Preparedness for when

GreyQueen

Morning all.

Interesting debate about utility companies and I shall watch how things play out IRL with avid interest. This is one issue which effects everyone in the land and politicians have to be aware of that.

The duty of a company is to maximise shareholder value. Trouble is, these companies have an effective monopoly on services which just about everyone is using and it isn't easy to get the better of them even by shopping around. As said by a woman who has switched suppliers again this month - for the second time in 14 months.

However, there are wider impacts for the economy. If our incomes are static, or as good as, or even falling, and we have to pay more and more for these essentials, the rest of the economy cannot benefit from us spending that money elsewhere. So, a type of company fattens itself at the expense of the whole economy. And the grubbyment gets 5% VAT on fuel as opposed to 20% on just about everything else we buy.

So the grubbyment definately has skin in this game. As I was saying to my Magic Greengrocer, re my rent increase taking place next month, it's not that it's a huge amount, but it's money which cannot be spent elsewhere, or saved. Someone doing business or running savings accounts is going to see its absence on their balance sheet.

Unlike central bankers, I've never quite mastered the art of having my money in more than one place at a time, spent on more than one thing. Although, come to think of it, I do have a colour copier, so maybe I should just copy some banknotes and see if Quantitative Easing works for the little person.

What's that you say? Long stretch in jail? Damn, I knew there had to be a catch in there somewhere..............:rotfl:

[Deleted User]

But GQ that is the obvious way to save your hard earned savings, a small spell at the leisure of HM Prisons would see you housed, clothed, fed and kept warm and if the savings interest rates do go up while you're in for your stretch, you'll come out richer, SIMPLES NO???

[Deleted User]

I am just popping in to say hello and that what I am doing now is relevant to the thread. We are in process of building a large and insulated shed, more like the construction for a summer house but a shed, the size of a small single garage, so will have masses of storage space in future. We have designed it without windows so that we can use all available space and am in process right now of buying in all the bits for an off grid lighting and 12v system

Starting with a good solar panel and charge controller, also a gel 12v battery (expensive but safe and right for the job) I can add to the battery in future (maybe) and can add an inverter to produce 240w. In the meantime I will also add a 12v 2 pin socket, 12v cigar socket and a marine fuse box.

What we will end up with is a well lit and insulated space for whatever, with the ability to run a few camping bits and pieces. I may well add extra battery power, inverter and a microwave in the future and possibly a cooler. All bits ordered now ie panel, controller, fuse box and various fuses, sockets, lights, switches, inline fuse for battery. So perfectly good now for off grid living, although the idea started with just getting a solar lighting setup sorted as we were getting a good storage shed anyway

The only access will be by going right around the back of the house

craigywv

Ok whos watching who here,just came on here and an advert for ebay for shooting chronographs shtf just popped on my screen!,i have never looked at them in fact didnt even know what they were.

Cheapskate

Afternoon folks, been MIA for a bit, RL throwing stuff at me left, right and centre at the moment.

We're hoping to turn our attic into a bedroom this year, and I plan to build small storage cupboards, or at least create recesses, where the eaves come down. DH thinks it will be for storing bedding, etc., which is partially true, but in realit it's part of my cunning plan to store extra preps! Mwahaha! :rotfl:

We had a terrific thunderstorm last night, drowned out the tv, DS ran home from work (5 mins), soaked to the skin and nearly struck by lightning. Of course, being a yoof, he wears light trainers and a sheer kagoule, infra dig to dress properly at his age! Moi, I was mostly wearing snow boots, mountaineering type coat, etc., just to venture into the garage for some frozen stuff.

Re energy, our DD has been reduced, unbelievably, from £155 to £89, which is more like our usage, but it's still a lot, and not sure where it comes from. We don't have the CH on much or high temps, likewise electricity, may have to see the octogenarian next door, check she's not growing exotic plants or summat!

BTW, those who keep a stash of money at home, do you regularly use and replace, so notes are current, do you keep coins, and what sort of level of float?

A xo

Frugalsod

elantan wrote: »

Paid in chickens ... What's the etc ? I was under the impression it's just live TV ?

We have tv's in the house and watch them every night, just nothing live, we will watch catch up tv or maybe a series that we enjoy ( walking dead or revoloution etc)

I thought the tv licence was just for live tv ?

The problem is that if you have a TV that is capable of watching live TV then you have to pay for a licence. Though if you get rid of the TV's and watch catchup on computers you can avoid the tax. Though if too many people did that they may extend the licence to catchup TV as well.

DawnW

Cheapskate wrote: »

We're hoping to turn our attic into a bedroom this year, and I plan to build small storage cupboards, or at least create recesses, where the eaves come down. DH thinks it will be for storing bedding, etc., which is partially true, but in realit it's part of my cunning plan to store extra preps! Mwahaha! :rotfl:

A xo

We have a loft conversion, and a cupboard runs along the eaves one side. It provides a LOT of storage space, so your idea is a good one . I must confess I don't use it for preps though, but for storing the vintage stuff I sell, plus various other things such as spare tiles, a dog crate not currently in use, Xmas decorations and various other carp that I don't know what I would do with otherwise :eek:

On the other side, the eaves are partially boxed in to allow headroom for an en suite, but under the window, in the bit of space that is not boxed in, I keep a great big wooden trunk - more storage - this time for spare bedding, duvets etc (and it is an old one, so looks very nice too )

nuatha

Cheapskate wrote: »

BTW, those who keep a stash of money at home, do you regularly use and replace, so notes are current, do you keep coins, and what sort of level of float?

A xo

I used to keep £250 in the car and £1000 in the house, predominantly in decent used 20s, a few 5s and 10s. I'd generally have 20 or so pound coins.
Notes would be rotated well in advance of any announced changes.
Having said that the last couple of years have hammered a lot of the preps, including the cash reserves. The figures were based on what we might need to fund in an emergency, 250 would cover hotel bills or getting home in an emergency. 1000 is double any emergency bill we've had.

Frugalsod wrote: »

The problem is that if you have a TV that is capable of watching live TV then you have to pay for a licence. Though if you get rid of the TV's and watch catchup on computers you can avoid the tax. Though if too many people did that they may extend the licence to catchup TV as well.

There is talk of extending the license to cover Iplayer. But As long as you do not watch live TV (as broadcast) then you do not need a license. You can use a TV for Iplayer/catch up TV services, for DVDs, as a monitor/interface for digital radio all without a license.
Being capable of watching live TV is not the legal criteria - using a device (including computers and phones) to watch live TV is the criteria for needing a license.

Frugalsod

Cheapskate wrote: »

Re energy, our DD has been reduced, unbelievably, from £155 to £89, which is more like our usage, but it's still a lot, and not sure where it comes from. We don't have the CH on much or high temps, likewise electricity, may have to see the octogenarian next door, check she's not growing exotic plants or summat!

I would monitor you actual usage regularly so that you can see what is causing it to be high. You might have ordinary bulbs rather than low energy or LED bulbs. You might have an old CRT TV or plasma TV that uses a lot of energy. It could be old appliances like fridges or washing machines. I have two computers running all day but it is the screens that do all the damage to my bill, so I have the energy savings options maximised. Yet my fridge/freezer is responsible for most of my energy use, so if I do not open the door for a day its consumption falls considerably.

Cheapskate wrote: »

BTW, those who keep a stash of money at home, do you regularly use and replace, so notes are current, do you keep coins, and what sort of level of float?

A xo

It is up to you. Once I am debt free I will be keeping as much as possible hidden. Refreshing the notes is a good idea which is something that I had not considered. I keep a range of notes so that you can pay for things without having to break into £50 notes all the time. Personally it is good to keep as much as you need and think is necessary. I hide mine in a number of places so that if found you do not lose the lot in one go. At the moment I have a couple of hundred available, though once I am debt free I will just keep adding to it as I do not have much faith in the banks so will minimise what I have at risk in a bank.

Coins are bulky and unless you have regular need for them it might be best to minimise the amount you keep.

Karmacat

Frugalsod wrote: »

The problem is that if you have a TV that is capable of watching live TV then you have to pay for a licence. Though if you get rid of the TV's and watch catchup on computers you can avoid the tax. Though if too many people did that they may extend the licence to catchup TV as well.

The issue is the connection to the live broadcasts. I disconnect my aerial, and loop it up with tape so its obviously not just been pulled out in haste, and it can't actually reach the tv.

Cheapskate wrote: »

BTW, those who keep a stash of money at home, do you regularly use and replace, so notes are current, do you keep coins, and what sort of level of float?

I haven't been keeping a stash for ages at a time - everything's current. I keep as much as I can - some 20s, some 10s, then I put by all the £1s I came across, some fivers too - if there's a bank problem, you don't want to give away a £20 note if you're only buying a fiver's worth of stuff.