Keeping up appearances.......

NewLeaf_2

read the diary straight through! Well done for all of it. In a similar position myself so will subscribe. x

brizzledfw

Hi Happy and all ( and New Leaf:wave:)

You are doing really well.

It's a dogs life..I agree. In fact I think I will have a sort through my coins jar soonish and try and get them paid in. It's the £2 ones I love!

The toiletries is a good one. When I was on here last year, you know when the flickering wasn't bright enough etc etc ..and I was being ostrich like :eek: that was one thread which really made a lot of sense to me. I had ( and still have) a lot of toiletries, cosmetics and stuff and there is really no need for more. So I now even avoid offers ( unless they are toothpaste or mouthwash) ...I know there will be offers about when we really need shampoo conditioner etc. there always is. I also claim all and any little bottles when I stay in hotels for work..they must think a plague of locusts has descended :rotfl: I am also regifting. No-one has noticed yet!!

So it's all the small things....and listing your achievements ( like you just did!)... You're doing splendidly!:beer:

Brizzle

HappyNow

PinotGrigio41 wrote: »

Look at you Mrs Happy, and how organised you have become.:T

Thanks Pinot, but I have just proved how DISorganised I am! I had completely forgotten that my car tax and MOT are both due this month. That's in addition to the insurance, but at least I'd remembered that.

Anyway, after a little light sobbing I rang Scottish Power and pleaded for a refund of the credit on my electric bill. Unbelievably I am in credit by £187!! So they are sending me a cheque for that amount, which will cover 6 months tax and (fingers crossed) most of the garage bill. That just goes to show the merit of turning off lights, immersion heaters, storage heaters etc and using appliances during Economy 7 hours .

Itsadogslife wrote: »

Now is the first time in my life I have got some (hardly anything) money in savings pots to cover things that are coming up rather than paying for things on cards and worrying about it later

Ooh, that's exactly where I want to be in a few months time! It seems a loooong way off yet though!

HappyNow

brizzledfw wrote: »

I had ( and still have) a lot of toiletries, cosmetics and stuff and there is really no need for more. So I now even avoid offers ( unless they are toothpaste or mouthwash) ...I know there will be offers about when we really need shampoo conditioner etc.
Brizzle

I was stood in the shower this morning, and on the shelf next to me were four bottles of half-used shampoos and three conditioners. Why?!? I reckon I can get through the rest of this month without buying anything new at all. It'll make the place look tidier too! I have to ask though, why can't you resist toothpaste and mouthwash offers??

HappyNow

NewLeaf wrote: »

read the diary straight through! Well done for all of it. In a similar position myself so will subscribe. x

Hello NewLeaf, thanks for subscribing . You deserve some sort of award if you've read through all this without stopping!

Very nice to have you along, especially if you're in a similar position, and I hope you will stick around and join in with the goings-on! x

brizzledfw

:rotfl: :rotfl: it's cos Oh and DDs use that ( well actually I clean my teeth too..funny that!) but if we run out then the tendency is to go out and buy at full price. On the other hand shampoos etc always seem to have more 2for1 etc offers..maybe more competition between brands? Anyway that's my logic I guess.

Have a great eve

Brizzle

Box_of_Fluffies

Congratulations on getting your money back from Scottish Power. I bet a few months ago you wouldn't have thought to ask for a refund and would have just put the expenses on the credit card. How far you've come.

I'm loving my online accounts that I've set up for various bills. Unfortunately as they're new I'm still having to rob Peter to pay Paul at times, but it is definitely improving.

I use organic shampoo and conditioner which used to cost quite a lot of money. I should explain I have scalp psoriasis and find the organic shampoo gentler which in turn means I have to use specialized expensive shampoos less often. When I had my LBM I decided to do some research on the internet and whereas I used to pay $25 :eek: per bottle I now buy them from the States at a cost of about $8 per bottle. It just shows you what you can do when you shop around.

HappyNow

brizzledfw wrote: »

:rotfl: :rotfl: it's cos Oh and DDs use that ( well actually I clean my teeth too..funny that!) but if we run out then the tendency is to go out and buy at full price. On the other hand shampoos etc always seem to have more 2for1 etc offers..maybe more competition between brands?

Brizzle

Box_of_Fluffies wrote: »

I use organic shampoo and conditioner which used to cost quite a lot of money. I should explain I have scalp psoriasis and find the organic shampoo gentler which in turn means I have to use specialized expensive shampoos less often. When I had my LBM I decided to do some research on the internet and whereas I used to pay $25 :eek: per bottle I now buy them from the States at a cost of about $8 per bottle. It just shows you what you can do when you shop around.

Your comments set me thinking about my new-found lack of brand loyalty. Up until a few months ago I just bought the brands I knew I liked because it was easier. Recently, I've tried cheaper alternatives to virtually everything I've bought, and I can only think of two items where I now insist on a particular brand:

• Colgate Total toothpaste, because I've got so many fillings already and I daren't risk using anything that might be less effective
• Olay Regenerist face serums and creams, because I'm getting a bit wrinkly and I've believed Olay's marketing hype! I know it might not work, but at least using it gives me the right to moan about my wrinkles, and it does make my skin feel 'comfy'.

I look for offers on both of those, but for every single other thing, I now try cheaper products :A.


I've just called in Lidl and spent £3.38 on a bag of onions, two bars of chocolate and a bottle of extra virgin olive oil. And I paid for it all in coppers :D. I'm trying to use all the bits of change hanging round the house. It was very liberating, I felt like I'd got it for free .

brizzledfw

Hi agree re lack of brand loyalty..although I do like Clarins:o

Just make sure they go on your birthday lists etc so you have to buy them less and less. I sold some l'Oreal products on EBay recently too..people got a bargain so worth looking out for! The other place I find interesting is my local pharmacy..loads of good products for rock bottom prices...plus a lovely all natural essential oil moisturiser which has a sunscreen and is only £3.50. Smells divine and seems to plump up the wrinkles!!!

Good weekend?

Brizzle

NewLeaf_2

HappyNow wrote: »

Hello NewLeaf, thanks for subscribing . You deserve some sort of award if you've read through all this without stopping!

Very nice to have you along, especially if you're in a similar position, and I hope you will stick around and join in with the goings-on! x

Unsecured about £45k
mortgage $280,753.04 (called Santander this am so amended mortgage owed)
car £16k
(just got rid of the luxury car that was £40k for this one)

2 income family, partner had super good job but has now been made redundant so combined income £165k
plus £12k rental income! Gosh how did I forget that!

3 dogs

Aim: to pay off credit cards this year

xx