Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally

[Deleted User]

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

Yes a smart tv is a tv with internet access so it's a very useful thing to have. And I think Netfl!x is much better value than S£y or Virg!n which show a load of utter rubbish imo. I don't miss Virg!n at all since we cancelled it a couple of years ago .

I'm looking forward to getting a free bus bus as it would be very useful to me, but I'm convinced they'll have abolished them before I get to 67, along with any other perks of being elderly :mad:

Thanks for the info on Smart TVs. Definitely bearing that in mind when/if I ever upgrade my current TV. OH tends to watch the larger screened set as it's in a big room. It's a relatively newish set but definitely not a 'smart' one. I like my smaller set as it's in 'my' small sitting room which I heat sometimes and can watch what I like. It's pretty old though, I still need an old digibox attached to get any programmes and the digibox is often playing up:(. Maybe when I'm debt free I might treat myself to a new TV but at this rate I sound as if I'll be splashing lots of cash on things I want rather than really need. I can't afford to go down that rocky road to ruin again:eek:


We were lucky and were eligible for the bus pass and our state pensions at 60:j. They keep moving the goalposts but I hadn't realised it was now as old as 67 before people were eligible:eek:


We've just had a mini power cut. I thought it was just us as our dodgy electrics keep tripping our system and I have to crawl on my hands and knees to the 'fuse box' or whatever they call the modern equivalent and reset the switches. Just been and checked and none of our circuits had tripped so it must have been a widespread power cut. Not having any near neighbours it's never possible to spot if other people's lights have gone off at the same time as ours so it's a case if scrabbling about checking the 'box'. I hate doing it at night in the dark:(.

Munchin

I'm very soppy - I could watch classic films again and again - newer ones not so much.

You have inspired me to find where I have hidden the Xmas card address list (which I say I will save properly each year and never do) and get my Xmas cards written and posted tomorrow.

Onebrokelady

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

Ý

We can't get terrestrial tv as our roof top ariel is broken and we can't afford to get it mended at the moment .

But luckily we got DH a smart tv for Christmas a couple of years ago when we were feeling flush so we can watch tv free of charge on the internet :T. All the main channels have programmes online and even keep virtual box sets online.

Our only tv extravagance is Netfl!x which is £10 a month. DH insists on having it as he says he works hard and doesn't drink alcohol or have any hobbies that cost money, so it's his only treat. The DC love Netfl!x too and when we were very short of money in November DS1 paid for it out of his benefit money.

DDs boyfriend bought a smart TV when he lived here but he obviously took it with him when he left so I'm back to using my smaller non smart tv, I do miss the smart TV, last week DD said she misses the tv more than the ex boyfriend :rotfl:
We are tied in to virgin until our contract ends and we also have Netflix which I pay £7.99 for, if we want to watch something that's not available on the tv we play it on the laptop but connect it to the tv screen once my contract ends wth virgin I am going to cancel it and just stick with Netflix I think

elizabethhull

I think a sub to Netflix sounds a very reasonable and not extravagant expense, HH. It sounds as if DH does deserve some sort of treat and you do get a lot with Netflix.

I subscribe to Amazon Prime. I used to have Lovefilm and Amazon Instant Video, and now Lovefilm is defunct I'm actually paying less (£7.99) than I was before with the added luxury of Prime deliveries. You also get a lot of extras, such as Cloud photo storage that I have not yet investigated. I have enough difficulty working out how to organise my Kindle books, or read them on the PC - so much techie stuff is actually very NON-intuitive, complicated and frankly odd ! And that's without any smart devices whatsoever. I would be sunk with a 'smart' car !!!

[Deleted User]

elizabethhull wrote: »

I think a sub to Netflix sounds a very reasonable and not extravagant expense, HH. It sounds as if DH does deserve some sort of treat and you do get a lot with Netflix.

I subscribe to Amazon Prime. I used to have Lovefilm and Amazon Instant Video, and now Lovefilm is defunct I'm actually paying less (£7.99) than I was before with the added luxury of Prime deliveries. You also get a lot of extras, such as Cloud photo storage that I have not yet investigated. I have enough difficulty working out how to organise my Kindle books, or read them on the PC - so much techie stuff is actually very NON-intuitive, complicated and frankly odd ! And that's without any smart devices whatsoever. I would be sunk with a 'smart' car !!!

OH even has endless traumas with his car's SatNav. He has all sorts of untried goodies but can't fathom out the handbook to work out what they are. I'm glad I don't have SatNav, it probably hadn't even been invented when my old car was new:rotfl:. I like the old school method of using maps, I'm a dinosaur and proud of it:j.

[Deleted User]

After several weeks of waiting I've had a reply from my slowcoach creditor today turning down my settlement offer:(. Not surprised really, it was very low:rotfl:. It was worth a try though.


They asked me to phone them to discuss a potential settlement although they don't say what their counter offer is. I may phone them tomorrow, I need a bit of thinking time plus time to get myself psyched up for it. I get very flustered dealing with these sort of people on the phone and am easily browbeaten:o.

HairyHandofDartmoor

@Munchin Glad I've inspired you . I made a new list this year in the notes section of my tablet, that way I won't lose it. But if all else fails I can look through my old fashioned filofax that I acquired in the 1980's :rotfl:.

@Elizabeth I definitely recommend Netfl!x.

@OBL Smart tvs aren't that expensive now, in fact I think they only sell smart tvs. I lovd the fact that DD misses the smart tv more than the boyfriend :rotfl:.

HairyHandofDartmoor

carbootcrazy wrote: »

OH even has endless traumas with his car's SatNav. He has all sorts of untried goodies but can't fathom out the handbook to work out what they are. I'm glad I don't have SatNav, it probably hadn't even been invented when my old car was new:rotfl:. I like the old school method of using maps, I'm a dinosaur and proud of it:j.

My mum wanted a satnav as a present a few years ago, but stepdad didn't like it so she gave it to me and DH. We actually love it and have never got lost since we started using it :T.

[Deleted User]

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

My mum wanted a satnav as a present a few years ago, but stepdad didn't like it so she gave it to me and DH. We actually love it and have never got lost since we started using it :T.

I've never got lost using maps and I've driven all over the UK at some time or another. I know people who have been directed the wrong wat by SatNav. A low bridge quite near me was badly damaged recently when a huge truck was directed via that lane and got stuck. Caused mayhem, the lane was blocked for ages.

HairyHandofDartmoor

We've been to the dentist. DS1 has a temporary filling and DH and I walked to the cafe and got a cake (DH) for £1.75 and a cup of tea (me) also for £1.75. Very reasonable we thought :money:.

Then we popped into town on the way home and I paid my cheque into the bank via one of those clever machines that scans the cheque and prints it on your receipt.

I was thinking how MSE we were because we drove into town, paid money INTO the bank and left without buying a thing. We didn't even pay to park as DH lurked in the cark :money: :rotfl:.

I need to shower and get ready for Pilates now. I like a busy day .