Cherry takes the reins

charlies_tribe

Good luck with the broken fitbit, ive emailed them about mine too. What model did you decide on?

Cherryfudge

Hi Velvet, good to hear from you. I have friends who send me F!tbit challenges which is very useful if I'm feeling lazy and realise they are getting ahead! So I'd say buddy up with someone - doesn't even have to be local. Just be answerable. Post on your diary what you have done or intend to do and it's more likely to happen.

Charlies tribe, they have been very good at replying to my emails and have just asked me to send it to them and they will send a complimentary one. That will go to the rightful owner as I've worn his to bits. I've ordered an Alta HR - glad I went for that one as it will know when I'm running not just how many steps I've done, so it should be easier to track the calories I burn. They are amazing bits of gadgetry. I keep telling myself it's cheaper in the long term than the gym... maybe I should eschew a few treats this month to make up for the one big treat! Who am I kidding? I ought to swear off treats till Christmas for spending so much! Mind you, it's so good for my health that I'm justifying it in the same way I justify glasses /contact lenses / electric toothbrush.

And lastly... NSD today though I was chatting to a colleague and she ended up downloading the same book I bought the other day so I'm still responsible for some spending!

charlies_tribe

They seem to be pretty quick with replying. I emailed about lunchtime and have just had an email with the offer of a replacement or 50% off any product on their site. May have a look around the site as the replacement will be out of warranty by the time it bubbles again. Then I might have to get my bottom in gear to actually use it.

Cherryfudge

charlies_tribe wrote: »

They seem to be pretty quick with replying. I emailed about lunchtime and have just had an email with the offer of a replacement or 50% off any product on their site. May have a look around the site as the replacement will be out of warranty by the time it bubbles again. Then I might have to get my bottom in gear to actually use it.

There some good (and very recent) comparisons online which I found helpful: there are things in there that I'd never have thought to ask. I also read individual reviews which can be useful. Sadly none of them actually do the using for us!
There are also older versions of the Charge still available through Am@zon though not through F!tbit's website, or there were the other day.
I noticed there is a company on Am@zon selling Alta leather wrist straps marked down to under £12 but while I was very tempted, in the end took it out of my basket as I'd spent a lot already. The official ones seem to be about £40.
What I forgot to buy, and will need, is a screen protector, but they are easily available.
Happy hunting!

Cherryfudge

An early money update for today as I'm at work tonight. Some essential spending as I was completely out of bread and have begun the shopping for tomorrow, when we have guests coming.

No run, as by the time I was ready, it was far too warm. I never expected warmth and sunshine when it's been torrential showers for so long!

Spends:
Housekeeping £13.16
MS stuff:
Wombled 13p.
Made some home made ready meals to freeze and take to work.

Cherryfudge

Have spent much of today charging round getting ready for this evening's guests but it was worth it - we had a lovely time and all our kids (except DD's partner who had another commitment) came too.

I cooked a bit of a feast so we are filled up and I have spent most of the week's food money already. Tomorrow DH and I are going to do some work on Mum's old house so I'm not sure if we are taking food with us or getting a takeaway. Takeaways aren't MS so perhaps we'll call in at the supermarket first.

I'm delighted to say my new F!tbit has arrived and DD helped me set it up so tomorrow I need to be back on track. There have been far too many extras eaten since I stopped being able to track calories burned!

Spent:
Housekeeping £20.15
MS stuff:
Guests brought a gift of farm eggs and coffee
Enough leftovers to help out DS2 while we are away.
Bought the chicken on a 2 for £5 offer, thus saving £2.
Confession time:
I bought the wrong allergen-free desserts - so we have those to use up.

Cherryfudge

£2.95 on a screen protector today... and I'm off to collect my chicken coop and do some chores relating to Mum's house.

Cherryfudge

I'm trying hard to remember the bits of spending over the past few days:

In addition to the screen protector, I'm sure I bought something on Tuesday... we did go for coffee on the journey over but I think DH paid. Ah yes... popped into the local shop for milk and beans.

We had a very productive 24 hours sorting things at Mum's old house: a sofa and microwave that were both beyond repair, some drastic pruning on a pretty pieris bush that was getting too tall, some housekeeping and a lovely run. I couldn't quite do the full 5K this time: only running once in the past week has taken its toll, but I did manage to show DH my favourite route.

Yesterday we collected my chicken coop (and spent £4.89 on some chocolates as a thank you to the people for holding onto it for us). The drive back was very slow with heavy traffic and some undefined problems with junctions, so we pulled off the motorway, went for coffee and cake in lieu of a 'proper' meal and bought bread and bananas. DH paid for the meal, the bread and bananas were £1.90 (we arrived at discount time).

Back at home, the dining room is now crowded with bits and pieces for me to rehouse and the house is heaped with laundry because DD brought hers round (no washer at their place and I think she's short of time to make trips to ours as her commute is much longer now - so we get tons when she does make it here)! In addition, as I've not yet managed to organise a working washing machine at Mum's house, I have bits from there and a load left over from last week... and it keeps raining.

On the plus side, I have replaced my battered piano stool with a much nicer one from Mum's. It needs reupholstering and won't be as straightforward as the old one but I've seen some nice fabric at a good price and I still have some upholstery nails (there's probably a right name for them) left from last time. I also brought a tub of bleeding heart vine which was one of both Mum's and my favourites. It looks quite at home in the garden already. Then there is a box of books for us, a box of bedding still in wrappers (3bay) and sundry other clutter.

Time for coffee, I think.

Cherryfudge

An NSD today, and a run. I still feel I'm not running as well as I was a few weeks ago, but maybe that's because I've not done it as often recently.

Anyway... NSD, working all weekend with a couple of overnights at work but if it' isn't too wet I'll go car booting tomorrow. That is pure indulgence because I don't actually need stuff but it gives DH and I some time together.

I actually had a bit of catch-up time with DD today - unusual now she's in her new job. We've agreed to book our Christmas shopping trip in November as usual. It's a tradition left over from her student days and we love it. Yes, it will cost but I can keep a look out for deals in advance.

I also had a letter from a pension fund which has some of my money in it. It sounds as though it might be a good idea to combine my pensions - all of them very small but I don't think there's any benefit to keeping them separate, and the simpler things are, the fewer I can forget or lose! And talking of forgetting or losing, work is trying to pay me a few pounds in expenses. The problem is that I have absolutely no memory of making the claim! I know there was one occasion when I did some shopping for work, but I used petty cash not my own money. I've been through all my financial stuff for the period in question and there's one corresponding amount, but it was the day before I went on holiday and is likely to have been holiday expenses - though for some reason it never made it onto this diary. Very odd so I shall try to speak to the person concerned next week.

Cherryfudge

It was an unexpectedly long day at work today so I need to wind down now. Yesterday I spent £2.50 on toiletries - I saw my favourite hand cream at the car boot sale for a lot less than in the shops. I hadn't noticed how many people send their over-bought toiletries to the car boot! I'm a bit wary in case any are opened/contaminated/out of date but these seem to be unopened.

Today has been an NSD. Tomorrow if I'm awake enough I would like to get some shopping but we'll see. Rain is forecast (again).