The Big Adventure

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

It is always good to get rid of loads of paperwork so oh will feel mentally decluttered later!

Goldiegirl

giblet1979 wrote: »

The new favourite question seems to be "Imagine this product / service turned into a person; how well do you think you would get on with them?"

I've had a few of those, talk about a random question! In future, I'm going to answer 'don't know', and then they might get the message and stop asking!

Secret_Saving_Squirrel wrote: »

It is always good to get rid of loads of paperwork so oh will feel mentally decluttered later!

He was doing some more this morning - he seems to be enjoying it.


I can't believe it's still August. I know the month will have gone quickly to everyone who's on holiday, but for me, it seems endless, and we've still got the best part of a week left to go.


I think it must be because I'm keen to move to the next stage of my life, but I must remember to enjoy the here and now, especially as I like autumn. All those golden crisp days are very enjoyable.


Nothing much to report financially - I bought a Kindle Deal of the Day for 99p which appealed to me. Seven eBay sales over the weekend. Five have paid, one from Saturday hasn't paid yet, and one has paid by eCheque, so that'll delay posting.


Hope everyone is enjoying their bank holiday

Karmacat

Hello GG! I've managed to scramble back online, and wanted to say hi on their own threads to everyone who left messages on mine while I was AWOL - its so inspiring to read yours, I'm really chuffed I got here. Thing is, the pension fund seems to need to be so big, the ordinary little mse things don't always seem worthwhile - your thread is a reminder that they are, the things like surveys and whatnot (though I still don't have the energy for anything like mystery shopping).

I love the sound of a survey site that pays into paypal - I have some yougov surveys to do to claim my £50, and I hate the thought of getting paid into my bank a/c, but I hate even more the thought of leaving it there :rotfl:

As for vouchers - I'm pretty good at using those, tbh, but I'm never shopping at H&B again - I only had a 50p voucher this time, but their pricing structure, so many "offers" and whatnot, makes me distrust their profit levels - so I'm going online for big orders every so often, I've heard of a website used by another online friend, I'll do that in future.

Off now to get a cuppa tea and read up your thread

Karmacat

Goldiegirl wrote: »

Something else I was thinking about - I've been tracing my family tree, and I'm a member of Ancestry. I've been able to get a get a lot of information from Ancestry. It's a real buzz when you find someone new on your tree. My mum's side is mainly as I had thought, deep roots in Essex and the East End, mainly farmer or agricultural labourers, with an East End cattle dealer thrown in. My dad is originally from Berkshire. I've traced his line back to the 1650's. They were in Berkshire from the 1730's, and before that in Wiltshire. They had lots of different professions, and at one time, had money! Sadly the money didn't go down my branch of the tree!


It costs around £112 each year to be a member of Ancestry. I renewed in October, and have done very little work since then. After a few years, it's more difficult to find new info.


I've decided that between now and October, I'm going to do some work on Mr Goldie's family, to try an use my membership, but may not renew in October this year.

Me again

I'm reading through (I've got to go in a minute, as I need to unpack the supermarket delivery, oops) but I had to post again when I saw this one. I'm an amateur genealogist too - I started so long ago, you had to go visit the County Record Offices :rotfl::o I only ever did a trial membership of Ancestry, but ever since then, they let me know when there's various free listings - and they just had one, of all their information (its often just WWI or something) so I had the time of my life filling in little gaps in census records, for instance, and sorting out a marriage between a widow and a widower in the 1840s, and working out whose baby was whom Truly, though, if it costs £112, and you've got the main information, I'd say you can get by now on free weekends.

Goldiegirl

Hi, Karmacat, it's great to see you again ! :j


I posted about Ancestry quite a while ago.... and I still haven't got around to using it again. I think the message is, I don't really need the subscription anymore!


When you start the family history trail, there's new discoveries all the time, but after a while it's very difficult find new info.


Thanks for the tip about the free weekends - when my sub expires, hopefully I'll get these offers, so I can go in and have a quick scout around




I also do YouGov, but it'll take me ages to reach the £50 payout. But I quite like their surveys, even though I only get about one a week.


It's suprising how the little MSE activities mount up. It takes a little effort, but it's pleasing how money can be rustled up from various sources.


With that in mind today I have -


Called into Argos - I was due a £5 voucher from my purchase at the weekend, which I didn't receive. Up until the start of this year, I wouldn't have bothered to go back, but now I want to take advantage of all possible offers. I got my voucher - need to spend it before 23rd Sept. I'm sure something will come up.


Chased Green Met for the £3 from the recent book sale. I requested this two weeks ago but it hasn't turned up in my bank account. They are normally quite good, so hopefully it's just an oversight.


Transferred £6 to HAF, being my share of eBay sales on behalf of my friend.


I phoned H&B to try and get the loyalty card sorted out. They are now referring it to the IT dept. Frankly I'm not too impressed with them, I think this will be one to 'knock on the head', as they say.


A sign that autumn is drawing closer. I had a charity bag through the door today. The charities never bother during the summer, as people are away, but as soon as autumn is here, the bags re-appear. I've got a few bits to donate, so the bags will be used.

Goldiegirl

We went over to Bluewater this morning, mainly to pick up my posh watch after its battery change. £45 for this, but delighted to have it back, and I'll be wearing it more often now, to get more use out of it


We also had a coffee in M&S but used our vouchers for this.


Mr Goldie enquired whether we could bring back a sandwich for lunch.


I felt like a proper meanie, but said no, not this time. He's still got the mindset of, if we go out, food is automatically bought or brought back.


I'm trying to get him out of this habit, as hopefully we'll be going out more, and taking our own food with us!


I felt like the bad cop again, especially as I love a M&S BLT or wrap.


But a bit of a sacrifice here and there all helps the bigger picture, especially as we've just this minute spent nearly £200 booking a couple of excursions and speciality restaurants for our weeks cruise at Christmas!


I've also tried phoning the audiology department at the hospital to see if there's any news on my hearing aid, as it'll be 5 weeks on Friday since my initial appointment.


All operators busy, leave message and they'll call back in 48 hours.


Couldn't be bothered with that, so I've emailed instead.


I'm trying to be proactive with this, but I'm not really sure why, as I feel the chances of me wearing this hearing aid will be very low. Sort of 'snowball's chance in hell' level.:rotfl:


But I've got to at least try!:A

Mint1955

We probably passed at Bluewater today lol

Persevere with the hearing aids I have just been back for a refit and after thinking that there is no way I am going to bother with mine. I am now so much happier.

The first time you have them you don't know what to expect but it takes practice and being critical of their working capabilities then I went back three months later being able to explain what was and wasn't working.

Habibiboo

:wave:

Just had another quick catch up Goldie, glad all's well.

I like the mental image of you surreptitiously clearing your desk in readiness for December! Little and often will be the key to being able to just walk away with a clear desk, clear mind and all good things to look forward to (including that lovely Christmas trip)! x

Goldiegirl

Mint1955 wrote: »

We probably passed at Bluewater today lol

Persevere with the hearing aids I have just been back for a refit and after thinking that there is no way I am going to bother with mine. I am now so much happier.

The first time you have them you don't know what to expect but it takes practice and being critical of their working capabilities then I went back three months later being able to explain what was and wasn't working.

Thanks for the encouragement about the hearing aid, Mint. Most of the time I'm fine, but in some situations I know I need help, like if I'm out shopping and the shop assistant approaches me on the 'wrong' side. Anything that makes things easier is worth a try, at the very least.

I've found that my tinnitus has dropped to a very low level. I think my brain has got more used to my new level of hearing, so I'm a bit nervous that by wearing a hearing aid, my brain will get confused, and the tinnitus will pep up again.

I've got my appointment at the 'balance clinic' on Monday, which is more to do with the management of the vertigo and the tinnitus, so hopefully I'll get a chance to mention this at the appointment.

I had a reply to my email to audiology. I'm on a waiting list for fitting of the hearing aid - quite impressed with the speed of reply.

Habibiboo wrote: »

:wave:

Just had another quick catch up Goldie, glad all's well.

I like the mental image of you surreptitiously clearing your desk in readiness for December! Little and often will be the key to being able to just walk away with a clear desk, clear mind and all good things to look forward to (including that lovely Christmas trip)! x

Hi, Hbbb

I've already got rid of loads of papers' and no one seems to have noticed yet! I've got a folder I'm itching to go through, but I think I'll be a bit busier for the next couple of days, as I've got to attend a couple of meetings, one of them about 'plans for next year'. I will try and look interested!

giblet1979

Hey Goldie,

I don't think you were the bad guy re: sandwich gate (you missed out too on something you wanted). It really will be worth it to be retired and happier and free; I think that can be hard for our 'other halves' to see sometimes (and to be fair, it's so easy to say 'oh this one time won't matter' but they all add up so quickly...)

I love the idea (think it was on Dividend Mantra I saw it but probably elsewhere) about working out how much you would need to earn to have the same effect as not spending / saving; this always makes me think 'is it worth it' when I want things that aren't essential, e.g. today, a pastry and a coffee were screaming my name as I passed, but it wasn't worth an extra hour at work, let alone how much I'd have to work instead when you consider paying / losing out on compound interest.

Maybe if Mr Goldie had a little 'treat' pot to spend on what he wanted food wise in a month, but when it's gone it's gone

Really hope you get sorted with the hearing aid - it may be loads better than you think, and at least you will then have the option in case you are in any tricky situations hearing wise x