Vala's frugal journey to be MF!!

Vala-Mal-Doran

Thanks for the advice Ed il keep an eye on it.

Had a ride out in the car today to some reconnaissance And find a cottage we have rented for a friends hen weekend (im organising so it is a very mse hen party but still gooing to be fab!) Im glad we did as the website had listed it under a completely different village :eek: It turned out to be about 10 mins drive away and a much nicer village as the original place was looking like somewhere out of a horror film! The real place is somewhat more populated!

Back home now, tis a bit chilly so iv wrapped up in some fleece trousers (pjs?) That my sis in law bought us for xmas last year, bright pink with hearts, a lime green hoody and zebra slipper boots (also her present) I look like a right lunatic!! :rotfl: But at least I am warm with no heating on :j

Going to start on dinner now, iv got out of it for 3 weeks so far, id better give oh a break!

Vala-Mal-Doran

Oh jeez - that £242 credit with my current energy provider - I updated the readings and it has gone down to £56 :eek: I realise that they haven't had a reading since June so I guess I shouldnt be shocked but I just wasnt expecting that. Our monthly payments are £59 so that implys we spent on average £105 a month on energy from end of June to End of Oct. Thats a scary thought as we have only had the heating on for just over a week and its only an hour in the morning. Although I know the Electric is actually the more expensive of the two so possibly down to using a heater to dry clothes when it is raining outside and the one in the living room to keep me warm whilst recuperating at home.
Will be eagerly awaiting next statement to find out!

Back to work on Friday I hope, cant wait to nip into town to get some things, I have been sending OH in with a list and getting the oddest things back!? :rotfl:

edinburgher

Energy companies are a nuisance. We built up a debt of £600 with ours because we moved into a house with no central heating timer and underestimated our usage. We paid that off in full, replaced the timer with a fully automatic digital one and told them. We still ended up paying a massively increased DD, which left us with a £300+ credit when we left (paid back the day before we went to the ombudsman). We have the exact same problem with the new supplier re. overcharging, so moving to Good Energy as we think they look like they can be trusted.

Watty1

God this energy lark is a right nightmare on the charging front isn't it. (sigh)

Vala-Mal-Doran

It really is! Especially when its all the same gas and electric, we just pay different depending which letterheaded paper is being used to send us the bill!,

Gosh its hammering down here. Had my first day back at work today aftrr 4 weeks, only a very short day as on phased return but to be honest it was niceto get out of the house! :j Still being told to take it easy for a while yet tho, so cooped back up inside with a cup of soup and a sandwich. I find it easier to rest when iv had a busy morning, like iv 'earned' it so its ok.

Vala-Mal-Doran

Im such a sucker - just had one of those charity people round, I dont usually answer the door when im on my own but thought it was possily my mum and when she was talking I couldnt work out when to say no.....so iv ended up signing up to a £6.50 a month charity which I will be cancekling after my first payment as I kmiw its not a huge amount but I can't justify it. Im so annoyed with myself not having the b@lls to say no thankyou!

Will be doing a little money shuffle later and chasing e.f for their refund that will make me feel better, along with a relaxing soak tonight, I bought some radox (on offer :money:) as iv been told I need to relax more...:cool: but im not a stressed person, I just like being busy?!

Hope everyone's having a fab day! :T

Vala-Mal-Doran

Money shuffle cannot happen as iv lost my secure key pad thingy and cant get onto my internet banking without it,, argh! :mad: Got to pick another up tomorrow. Im so annoyed, I never lose things but I remember putting it somehwere thinking 'thats not such a smart place to put it'....turns out my brain was right

Oh well, did a few comps last night to make up for it, trying to get on top of those, next will be the reviews, I have an account with one of those sites just need to remember which one!

Might go and out £2 in the xmas food savings jar, that will have to be my fix for the day :rotfl:

Vala-Mal-Doran

Oh my gosh - what is going on today!!

Iv just been out to fit a headlight bulb in my car which I bought ages ago but have been put of doing it as my dad says its a bit of a beast to do (it was his old car) Turns out it really wasnt so bad, because I have smaller hands than him I can get to it a bit easier, anyways - when I finally got it out, it turns out the bulb that I bought - is the wrong one!!!! It cost £15 and I cant find the receipt as it has been so long. Im so annoyed with myself - just bought the right bulbs off eb@y for £3.99 as im not spending another £12 at the car shop. Ooh - I could cuss myself sometimes.

At least my mums coming round soon to help me make some name badges for a hen party im organising for next weekend. All MSE of course - im dead chuffed with myself for keeping the costs down but still planning a great weekend !!! iv been to so many where I have had to fork out extortianate amounts for nothing particularly special. This hen weekend will be more 'relaxed' and be more about the bride to be and having everyone together in one place. It helps that she's not into wild nights out and half of the hens are pregnant anyways :rotfl: Although that put paid to my roller derby plans- :cool:
A photo evidenced scavenger hunt is the less energetic alternative.

Vala-Mal-Doran

Much better day today - productive day at work, managed to get a new secure key thingy so can now access my banking again - much happier.

Moved the OP to the OP fund and setting aside some pennies to owe my parents who got me and oh a new vacuum (the one with the ball!! :smileyhea ) as there was a fab offer on and they donated their MrT vouchers towards it (we are paying the remaining amount) so we are taking them out for dinner tonight to say thank you. :T

Also just been watching window cleaners in our road but wasnt quick enough to grab them and ask for a quote - iv never had the windows cleaned in the 4.5 years iv lived here :eek: Would like them to be nice and sparkly for once

Vala-Mal-Doran

Im back after a very long break from my diary - not from mse I might add- and im needing some advice from all you who know about moving house etc.

Just to catch up on my current situation, in first house bought 2010 with boyfriend, now husband. Spent time getting the mortgage down from 125000. Down to 96500, this might not seem much op'ing to many but we think we've done well.

Now we are at a point in our lives where we are thinking of possible little ones (I have just turned 30, Mr VMD is 32, little later than most I know but it took a long time for me to come round to the idea!) We have seen a house in the same town as my parents and 15 mins from his parents and approx 25 mins drive from work (currently able to walk in in 30 mins).

My worries/thoughts/questions are..we havent actually put our own house on the market yet, we were planning on doing it soon but this house looks almost perfect and made us get our @rses into gear, we havent actually viewed it yet, will be arranging on tuesday but its specs look good and I know its a lovely area. Do you think we will have problems putting an offer in when we havent got ours sold? We are lucky to live in an area where houses get snapped up ASAP so not worried about waiting long to sell. Also do you think itrs worth living in the same town as parents (our limited salaries means we would, rely on them for childcare they are both very willing, and I would have to back to work for 4 days pw)? There is a nice area over the opposite end of the town we are currently I but that wouldmean a 1 hour minimum round trip twice a day to do the dropping off/picking up etc each day.

I cant tell if this is making sense or not but my main concern is possibly being not able to put an offer in with the estate agents. Iv never moved house (only bought first house) so not sure of the order of things. Getting a mortgage meeting with current provider next week, we know roughly what we can afford but just want it in writing,

Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated! :T