NST December Challenge - Festive and Frugal

CoffeeandStitches

Morning all,

SFD today as dentist was paid for yesterday. Whilst I was at it I thought I might as well make the most of the spendy day and do a food shop, and some presents.

Thanks for the well wishes regarding the dentist. Got the appointment for the treatment this afternoon.

It's coming in droves this month. For some unknown reason my energy supplier has just decided, with no prior notice, and me being £84 in credit with the (I checked last month) to up my direct debit by a huge £22. Livid!!! How blinking dare they! Priced have not changed, my usage has gone down, I give regular meter readings. NO payments missed, EVER, so what on earth has possessed them to up my jeffing payment by 25% with no notice??? Grrrr. Waiting to speak to someone, have now been waiting 25 minutes....

Been thinking about switching for a while, unfortunately I think this is the final nail. I did a search recently and found a projected saving of £240 a year and £40 cashback, but was unsure as I've never had problems with current supplier, but this is the second time I've struggled to get them on the phone..... Boo hiss.

Hope everyone has a much better Wednesday that mine is turning out to be.

liltdiddylilt

C&S Switch, switch, switch!! But check both Topcashback & Quidco once you have used the MSE Energy comparison tool on here, to find out where you can get most cashback! My cheapest supplier was 1st Utilitee and they also gave me £52,50 CB from TCB. I just cashed it out less than 2 months into my switch! Try and find a bill which breaks down the number of units of energy you have used, and enter those into the comparison tool. Bills have to tell you what you have consumed over the last 12 months now, and that lets new companies accurately quote you
Good luck at the dentist!!

SFD 2/18 today. Am still down with a cold, and Jelly is home poorly from nursery with it too. No-one is going anywhere today. Well.. I am at work and have to walk home but that is all. I will be going to bed once I get there, so won't be on tonight!

Have a good day peeps xx

CoffeeandStitches

liltdiddylilt wrote: »

C&S Switch, switch, switch!! But check both Topcashback & Quidco once you have used the MSE Energy comparison tool on here, to find out where you can get most cashback! My cheapest supplier was 1st Utilitee and they also gave me £52,50 CB from TCB. I just cashed it out less than 2 months into my switch! Try and find a bill which breaks down the number of units of energy you have used, and enter those into the comparison tool. Bills have to tell you what you have consumed over the last 12 months now, and that lets new companies accurately quote you
Good luck at the dentist!!

Thanks Litl, that's the one I'm looking at but on another cash back site, (q), rate isn't as good! Will be going to tcb shortly

An hour and a half later...

It transpires that someone at thir altered the account without informing me, 4 days after I last gave them a meter reading. They Can't/Won't refund, I have to do an indemnity order through the bank. (Theft? anyone?) I've cancelled DD payments and will just pay a full and final when I switch now. Effers. 45 minutes of waiting and an operator with zero understanding of my problem, a huge attitude, and 3 refusals to speak to a manager (finally go through to one, I'm persistent) and I've decided I'm totally out of there. I just can't work out how on earth they have come to the conclusion that my consumption will raise by 25% over the next 12 months? Is there a new lodger I'm not aware of??

Calling14

Coffee & Stitches what a nightmare. Good luck with new supplier. I went to Sainsbury energy which is British Gas worked out cheapest for me unit rate at the time. few mths back.

Well in work, not happy in pain and everyone is so annoying or maybe I just don't have the patience. Roll on 3pm and I get out of here my back needs to lie down. And the big question today is have I found a man to come to the xmas party - Bridget Jones here, who will be in her kermit onesie 1 hr after getting home. Can someone find a man for me please, just to entertain my bored bosses.

SFD no2 in the bag today, horrified how much I have had to put onto my credit card last month, my debt total is set to rise in Jan short of a miracle. Still haven't done xmas shopping food or finished pressie hunt.

CoffeeandStitches

Calling14 wrote: »

Can someone find a man for me please, just to entertain my bored bosses.

Turn up with a woman. That will give them something to talk about....;)

Calling14

Haha already teased them with that. Insist I bring a man Asda, Tescos where does one get a man for xmas party?

apple_muncher

Calling - my dh might like to be offered out to go to Christmas dos, but he's going abroad for 12 days, so probably won't be around! Sorry!

I'll be missing our end-of-term meal as that's when dd is doing a cheerleading assembly at 9.05 AND it's the only performance of the Cmas show I can get to, at 2.10. It doesn't save me any money, but it's well worth missing so that I can be at her stuff.

Calling14

Well its a free meal and drinks on offer, but annoying company he's probably right to flee abroad. Wish I could.

CoffeeandStitches

Calling14 wrote: »

Well its a free meal and drinks on offer, but annoying company he's probably right to flee abroad. Wish I could.

Have mine.

Actually, free meal? Anywhere near London? I could come lol :money:

vintagebrighton

Afternoon everyone

What a pain coffeeandstitches.... I try not to have anything on DD anymore for just this reason. I put the money aside every month and just pay my utility bills when they come in. Works for me but it did take a while to get there!

That ties nicely into my 5 things I've achieved this year
1) I am now in the position of being able to pay bills yearly upfront.
2) For the first time in a very long time I have savings. Thanks MSE
3) I got through cancer treatment (14 chemo, 3 ops and 20 radiotherapy) in a year and really, really learnt to appreciate my friends and family. I think I've taken them for granted in the past.
4) Due to aforesaid illness I'm unable to return to my previous work so started retraining. That's a very big thing at my age
5) Finally accepted that my eldest son is an adult and if he doesn't want to be involved with me or his family then that's his decision. That was a hard one

Sorted out my budgets and removed the weightloss challenge number from my sig. It ain't gonna happen at the moment.... I'll deal with my excess weight when I'm ready and I don't think that's yet.

Had 2 NSD's so far, sorted out the presents I've bought and what I've still got to get. Budget for outings may not all be spent but if it isn't then it can go back into the savings pot. I'll think about the good deed and will donate again to the unemployed centre nearby. They arrange lots of activities etc over Christmas, I'm sure I can sort something useful for them.

I need to try and post every day, you all keep up to date far more than me and move things on very quickly!

Lilt, hope things go well for your mum and boooo to bad backs.

VB x