2014 Frugal Living Challenge

Frugalsod

lynnejk wrote: »

I remembered that Nationw*de had sent me details of an account that had some stuff bundled so dug it out. I read through and then checked online and went to the branch. The account charges £10 a month (£120) a year but will give us yearly worldwide travel insurance, car breakdown cover Europe wide and the same mobile phone cover I had been looking at - so opened a joint account so we are both covered.


Result - saved £61 and phones are covered. Even better - it pays 3% interest on all credit balances and you can use the card abroad at ATMs commission free :money:

Remember this is only worthwhile while you use all the features of the account. Once you get older you may not be travelling and once you hit 75 you might stop driving so will have to look at switching your account yet again. Personally I might keep a second non fee paying account for just such circumstances.

cw18

And also check the terms of the insurance before relying on it. I have an account with them that gives me the travel insurance subject to minimum deposits into the account over the year, but on a flick through the paperwork it's not going to cover me for my Camino - pretty sure the maximum cover period in one stretch is 28 days (4 weeks) and I'm going to be away for just over twice that. I know there were also other exclusions that meant I wouldn't automatically accept it even if they let me use it for my trip after I cough up a premium to extend the time frame (staff told me this is a possibility).

I don't cover my phone. My son did for the handset he has now (policy from phone shop), only to discover there's all kinds of 'hidden' clauses in that too.

OH has a bank account where he's been paying a monthly fee for car breakdown (think it also gives phone cover, but his handset it too old and is excluded), but the car he bought last year not only came with cover for a year, but if he has it serviced at the dealer centre he gets another year breakdown.... so he's about to stop paying for the bank account.

lynnejk

Frugalsod wrote: »

Remember this is only worthwhile while you use all the features of the account. Once you get older you may not be travelling and once you hit 75 you might stop driving so will have to look at switching your account yet again. Personally I might keep a second non fee paying account for just such circumstances.

Thanks for input. I have only taken this account to cover this year's payments that I would have had to make this month anyway and so cover is appropriate for next 12 months. We both have our own current accounts as well, including some of the new TSB accounts paying 5% on credit balances.

cw18 wrote: »

And also check the terms of the insurance before relying on it. I have an account with them that gives me the travel insurance subject to minimum deposits into the account over the year, but on a flick through the paperwork it's not going to cover me for my Camino - pretty sure the maximum cover period in one stretch is 28 days (4 weeks) and I'm going to be away for just over twice that. I know there were also other exclusions that meant I wouldn't automatically accept it even if they let me use it for my trip after I cough up a premium to extend the time frame (staff told me this is a possibility).

I don't cover my phone. My son did for the handset he has now (policy from phone shop), only to discover there's all kinds of 'hidden' clauses in that too.

OH has a bank account where he's been paying a monthly fee for car breakdown (think it also gives phone cover, but his handset it too old and is excluded), but the car he bought last year not only came with cover for a year, but if he has it serviced at the dealer centre he gets another year breakdown.... so he's about to stop paying for the bank account.

Thanks for that. I had a look and we seem to be covered okay for travel as won't be going for more than 30 days in any one stretch in next 12 months. Also the phones seem to be the same cover/exclusions/excesses as I was looking at online.
I'm afraid we can't afford new/newish cars or buying from dealers and do our own servicing - well mostly unless major - so need breakdown cover as DH needs car to get to work due to unsocial hours.


But will certainly have another double-check through and can cancel any time without any penalty.


Hope you all have a super Sunday
Lx

alja

lhead123 wrote: »

Not posted for a while as I've been busy with new baby boy 'S'

Congratulations!


I've been a bit AWOL too at the moment, how it is June already I have no idea!


Just had two very busy weekends, so I'm looking forward to a more chilled and cheaper one or two coming up.


Still working, doing survey sites and review sites etc, but could do with doing a bit more. Might take a look at selling on eb*y again soon? I'm sure I've said that a million times before though!! Just need to work out a few more ways to make a few extra pennies this year...

[Deleted User]

My savings here are seriously depleted now. New flooring in living room, hallway, stairs and one bedroom done; bathroom being refitted end of this month; some new chairs ordered for the living room and still some new furniture to get. The house has been badly needing doing for a while now and its nice to have had the savings to do it without getting into debt. Just need to start saving again to get the kitchen done in a few years.

Going to spend some time this weekend consolidating what I have left and organising accounts.

dizzy_lizzie

Frizzle wrote: »

Loving my bread maker. Have had it a week and have made a white loaf, a 50/50 loaf, a fruit loaf and pizza dough to make 4 pizzas. It is so easy and they come out beautiful! I just hope I keep using it! QUOTE]

Hi Frizzle. I've been thinking about getting one but do they really work out cheaper than buying bread? Mmmm love the sound of those pizzas too.

[Deleted User] wrote:

Going to spend some time this weekend consolidating what I have left and organising accounts.

Wow you've been busy allie. It must feel great knowing that you've almost done it all now and its paid for :T

[Deleted User]

Thanks Dizzy Lizzie, I have just finished getting accounts semi-organised and money ready to pay the guys doing the bathroom for us. I may take a wee break for a few months before I order the rest of the furniture.

I have 2 weeks to go until I am on holiday and I am really needing it. Had a 3-day headache during last week and am waking up still tired after a good nights sleep. So I am really looking forward to my summer this year. Plan are to take the first week or so to re-energise and then get out in the sun.

sparrer

Did my first shop since I came back from holiday on Tuesday, it was a pleasure to shop in @ldi as their prices are quite a bit cheaper than where I went.

The friend I lent the fare to is going to pay me back weekly, she wanted to pay interest but there are times when you just don't, do you? I'm just happy I could help out and more importantly that she enjoyed the holiday

Spent the afternoon counting the penny jar, will be banking £23 tomorrow.

Dug up some good sized potatoes from the flower tubs, I'd used last year's potato soil and a few tiny spuds escaped the fork so I have quite a few to eat with salads. A bonus

DawnW

Been awol for a couple of weeks, busy getting books ready for the accountant and HMRC stuff sorted. The good news is that we are both due a tax rebate :beer:

As far as other news is concerned, we are now getting quite a bit of food from the garden We have new potatoes, mangetout peas, strawberries and raspberries at the moment, and also plenty of herbs. Broad beans, shallots, garlic, beetroot, runner beans, leeks, cucumbers, tomatoes and loganberries are coming on. Some things haven't come up and there is no courgette plant as DD mislabelled her plants and mistakenly gave us a pumpkin plant, which is currently growing like a triffid :rotfl:Still, it keeps it interesting I suppose, and we always have SOMETHING to eat each year. I shall stick some late seeds in once the spuds are all dug, in the hope that we will get some carrots and spinach etc

I really need to have a proper cooking and freezing session tomorrow, as I have lots of bits and pieces to use up :eek:

Frizzle_2

dizzy_lizzie wrote: »

Frizzle wrote: »

Loving my bread maker. Have had it a week and have made a white loaf, a 50/50 loaf, a fruit loaf and pizza dough to make 4 pizzas. It is so easy and they come out beautiful! I just hope I keep using it! QUOTE]

Hi Frizzle. I've been thinking about getting one but do they really work out cheaper than buying bread? Mmmm love the sound of those pizzas too.




Wow you've been busy allie. It must feel great knowing that you've almost done it all now and its paid for :T

We roughly worked it out as about 40p a loaf. They are slightly smaller than a sliced loaf but so much better. We get 1.5kg of flour for 75p from aldi and I use 400g, then a teaspoon f yeast, salt and sugar and a slither of butter. I should work out the proper costings but it definitely can't be more than 40p! They always come out perfect. The pizza dough was so much better than I make and I am sure it is because it gets kneaded more than I can do!!