30 small steps

BookWorm

Hi Cookie - I just wanted to stop by and wish you the best on your MFW journey

cookie9

@bookworm. Thank you.


Trying to declutter a bit at a time. Have some things to go to charity and going to try to sell a couple of designer handbags which I don't really use. Hopefully they will provide a nice cash boost after all the building work. Today things are a bit on hold on the housework front as electrician has drilled through a water pipe so we now have no water. Emergency dash to supermarket to stock up on bottled water. Not very MSE!

cookie9

Fortunately not too much mess after the electrical/water pipe incident. It has been an expensive few weeks as we have done a lot of entertaining. Did manage to be a bit MSE as entertained at home quite a bit.


I still need to get my mobile phone sorted out as found my lost phone. My super cheap one works well but is pretty bad at taking photos. Going to borrow Dh's one so can use it to take photos of the things I am going to sell from my decluttering exercise.


Have to confess if things sell I already have ideas what to spend the money on and it isn't OP. Saw a vegetable trug and grow bags in the garden centre and would love to grow my own vegetables. My mother has recommended salad so may try that. Had some success with strawberries and raspberries so hope to repeat that. Would also like to get a water and sand play table for the wee one. Vegetables can be claimed a long term MSE but the play table is just for fun.


As a result not sure if I will manage any extra OP above the usual £200 this month but will see how things go.

cookie9

No major OP to report. I have managed to get EON bill down to £60 which is quite good although not helped by DH habit of leaving windows open when heating is on! At least my menu planning is helping us keep food bills down and I am keen to plant some vegetables soon. My mint and parsley are doing very well so the herb garden is off to a good start.

Our building project is coming to an end so will have to pay the last instalment to our builders soon but at least I have had a small amount of interest on this. Of course what I really need to do is keep an eye on my interest free credit card as I spent some of the money set aside for it on the house. Yes, I know very naughty. Fortunately I do not have to pay until August and am planning to save one month's nursery fees then by taking my son out of nursery for that month as I will be on holiday then myself and my parents will help too.


Planning a quiet weekend so hope to catch up on paperwork and moneymaking ideas. Hope everyone is doing well with owning their homes outright.

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

cookie9 wrote: »

No major OP to report. I have managed to get EON bill down to £60 which is quite good although not helped by DH habit of leaving windows open when heating is on!

Good news on lower energy spending cookie9. Hope the stuff Amy and I mentioned earlier helped. Thought of a couple of other things that might be of use.

Have you heard about the Energy Company Obligation (ECO)? It's a Government led energy saving scheme aimed at cutting usage by providing help with energy saving measures like loft and cavity wall insulation. Although not sure how it would offset the heating going through the window.

Not sure if you're aware of our Rewards scheme. This lets you earn up to 1500 E.ON Reward Points each year. These can be exchanged for either Tesco Clubcard points or High Street Shopping Vouchers. It's a free scheme but you'll need to opt in to earn the points. You can do this online or by phoning us.

Hope this is of interest cookie9. There's more about both ECO and Rewards on our website. All the best with the OPs.

Malc

Firegirl

Just been reading your diary. You've made some great progress so far!

cookie9

Posting to stop me doing something stupid. Need to tell myself £49 a month is not a good deal for the Samsung 6 Edge. I do not need this phone. I do not need this phone.

cookie9

Time for a quick review of my small steps.


Small steps:cost reduction


1. Switching off lights and using less energy. This is going quite well although need to follow Dh around the house to switch off lights! Loft conversion is double glazed so nice and warm and a great place to dry clothes on a wet day.
2.Menu planning. Going well although need to try out some new recipes. Herb garden useful addition and has already paid for itself.
3. Not buying clothes. So so here. No new clothes apart from work clothes. Decluttering has helped as can see what I have and plan outfits accordingly.
4. Free days out. Not bad here. Have been given large thermos flask by mil so have used it to fill with soup for days out and picnics. Going to fill it with tea for some of our trips out as quite often tempted by a tea when we are out so can save a few pounds there.


To do: Look out some new recipes for menu planning. Remember to pack flask for days out.
Ask for PAC code so can negotiate a good deal for my mobile. Asking for the MAC code certainly helped with BT.


Small steps:making money
1. No tutoring as just too busy/tired to cope with it this time.
2. Decluttering sales. I have a few things to sell so hopefully can make some money there.


To do: take photos of items to sell. Just had a look on ebay and the bags my shoes came in are selling well so must look these out. Shoes bought pre MSE! Look to switching bank accounts to gain a bonus.


Small steps:mortgage
1. Keep up OP of £200 to negotiate a good deal when fixed term comes to an end especially before the new rules in March.

cookie9

Note to self: Do not go shopping with DH.


We have invited friends around for a BBQ today and as I hurt my back recently I decided to take DH shopping with me. Expected bill £40. Actual bill £112! Trying not to think what the bill would have been had I sent him on his own. £££ We are going to have a freezer/store cupboard meal week for the rest of the week. Oh well at least we are going to eat well at the BBQ. Fingers crossed the weather holds.

pavlovs_dog

will you actually use all of the meat you bought, or could you portion some up and freeze for future meals?

If it is any consolation, it took a lot of training for my OH to realise that I was serious about sticking to the shopping list and that he couldn't keep throwing things into the basket that weren't on that week's meal plan. He's not perfect but there are fewer surprises at the tills these days