The Road to Financial Security

Pushkin

Hi Faceless Number

That totally makes sense and I feel a little bit dumb right now!

Thank you for telling me.

I guess energy tariffs are something I should read up on more but find it very over complicated and dull!

Pushkin

Just renewed my car insurance, was going to go through TCB as the quote I had from my current insurer was higher than last year and I found something a fair bit cheaper.

Rang current company and they matched the price so I've renewed with them since its obviously preferable to just stick with current provider. Still don't understand this business model and bit disappointed not to get cash back which would have increased my 'money making' account but better the devil you know and have ended up paying £50 less than last year.

Still hate all this hassle though, next month car breakdown is up for renewal so will be repeating the exercise with that :cool:

We also ordered some new dining room furniture just after Christmas (in the sales!) and it was delivered today - well most of it!

2 chairs have been delayed (they do multiple colours and I ordered 8 with 2 of 4 different colours), and what is even more annoying they delivered 3 white and only 1 black chairs. So had to ring the company and kindly request they deliver me a black one and take the white chair back. Of course the black chairs are not in the UK so its likely a month before they'll do this. There's always something!

Not overly bothered as I have 6 chairs right now more than enough and overall am pleased with how it looks.

Hopefully more sexy spends on the horizon as we are looking to get a fitted bedroom in the master next. This room is woefully neglected and currently only has 1 and a bit wardrobes in it - yikes! Carpet is 15 yrs old and it has a door that doesn't match any other door in the house. So want to really try and improve it , prepared to go for quality but obviously want the best price.

Have discovered John Lewis do fitted bedrooms so may go and check it out this weekend. DH and I are big JL fans!

Am having my first beer of 2015 to celebrate getting through the long, first week back at work - no dry January here :A

Hoping DH gets home in time for us to have a family meal & christen our new dining room table....

Pushkin

Another weekend that has flown by...

Went with my mum to the Bentalls clearance sale yesterday morning, first time I'd been and was very good although I did by a throw for DS to stop him using the dog's blanket to snuggle under!

The arm of my (new) glasses fell off so I then had to go into town to take them back to the opticians. They asked me to leave with them for 20 minutes to fix and unfortunately I then ended up buying a few bits- some food from Waitrose and medicine (still not quite got rid of this damn cold) from Boots.

Last night we went to see Taken 3 at the cinema, good bit of mindless fun although I do think cinema tickets are expensive. First time I'd been since September so can't complain and DS loved the film.

Today DH and I nipped to the bit John Lewis in High Wycombe to look at their fitted bedrooms as we are now thinking about finally getting our bedroom done. They looked out of our price range (saw one wardrobe that cost £7,000). So probably back to the drawing board on that one.

Just put 2 items on ebay - I have a target to post at least 5 items a month this year. We have so much clutter and with a little effort I can clear that down and hopefully earn a bit.

Made 2 fish pies this afternoon so will have one for dinner and put one in the freezer.

Sat watching Ski Sunday and feeling very cosy but sadly still have to sort the washing, do the ironing and hoover through.

Pushkin

No Spend Day if you don't count the electronic payment of this month's rather large credit card bill :eek:

Determined to do some survey's this evening to build up to some more payouts.

The 2 active items I have on ebay don't seem to be generating much interest so I suspect may not sell, although I do know from my (limited) experience that often the bids don't come in until very near the end of the auction time so trying not to be negative about it.

DH home early this evening (for once) so will try and persuade him to cook dinner....

Pushkin

Another day in the hamster wheel of life, last week's healthy eating efforts have slipped by the way side - am going to try and do better tomorrow

DH and I are toying with the idea of a weekend away while DS is off on his skiing jaunt in May. DS is nearly 13 and in that time we have had 2 weekends away without him - not sure how that stacks up against other parents experience.

I am veering between it being a heaven sent opportunity (cos we only need to arrange care for the dog and not the child!) to thinking it a waste of money to thinking we should use the time to carry on with the long list of jobs on the home improvement list.

Pushkin

Anyone catch the Watchdog Special last night - how to save £1000s?

In the main I found it very patronising and the guy trying to drive as far as he could on one tank of fuel was ridiculous - they removed everything they could from the car (back & passenger seats, radio etc) to improve fuel economy - not sure even hard core savers would go that far

It actually re-affirmed a lot of what we are doing (desperately trying not to sound smug) although I admit I didn't realise you needed to use multiple cost comparison sites to find the very best deal - so I did get something out of it.

I do feel that Watchdog has been dumbed down over the past few years though.

Our car breakdown renewal letter came through and surprise surprise existing company have increased total by £22 - so will definitely be looking elsewhere and will now check with 3 comparison sites :T

Spending should be very low (or even 0) this weekend, no plans for tomorrow, have my parents coming for lunch Sunday but have already bought the food.

Take away curry from the supermarket for dinner - I now need to wake up DH who is snoozing on the sofa to have him co-ordinate the various timings - those things do my head in!

Pushkin

Am having the mother of all lazy days. DS came in to wake me at 9 (don't normally sleep that late!) and discovered we had a power cut which seemed to set my mood. Even walking the dog felt like an effort. Maybe its good to have a lazy day once in a while - thats what I'm telling myself to try and overcome the guilt.

Finally got a payout from another survey site so have printed £20 of M&S vouchers :j Will spend on DH as one of his birthday presents.

Am internet surfing looking to buy a wipe clean tablecloth for our new dining room table. Didn't realise there was so much choice, so far I've been looking for an hour and if possible am further away from a decision. Am never good with too much choice so will have to set myself a deadline and just order something.

dylansmum

Hi

We have just also made the difficult decision not to upsize but to stay put and pay off the mortgage (after lots of advice from these forums, I should add!). As such, I have found your diary so inspiring. Good luck!

Pushkin

Hi Dylan'smum - thank you for reading! It so helps to know there are others in the same boat. I still wistfully think about the house we 'lost' (i.e. the one we were going to move to) and thats 4 months after we made the decision.

A difficult decision (whether you move or not) in a very complex process, the positive I can take out of it is that we learned a lot and should we ever move again which I do want to hopefully we will be a lot wiser.

Pushkin

Much more productive day than yesterday - feel much better, I hate when I get those lazy moods - I don't enjoy it as I end up feeling guilty, lazy and a little depressed.

Need to plan a few things - its' all very well having a weekend without spending any money but when that involves days like yesterday I don't think that is healthy.

Thinking about a trip to the beach next Sunday and going to theatre in London for DH's birthday next month.

It's the balance again isn't it - saving money versus having some kind of life

House is pretty much in order, still umming and ahhing over which tablecloth to buy - this is the trouble with living with boys - they don't care at all about such things. Will get my mum's advise when she comes over later. I am shockingly indecisive sometimes.

Posted something else on ebay this morning - determined to keep going with regular attempts so sell. Not confident the 2 bids I have ending today will be successful, I think it's pretty random what will sell and what won't - just luck of someone wanting what you are selling I think. I am however trying to improve my sales lingo - make the things sound more attractive