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

HairyHandofDartmoor

I enjoyed volunteering this morning so I think that's going to be a nice way to start the week from now on . I've got Pilates this evening too so it's going to be a busy day which is good .

[Deleted User]

Elizabeth's mention of finding the engagement ring and bank notes in unlikely places reminded me of how closely I had to examine everything at Mum's. Her memory was very acute right to the end so it wasn't a case of her absentmindedly putting things in strange places. Actually, I think most of us have been guilty of that at some time or another. I remember having the whole of this house in uproar when I 'lost' my passport and endless phone calls to places where I may have left it as I'd been using it as proof of ID. That's another story though.....;)


A friend of my brother, a police inspector, told Mum that he always hid his most valuable possessions like jewellery in his hoover bag whenever he went on holiday:rotfl:. He reckoned burglers wouldn't bother stealing a hoover:eek:. Mum wouldn't have fancied doing that but I suspected she found other unlikely hiding places. I had to go through everything with a fine tooth comb just in case.


She once lost a wallet full of banknotes and always suspected the man who came to service her central heating stole it. According to her she'd left it on her bedside chair prior to putting it away and the gas man arrived before she had time to do it. She never did find it and after she died I looked everywhere for it to no avail:(.


When I was polishing Mum's furniture that was going to auction I accidentally discovered a small concealed drawer in her bedside table. That bedroom suite had been in her possession my whole life and I never knew it had a hidden drawer:eek:. Inside was a gold locket and my Grandma's engagement ring which Grandma always wanted me to have. My Mum had 'problems', let's put it that way, and after my Grandma died and she was clearing out her things she always told me that the jewellery wasn't there and Grandma must have lost it somewhere. Grandma was always very mentally alert and would not just have 'lost' these things but I had to believe what my Mum told me. You've no idea of the emotions I felt when I discovered that little hiding place. Those items might have been hidden there by Mum for over 40 years:eek:.


I've really treasured them ever since and worn both many times. The engagement ring dates from about 1910 and has 3 rubies in a really old-fashioned setting. I adore it. I just wonder if they had gone to auction in the concealed drawer whether I would ever have seen them again;)

HairyHandofDartmoor

It's like a treasure hunt Carboot, what a lovely surprise for you to find your Grandma's jewellery after all those years .

abba1772

I would still chase the Barclays account you've got nothing to loose xx

HairyHandofDartmoor

Thanks Abba .

beanielou

How emotional cbc

HairyHandofDartmoor

DH emailed the accountant and she said our tax account shows the tax refund was issued today. So hopefully it will show up soon. Until it arrives it feels like a mirage in the desert!

beanielou

Hopefully shows up very soon.

HairyHandofDartmoor

No money in our account yet, it must be in limbo land .

beanielou

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

No money in our account yet, it must be in limbo land .

Hopefully go in over night.