Nice People Thread Part 9 - and so it continues

lemonjelly

vivatifosi wrote: »

I don't do facebook. Instinctively I don't like it, but at the library I see the wrong side of it - people who are so addicted to it that they are abusive if they can't get online and update their status. Women who don't attend to their children in the adjacent pushchair because they are too busy seeing what their friends are up to. Children who reveal far too much info about themselves and then their parents come in asking for advice on online bullying. It is not a good advert for the service.

I know that is not most peoples' experience, but it puts me off nevertheless.

Completely agree with Viva on this. Plus, I also feel it should be up to me who I tell what's going on, not for every random yoo-ha to read all about it.

silvercar wrote: »

I think the type of people who go into the library to access facebook, as opposed to access it on their smart phone or at home is very different from the average user.

Disagree in my experience. Phone data limits, dead batteries, broken phone cos they threw it at partner/kids/a wall etc....

lemonjelly

lostinrates wrote: »

All the talk of tk Maxx inspired me. The resident parent is fractious and needs an outing, and I need a broom, so I'm heading north in the hope they have those nice swishy brooms in. With me good hunting.

(I also would like some nice socks, shoes -just because-, some conditioner, knitwear, a new wallet....mine is busting at the seams, but sadly not through cash...though receipts I keep forgetting to put in the business files! And And......maybe a couple of nice new bath mats.

I bought a sprayway waterproof coat from TK Maxx & it is one of the best purchases I ever made.

First time ever I've had a coat that genuinely keeps me dry. Bargain at £50.

TK maxx is ok, but if you go there, make sure you have the time to have a good thorough browse. IMO you have to have a good hunt & rummage to find the something that is right & suitable for you.

lemonjelly

Help request please. I'm thinking it is time to replace my car. I'm amazed mse hasn't got a car buying guide (that I can find anyway!) Guides on cutting MOT/repairs/insurance etc, but not on the biggest expenditure - buying a car.

I've never been hugely into cars. I've generally wanted a safe, reliable, & relatively economical car that won't break down. Fingers crossed, to date I've been relatively lucky.

I've had a couple of mini metro's - weren't great, bodywork started falling apart, then youthful naivete resulted in me writing it off. The 2nd metro was awful. Had a maestro (all I could afford after the write off) that also got written off - however not because of my fault.

After going a few years without a car, I got a peugeot 106 from new. For the time, the car was excellent for me. No real issues, aside from poor design meant the exhaust was liable to corrode, & water regularly leaked into the rear headlight casing, meaning frequent bulb replacement. However the car did me well, lasting 13 years & over 100k miles. It was comfy and warm.

When I changed that (7-8 years ago) I wanted a hard top convertible. I must have spent 18 months trying to decide what I wanted (I'm terrible at making decisions!). I never actually settled on a particular car. To an extent, my mind was made up for me when I got offered a 4 year old astra with 10k on the clock for a ridiculously low price that would've been foolish not to accept even though it wasn't what I wanted.

However, I'm now thinking of getting rid of this & upgrading. & I'm back to wanting a hard top convertible again...

I'm kinda leaning towards the volkswagon eos, and am quite likely to go for a second hand version.

However most previous purchases were done from family, or by my dear ol' dad, so my car buying experience is minimal (ie zero! )

I have the cash available - no finance needed.
Budget is not set in stone - if the car is good value, then I'll consider it. That said ideally I don't fancy going above £15k, & would prefer closer to £10k.

I definitely don't want a car older than 5 years, & ideally about 3 years old (or less).

I have a trusted mechanic who can come with me to inspect potential vehicles.

So folks, what tips do you have for forging ahead with a car purchase, including me getting rid of my now 12 year old vehicle only worth about £500?

All tips/ideas greatly appreciated!

PasturesNew

lostinrates wrote: »

I haven't been to a home sense. I think there is one in Bristol and that that might be my nearest.....

I've never heard of it before!

Looked it up http://www.homesense.com/page/store_locator
Nearest to me's 10 miles away. I'll put that on my list to visit one day

Wheezy_2

lostinrates wrote: »

I haven't been to a home sense. I think there is one in Bristol and that that might be my nearest.....

Never been to home sense, and I miss Home Bargains. When we were living oop north I liked to go there and get little cans of green olives stuffed with anchovies for 11p or something.
Or 5 pepsis for a quid.

Kennyboy66

lemonjelly wrote: »

I find that a good chippy is becoming harder & harder to find.
Round my way most chppy's are guff.
I now only really partake in a chippy when I go to the seaside.

I had to wonder what kind of fish and chip combo comes in at 400 calories.

Still some good chippies in Liverpool (almost all run by Greek cypriots).

In fact, I may indulge for lunch !

I should have added, if you want fresh fish ask for it or ask for haddock. Its usually cod that is in the hot section. There are only a few places now in my area that cook all fish to order.

PasturesNew

lemonjelly wrote: »

I find that a good chippy is becoming harder & harder to find.
Round my way most chppy's are guff.
I now only really partake in a chippy when I go to the seaside.

There is a brilliant one 2 miles from me - and he has another chippy a few miles away too. Some top London chef type, who makes proper old fashioned chips and does all the usual stuff, but alongside that are things like monster hand-made fishcakes etc.

A £1.50 small portion's enough for two meals really, if accompanied by something else (e.g. mushy peas or curry sauce, which I don't buy but have at home).

http://www.browns-fishandchips.co.uk/menus.html

I've beenn to both outlets - not knowing they were connected at the time - and decided independently that both were worth going out of my way for, or waiting for.

For mushy peas I get good tinned ones, e.g. Harry Ramsdens, when they're on special at the supermarket, paying about 40p/can instead of £1/pot from a chippy. For curry sauce, I use Asda's instant chip shop curry sauce, £0.78 for a whole tub, which lasts me for months, and it tastes the same as most chip shops' sauce.

I don't buy their pies as they're £2.50 - I get a pie from the supermarket (same brand) when they're on special at £1. I do wish I lived near an Asda as they always seem to be £1 there, but they're £1.85 at Sainsburys.

Wheezy_2

lemonjelly wrote: »

All tips/ideas greatly appreciated!

Whatever you do, don't get a personalised number plate with "EOS" in it. It seems every VW EOS driver has one.

HP12EOS
GU60EOS
RG11EOS
LG58EOS

...zzzz....boring...

Kennyboy66

lemonjelly wrote: »

So folks, what tips do you have for forging ahead with a car purchase, including me getting rid of my now 12 year old vehicle only worth about £500?

All tips/ideas greatly appreciated!

Can't help on buying but I sold my last car on ebay.

The downside is that you will get e-mail offers and even calls (don't know how they got my number) which you need to ignore and just let the auction run its course.

The person who bought my car had some from the south coast (to Liverpool) and was delighted with it. (Sale price was £1480 ish). I had given it a good clean inside and out myself which I think helps no matter what you are selling.
I was also very open with any faults (central locking didn't work).

Otherwise local paper and a sign on the car (the downside is that you will get people who buy and sell cars making you low offers).

Avoid at all costs webuyanycar type websites, unless you want to have no hassle and accept £250 for the car.

PasturesNew

silvercar wrote: »

Most amazing bath mats in costco and only about £11.

I've never seen a Costco - isn't it some club thing? I did look at the website once, just looked again, there's one 25 miles away. I just looked it up, it's £25/year to join and I'd never get in: "current or retired employees of selected employment groups or professions."