A new 'tougher' thread... and so it continues

ragz_2

Hi all, it certainly is quiet.

I am agonising over some cheques that I am sure should have arrived in the post by now (posted Christmas eve according to Natwest). What happened was, I put them in the quick-pay thing last Thursday (in the Natwest where MIL lives, so 25 minutes away) without really looking at them, got a call a few hours later to as neither could be accepted, one because Grandad put Mum's name on it and one because the lady didn't write OH's name as payee just left it blank. I said I'd pick them up Friday, but couldn't so I got a message to them to post them to me. Went in this wednesday to check it they'd been sent off and they said they had been posted to me Christmas eve. They still aren't here yet, but I've been getting lots of other post... The cheques are for £50 each so that's £100 I'm waiting on...

If the lady's cheque never turns up DH may be able to ask her to rewrite it, but she's a customer so it won't look good. My Mum didn't want Granddad to know he'd messed the cheque up as she thinks he'd be upset so I can't really ask for it to be resent (it was our christmas money from them for me and the kids).
If they don't turn up tomorrow I don;t know what to do... I feel such an idiot for not reading them properly but it was just before Christmas, I have three small children and a very tired brain!

On a positive note, been doing my budget forcast and worked out that if we only spend cash (DH gets paid cash, he's self employed so earnings vary depending on weather, illness etc) on things like food, fuel and other small spends then the bank stuff (SO and DDs) will be covered by income there (housing benefit, tax credits and child benefit) with hopefully some to spare for savings if I stop buying STUFF. Really want to save £1000 in 2012 if I can. We have no savings, we rent and have no pensions as no matter how hard I try I can't get my head around them! One day we may be able to buy (when kids are older and I can work, if there are any jobs of course!) and we would need a deposit... or I can put the money towards pensions...

7_week_wonder

ragz wrote: »

Hi all, it certainly is quiet.



If the lady's cheque never turns up DH may be able to ask her to rewrite it, but she's a customer so it won't look good. My Mum didn't want Granddad to know he'd messed the cheque up as she thinks he'd be upset so I can't really ask for it to be resent (it was our christmas money from them for me and the kids).
If they don't turn up tomorrow I don;t know what to do... I feel such an idiot for not reading them properly but it was just before Christmas, I have three small children and a very tired brain!

Ragz - the post could still be on a go slow, because don't forget both Monday and Tuesday were Bank Holidays, and I wouldn't bet on the bank using first class post.

Just a thought - could you tell your Granddad a wee white lie - that the cheque had been destroyed, and could he cancel it and send you another one?

Mardatha - we are definitely in danger of floating away here. I am so fed up of either howling gales or sleety rain ( mind you I see that next week we hit the jackpot and get both!). Immodium seems to be doing the trick, but I was very suprised at the cost.

mardatha

You should never need to take more than 2 doses really, that pkt might last a while

kidcat

Sammy - lovely that you are back, I guess we are all going to be feeling the pinch this month.

Well after my colly wobbles the other day have pulled myself back together and am knuckling down. Taking mardathas advice and am going to make sure that I take myself off even for just half an hour one evening a week. I used to live very close to Ikea so would escape for a free coffee once a week but now we live so much further dont bother.
I think that accepting and acknowledging that I am a full time carer is suddenly hitting me, not sure why now, it just is.

Like sammy my washing pile has grown into a mountain and looks like it may avalanche any minute!! My ironing mountain took over before Christmas and I really must tackle it this week. Not sure why the washing is so bad as I only cleared the basket on 27th.

have been very strict over shopping this week and have only gone into shops and bought what we need and a couple of whoopsies too. Have avoided big supermarkets totally and am feeling better for it.

No idea what we are doing at new year - usually we get together with friend and family (but as they are busy organising the funeral) I havent liked to mention it. Did occur that she may well appreciate the chance to get out but seems really insensitive to mention it.

Am planning on tackling several jobs in next few days including cleaning the oven - am I right in thinking the best plan is soda crystals and a little water left to soak in then clean off? Ages since i had to clean oven!!
Am also considering a big purchase - there are loads of smaller jobs that are waiting for my dad to do and he is mega busy - now I am not stupid and can turn my hand to most things but have got lazy in recent years. So I was considering buying a good drill to enable me to tackle some jobs myself - would make me feel better if some jobs were done, but also free my dad to spend his time on the bigger stuff I cant do(building kids playhouse). Being morbid it also occurs that he wont always be around so I need to start tackling these things now. So does anyone have any idea what i would be looking for?

kidcat

7ww - Aldi were selling fast action stomach pills yesterday and they were under £1, I did actaully consider buying some - but was sticking to my only buy the list mantra so avoided!!

sammy_kaye18

kidcat wrote: »

Sammy - lovely that you are back, I guess we are all going to be feeling the pinch this month.

Am also considering a big purchase - there are loads of smaller jobs that are waiting for my dad to do and he is mega busy - now I am not stupid and can turn my hand to most things but have got lazy in recent years. So I was considering buying a good drill to enable me to tackle some jobs myself - would make me feel better if some jobs were done, but also free my dad to spend his time on the bigger stuff I cant do(building kids playhouse). Being morbid it also occurs that he wont always be around so I need to start tackling these things now. So does anyone have any idea what i would be looking for?

Thank Kidcat, nice to be back. And Well Done on sticking to your list.

I have no idea about drills but am in the same position.
My dad doesnt live near by, I was asking Owen since May to put the curtain pole up in the living room and it only needed rawl plugs, and his dad has a fully stocked shed literally across the road. I eventually got fed up and did it myself.
Now Im wanting a few shelves putting up and vlinds in the kids rooms but am paranoid I'll drill through a wire/cable or something stupid.

kidcat

Ragz - I am terrible for sticking cheques in my pocket then washing my jeans!! My mum now hands me cheques and says not in the pocket as she has rewritten so many cheques in the past!! As 7ww says could you tell Grandad you have washed it and its fallen to pieces? As for the other cheque - maybe have it cancelled and re-issued.

Post is all over the place at the moment - we are still having mail re-directed from last house, and since week before Christmas we are receiving our post and also the post of a totalling unrelated house - trouble is the redirection label is stuck over address and name boxes so I dont know whose post I am opening until its too late - I now have someones credit card, bank and council tax statements, their waer, gas and electric bills, and various other post. I have called RM and been told not to worry just chuck them back in the post box- but they are all opened and I do not like doing that. I have driven to the address (next town, few streets away from last house) and they appear to be on holiday so I dont want to just put it through without explaining why it has my address on it and why its open.

So in short I wouldnt take the chance Ragz - have both re-issued you never know where they have gone and as one has no payee its really important it gets cancelled,

kidcat

sammy_kaye18 wrote: »

Thank Kidcat, nice to be back. And Well Done on sticking to your list.

I have no idea about drills but am in the same position.
My dad doesnt live near by, I was asking Owen since May to put the curtain pole up in the living room and it only needed rawl plugs, and his dad has a fully stocked shed literally across the road. I eventually got fed up and did it myself.
Now Im wanting a few shelves putting up and vlinds in the kids rooms but am paranoid I'll drill through a wire/cable or something stupid.

You can buy little gadget that tells you if there are pipes or wires behind walls before drilling - dont think they are that expensive

7_week_wonder

kidcat wrote: »

7ww - Aldi were selling fast action stomach pills yesterday and they were under £1, I did actaully consider buying some - but was sticking to my only buy the list mantra so avoided!!

Ooh thanks - I'll take a look next time I'm there, though I'm hoping Mardatha is right and I'll only need one dose!

sammy_kaye18

kidcat wrote: »

You can buy little gadget that tells you if there are pipes or wires behind walls before drilling - dont think they are that expensive

Yeah am just sat having a read of some reviews on them now.

Be just my luck to electrocute myself putting up a shelf for my cook books!