OS Singlies - We Do It Our Way!

calicocat

greenbee wrote: »

You actually pay for utility bills in arrears - after you have used whatever you are being supplied with (the utility companies have some of the largest amounts of unsecured debt of any businesses). And there are options that allow you to put in monthly meter readings and be billed only for what you have used that month. So you don't get billed the same amount each month, but you do have control over how much you pay. My tariff came with an energy monitor, and it shows me how much I have used each month in relation to my budget. If necessary, I can then cut down on energy usage.

Unfortunately, I now have oil heating, so have to pay for that upfront (and it cost me a LOT of money to fill the tank when I moved in).

Lol....is it, I just assumed the swines were taking it ahead of time.....lol. I don't know where my aversion comes from to direct debits as I have never had any problems with them when I had them in the past....its odd really. something somewhere must have stuck in my head.



Not a bad idea about shoving some savings onto utilities though so the government can't swipe our dosh. I haven't got it now, but a couple of years ago I used to overpay on them and did have about a year overriding with them in case of trouble. Might think about doing that again. It's murder isn't it trying to work out what government will or won't do in this country....however, they tell us everything is fine now....we are on the up....wages are increasing, more jobs to be had, housing market moving......we are home and dry...............HMmmmmmmm.

pollyanna24

LOSTINRATES - When we compare our lot to others it seems to be we always stand with out backs to our stack of blessings but looking over our pile of woes, while looking at some one who displays their blessings in front, and hides their woes behind them.

Still catching up with this thread, only a few days behind now, but this struck a chord with me. Lovely saying, and makes me think that I really do have to look at all that I have. I may not have an OH any more, but I can bring my kids up how I like, my money is my money and there is no one to resent any more for the things that are not done (around the house and otherwise).

pollyanna24

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Hmm...somewhere out there on t'Web must be a nice clear website listing off these "practical trades" type jobs and giving details of sort of wages earned and what level of training is necessary (including where to get that training and how the cost of it gets covered) in order to be a decent-quality tradesperson (ie rather than a "bodger with a bit (of knowledge) that is".

Perhaps our younger thread members might find it useful when it comes to wondering how to earn a decent income for themselves? Us older thread members would just think "Oh be grateful" for firms of female tradespeople starting up near us:D. Win win.

....and if ever I find any female tradespeople in my area who originally were Personal Secretaries (ie have had to learn to be organised and prioritise) then I'll think I've died and gone to heaven...

Hmm, certainly food for thought. My whole "longterm" plan is paying off mortgage by the time I'm 40 as my boss (a sole proprietor lawyer in London) is 57 and once he retires, I'm out of a job. How old are lawyers when they retire anyways?

My brother has now come up with a new plan (he's full of them). We own the house we live in together (he bought my ex out three years ago). Once the mortgage is paid off (hopefully 7 years or so), he wants me to save up a deposit for a new place, so that we can rent out our house. Think he's living in cloud cuckoo land, but there you go.

Winter_Phoenix

Byatt wrote: »

I am so far from my comfort zone I need a passport!

I love this expression, it's brilliant! Please may I borrow it to use in future?

And I've just caught up with all the postings about doing up houses. I've renovated three old houses, and I well remember the endless mess, the frustrations, the managing without absolute essentials (like floorboards, or heating, or a kitchen). Finally you get to the end, and everything's absolutely perfect, and you love it. Then six months later you're looking at houses in estate agents' windows, desperate to put your perfect, finished house on the market and buy another complete wreck! :rotfl:

I think my house-renovating days are over. This one didn't need much doing to it, and I've lived here for a few years without doing much more than moving an internal wall and a cloakroom, and upgrading/updating it with en suites, and putting in new steps, and having a new roof, and - oh, hang on, I said I hadn't done much to it, didn't I?

moneyistooshorttomention

Winter_Phoenix wrote: »

Then six months later you're looking at houses in estate agents' windows, desperate to put your perfect, finished house on the market and buy another complete wreck! :rotfl:

My reaction to that one = "You is joking isn't you?:rotfl::rotfl:" (putting it ungrammatically..).

NO chance.

Once this house is renovated I can promise you I won't be moving ever again (unless possibly the chance of one of the brand new houses nearby that currently haven't even been built came my way, eg courtesy of a lottery win). If that happened I might consider it. I say "might" there with some reservations, because I'm hidden away in a bit of a little private eyrie, so not totally sure even for that.

Anything other than brand new (or at worst built within last 5 years) is outa-da-question full stop after the problems with this one. New bit in/new bit out because of fault, then workman damage, then new bit in/new bit out because of fault, then workman damage, then unreliable workman.....

Rinse and repeat whole scenario ad infinitum:(:doh:

moneyistooshorttomention

pollyanna24 wrote: »

Hmm, certainly food for thought. My whole "longterm" plan is paying off mortgage by the time I'm 40 as my boss (a sole proprietor lawyer in London) is 57 and once he retires, I'm out of a job. How old are lawyers when they retire anyways?

.

Wise decision to pay off that mortgage and bear the future in mind re your boss.

Age he retires = I'd be guessing at 65 or when he has a heart attack (whichever comes first). Admits that, in your job, he'd be wondering how come I soon was pretty well-informed about type of diet/exercise levels/stress levels/etc. His wellbeing would be an "unofficial" self-allocated part of my job...to make sure it was the 65 side of that equation if possible.

I'm guessing you're in your 30s. Sounds like time for a little light bedtime reading of the DIY-ish type books to figure out if there's any particular "trade" you think you might be able to acquire the skills for and some "chatting-up" of any workmen that come into sight as to their wages and job conditions etc.:). Time for larder restocking for all those tea or coffees with milk/2 sugars and some decent biscuits....

lostinrates

pollyanna24 wrote: »

Hmm, certainly food for thought. My whole "longterm" plan is paying off mortgage by the time I'm 40 as my boss (a sole proprietor lawyer in London) is 57 and once he retires, I'm out of a job. How old are lawyers when they retire anyways?

.

Depends, I doubt mine. ( whose future I've discussed very intimately ) will ever fully retire, but die working a shorter week and probably not in the same way he does, but he's in a large practise.

MummyBobble

Bloomin' heck, MIA for a few days and it'll take hours to catch up!

Lovely time at nieces wedding last weekend. Managed to not have to socialise too much with folk I didn't know, enjoyed DD and DS company, and even managed a short nap between the afternoon and evening receptions (horrendous journey home on Sunday afternoon though in pouring rain, and caught up in three separate accidents on the motorway:mad:).

Just when I needed to play catch up with household chores from being away all weekend, ended up working extra hours as there were "issues" at work and I was needed to cover (won't get paid but can take the time back at some point - like that's going to happen...) and had an internet connection that's been up and down like the proverbial fiddler's elbow (only he wasn't doing much fiddling as it was much more down than up.)

Anyway, only two more weeks till half term :j

Made a good start this morning, first load of washing in the machine and out, second about to go in then I'm off to get the food shop out of the way.

Back later to catch up

BookWorm

Morning all

There is actually some sunshine this morning. Welcome sight after all the rain this week. Just having the vital first coffee of the day and contemplating plans

Have a lovely weekend whatever you are up to x

calicocat

Winter_Phoenix wrote: »

. Finally you get to the end, and everything's absolutely perfect, and you love it. Then six months later you're looking at houses in estate agents' windows, desperate to put your perfect, finished house on the market and buy another complete wreck! :rotfl:

I do this....its ruddy addictive. I have lost count the amount of times I moved when young. It was however more fun in a couple (mainly because all I organised was where I wanted things and shopped) , doing it on your own is Way more stressful.

I still clock on to estate agent sites...just to see what's about.....and dream a bit, I couldn't be bothered to do it now unless I won the lottery.


I have moved my arris this weekend and organised for a company to quote how much for wardrobes and the dining room 'under stairs' space to be cupboarded off for storage...at least then i'll know how much i'm looking at....i have a horrid suspicion it may well be near 4K.....!!! seeing I was quoted 1k just for dining room....we will see I guess.