Might need some MSE help...

babyshoes

Another tip for the pet hair issue - we sweep the carpet with a stiff natural fibre broom before vaccuuming to pick up the worst of the hair. Those rubber brooms are supposed to do the same sort of thing too, but I've never tried one.

We have 4 ferrets and both have long hair, plus we are not good about getting the vaccuum out as often as we should, so even a decent vaccuum would struggle. I find this technique easier on my back too - for some reason using the vaccuum cleaner makes it ache more than the broom - probably the handle is too short or something.

In terms of cars, it is worth finding a trustworthy mechanic if you can. Ask everyone you know for a recommendation. It's also worth taking a guy along with you if you don't know much about cars - even if he doesn't know much more than you! I find that as a somewhat knowledgeable woman I can usually spot when mechanics are trying to scam me, but even the trustworthy mechanics tend to talk down to me and look suprised when I use the correct terminology or supply details to their explanation... It's frustratingly sexist, but generally unintended - and worth putting up with if you find a good honest mechanic!

I'm really sorry to hear about your miscarriage, I can only imagine how heartbreaking it must be. That said, please don't give up if you do want more kids, unless the doctors have said there is a reason that you shouldn't keep trying (after a suitable pause, of course). Something I learned when a close friend of mine had a series of miscarriages (she now has 2 beautiful children) is that they are much more common than most people realise, and usually don't mean that you will be barren afterwards.

tgroom57

mrsdwhite wrote: »

The vacuum that FIL gave us for free was tried out yesterday and worked very well. ... Just need to work out where to get the bags for it as I've never had a vacuum with bags before (in my adult life anyway).

I know you've bought a clip for the bag, but I would just buy the disposable bags off ebay, or from Argos or Washvac. You just need the exact model of the Hoover which will be on a sticky label somewhere on the machine. Mine are £3.70 for 5 bags with free postage and that lasts me a year. If your bag leaks in any way it'll quickly murder the motor.

Well done on the car, and hang onto some baby stuff - early days yet.

Ah, and before you bin the Dyson, check on ebay to see if some of the attachments are worth selling.

fatpiggy

I learned a trick off my Dad for shifting pet hair off carpets and rugs - it costs nothing and keeps you fit as well! Put your trainers on your hands and pull the edge of the sole towards you briskly. All the fur is rolled up like a sausage which you can pick up with your fingers and put in the bin (or if you are feeling green, into your compost bin!) so you save electricity too by not switching on the hoover. Honestly, I promise that it works a treat and takes very little time.

I second the idea about finding a local mechanic, perhaps one who works from home like mine does. He has 30 odd years experience and drives my car to the MOT station so listens out for any odd noises, funny vibrations or whatever en route. He never changes anything that will last another 6 months and always keeps the dead bits to show me why they had to be changed. Being a pal (I originally met him through his ex-wife) he makes me a cup of tea when I turn up at his house, drives me to the train station so that I can go to work, picks me up again when he has finished and makes me more tea back at his house. I know most won't give service like that though I trust him with my life and know that he has done a really good job at a bargain price.

juliettet

I second the brushing carpet tip. I only have stair carpet and a couple of runners but I use a rubber broom first and get a LOT of cat fur up by doing this.

Adrift

If it's the motor that's gone on your Dyson you can replace it yourself for less than £30. Generic motors last about the same time as the genuine Dyson motors, although even the Dyson motors are cheap compared to many vacuum cleaners.

There are loads of how to's online. Replacing the motor on a Dyson is a bit tricky as getting it apart is complicated, but there are videos showing you how to do this.

First though make sure it is the motor, it may be something even simpler. Lots of advice online.

mrsdwhite

I'm soldiering on with the electolux that my FIL gave us for nothing, it's getting the floor much cleaner than the dyson did and I've got the clip to reuse the bag
The Ka has replaced the Fiesta which was sold to a private breaker and I was more than glad to see the back of it. The Ka has had it's MOT today and needs £440 of work to pass :eek: BUT it did only cost £170 so I guess the money spent getting it through the MOT is still worth it. It's mainly labour that I'm paying for though which is what's so frustrating as the parts are relatively cheap
I still need to get the car booting done, I'm finding it hard to motivate myself into digging through all of the stuff to take, but now the weather has picked up there's probably worse ways to spend a Sunday morning than at the car boot
Definitely need to tighten the purse strings now, £440 is no small amount for me to be paying out. I have found my details for the free shares given to me by the company I work for that I can sell on Monday, they're worth around £320 so that will help! :T
I've got a few veggies on my allotment that will hopefully be harvesting over the next month or two that will contribute towards groceries, though due to how many potatoes I'm growing I might be coming and asking for recipes for 101 ways to use a potato! :rotfl:

mrsdwhite

Don't even know why I'm updating this, it's not really relevant to the page, but it helps me to get it out
Picked car up from the garage, which ended up costing £500 as they charged me for 2 x parts that they broke whilst fixing it :mad: To add insult to injury a friend who's brother runs a garage has since told me that her brother thinks it should only have cost £200 for the work. Then the damned thing broke down 3/4 mile from home :eek: AA think it's the fuel pump or the fuel gauge not accurate and it's run out of fuel (it says it has 1/4 tank) so that's another expense!
Definitely need the car boot sale now, shall be finding anything and everything I can to go and flog.
If it turns out to be it running out of fuel I shall be really annoyed as I am so careful to not let it run down, I even had a discussion with DH about it this morning as he let the fuel light come on on his car and I hate when he does that!