Preparedness for when

pineapple

On the subject of fuel bills I had built up a good credit when I switched supplier at the end of 2013. Surprise surprise it's still in their hot little hands. Then I came up with a cunning plan. I joined Facebook (which normally I regard as the spawn of the devil) and had a good old rant - both on my 'page' and on the suppliers Facebook forum. And now they are falling over themselves to settle it. Result! (hopefully)

greenbee

I'm pretty sure my previous supplier haven't send me my corrected final bill, nor have they chased me for payment since I rang up for the third time asking them to correct it and send an updated bill. Given that I switched suppliers in December I'm beginning to think I should get it sorted out. Then again, if they want the money maybe they should send me an accurate bill?

jk0 - all the recessed spotlights I'm putting in are LEDs (utility/kitchen and possibly bathroom), and I know a lot of people who have replaced their halogens with LED and saved a fortune (and you can choose warm or cool light). However, for normal overhead lights I'm using biobulbs as the full spectrum daylight is important when I spend most of every day shut in my office... They're more expensive than normal CFLs, and some people find the light too bright/white, but they are definitely better for working! I also use daylight bulbs in my desk lamp.

mardatha

noooooooo! no GREEN stuff!!

Alisonpennypincher

jk0 wrote: »

I am toying with the idea of buying LED bulbs now, but am worried about spending so much (£12 for some of them) then finding the light unacceptable in some way, and thus wasting the cash.

Can anyone reassure me?

I love LED light, it is much brighter than any other bulb, and a light almost like daylight so great in bathrooms kitchens etc. I will be changing all mine to LED eventually as low energy bulbs now look very yellow/orange in comparison.

maryb

I tried LED about 5 years ago and thought they were too blue and cold. But I think they have changed for the better. It might help to take some fabric that looks different in different lights - lots of bluey greens do this - and compare it under the lights in a showroom

[Deleted User]

As some of you will know, I have an ongoing quest, to try out cheap, battery lanterns.

Enter the Elements Camping Lantern, currently available from £world.

First, the details of the lantern.

It's quite bulky, at about 4 3/8" in diameter, and 5" tall.

Weight is 188g, without batteries, and 236g, with 4 x £world AA batteries installed.

The bulb is a standard incandescent torch bulb, rather than an LED, so will likely be rather heavier on batteries.

It has two setting, high and low, although the low setting isn't marked.

Now to the performance.

A quick light output test (on the high setting), conducted in my pantry, doesn't impress much.

It might make an interesting nightlight, for a child's bedside cabinet (keep a few spare bulbs on hand), but as a serious lighting option, I don't think much of it.

maryb

Ye Gods!!!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/savings/10788369/Savers-must-answer-intrusive-questions-to-get-money.html

[Deleted User]

As someone who needs reading glasses, for fine detail work and reading very small print, I've been looking for some to put in my BOB, which obviously requires small size, and good protection.

Well, £world to the rescue.

They're very small (just 7/8" high including frame edging), with metal frames (so less likely to break), and come with an oval tubular, hard plastic case, measuring 5 5/8" long, and 1" wide, at the widest point.

Weight of case and glasses, is just 30g.

GreyQueen

...........and little fishes.

:mad: It's beyond belief that it's HSBC doing this. Y'know, the go-to bank for the Mexican drug cartels?

I haven't got a savings account any more, with anyone. Have invested in preps. And am only keeping enough in the current account to cover bills. Will be checking tomorrow to see if my DDs have all departed safely then taking some of the folding stuff out.

Frankly, banks are getting above themselves. Treating veteran customers as if they're crims? I'm glad at least some of the people in that article are going to take their business elsewhere. Everyone who encounters this should demand to see the bank manager immediately and tell her they want to empty their accounts, in cash, NOW.

I continue with a lifetime habit of taking cash and spending cash, and good luck to TPTB in figuring what I do with my funds. The Banque D'Mattress branches across the land will be getting ever more deposits if they keep on with this. Barstewards.

Memory_Girl

mardatha wrote: »

noooooooo! no GREEN stuff!!

Not even if I wrapped a jelly baby inside?

MG