Cherry takes the reins

Honeysucklelou2

There are large overhanging brambles in the garden which I am loathed to chop back until I have at least harvested the blackberries:D

I've noticed price increases at Mr a T's, not just 2p here and there but big jumps of 20p which quickly mounts up.

VelvetFreak

The price of groceries have been going up significantly here, too. I feel so uninspired to cook lately, everything that sounds appealing to eat seems to cost way too much
Must research cheap dinner recipes.

Cherryfudge

Honeysucklelou2 wrote: »

There are large overhanging brambles in the garden which I am loathed to chop back until I have at least harvested the blackberries:D

I've noticed price increases at Mr a T's, not just 2p here and there but big jumps of 20p which quickly mounts up.

Yes, even tins of fruit are mostly £1 or more now. Our local Mr T doesn't have cheap tinned peaches at the moment - hasn't had them for weeks and the shelf label says they will return on 24th August! They aren't avaiable online, either, which makes me think they've discontinued the line and when it comes back it will be repackaged and probably more expensive. Or am I cynical?

Cherryfudge

VelvetFreak wrote: »

The price of groceries have been going up significantly here, too. I feel so uninspired to cook lately, everything that sounds appealing to eat seems to cost way too much
Must research cheap dinner recipes.

Oh dear - and I don't think you can blame Brexit in your case, either, can you?

It's worth looking on the Old Style part of the forums for recipes, there are some seriously good ones. My current favourite is lentil and chorizo soup which isn't ultra cheap, admittedly, but is perfect comfort food and very filling. Or that classic, corned beef hash (which has to be served with brown sauce IMO).

Now you've got me thinking food rather than tackling PPI claims - food wins any day!

Cherryfudge

Today (day off) I seem to be doing everything I can to avoid some important jobs so here come two lists:

Make a start on PPI claims! Done :eek:
wash my hair done
have breakfast done
do some study
relax (play the piano?)
do fifteen minutes of gardening
Text Dh re roofing/airbrick done
Put washing on line and start a new load done
Either go for a run or do some physio

Places to contact re possible PPI:
Natwest (for Mum's accounts and ours)
Co-op (for Dad's account)
Any life insurance policies? My parents', ours?
Nudge DH to ask DFiL if he has put in any claims. (DFiL is likely to know exactly where he stands but it's worth a check).
Contact DBiL to ask if they have done anything about PPI as they have a UK mortgage and my sister hadn't even heard of PPI. done
Ditto DSiL - comes of having somewhat ex-pat family! done
Halifax mortgage
Darlington Building Society Mortgage checker/complaint letter sent off via Resolver
C&G mortgage (my parents) N/a
Our original mortgage in Gloucester - who was that with?
Leicester Building Society (DH's old account)
TSB (my old account (Unlikely)
PO accounts from hundreds of years ago (unlikely) (likely to be n/a)

Some of these are very old and probably only used for savings but it's worth a try - I will target the ones we've had most to do with and the mortgages first. The only one where I know we had PPI was the old Gloucester one and I knew I wanted it at that point, but the question is whether it was sold correctly. Also we didn't use it though we had a period of 'between jobs' when DH was made redundant then was taken ill at the beginning of his next job.

So I'll be back to amend the list at some point... if I don't give in and start reading fiction.

2.30 update - I'm getting headachey and can't find the original departure point any more even though I've bookmarked the page. Very pleased I've sent off a small but more-likely one. Getting started is the hardest bit.

I now need to change direct so the next step is sending off a cheque to pay the lady who sees to Mum's house, with a 'thank you' gift as she worked really hard through the hot weather and made impressive progress.

Then I might just clean the fish tank because it's not on my list but ought to be.

Third load is in the washing machine and first load is dried and folded awaiting ironing.

parsniphead

Good luck with all the ppi claims cherry fudge. Fingers crossed some will come through.

Cherryfudge

Thank you parsniphead. I wish I could have done more but tomorrow's another day and at least I've made a start. The ones I most need to target are mortgages and insurance policies but I've hardly started on the latter as DH is good at changing insurance companies when the tariffs go up so there will be quite a few.

(I've just remembered my parents had boiler insurance - I wonder if that had PPI?)

Shopping today included doubles of a couple of basic items as I saw Mr T had edged the price up on the pasta next to the one I usually get, so mine might be next. Paranoid? The prices have certainly changed recently.

I've achieved a few more things today: three loads of washing, all the ironing and the putting away. This evening I've wound down on the computer as I'm still tired from yesterday's shift.

Spending:
Toiletries £5.50
Housekeeping £7.08
Hobbies £1.00 (I gave in to a pretty ball of wool, probably just because L was sitting in the garden making friendship bracelets in the same shade in between job applications).
CC payment of £250 went through so I now need one more payment to clear the holiday money. I am going to wait till tomorrow as there's a DD to ensure minimum payments go out, and I've a feeling the DD will be taken as there's an outstanding balance - I don't want to pay it twice so I'm waiting to see what they do.
MS:
One PPI email sent.
Spare portion of dinner in the fridge for DH one evening this week.
The Christmas cover email has come out at work asking who is willing to do what, which is quite nice as they could just do a three line whip. I checked the days I'd normally be working (not Christmas Eve or Christmas Day) and replied to say I'd go in for my usual shifts, take on some sleep ins if needed and then consider any uncovered shifts. It could mean a few extra pennies but we'll see nearer the time.
Wombled 12p
10th coins into savings 40p
One I forgot from the other day - mended a sofa cushion and a pair of socks.
Decluttering:
None today.

I'm thankful for resources to get me started on PPI claims, company today (DS2 and L were both in), lovely clean bedding tonight and another day off tomorrow.

Cherryfudge

Today's list:

Make another PPI claim
Clean fish tank
Plan work food & clothes for next few days
do some study
relax (play the piano?)
do fifteen minutes of gardening
Do garden at work
Either go for a run or do some physio

Places to contact re possible PPI:
Natwest (for Mum's accounts and ours)
Co-op (for Dad's account)
Any life insurance policies? My parents', ours?
Nudge DH to ask DFiL if he has put in any claims. (DFiL is likely to know exactly where he stands but it's worth a check).
Halifax mortgage
Our original mortgage in Gloucester - who was that with?
Leicester Building Society (DH's old account)
Get names of old insurance companies

Cherryfudge

Nine hours after posting that list and I've got nowhere with it - unless you count a half-plan for food and having lots of ready-to-wear clothing.

I did manage two trips into town. It had to be two. It started when I couldn't find disposable gloves to clean the fish tank, so went to buy some and remembered I also wanted to get paint in advance of the next trip to Mum's, which is next week. We are taking the car, so it's a good opportunity to take heavy stuff.

So I bought paint and disposable gloves... got home hot and weary, got a snack and a drink then went out again for my prescription. I had to wait ages while they sorted out a substitute as they weren't able to get the straightforward size of tablet. Thankfully they and I were able to come up with an acceptable alternative, as I've run out. That will teach me to be more forward thinking.

I also wandered into a couple of charity shops looking for a book that I'm trying to avoid buying full price, and which I didn't find. However one shop was selling hardbacks at 2 for £3. I only wanted one as I'm short of shelf space, but it was a bargain so I found a moderately interesting second one. (Why? Why couldn't I just say 'No thanks'?) The huge irony is that the one I wanted was Alvin Hall's 'What not to spend' :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:.

I haven't done any of my course today, I might try again later. I'm pondering the question I'm supposed to be preparing which is along the lines of 'What can I do now to help me be more resilient in the future'? That's quite a good question but if I'm to do the course in the allotted time I'll have to stop over thinking it.

I'm still tired... and tomorrow I'm shift lead and on the first of three consecutive sleep shifts, so I really need sleep tonight. At least my shift lead is on the first of a the run of shifts and someone else can do the thinking next time.

On a really lovely note, I'd been talking to a friend the other day about a reunion and I've started inviting people. Some I haven't heard back from yet, and I'm only a little way through the list, but the responses I've had have been wonderful.

Spending:
Paint and plaster (reclaimed from Mum's estate) £13.00
Medical £1.00
Housekeeping £8.71 (Mr T, £ shop)
Stationery £1.00
Very odd DD amounts coming out of the CC account - will revisit tomorrow and see if it's looking recogniseable. Why, when the DD is set at £25 and there's about £400 owing, woud they take out £20 and a few pence?.
MS:
Wombled £1.01
10th coins into savings £1.10
Circuitous route round the shops saved a few pence on stationery.
Mr T vouchers for £6.50 have arrived
Decluttering:
Four bits of paper

Today I'm mega-thankful for being in touch with old friends.

Cherryfudge

In a hurry as I want to get to work on time and won't be back till tomorrow:

Spending:
CC paid off (i.e. holiday paid )
Milk bill (housekeeping) £10.95
Book (yes, I gave in) £3.99
Housekeeping £4.44
MS:
10th coins to savings 45p
Decluttering:
14 pieces of paper and a makeup container.

Today I'm grateful for sunshine, custard slices and particularly experienced colleagues on today's shift.