Nice people thread part 7 - a thread in its prime

vivatifosi

Pastures, the more I think of it the more I wonder if a futon roll would be a reasonable option for you. It'll cost less than airbeds in the long run and is a more permanent sleeping option. Plus it can be moved in your car.

Something like this:
http://www.tesco.com/direct/futon-single-mattress-natural/212-0115.prd?pageLevel=&skuId=212-0115&sc_cmp=pcp_GSF_Bedroom_212-0115

Plus if you can fold it down small enough, you can get a base which can convert to a sofa (or chair if a single bed)
http://www.tesco.com/direct/helsinki-single-pine-futon-frame-only-natural/212-7058.prd?recommendationId=93d476ae-74f4-42e8-b510-375dc1476b91.0&skuId=212-7058

ETA: the Argos one is possibly better value as you can get both bits for more or less the price of one at Tesco:
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/6916796.htm?CMPID=GS001&_$ja=kw:{keyword}|cgn%3Apla||6916796|tsid%3A11677|cn%3Apla||6916796|mt%3A{MatchType}|crid%3A14542145259

wageslave

How are you connecting PN?

mystic_trev

wageslave wrote: »

How are you connecting PN?

With the connection problems she's been having, she's more likely to contact us via an ouija board.:eek:

michaels

Nice People (and possibly SilverCar specifically) I have 24k Amex reward points - what is the most lucrative thing I can do with them?

misskool

michaels wrote: »

Nice People (and possibly SilverCar specifically) I have 24k Amex reward points - what is the most lucrative thing I can do with them?

I think the NICEST thing you could do is send them to me

On another note, has it stopped raining yet?

silvercar

michaels wrote: »

Nice People (and possibly SilverCar specifically) I have 24k Amex reward points - what is the most lucrative thing I can do with them?

We have BA Amex cards and all the points are automatically Avios (formally airmiles), so never really had an option to think about. In fact, I didn't know there were other options...off to have a look, back soon.

silvercar

OK mooched around. Seems there is a choice of converting them to restaurants/ boots/ flyer programmes just about anything. Here is a general thread about maxing use of rewards, though note that it is not UK specific (so some overseas Amex have different offers) and that it is on flyertalk so participants are more concerned with travel than your average bod.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-express-membership-rewards-410/

We collect the avios, so specifically went for BA Amex to get the companion flight vouchers and the multipliers on buying OHs BA business flights using the Amex card. The foursquare promotion that you have discovered is an added bonus. I assume, being the pro you are, that most of those points came from an intro offer in getting the card, otherwise you missed a trick. (We got our cards through quidco with £45 cashback and 18,000 points.)

We use the points for flights, particularly useful that we can cancel penalty free. My sister uses them for hotels, she claims airport hotels offer very good deals with points. I did once price a BA holiday with points, but it wasn't good value.
General wisdom is that 1p per mile is par, so you aim to spend less miles than that. Good value on long haul is to pay for economy plus and use the miles to upgrade to business. Saying that we have used them to get economy flights to the flat twice this year.

michaels

They seem to be worth 24k avios. Amex seem very generous, they gave me 50 quid top cash back and points worth 120 quid at sains/m&s (or other amounts via avios etc) for opening an account and spending 2k in 3 months. Especilly as they waived the annual fee of 125 for the first year and given the points can be spent straight away unlike cashback which you have to wait 12 months for I will have closed the account long before I ever pay them anything...and probably opened another as well, it is only about a year since they last gave me £100 for spending 2k

Edit: Thanks SC - I seem to have just duplicated what you told me while I was posting

silvercar

One thing to be careful of is that you have to have an amex card when you redeem the flights - if you are thinking of using them that way.

PasturesNew

vivatifosi wrote: »

Pastures, the more I think of it the more I wonder if a futon roll would be a reasonable option for you. It'll cost less than airbeds in the long run and is a more permanent sleeping option. Plus it can be moved in your car.

Something like this:
http://www.tesco.com/direct/futon-single-mattress-natural/212-0115.prd?pageLevel=&skuId=212-0115&sc_cmp=pcp_GSF_Bedroom_212-0115

Plus if you can fold it down small enough, you can get a base which can convert to a sofa (or chair if a single bed)
http://www.tesco.com/direct/helsinki-single-pine-futon-frame-only-natural/212-7058.prd?recommendationId=93d476ae-74f4-42e8-b510-375dc1476b91.0&skuId=212-7058

ETA: the Argos one is possibly better value as you can get both bits for more or less the price of one at Tesco:
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/6916796.htm?CMPID=GS001&_$ja=kw:{keyword}|cgn%3Apla||6916796|tsid%3A11677|cn%3Apla||6916796|mt%3A{MatchType}|crid%3A14542145259

If I spent that much I'd not be able to afford a proper sofa/bed. Futons are awkward and uncomfortable. At £20 I'd consider it, but my full price budget for a sofa/bed's about £150.

Issue with full priced at the moment is they only deliver Tue-Fri, so I'll have to build up some annual leave time, then apply for a day off to sit in and wait for a delivery; they also deliver to the door (not inside), so I'd have to think if I can really manhandle it alone in through the door and into the living room.

Lilo is affordable, they're just shoddy so far.

Can't overspend.... after the sofa/bed I still need to source/procure a fridge/freezer.