make do and mend for tougher times

Uniscots97

fuddle wrote: »

Thanks Fuddle, this pic really cheered up my day.

Evie74_2

Good morning all and (((hugs))) to all the poorly peeps and those generally in need of one.

Well, it's the last day of term for my big DD - and I've just realised that this is my last day at home with just my little DD, because after the hols she will be starting school. It feels like the end of an era - it will be very strange to home alone on my days off (although there is some hope that I will manage to get more done if I am not on mummy duty). She's watching a DVD at the moment so I am having a crafty coffee 'n' surf (bad mummy!) but I'll think of something nice for us to do together a bit later so she gets my undivided attention before big DD comes home and she has to share me!

It's been raining off and on all morning, which is a shame as I had high hopes for getting the laundry done today. I also have to blitz the house (not sure why I'm bothering as I am certain the kitchen work will create a ridiculous amount of dust, but old habits die hard), and make a start on packing up the contents of the kitchen. I may be some time....:rotfl:

The electrician who is coming to fit my new cooker next week has also condemned the fuse box, so we are having to pay for that to be replaced as well - it is pretty ancient (it looks like it's made of bakelite for a start!) so although it hasn't been giving us any problems I think it's probably best to be safe and have the new one. More expense, but in this case I think it's probably justified.

Right, better get moving. Have good days all.

Evie xx

jamanda

Evie we have just had an ancient fuse box replaced due to electrician taking fright at it, and I can't remember how much they are but I know they aren't too expensive.

Evie74_2

Thank you Jamanda - I was pleasantly surprised by the quote as he is charging £200 for doing the fusebox and £150 for the other electrical work (cabling for the new cooker, sockets moving around etc) which I thought was reasonable (I checked with my stepdad who is a retired builder and he had thought it would be more like £500 so I'm relieved and pleased!)

Evie xx

katieowl_2

Popperwell wrote: »

I doubt that I am deirable either with a low amount in my bank account, no real prospects of that improving and now not using the CC that often any more...they'd probably like to get rid of me.

And now what's the bet the branch of the bank I belong will be one of those sold to the Co-op and I'll have to switch. I can manage to get my money from the post office(if I stay with my original bank)and leave a little amount in the bank's account and not touch it.

But the problem will be if I use the CC as I will probably have to travel to a neighbouring town that has a branch and so I'd be paying the bill and adding the cost of travelling there. So that could be a problem.

Can't you pay your bills online?

We are seriously thinking about the cost of travelling into town now - petrol for us as there is no bus. I worked out it's £2.00's worth of petrol to town and back!!! As when DS is in college we have to do it twice a day :eek: it really adds up. He needs dropped off at 7.30am and collected around 5.30pm.

I now try and do everything around when I have to pick him up, or when I drive through town on the way home from work. I have been known to do my essential shopping in Mr T at 7.30am!

Once upon a time if I had a cheque I went and paid it in straight away, even if it meant a special trip, but I don't do that anymore.

I keep a running list going now too, so if I have to go to one of the bigger towns i,e, Dentist-38 miles away, train/coach -28 miles away I can do my 'rounds' and pick up anything else we need. I do of course HAVE to do my yellow sticker patrol at both destinations I usually come home with the car loaded to the gunwales with loot.

Just got a parcel from AF this morning :T Lots of goodies. got 5l containers of Faith in Nature shampoo and conditioner, which I'll share with the DD's, another bottle of maraschino cherries which look fantastic on my cupcakes and lots of that fab mango squash which DS is so fond of! He's an expensive bunny to keep at home for 6 weeks, as he eats and drinks so much. When he's at college I can send him off with a bottle of AF pop, and a pasty and he's out of my fridge till he gets in!

It is true as someone pointed out on here, that a lot of the AF stuff is not essential food stuff, but extras like sweet things or crisps, but it's the stuff that pads out the basics that we buy week to week and stops us loosing heart with the process of being frugal.

Kate

[Deleted User]

Morning toughies, hope you are all feeling better this morning and that all the poorlies are getting better too! FUDDLE - he who knows these things has just taken the books down to the post office so they should be with you soon. I still cannot believe that a Library would be charging £11 to get in a requested book - that is outrageous, still you don't have to play with them now do you? Let me know they arrive safely would you, we've got a tracking code for them just in case they do go astray but, they should be fine. I have picked 14 Sungold Tomatoes from both the polytunnel and the greenhouse this morning and have a couple more courgettes in the poly ready in the next day or so, it must be summer or something! We woke up this morning to beautiful blue sky and sunshine, it was lovely although it has clouded over a bit now, isn't it amazing what a sunny sky does for morale, it's no wonder we're all feeling low at the moment - roll on next week and the nicer weather they are promising us, even if it is only for a few days all our spirits will lift! Have a good one everybody Cheers Lyn and amazingly, a dry doggie!!!!!

fuddle

The Coop aren't too bad to bank with. UK call centres being the plus. Very slow to update online account and this is what ultimately made us leave the coop as when you have no overdraft (not allowed being bankrupt) you really need to watch with precision how much money is in the bank. I would myself in a muddle with their updating system. Another plus with the coop is that you can pay money and cheques into the post office.

fuddle

Thank you MrsL and he who knows these things I will let you know absolutely. I need to call in the library later to cancel the request get the book in from another local authority and will be asking about the charges. I note too that a child's book costs £5.50 to be brought in from another council. I hope I can get an explanation of why so much 1) for a child's book and 2) if they can do a child's book for £5.50 why charge an adult £11?!

Can't wait MrsL and neither can the kids. I normally struggle to get them enthusiastic about taking the dog out when they're off school but they're pumped for going out foraging now.

short_bird

Popperwell wrote: »

And now what's the bet the branch of the bank I belong will be one of those sold to the Co-op and I'll have to switch. I can manage to get my money from the post office(if I stay with my original bank)and leave a little amount in the bank's account and not touch it.

But the problem will be if I use the CC as I will probably have to travel to a neighbouring town that has a branch and so I'd be paying the bill and adding the cost of travelling there. So that could be a problem.

I believe you can get money from CoOp banks at the Post Office, I know you can get money from Smile accounts (internet part of CoOp banking). Also, I'm sure you can still pay CC bills by post, with a cheque, if you don't do internet banking.

If you look to the right, there's something on the News section about what the Lloyds sale will mean for the customer. But I'd come back to this in a couple of months as so much is still up in the air.

katieowl_2

fuddle wrote: »

Thank you MrsL and he who knows these things I will let you know absolutely. I need to call in the library later to cancel the request get the book in from another local authority and will be asking about the charges. I note too that a child's book costs £5.50 to be brought in from another council. I hope I can get an explanation of why so much 1) for a child's book and 2) if they can do a child's book for £5.50 why charge an adult £11?!

Can't wait MrsL and neither can the kids. I normally struggle to get them enthusiastic about taking the dog out when they're off school but they're pumped for going out foraging now.

Foraging is great My DD (25) was SO excited last year when I took her foraging for wild garlic - LOL!

Another book you might like to look out for (The Works had it reduced) is Alys Fowler's The Thrify forager - most of the stuff in that is widely available even in an urban environment.

Kate