRN - thanks for the washing machine tip, going to try that at some point.. occasionally do a really hot wash just to shift any hidden grime but never thought to add vinegar!

cod3

One of the cats brought 2 dead mice into the house.

I gave 2 home sewn presents to friends and they love them.

Those two sentences together make you sound like a taxidermist! :eek:

Mortgage_Reduction_Novice

No probs... the vinegar can rid machines of funky odours but it also de-scales too.

If it still smells of vinegar after the hot wash just leave the door wide open, the smell will go when it dries.

Peonie

Mortgage_Reduction_Novice wrote: »

No probs... the vinegar can rid machines of funky odours but it also de-scales too.

If it still smells of vinegar after the hot wash just leave the door wide open, the smell will go when it dries.

Ahhh, I wish I knew that this afternoon. I threw my cloths in this afternoon and kept my fingers crossed they would not smell of vinegar.

If the vinegar de-scales I hope it will make the machine more efficient.

After your reading your washing machine cleaning tip I found a 'recipe' on the internet for the soda crystals and vinegar. If anyone's interested, it said to pour 2 cups of soda crystals into the drawer and run the machine on the hottest longest wash, then 500ml of vinegar on the hottest longest wash.

Peonie

cod3 wrote: »

Those two sentences together make you sound like a taxidermist! :eek:

Ha ha, that made me laugh.

I wanted to spend the day gardening but it's pouring down.

Mortgage_Reduction_Novice

Peonie wrote: »

I wanted to spend the day gardening but it's pouring down.

That's the watering done then!