The 'I'm less money-idiot more money-savvy' Diary

judi24

Thanks Asparagus - will definitely look for roof bars on gumtree and ebay also will look at freegle for decorating bits - there is not much actual wall in my kitchen so paint won't be too expensive anyway but free would definitely be better!!


Going to google Streetlife now - as the priority has suddenly become the heating as my boiler has tripped again and the forecast is for snow!!!


Yes girlsmum we won't die of starvation anytime soon! and I haven't even begun to list the store cupboards - Spam anyone??? Last time I looked I'm sure there were 3 tubs and Tonight there are 5!!! they are breeding!!!:eek: :eek: (I wonder if my mum is adding to the supply while I'm at work!) :rotfl:

Cwtchie

Hey, don't get disheartened by all the jobs! You are doing fab x
One tip I took from a smallholder forum a few years ago, was to break down jobs into manageable pieces. One woman had 30 odd ton of gravel to move into a path and couldn't even think how to tackle it, but she made herself do one wheel barrow a week amongst her other jobs, and sure enough it took care of itself.
Each time I sweep the yard the hay blows from the nets and covers it again, grrrrrrr! Depressing or what! Mud everywhere this time of year, and grass growing all over my veg patch! Where to start?
Your lists are a great idea, I may copy your example, I would also love a log burner.
Another thing the smallholders do as they/we have no money lol, is to offer to trade jobs, do you know a handy man who may do some jobs for you, if you do some suitable job for him or her?
Our neighbour asks for a hand every so often, but last summer when I saw billions of blackberries hanging in his side of our hedges (I'd scrumped all ours) he said "yes help yourself". Another neighbour borrows our car trailer and he does some welding for us when we need it.
See you soon x

judi24

Thanks Cwtchie (love the name now I know what it means!!!) I do try not to get too down - but its hard when the list never seems to end and I am not very handy around the house. Unfortunately no one wants my skills (hospice nurse!!!:eek:). My boiler has been limping along for a while but tonight I have a different error light showing which appears to be related to the dropping pressure (which I guess I should have got sorted before now - but just carried on increasing the pressure!) This is the kind of thing I always do - not only with the house but with money - the catalogue last year was a perfect example as was the parking ticket!! I need to address things when they happen rather than pushing them to the bottom of the list and hoping I get round to it in time to avert a proper disaster!


My mum knows I'm stressed (but doesn't know why - and neither do I really apart from having too much to do in too little time!) and rang to suggest we shouldn't go to my cousins wedding as it is a lot of work and a lot of money!!! Now I feel really bad cos I guess I was having a rant about it all when I got in from work! I really do want to go but it is hard work and a lot of money - but I have said we are going so we are!!! I just need to get organised!!! (feeling another list coming on!!:D)


I also need to try to get some sleep tonight - really struggling at the moment and its not because I'm not tired -just have too much in my head! Going to meditate tonight to see if that might help!

judi24

Well my first go with my new mindfulness app followed by some supposed relaxing music did not work at all!!! I have hardly slept a wink!! Arggggghh :mad::mad::mad:


Anyway onward and upwards and I forgot to declare yesterday as a NSD making 7/12 - :j but today will not be a NSD as I am hoping I can get a heating engineer to fix heating - today was ok though - I washed my hair and essentials with water from kettles and babywipes for the kids - I have living flame fire and a little heater that went on in the living room so we camped in there this morning and it was fine!


I do hope its not too expensive although I fear they will suggest a new boiler as this was suggested just before last Christmas 2013) when I paid out £300 in repairs.


Anyway please to say that my broom riding finger wagging friend is doing ok (&) - although I do miss her telling offs!!!!

takingcontrolatlast

i do feel you all - ive been in that position and it always happens Dec or Jan ! Hope the bill doesnt hurt too much:(

newpennypincher

I've just found your diary :hello:

You've paid off a huge amount since last year. January is always one of those months when things break down. Think of it as a blip

judi24

Well it would appear that the boiler is dead! The repair man (who I've used before!) quite rightly pointed out that it has been seriously unwell for a while and I have had it repaired a couple of times when it probably could have been doing with being replaced! The part it needs is £300 ( the board?) as there is power going into the board but not out to actually run the pump. He also thinks the pump is probably not working either but can't test as there is no power to it!!! The upshot is I have no heating and no hot water and need a new boiler!!!! :mad:


Stupidly in the summer ( the last time I had a issue!) I had a company come and quote for a boiler and he applied for a greendeal grant of £1000 for me. The new boiler then would have been just over £2000 with £1000 off with the money back however I decided that I didn't need it as the boiler was working! and went on holiday instead!!! (I know!!!! I need to get my priorities right!!!:(). I have the certificate but it expires on Friday and has his company name on it - tomorrow I will ring him and see if he can fit the new boiler using the certificate and ring greendeal and ask if the date is for fitting or claiming as it is not clear. The best outcome would be that he could fit a new boiler asap and I can claim on the certificate - so new boiler for £1200 - however worse case would be that I can't use the certificate and I have to pay £2000 for a new boiler!:eek:


Of course I currently don't have an emergency fund - so I have a feeling I am going to have to use some credit (probably a combination of a money transfer from Tesco CC and maxing out my OD!) but it is really not what I had planned for January!!!!! Not a happy bunny at all tonight - even the kids know I am feeling very miserable and have been lovely!!!!! (DS went to bed with no arguing saying he felt sorry for me and didn't want me to be sad cos I had to get a new boiler!!!:()


I can report a NSD today though (8/13)!!! but I think it might need more than a few NSD's to get back on track after this!!!!

vasseur

Sorry to hear this - it never rains does it? At least you are better equipped to deal with things like this now and can cut your cloth in other ways to accommodate the extra spend. Hope the voucher is still valid.

newpennypincher

Sorry to hear about the boiler and I too hope that the voucher is still valid.

I can see from your signature how much you've paid off since Sept last year. Look at it this way, this will put your debt free date off for two to three months, but you'll have a new boiler which, if the old one's been playing up for a while, will be one less thing to worry about and will probably be much more energy efficient and save you money in the long run.

Hope today gets better for you

judi24

newpennypincher wrote: »

Sorry to hear about the boiler and I too hope that the voucher is still valid.

I can see from your signature how much you've paid off since Sept last year. Look at it this way, this will put your debt free date off for two to three months, but you'll have a new boiler which, if the old one's been playing up for a while, will be one less thing to worry about and will probably be much more energy efficient and save you money in the long run.

Hope today gets better for you

Thanks newpennypincher - that's a very sensible way of looking at the problem - a new boiler would have been top of the list when I'm debt free so I guess talking slightly longer to pay the debt but buying the boiler now is effectively the same end!


Even if I can use the voucher I will still need to find around £2000 as it is a claim back process 0 so this is what I'm thinking:


Max out NW OD = £1100
Max out Smile OD = £600
Do a money transfer from Tesco CC = £300


Pay for the cousins wedding trip (around £600 realistically) on my Tesco CC plus food shop/spends this week on Tesco CC £100


Then on payday on the 23rd Jan reduce the debt payments to pay off the Tesco CC


So will have a lovely ne boiler but very little debt reduction!!!