30 small steps

cookie9

Hi pushkin, your best bet is to fill in the request form on the BT website asking for the MAC code. This will trigger a call back within a couple of days. Look at the best deals in the meantime so when they call you can say you are looking to leave as been offered a better deal. They should be able to offer you a reduction on your current deal. Good luck.

cookie9

Just set up my OP on the new mortgage deal. Delighted to see the main mortgage is now below 150,000. It really gives me a good psychological boost.

Home insurance sorted which is good. I will try to remember to shop around again next year as I was paying far too much on my old insurance as stayed with the same insurer.
An expensive error on my part.

Next on my list is Christmas shopping. Last year I was ill and ended up doing a lot of shopping online at the last minute. This year I want to get things early. There are some nice book deals which suits me as I have a lot of children to buy for. My husband and I are going to get small things for each other and teat each other when it is our birthdays. Dh hits the big 40 next year. For the rest of Christmas I set up a regular saver account last year so have money there to use and hopefully a little to make OPs with.

cookie9

Some moneysaving due to being treated by my mum who is visiting while dh away. She is an absolutely star as she is making us a nice roast chicken lunch today and some food for the freezer so I don't have to cook much next week when I am working late. Best of all is not moneysaving but time giving as she is currently playing with my son whilst I go back to bed with a cup of tea. Oh the pure luxury!

I managed to get a god deal on my Christmas shopping as I have a few preteens to buy for. Found lovely nail varnish with cute stickers to decorate the nails with and best of all they were on special offer so 50% off. Less moneysaving was getting bits and pieces for my son's birthday party. Decided on a seaside theme and got invitations, napkins and straws. Have some blue papers plates from last year so can use these as well. Still to look for a cake and get balloons.

Electricity and gas direct debit reduced to under £100 so please with the steps taken there. I need to watch hot water and heating as last year gas was high during winter. Going to look for flannel sheets for my son's room and get a hot water bottle.
Off to check tips in the OS forum.

Looking forward to seeing my new op com off this week.

cookie9

Delighted to see my op come off a the mortgage going down. This week I need to pay in some cheques and empty my coin jars. Hopefully can make an additional op with the proceeds.

Money making steps - finding books to trade in on *mazon. Annoying have two but 4p short of £10 so need to find another so I don't have to pay for postage.

Money saving - garden centre sent me lots of vouchers so will do some Christmas shopping there. This is also a timely reminder to check my loyalty cards to see how many points I have so I can spread the cost of Christmas.

Meal planning and food shopping are high on my agenda as I really want to stock the freezer well as work will be very busy for the next few weeks. DH and I both want to be healthier as we have both had cold bugs we cant shake off. Cue lots of warming soups as a good way to boost our vegetable intake.

cookie9

Have managed to trade in my books so a small amount coming back to me. Have made a massive amount of chili con carne for the freezer for us to use in a couple of weekends time when we have friends over. The loose change came to £27 so not too bad. I just need to put some baby things up for sale now to clear some room and to hopefully make a little bit more for an over payment.
Having this diary really helps make sure I action the tasks I have set myself.

cookie9

Not a very MSE weekend. Did managed to get a free coffee but also spent on an unplanned lunch out. Bought bagels and smoked salmon to have with friends today but then DH decided we should all go for a pub lunch. Oh well we can have them for lunch this week and I will make a smoked salmon pasta dish one evening. We have friends staying with us next weekend so bought a pot plant and candle to make the house feel more homely. At least I have vouchers I can use next weekend to treat everyone to lunch.

cookie9

Well the smoked salmon has lasted well and our lunches have had that touch of luxury! The freezer is quite well stocked although I should really make a Bolognese but just haven't the time this week. Major plus was my wine from Mr T. Had a substitution so 3 bottles priced £12.99 ( only had to pay £19.47) and one at £6.99 then 25% discount. Only had to pay £14.09 so around £3.50 a bottle. Yippee. Must settle down to some meal planning but will wait until our guests have left to I can see what I can do with the leftovers. On the downside he heating is on as it is just too cold for us now.

Leftovers aren't very much but we did have a lovely weekend. Think will have chili con carne tonight with pasta and make mushroom pasta for the little one. Can do bacon and mushroom pasta tomorrow or meatballs with the leftover sausages . Decisions decisions.
Not sure why but estimated electricity by EON has shot up dramatically so must submit meter readings to see if this has any impact. Unfortunately their site seems to be down.

newgirly

Hi cookie 9, just spotted your diary and wanted to say hi and best of luck with the oping

E.ON_Company_Representative

cookie9 wrote: »

Small steps taken: Cost reduction
1. Switching power off at plugs and switching lights off. Not sure if this has had a major effect but EON have reduced my monthly payment so must be helping.

Hi cookie9,

Sounds like what you’re doing so far is helping

There's some good tips on our website that might also help save you money by saving electricity. Have a look at the Saving Energy Toolkit. In particular, the stuff about energy sucking vampires. The quiz is a bit of fun, too, and might give you some more money saving ideas.

Did you know we’ve got a great new tool called, Direct Debit manager?

Direct Debit Manager can help you understand your fixed monthly payments and control your budget over the year.

If you’ve already got an online account, you can use your Direct Debit Manager straight away.

I hope this helps and keep up with the energy saving!

Amy:)

cookie9

Some good news re Ops as received notification about my endowment policy today. It is a small one but decided to use £1000 towards a lump sum Op and keep up my £200 Op which means by end of this year I will have made my target of £1000 and £600 on top of that. The remainder will go into an ISA which can earn some interest before being used to pay my 0% credit card before the interest free period expires.

Thinking ahead now to next year and hope to keep up the £200 OP per month so £2400 target with hopefully some lump OP on top. I have managed to reduce my direct debit with EON so OP should easier.