The Road to Financial Security

Goldiegirl

Glad you got Next sorted out.

I used to shop with them years ago, with the Next Directory, way before it was Internet shopping. I gave it up, as they kept sending random things. I'd order a skirt and they'd send a pair of child's boots!

Once that sort of thing happens, it puts you off - I haven't shopped with Next for 20 years!:rotfl:

I've got an order with Paperchase at the moment which I suspect will turn into an issue- that's another shop on the blacklist!

Pushkin

Yes GG I'm with you - I'm sure shops don't really care that I blackball them but it gives me satisfaction. I am not going to pay my N£xt bill until the day before it's due - that will teach them huh :rotfl:

Pushkin

I have just redeemed my first voucher from all those surveys I've been doing. £20 M&S voucher which I thought I would use towards Crimbo presents but having opted for paper vouchers the Ts& Cs state delivery within 5 weeks. I am very likely to have finished my Christmas shopping by then!

Oh well something to spend in the sales or use towards one of the 3 January birthdays I have!

Am thinking of creating a new email address and using that for the important stuff. Then I can use my current one for the surveys etc. I get some much email right now and 90% of it is rubbish. Need to look into this.

newgirly

Hi Pushkin, I've finally caught up with your diary and wanted to wish you all the best

Pushkin

Hi New Girly - thank you, very supportive bunch on here with a good sense of humour too. I find it a fab outlet for some ranting and waffling

Pushkin

Friday evening finds me on the sofa watching an old repeat of Cold Feet. DH still working in London so won't be home until around 7.30 but I'm hoping DS can last so we can all eat dinner together. It's sad that we can't do that most evenings at the moment.

Quiet weekend up ahead, I'll handle the routine washing, ironing and hoovering while DH cracks on with the loo which considering it's the smallest room in the house is dragging on and on.

Pushkin

Bits of progress with our home improvements lately:

DH found an arial expert who was willing to come round on a Saturday who is going to provide a quote for sorting out the nests of cables we have in multiple places and bring us up to date with a much neater solution. For example we have a hole in the wall (probably drilled by DH) of the study to bring the cables through to the internet hub in the lounge - how attractive is that! :eek:

Anyway it's for DH to manage but I think it's long overdue and worth the money to hide as much of this as possible.

BG are coming Monday to do the insulation - fingers crossed I don't have too many work phone calls while the drilling occurs :eek:

DH has done a second coat of paint on the downstairs loo but has now gone to my parents to install a chrome cast (?!) for my dad so I doubt he will get to the gloss today.

I can't moan today I have been to the hairdressers, had coffee with my mum, read some of my book, had a nap and taken the dog out - not seeing much in the way of housework amongst that lot :cool:

Tomorrow I need to take DS to get some wellies having seen him take his current ones off I'm ashamed that they look at least 2 sizes too small for him - bad mother for not noticing!

amycool

Painting always takes at least twice as long as you expect! I always imagine I can do a whole room in a day but it never happens.

I remember having the insulation done by BG in my old house. It is indeed loud!

I must have worn too-small shoes as a kid as my toes are all bent in! I even remember having tight shoes but never thought to mention! Hasn't had any lasting effect so don't beat yourself up about it.

Pushkin

I agree about the painting Amycool and in the long run I would it rather it took longer and was of better quality. That's why I don't decorate - I rush it and then we all have to have to live with the poor results.

DH did finish the gloss work although there are some issues with a couple of patches on the walls which now need sorting.

We have friends coming for dinner next weekend so that's the target finish date anyway. I am resisting buying the new bits for the room (mirror, towel holder, shelf and maybe a few pictures) until it's totally finished - thats the fun bit!

And yes Amy - I shouldn't feel too guilty about DS's small wellies -he is 12 years old you would think he would tell me if they were too tight! Anyway bought a new pair in the sale for £16 - not bad.

I also wanted some coasters which I went to House of Fraser to get. Found some which were ok but quite a lot (£12 in the sale), went to pay only to be told they couldn't take the money at the till I was at. There had been a powercut and all but 2 of their tills were out. The queues at both those tills were horrendous so I ended up walking out empty handed.

Anyway nipped to Laura Ashley and got some coasters for £6 - half the price - result!

Having said that I am stunned that a big department store like that doesn't have a manual back up process for when their tills fail. Understand it might be tricky with card payments but I was paying cash and surely most of their assistants were just standing round doing nothing. Not to mention the money they will lose from people doing similar to me and just walking out as they couldn't face the queues.

DH needed some deodorant so also popped to Boots and ended up spending £28 :eek: Obviously picked up a few other bits but this shows how going to the shops encourages me to spend money on things I don't know I want until I see them in the shops

Pushkin

Confession time :eek:

I have just spent £150 on clothes on the Laura Ashely website !

They have 30% off everything and I got a bit carried away!

In my defence we have our trip to Germany on the horizon next month and I haven't bought any winter clothes for ages.

I keep thinking I'll lose weight and get back into some of my old clothes, then that doesn't happen and I start to feel quite low as I don't have anything decent to wear.

I will probably end up taking some of what I have ordered (2 prs trousers, 1 top & 2 jumpers) back as obviously haven't tried them on. But do think some new smart stuff would help with self confidence, and even possibly if I feel better I'll eat better and maybe lose a bit of weight?!

That's what I'm saying - until the guilt kicks in :rotfl: