The Ultimate Incentive Threadies go all out!

Tete_en_l'Air

Haha I know some people on this site are maniacs - if you have a look on the thread I did in the home and relationship board about my budgets I was being frowned upon for saving for future holidays! Erm, isn't that the ethos of this whole site?!

That's good about the TV licence - might do that myself when I move out, I always manage to miss my programmes and have to watch them later online anyway!

Why so defensive NIM? No-one's having a go at you about the car, we know it's big, we know why you need a big car and we know Dinah needs it for work. All I've said is I don't know how you can cut petrol and insurance costs on such a big car, but you can and should try to budget better for motoring bills, for peace of mind. You're doing well having one car between you given your distances (in opposite directions!) to work anyway. Now go and give blood to make your wife feel better about cutting out her charities for a bit

ETA - my lenses are 2 pairs per month - is the solution not the same anyway? Don't get me started on optical costs anyway - if people can get gastric bands on the NHS, people with poor eyesight through no fault of their own should get help towards glasses and lenses

Cinny91

Dinah93 wrote: »

she buys the tea and cakes, I just feel bad that I'm always leaning on her.

Ahh damn, I know that feeling! I'm 110% positive, like my Mum, she doesn't mind and ounce but I think it's a mixture of pride, and something else I can't put my finger on. When I was living at home I didn't mind my Mum paying at all, but now it's like a part of me needs or wants to prove we're doing okay.

And honestly, when it comes to charity I only give what I can afford at the end of the month. I always buy the Big Issue, and stop to talk too homeless people and offer to go buy them something to eat or drink. But I only ever give what I can afford, I've always had it drilled into me that charity begins at home. I'd love to have the money to make a real difference to peoples lives but I don't, so I just do what I can.

And no one said we should kill Dinah in the snow in the hopes of you getting DF, NIM! :eek: Your car is a big expense but we all know why you bought the car, and why you need it.

You could keep the telly downstairs though Dinah, to make the room look 'finished' but it might be a faff in proving you don't actually use it! I know some people just keep a tv for watching dvds but did have a lot of trouble convincing the telly people that's all it was used for. That's a great refund for the license though.

N.I.M

Tete_en_l'Air wrote: »

Make NIM give blood

Petrified of needles, I'd love to do it but I get nausious at the thought of it.

Tete_en_l'Air wrote: »

EDIT - I think the football is worth it, and cheaper than the gym too

That was my thought, but if I'm honest I could just have water at the pub, save a few pennies and maybe have a pint once a month or something. That said I've not been for over a month now cause I tore ligaments in my ankle playing footie about a month ago.

Tete_en_l'Air wrote: »

Well done on cancelling the TV licence, maybe put the telly in the shed or something though if it won't get wet. I seem to think they say you need a licence if you watch online, but don't know how they prove it...?

TV detection vans...pile of b****x imo but I'm not willing to risk it.

Tete_en_l'Air wrote: »

Why so defensive NIM? No-one's having a go at you about the car, we know it's big, we know why you need a big car and we know Dinah needs it for work. All I've said is I don't know how you can cut petrol and insurance costs on such a big car, but you can and should try to budget better for motoring bills, for peace of mind. You're doing well having one car between you given your distances (in opposite directions!) to work anyway. Now go and give blood to make your wife feel better about cutting out her charities for a bit

I was worried that I might have come across a bit agressively there tbh. Its just something I feel very strongly about. I am wondering though if we should look into something like this for me to get about on.

Cinny91

N.I.M wrote: »

Cinny, how much do you think it should coust, roughly to do homemade fish and chips? I've come up with a recepie I think is good value as it does both of us for £2 (so a quid a head) but I dunno if I'm being extravigant with it.

Any meal that comes in under at £1 per person is really good going! I wouldn't know where to start suggesting people on fish though, I really hate it unless it's tuna or the finger kind so we never buy it. We have 4 bits on salmon in the freezer at OH's request, but I can't bring myself to cook them as the 'skin' on the under side freaks me out. People find it crazy I'm perfectly fine with prepping birds from plucking but some scales on a bit of fish and I'm useless!

N.I.M

Cinny91 wrote: »

Any meal that comes in under at £1 per person is really good going! I wouldn't know where to start suggesting people on fish though, I really hate it unless it's tuna or the finger kind so we never buy it. We have 4 bits on salmon in the freezer at OH's request, but I can't bring myself to cook them as the 'skin' on the under side freaks me out. People find it crazy I'm perfectly fine with prepping birds from plucking but some scales on a bit of fish and I'm useless!

You don't remove the scales, if its good salmon just put some butter on it (the real stuff not flora or marge) and wrap it in foil and bake it.

I'm a fish fiend but as long as I'm getting in the right ballpark pricewise I'm happy.

Tete_en_l'Air

N.I.M wrote: »

I was worried that I might have come across a bit agressively there tbh. Its just something I feel very strongly about. I am wondering though if we should look into something like this for me to get about on.

Thanks, that's Dad's Xmas present sorted!

I think you were pre-empting any car criticism there rather than reading what we said. (That said, she has life assurance ... NIM you could be rich - RICH!!!)

Water in the pub is a bit extreme

Cinny91

N.I.M wrote: »

Petrified of needles, I'd love to do it but I get nausious at the thought of it.

Couldn't even do it for a biscuit? I need to look into donating actually now it's been a year since I got my tattoo. I was looking at Bone Marrow too but I wouldn't know where to start, and it seems quite scary. But if it could save or help a life, it's worth it.

ETA:

N.I.M wrote: »

You don't remove the scales, if its good salmon just put some butter on it (the real stuff not flora or marge) and wrap it in foil and bake it.

I know you don't, what I meant was I could do all that to another animal but just having to touch some scales while I pop it on a baking tray makes me gag! No thank you!

N.I.M

Tete_en_l'Air wrote: »

I think you were pre-empting any car criticism there rather than reading what we said. (That said, she has life assurance ... NIM you could be rich - RICH!!!)

There was that too.

Tete_en_l'Air wrote: »

Water in the pub is a bit extreme

Extreme mse maybe, ok so one coke then bring it to a fiver seeing as I have your blessing Tete:beer:

Cinny91 wrote: »

Couldn't even do it for a biscuit? I need to look into donating actually now it's been a year since I got my tattoo. I was looking at Bone Marrow too but I wouldn't know where to start, and it seems quite scary. But if it could save or help a life, it's worth it.

Agreed, doesnt stop me from nearly fainting though, I'm a total wuss when it comes to needles, ask D what I'm like when I need to get a shot?

ETA:

Cinny91 wrote: »

I know you don't, what I meant was I could do all that to another animal but just having to touch some scales while I pop it on a baking tray makes me gag! No thank you!

Make OH do it then

Dinah93

Tete_en_l'Air wrote: »

ETA - my lenses are 2 pairs per month - is the solution not the same anyway? Don't get me started on optical costs anyway - if people can get gastric bands on the NHS, people with poor eyesight through no fault of their own should get help towards glasses and lenses

Mine are in saline, so a lot less reactive. I think the NHS would say they do help - they have that one hideous red pair of NHS specs you can get free, and lenses are free if you're out of work, with 18 kids, live in a tent, only own one shoe and are called Mildred or Cuthbert, otherwise, you pay.

Cinny91 wrote: »

Ahh damn, I know that feeling! I'm 110% positive, like my Mum, she doesn't mind and ounce but I think it's a mixture of pride, and something else I can't put my finger on. When I was living at home I didn't mind my Mum paying at all, but now it's like a part of me needs or wants to prove we're doing okay.

I'm the same. Even though I know she knows we're up against the wall!

See - he wants me in a big safe truck and he's happy for him to be roadkill! In principle I love the idea, in reality I think he'd get killed.

Flower08

Whats going on?! No chitter chatter on here, more debt talk? This isnt right :rotfl:
Cant really add anything to what others have said Dinah as I am rubbish at looking at peoples SOA!
Cinny - if that offer of some recipes/meal ideas being sent is open to others aswell I wouldnt mind some when you get chance we really need to try and get our food shopping down.

Oh and have rung the doctors this morning, got an appointment next week so will see where we go from there. I am a bit worried that he is going to say I need to go back on my tablets once baby is here, which I dont really want to do as I want to breastfeed but we shall have to see!