Preparedness for when

fuddle

I grew up with cash cards and credit cards. I've budgeted well for 4 years but always ia the bank account. Only these passed few months have I used cash only. I feel so much better paying with my money. I would like to pay all my bills myself away from Direct Debits but instinct is telling me not to.

Anyone else pay everything themselves and not signed up for automatic electronic payments? Pro's and Con's?

jk0

fuddle wrote: »

Anyone else pay everything themselves and not signed up for automatic electronic payments? Pro's and Con's?

I have a friend who is very hard up. He pays for gas on a card which costs him more money, and pays his council tax instalments manually.

Unfortunately he forgot to make July's payment. He offered double for August, but they won't accept it. They want the full year's balance. I have had to lend it to him.

mardatha

Fuddle I only have 3 D/Ds, for CT, elect, & internet - and with each of them I pay the money into the bank a couple of days beforehand. All pensions come out the day they go in. I have only once in my life used a card to pay for something, and that was a £7 sack of chicken feed LOL

jk0

Anyone heard of 'The One Bank'?

(It's nothing to do with the current account Virgin came up with a few years ago.)

http://www.bullionbullscanada.com/intl-commentary/26287-the-one-bank

nuatha

fuddle wrote: »

I grew up with cash cards and credit cards. I've budgeted well for 4 years but always ia the bank account. Only these passed few months have I used cash only. I feel so much better paying with my money. I would like to pay all my bills myself away from Direct Debits but instinct is telling me not to.

Anyone else pay everything themselves and not signed up for automatic electronic payments? Pro's and Con's?

Generally you pay a lower price to pay recurring bills by direct debit. The most expensive way to pay gas and electric bills is to pay in advance.
I keep a relatively low running bank balance, ensuring that the money to cover the direct debits is paid into the account a day or two before they are due.
If the interest rates paid to savers were considerably better, then I'd probably aim to keep an amount invested, as it is, I feel I get a better return from investing in preps, tools and skills.

westlothianlass

Hi all
Its definately starting to feel autumnal up here, so my prepping radar is perking up, time to look out winter bits and bobs . Bought some more candles at the weekend and a couple of the hurricane lamps for tea lights that Bob mentioned earlier (thank you).
Glad to hear your ok PP and that your starting to mend Hester x

Ive started to use cash more and more and feel far more in control of things (still have direct debits tho).
I have also started to build up more food stores over the last few weeks, all things we use so pleased its starting to build up again. Went round everything in the cupboards yesterday and marked the BB date clearly with a big black marker (mindless activity but will come in handy when im rotating stock, and it felt like playing shops :rotfl:).

Thanks for info on new channel 4 prog, will try and catch it.
Take care everyone
Hugs WLL x

alfsmum

It's always interesting to see the cashier's reaction when I proffer cash instead of a card. They are generally on autopilot and ready to press the 'card' button so have to stop and engage brain to deal with the cash. Some of the younger ones are completely taken aback and have a 'what do I do with this?' expression :rotfl:

But then, my Dd18 always rushes off to put any cash she is given into the bank and then pays by card. Then it's 'mum, I haven't got any change......'.

I'd certainly rather have a wodge of cash to hand for those moments when all the card readers fail and I can still pay for my shopping.

alfsmum

westlothianlass wrote: »

Hi all
Its definately starting to feel autumnal up here, so my prepping radar is perking up, time to look out winter bits and bobs . Bought some more candles at the weekend and a couple of the hurricane lamps for tea lights that Bob mentioned earlier (thank you).
Glad to hear your ok PP and that your starting to mend Hester x

Ive started to use cash more and more and feel far more in control of things (still have direct debits tho).
I have also started to build up more food stores over the last few weeks, all things we use so pleased its starting to build up again. Went round everything in the cupboards yesterday and marked the BB date clearly with a big black marker (mindless activity but will come in handy when im rotating stock, and it felt like playing shops :rotfl:).

Thanks for info on new channel 4 prog, will try and catch it.
Take care everyone
Hugs WLL x

Ooh, good idea with the BB dates and the marker pen. Will save me squinting to find the dates. I used to love playing shop.

We too are quietly building the stocks, a tin here, another litre of water there. Aim to have enough food and water, candles etc to see us through a week of nothing coming into the house. Hopefully would see us through routine SHTF situations like bad weather. Once that's achieved, we'll think what else we can do prepping wise.

pineapple

I recently encountered an assistant who was shifting from foot to foot and who could barely restrain herself from tutting as I insisted on counting out the exact amount :rotfl:.
As for council tax, so far I've avoided going the direct debit route. I've forgotten the odd one but never had them come after me for the full amount and now it's sorted with the ReminderFox add-on.
http://www.reminderfox.org/
Any stranger taking a sneak peak would be gobsmacked by the exciting life I lead! (Not)

[Deleted User]

nuatha wrote: »

Only if you've bought the dongle with cash and only ever top it up that way.

That's me.

ISPs routinely record MAC addresses against IP leases, so any site you visit which requires a login should only be visited with that dongle.

As I don't have a land-line, the Dongle is my only means of accessing the internet.

They may not know who you are, but they will still know where you are.

Approximately.