LBM in 2003.. What have I been doing since??!

brizzledfw

I know, I remember very expensive calls to Australia, USA and Russia and my mum being very nervous when the bill came through.. £26 etc I remember one call costing. As my parents then had very little spare cash it was stressful for them.

Just off a gorgeous 1hr+ call and it didn't cost a thing...

Woodburner is lush .. I would recommend them to anyone and also think they save us money too. We can warm one room and keep the heating on low across the rest of the house, we also use up a lot of offcutsand free wood from farmers, skips etc etc. The other big plus for me is that a fire warms my soul. I love them.

Have a great eve

brizzledfw

Felling a bit 'hexed' today..if thats a Harry Potter word perhaps? Nurgled as my grandfather would have said. I think its cos I have a lot of work to do, but instead have been reconciling bank statements and YNAB. Quite a chore as I was shuffling money ad nauseum late last year and didn't track the entire pathway. I love YNAB but it does assume a simplicity which my household finances don't have!!

The other disappointing news is that I am only on course for a 25% or so savings rate. Not exactly 37% is it? We have tried to largely nail things down, but shows me how many - most of these were not impulsive, but were pre-planned and relate to the kids, birthdays etc.

In a normal month I would be very happy with saving a quarter of our income to start paying off our debts, but had hoped to do more this time. OH is away for about 3 weeks next month, ie. almost all of it, so that should help as all his expenses, food etc will be paid for by work. On the other hand, its got a holiday (Half Term) which is when we will try and do at least some stuff as a family. So..need to go into February resolute and also try and make sure I keep the 75/25 split as a minimum.

But...

1. got my head around what I need to do in next 48 hours for 'second job'
2. organised a nice beef stew for tea which is marinading well
3. booked cinema tickets for DD1, OH and myself to La La Land and used voucher so £10 only and we will walk there and take snacks
4. all up to date and once the money starts to flow again in Feb, we should be all OK
5. updated my sig to reflect some small sales - better than nowt

Igamogam

jvr wrote: »

I think for a lot of us its learning to live carefully that will be the key to keeping out of debt. I am a very all or nothing person so not living on pennies but not overspending will be tricky!

I can relate to that!


What do you think of taboo... I have watched first two episodes and I'm still not sure what to make of it... but I will watch third and see!

Taboo get better and darker and more confusing! Bit grisly in places:D

Igamogam

brizzledfw wrote: »

Woodburner is lush .. I would recommend them to anyone and also think they save us money too. We can warm one room and keep the heating on low across the rest of the house, we also use up a lot of offcutsand free wood from farmers, skips etc etc. The other big plus for me is that a fire warms my soul. I love them.

Love our wood burner We have burnt 2 kitchens 12 window frames and 3 sheds through ours over the years. All that sensitive paper work, pallets, wood waste from work that was being skipped, drift wood and stuff dragged from local woods and garden waste too. Plus conventional logs bought ready split from a local tree surgeon. I do have a couple of 'townie' friends who have put in log burners into their very modern houses for aesthetics ............they seems to get through tonnes of wood though. Think its just inefficient use. We definitely use ours to save on heating costs like yourselves:D

Sun_Addict

I think any savings are a miracle in January so I think you've done extremely well. Wood burner sounds wonderful.

beanielou

Any savings at any time are just awesome

mfmaybe

Another woodburner obsessive here; but our old cottage very much needs it. We love it and so do the cats! One of ours has even been know to fall asleep with his paws touching it :eek:

We watched the first episode of Taboo but didn't enjoy it, will it get better? Worth persevering with?

Seasidegal58

I wouldn't beat yourself up over the savings total brizzle. You've still down brilliantly and family birthdays have to be celebrated!

I was struck by your own and Igamogram's posts on the wood burners. My DD and her OH are having these fitted in their house next month, which is something they've been longing to do for a while. i will have to mention the farmers and tree surgeons to them as a source of fuel! They've just had new fitted wardrobes installed and I bet they haven't thought to keep the old ones for burning.....

brizzledfw

Thanks guys - yes woodburners are a great way to go. Hope they didn't cause as much of the pollution London had last week as was reported.. ours is meant to filter but maybe some still don't.

Need to get my big girl pants on this week and really crack on and do some additional work. And spend less!! Will keep you posted

Have a good day folks

PS. Not sure Taboo is everyone's cup of tea and yep grisly is a good word, but we are liking it..

jwil

25% savings is fab!

I'd love a woodburner, no chimney here though