A Ditherer's Diary (again)

moving_forward

Well you have been a busy bee Naomin.  Well done you on the debt busting your going great guns.
We have a couple of credit cards with zero percent ending at around the same time the end of this year/begining of next.  I am planning on either shuffling them around if offers come available or taking out a low interest loan and cutting them up. I know a loan is frowned upon but I reckon after a year of regular payments I will know if I'm gonna continue the debt busting or not.
I like the look of open plan on all the home programs but would hate it in real life.  I like cosy rooms so walls and doors all around me thanks.  I'm toying with knocking through the kitchen to the living/dining room but wouldn't have a full knock through just an extra large doorway type if you know what I mean with  doors that could be closed off or opened up depending on mood/situation.

bigsteve85

Keep an eye on Facebook marketplace, people are always getting rid of wood or building supplies really cheap or even free any 3x2 or 2x2 wood would be used for your stud wall frame work also insulation is often seen 

Naomim

@moving_forward it feels like it's plodding along.  I bet some more 0% deals will come along for you to shuffle to rather than a loan. 

Open plan looks lovely,  it does, but it's also impractical.  I like to have the radio on when I'm cooking but I'm often competing with the TV in the front room and the kids on their phones. Cooking smells waft and I hate my dining table just sort of plonked at the end of the sofa.  I'd never go for it again given a choice.

@bigsteve85 I will have a look but MrM and I are no DIY-ers sadly. I do give things a try but I find time and lack of tools & knowledge are not my friends. 😖

Naomim 

moving_forward

Our washing machine is still in the kitchen so fully open plan would never work. 

Mumoffourkids

I much prefer closed rooms over open plan. At the moment my downstairs is one room which is living room and kitchen and then a conservatory at the end. I would have much preferred a separate lounge. Although I do like the fact that I can watch the younger kids playing whilst I am cooking dinner.

Naomim

Mine spend most of their time in their bedrooms these days 🤣

On another note I was checking my credit cards. My Halifax credit card is new but I'd made a manual payment & set the DD for £70 as 1% plus a tiny bit more. I wanted to see the date of the first payment and its £162.  When I checked the statement,  the minimum payment is 2.5%. I've amended the  DD to reflect this but good job I checked as I fear I could have lost the 0% deal.

So Barclaycard wont come down as quickly as I'd hoped and I'll have play with my snowball again.

doingitanyway

You are doing great Naomim as always. The debt is coming down nicely.
Interesting re open plan v closed rooms. I have closed rooms. In the beginning as I could not afford to renovate but now I've grown to like the space this way and wouldn't knock through. I thought it might put off potential buyers when I come to sell but maybe not after all. 

Naomim

I think the thing is with open plan rooms, they are popular and everyone likes the look of them but I think until you've actually lived with it you'll never know.  It's a shame homes aren't like cars and you can't test drive them to see if you like it. 😕

On a money saving note, I have bought my home insurance today. The renewal quote was £260 and I have previously paid in monthly installments.  Today I have purchased it for £161.51 - paid in full and am earning £50 cashback on it.  Feeling very pleased with myself.  I have already marked on my spreadsheet that my monthly payments to the existing insurer are now to snowball onto the credit card debt whilst continuing to save for next years insurance.

Naomim

Naomim

I think I mentioned before that I have been ploughing through the sneaky ways to save money thread and I have taken a couple on board so far.
 https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2426287/lots-more-sneaky-ways-to-save-the-pennies#latest 

Shampoo, we tend to use Head & Shoulders as I have dermatitis in my hair and this helps. My teenage boy will pour far more than he needs for his locks (when he goes near the shower! 🙄). I have saved a large hand-wash pump  bottle and decanted the shampoo into it.  It's easier to get the shampoo and delivers a set amount, enough for a hair wash.  I'm going to do this with my conditioner too as the younger one in the house shares curly hair with me and is a nightmare with how much to use.

I've also bought a bottle scraper - pack of two so gave one to MiL.  I hate the bottom of the ketchup and squeezy bottles when you can see there's loads left and can't get to it. It feels so wasteful.
 https://www.amazon.co.uk/PMS-SAUCE-BOTTLE-SCRAPERS-CARD/dp/B00NWLZEGE/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=bottle+scraper&qid=1591883731&rnid=1642204031&s=kitchen&sr=1-3

These things might seem like extreme penny pinching but I can imagine over time the amount I will save I think will make up for it.

I've also bought a Hamster cage for £10 from FB Marketplace today. It's £25 on Pets At Home website.  14yo will be 15 on Monday and a Hammy is his main present so got a bargain.

It's the small pleasures these days that keep me happy.

Naomim

mrsmoneypenny90

Penny’s make pounds 😉 well done keep up the good work!