Journey to happy skinflintedness

saraih

Spent the afternoon dragging out the christmas tree and lights and setting it up. No baubles or tinsel because of the cat, it looks a bit rubbish during the day but never mind

No money spent, need to get more vouchers but will pay cash for toys if I have to. Would rather buy online to be honest, OH hates crowds anyway and I'd rather not go while there's a crush.

It's getting a bit colder now so we'll have to set up winter accommodation for the stray. All the stuff is there, we just need to make sure it's still insulated enough and has airflow. He won't come anywhere near us but eats the food and lives in the box when the weather is inclement. Need to get bird food for the front garden as well. Cat in the back, birds in the front - good as watching telly

saraih

I was doing quite well but Sports Direct had underwear on sale so I bought a load for OH & son. It's where we usually get them at four pairs for £11, and they were £2.99 for two so I stocked up. They won't run out for a long time at least. Got some socks for them and a £3 pair of ballet flats for me.

Having the means to stock up in sales is so far from where we were it's quite unbelievable :j

Access to work are catching up with themselves, although I'm just leaving the money there so as to avoid another panic when they mess up again. It's a waste of money but hey ho. We could use it if it was truly necessary.

Decided to just pay rent as normal this month, I forgot about the two weeks earlier this year so with two weeks at christmas we'll be one month ahead with the rent.

Nothing else. Have to stay in for catheters and medication to be delivered so am going to do some washing. OH has started turning up the heating so may as well make use of it Son & heir is picking up his certificates this afternoon and hopefully seeing if any of his old teachers are knocking about to ask about a passport.

black_cat

I understand the great feeling about stocking up and being able to take advantage of sales and offers. It's ironic that you need to have some money to be able to save money!

saraih

They were a real bargain, it was all very exciting! :rotfl: I'm a big fan of bulk buying but usually only get to do it with rice and dried beans.

saraih

Had a really nice weekend with two long walks, splashed out on a taxi to our favourite country park today and made good use of the wheelchair. Took soup in a flask which worked out well as nowhere seemed to be open for lunch.

Nothing else spent really, still waiting to see how it all pans out but will need a birthday cake and cards in the next few days. There's plenty in the bank but no idea how much. Must confess to buying useless but fun stocking fillers for son & heir's birthday from the market, about £11.

Got son & heirs desk covered with the vinyl sheet, it looks okay but he'll need a grown up one eventually. Definitely fine while he's at college and getting ink all over it

Got the stray cat sorted for winter, wandered round fixing little bits and pieces and noticed that the light shades have been forgotten from when the builders were in. Will need to look around for replacements asap.

Organised for the BIL to help out with decorating after the holidays, will need to pay him but obviously a lot cheaper than other options. It's honestly a bit much for me on my own as furniture needs lugging about and it's all round the sockets and up ladders. Much quicker and less disruption with us both at it.

No other news! No letters, no phone calls. All good stuff.

saraih

Spent yesterday trying to sort out OH's prescriptions and photocopying his payment card to send various companies. He gets a lot of bits and pieces from different places and the rules have changed for catheters and whatnot. You need prescriptions now. I did think the pharmacy didn't deliver some drugs because they're classified but they delivered them today so I don't know what's going on.

This must surely be exhausting for some ill people with no-one to sort it out for them. It's confusing enough trying to sort the pills into the dispensers every week, never mind trying to keep up with four different organisations and their procedures...

Anyway after a bit of faffing all son & heir's birthday is sorted. None of us really like cake but we always get one and end up foisting it on the neighbours and whoever comes round :rotfl: I got him some silly glow in the dark sticks and OH has sorted him out some gaming treats so it isn't just the big gift and that's it. Will make a huge curry for when his friends come round, they can eat for England but the big pan can cope with mass production.

I've been wondering about the remaining statute barred debts, like I said I think they could be settled for stupid money and the whole thing would be completely over. Tomorrow I will get the file out and find addresses to draft up some offers.

Also need to contact the council about getting either a little ramp or one of those handles next to the front door. Not sure which is best so they'll need to send out an OT or someone to assess him. Might as well get on with it and give them plenty of time to arrange something.

No other news, not that we need any at this time of year. The heating is creeping up and up but there are some things I can't be a skinflint with as they affect his health. Still not bad compared to last year.

saraih

The taxi voucher people called on a Saturday to say the bank details weren't right, I must have got the number mixed up somehow but they sorted it and the vouchers will come this week.

I've written draft offers and will send off in order from largest amount and see what they say before sending the others, that might spread it out a bit.

Also put in a request for an assessment with the council, no doubt that will be after the holidays but no hurry there.

No other news, son & heir's birthday went well and Access to Work are catching up so the banks are settling down somewhat. I don't think there is much spare after all though, given that I want to keep a much bigger travel float this year. Maybe if the carer's allowance comes through.

There should be vouchers soon for christmas toys but we also have to subsidise BIL as he's having a hard time at the moment. I could give him the vouchers and go on a cheapy spree for gifts from us. The kids are too young to care either way and somebody mentioned that B&M Bargains has nice enough cheap toys in.

Babysat again and got so much veg it's ridiculous. It's going to be soup for weeks at this rate, not that anyone will complain about that.

Getting a bit stressed over the actual holiday now. I haven't planned anything except visiting family on Boxing Day (hopefully using these taxi vouchers) so will have to see what people want to do. They'll probably be alright with a nice meal and a zombie film marathon :rotfl:

saraih

Went Christmas shopping with OH, he's still on short weeks until his holidays are used up. Went with a list because going with a vague 'bits for Christmas' list would be lethal.

Got some crackers, a few toys for the babies of the family and a silly stocking for son & heir. Spent £40 + £10 travel but can give some of the toys to BIL to add to his vouchers.

Nothing else, it was a mistake to go with OH as it was much busier than anticipated and he lost his sense of humour after a short time.

Spent this afternoon freezing what veg I could, there's still a fair bit left over so we'll be on the mega-soups for a while. I can get rid of extras to the neighbours pretty easily if they're basic and not 'weird' :rotfl:

saraih

It looks like the carer's allowance has gone through!!! no letter but the money adds up to what it would be and it's in a lonely, mostly unused bank account so it can't really be anything else. That makes a huge difference, worth a bit of non spending celebration :T

The back payment is quite a chunk so I'm going to put half in son & heir's ISA and half in his normal bank, that will help him out and give him more time before he looks to upgrade his employment. He'll have more control as well and if he blows the opportunity it doesn't affect his savings. It's unlikely he would blow it though.

In the longer term all our money problems are pretty much over unless there's a huge disaster. I need to be careful and get the emergency fund back up and then increase the amounts saved each month. At the same time all the things on the backburner for so long need dealing with sensibly.

It's a relief for sure, although a bit deflating to realise we didn't manage it on what we had coming in, the income had to increase instead. There have been massive bonuses like the tax refund, money from switching bank accounts, cleaning, babysitting, back payments etc.

The second half of this year has been full of coincidences and surprises of the good kind for the first time in years. I have cut back and belt tightened and skinflinted my way through as well but the majority of it has been pure good luck and some well timed advice on here.

Having said that the regular bills are low enough now so that by the time I can cancel the cable and landline, we could definitely manage if for some reason we had to. If I carry on cooking from scratch, charity shopping, looking for sales and stuff there isn't really any reason we couldn't be as secure as we'll ever get moving on.

Now I can focus on getting some sort of proper job with suitable hours that doesn't involve toilet cleaner :rotfl:

I guess that's the end of the road for this diary! Thank you SO MUCH for the advice and support, the tunnel would have been a lot longer and darker without it :A We'll have a special toast at Christmas to you all :beer:

edit: 250th post in the thread!

ruby_eskimo

Well done on getting the back payment and finally getting on top of everything!