Risen from the ashes ...

rising_from_the_ashes

Thanks SL I know a few people who've had great success with Chappie - it's a great food and very reasonably priced. Unfortunately, it isn't cereal/wheat free which we think may be part of her problem.

I was a bit down last night as it feels like I'm taking ages to find something to suit her tum, and it made me think back to when I got Ben - and, with hindsight, it did also take several months to find a food that suited him so all is not lost!

Skinners (she was on their Duck & Rice) also do a Salmon & Rice one, which is a much more affordable cost at around £29 for 15kg so will be looking at that when I get towards the end of the JWB, if it's settled down her tum.

There are also a lot better quality tinned meats around now (have never fed these before as most have cereals in so have always done HM portions of chicken or mince & veg for them) so will be looking to introduce some of that gradually too which should be cheaper than the HM option and cut down the amount of kibble needed!:)

So ... on hols today ..... lovely and sunny out but howling a gale so not that pleasant to be out.

I started decluttering upstairs yesterday afternoon - did the cats room & then started on the wee bedroom. Unfortunately slipped off the old sofa bed (forgot how knackered it is ) and landed on the metal base of the airer ..... now have a big egg on my knee!

Have reorganised the storage up there & now have all my material (can't believe how much there is ) in one big ottoman type thing - really need somewhere to put the sewing machine on ...... One box is now empty :j and actually .... are you sitting down ...... threw a pair of very old pillows in the bin (don't panic, I have another 2 spare sets :rotfl:).

Underneath my bed is done & storage bags (the ones from I*kea are absolutely fab:)) are reorganised. Just need to go through the drawers in all 3 bedrooms now:eek:

Big cat also got me a cracker yesterday (tried to pick him up which he doesn't like - but he had his head stuck in the bowl of chicken stock I'd just made :eek:). Wound is rather nasty ..... but to be fair to him, he is rarely vicious (unlike wee cat who I get minor scratches off all the time:p) and I think he just panicked at being picked up.

Been for our morning walk & Maisie flat out snoring on the floor so it's prob a good time to go upstairs & do some more sorting ......

rising_from_the_ashes

Well .... enjoying not being at work!:D

On the downside ..... house windows desperately need painted (really needed done last year & had to put it off ).

My neighbour recently had his done and .... are you sitting down ..... £600:eek:

Other neighbours have left theirs too long and there's a huge hole right through the frame :eek: so really need to get it done (as that would be even more expensive to fix).

Have had a quote from someone who knows someone I know (IYKWIM) and £350.....

Much better than £600 but not a lot in the coffers at the minute (deposit for new car = unexpected, car insurance 3 months early = unexpected).

Will cash in the coin pots :eek: (that's the winter bus money!) to help but ...... :eek: and only around £60 in the emergency fund (I keep having emergencies atm!):eek:

beanielou

Unfortunatly as you say they need done but eek to the price.

slowlyfading

Oh my... :eek: to the price, but one of those things I guess.

rising_from_the_ashes

Yup, I honestly had absolutely no idea they'd be that much - I thought £200 or so so really nearly fainted when my neighbour said he'd paid £600!_pale_

Will need to write an action plan to try to recover some things...... I might have to pot raid but that means I'll be back to square 1 with regards to trying to save up to pay for things next year .....

On the brighter side - the cats budget is looking good!

Have got plenty wet food & cat litter but will need to get them a bag of their food (will hunt for offers) in the next few weeks but have enough for that and big cat's booster (due Nov) in their coffers:T (Maisie does owe them money :rotfl:)

rising_from_the_ashes

So ..... last day of hols (where has the week disappeared to :eek:) but lovely & sunny (if bloomin' cold!)

Spendy day yesterday - managed to get 2 pairs of new hiking type boots (can't wear shoes due to knackered feet) - one black pair & one brown pair for £40 :j (RRP total for both was an eyewatering £149.98:eek:) so have new ones for work & a pair to alternate with at weekend etc :T

Current boots (worn nearly every day since my op!) cost £12 so have done really well :T but are now quite worn inside - and can now be relegated to dog walking boots ..... current DW boots and their holes can go in the bin!:D (no more coming home with soaking wet feet!:j

Also managed to find a reasonably priced fold down table - was £25 but got it down to £20:D Not the prettiest thing ever but will give me somewhere to get the sewing machine up and will do fine for now (have been looking all year but couldn't find anything that would do & was affordable.


2nd load of washing in & will then be heading to the beach with Maisie - might need to take a hat, scarf & gloves!:eek:

Heating came on last night :eek: (leave one radiator on all year but with the thermostat set at a chilly 14deg) so just shows how cold it's been. It's come on again this morning ..... mmm hope the washing dries, it might freeze!:eek:

Despite my decluttering, the house still looks a bit messy so will have to give it another bashing when I get home.

On the money front, need to do a breakdown of pet costs later too - have managed to save a bit on the cats insurance. Not a lot, around £7/month - but the saving will pay both their boosters and also changed litter etc so need to work out new costs.

Maisie's costs ..... errr not on the good side so need to sit down & rework that too. New food is expensive BUT her tum is 100%:T so cheaper than monthly trips to the vet. Have something that was recommended to mix with it (which will make it last longer) and hoping I can move her to a similar (cheaper!) brand once things are def settled.

Figures to follow later!

Happy Friday all

slowlyfading

Good luck with working the figures, and happy friday :j

rising_from_the_ashes

Was:
Insurance = £19.85
Boosters x 2 (£99.70 / 12): £8.30
Dry food 1 (£50 for 10kg / 5 months) = £10
Dry food 2 (£21 for 4kg / 4 months) = £5.25
Wet food & treats = £12
Flea/tick stuff = £1
Wormer = £1
Litter = £12
Total = 49.55 + £19.85 insurance = £69.40

Now:
Insurance = £12.68
Boosters x 2 (£80 / 12): £6.70
Dry food 1 (£50 for 10kg / 5 months) = £10
Dry food 2 (£21 for 4kg / 4 months) = £5.25
Wet food & treats = £12
Flea/tick stuff = £1
Wormer = £1
Litter = £7
Total = 42.95 + £12.68 insurance = £55.63

Not huge savings but try to get the 10kg bag on offer (need to find one soon!) for around £40 which cuts a bit too!

Insurance saving isn't a lot - but if you think it will cover both their boosters each year, it's worth it!

rising_from_the_ashes

Figures based on new food .......

Insurance = £23.50
Boosters (£40): £3.50
Dry food (£30 for 15kg @ 250g / day = 60 days) = £15.20 *
Wet food (£8.99 for 12 which lasts 6 days) = £11.55
Supplement: (Tummy stuff! - £22 / 100 days) = £6.70 #
Flea/tick stuff = £1
Wormer = £1
Total = 38.95 + £23.50 insurance = £62.45

* Current bag bought on offer @ £30 which comes to £0.50 / day but is £52 full price:eek:. Hoping to move her to another food (tummy willing!) which is £28 / 15kg which would work out at £0.46 / day & much better!

# Recently started - tub lasts 100 days and may be able to stop this if her tum's still settled (fingers crossed)!

Not too bad on first glance but this doesn't incl dog walker (back at work next week & will then be going in later etc from Oct - so have excl this).

What's boogered her budget is all the vet trips - some planned (jabs, spay etc) but quite a few not .... hoping the new food will sort things out (this also accounts for extra costs as I've food that I've bought and now can't use:().

slowlyfading

Can you sell any stuff to make up the difference/balance out the budget a bit? Still doesn't look too bad to be honest have you done another SOA with these included as new figures?