Can I dare to go on the MFW journey

summerholiday

Re Shell offer deadline - you will need to get the vouchers by 25th May and use us by 31st May and use spare 5 litre cannisters for extra fuel

resilie

Thank you summerholiday for your posts.
As far as gas and electricity are concerned I did the Big Switch through Which last year and just checked the other day and I think I'm on the best tarrif I could be. Plus it's with C00p which I prefer to tax avoiders like NP0wer....

Lodger is a massive resource drain- but I think she is getting better.... goes to the gym a lot but doesn't like showering there so ends up having 2 showers a day... no reason why she needs an electric heater other than the fact that she doesnt quite understand the concept of jumpers
On the plus side she usually goes home over the weekend and more often than not gets her mum to do her washing... I like your clock idea- will see if I can find one... my initial approach was slightly passive aggressive- leaving the water bill on the table for 2 weeks:rotfl:

sweetdaisy

Just wanted to pop in and wish you well on your MFW journey .

resilie

Thanks sweetdaisy

summerholiday

Hi Resilie

Thinking about it - a waterproof timer with an alarm or a voice loudspeaker would be a far better idea, something like: 'Your time is up (her name)....Your shower has taken 4 minutes and 30 seconds and cost £.......!!!.' for example. Could be fun to try out.

I would insist she use the gym shower. She is not going to shower less but more during the Summer months and most probably launder more. I often see gym users leaving the centre without a shower I don't understand it all that smell and sweat.

Does your washing machine have a night time clock which would be cheaper to use on economy 7 ready for hanging washing out early next morning. The same goes for the dish washer or use 2 short washes as it is quicker and cheaper to run. An investment for you could be a special rotary cover to stop rain ruining your washing when hanging it out.

resilie

All that shower talk reminded me that I got a water saving kit from my water company a while back. Tried to install a flow regulator unsuccessfully on my kitchen tap and gave up... just dug it out again and there is a shower adapter too- just fitted it in under 5min :j
I dont know about giving her a fixed amount of shower time- don't want to antagonise her plus she pays a hefty amount of rent (£550 all incl) so should be free to cook shower and heat as she pleases- it's just when it's bordering on the excessive that I get edgy.

I always run the washing machine and dish washer on economy and have no dryer so washing gets hung up outside when sunny or in utility room

Need to think of more subtle ways to change lodgers behaviour- hmm:cool:

ixia

Hi Resilie just wanted to say good luck on your journey

resilie

I am a broken woman- needed to get a new sofa as old one moved out with old flatmate and we only had one small, stylish but not very "loungy" one. So kept my eyes peeled on gumtree for a couple of months and voilà found one. Main problem is always transport but these guys live a 10min walk away... easy me thought..... big mistake! Carrying a huge sofa around town is no fun... also while wedging it through the front door somehow managed to give it a small grass stain (maybe off the hanging basket???)
I now have 2 bkisters on my hand and am £100 poorer but have a comfy sofa to show for it.... :rotfl:

resilie

Early payday tomorrow due to Bank Holiday- the question is to overpay at the start of the month and hence forcing myself to stick to a budget or see what I can safe and not get caught out.... thoughts?

resilie

Knowing myself I work best under pressure so have overpayed £1500 today and will just have to cope till next payday- if I don't do it this way I'm more likely to spend it on unnecessary stuff... however going out for a friends birthday tonight which will be costly.... packed lunch for the whole of June