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Hope is not an Effective Financial Strategy

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  • shangaijimmy
    shangaijimmy Posts: 3,803 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I love that cash till sound on my phone when there's an eBay bid!

    I've TT'd £1 this morning but looking at our account we're not so healthy. We're waiting on Mrs SJ cash return for 3 osteopath sessions which is £135, only its not so easy to reclaim the cash when she's off on maternity. Added to that our automatic payment date for child benefit has moved back to 22nd since we added baby SJ on, and that's an additional £137 that we get at the end of the month rather than the beginning...

    On a positive note today triggeres my 60 day Gas & leccy switch without penalty. So I'll get onto that and look forward to the £30 cash back. Naturally I'll use the energy saving club and after a quick look we should knock £10 or so off our monthly payment.
    MFW: Was: £136,000.......Now: £47,736.58......
  • shangaijimmy
    shangaijimmy Posts: 3,803 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Astonishingly First Utility have agreed to refund my £103.41 credit!! So going to hang on a few days to receive it before I action my switch! Naturally the £103.41 will be going straight to the mortgage as there's no better place for it to rest!
    MFW: Was: £136,000.......Now: £47,736.58......
  • kirtsypoos
    kirtsypoos Posts: 3,825 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    Well done on your FU success SJ, if I ever decide to go with them again I'll be sure to request my credit before the switch :)
    :j PAID VERY, Barclaycard x3, Vanquis, Natwest, O/D, Tesco & MBNA x2 PAID :j LBM 24/07/15 - Original Debt: £0/31010.23 (100% paid) :eek:
    Mortgage - £151.316.54 :eek:
  • shangaijimmy
    shangaijimmy Posts: 3,803 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I'm still anxious until the cash arrives!
    MFW: Was: £136,000.......Now: £47,736.58......
  • Ali-OK
    Ali-OK Posts: 4,073 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Debt-free and Proud!
    Brill news on FU response and the amount.

    I had my standard bill online with no mention of leaving etc, but a letter in the post acknowledging I was and DD now variable to tie the account up - looks like I owe them @ £6. Watching bank account like a hawk to see what they take!
    Back on the DFW Wagon:

    CC - £3,300 on 0% til 04/2020
    CC - £4,500 on 0% til 02/2019
    Loan - £12,063.84 as at 4/1/18
  • shangaijimmy
    shangaijimmy Posts: 3,803 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Might be worth cancelling the DD and paying manually over the phone by card.

    I had a quick look at utilities switch, and we have several options at virtually the same fixed DD amount. So I may go for a green company!! £1 TT'd this morning, account looking terrible but we have Mrs SJ claim going in today and they usually pay within 2 days so hoping to have a cheque by Saturday or Monday. In the meantime we have some euros that need changing back so we do have a bit of cash.
    MFW: Was: £136,000.......Now: £47,736.58......
  • turtlemoose
    turtlemoose Posts: 1,680 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I pay a small amount more over the year (under £30 a year for us) to Ovo in order to have 100% renewable electricity. My conscience overrules my MSE head in this instance :)
  • mrsp1987
    mrsp1987 Posts: 815 Forumite
    Fourth Anniversary 500 Posts Wedding Day Wonder Cashback Cashier
    I pay a small amount more over the year (under £30 a year for us) to Ovo in order to have 100% renewable electricity. My conscience overrules my MSE head in this instance :)

    Wow, I didn't know you could do that. I knew some companies had green tariffs but I thought they were from the smaller companies or from the green companies
  • edinburgher
    edinburgher Posts: 13,799 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I was a staunch defender of green tariffs and was a Good Energy customer for several years. I've read a lot more since then and while I don't disagree with the principle, there are easier ways to reduce your footprint closer to home that will save you money and have a greater impact.

    I think that the case for the economic benefits of renewable energy has definitely been 'made' globally and I fully expect their use to increase dramatically over the next few decades (regardless of what the UK government decides to do!) As a result, I no longer feel that there is as much of a case to be made for subsidising the development of renewables through green tariffs.

    In order of preference, my suggestions would be:
    • Use less power
    • Generate your own power
    • Invest directly in renewable energy, through community energy schemes or similar

    That said, there's a good chance that any green evangelists out there are already doing all 3 of those, already!
  • mrsp1987
    mrsp1987 Posts: 815 Forumite
    Fourth Anniversary 500 Posts Wedding Day Wonder Cashback Cashier
    We have solar panels on the back of the house. Whenever the sun is out we try and do a load of laundry or put the dishwasher on or something. Least that way we know we're definitely not spending anything.
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