Time to mend and make do, beg, borrow and barter.

beanielou

Hope that it is not snowing where you are again

Pippilongstocking

Hey up folks - sorry for being tardy - snows largely gone aside the giant piles of iceberg/mud mush that's in certain areas, although it is depleting.

Busy few days thanks for checking in that's so kind.

Have been paid and not done much in the way of money shuffling so best get on that.

Mid week day off for me today - in on different days over the weekend so we'll see how we fare.

So much washing/cooking/food shopping to catch up on. Whilst the stores are not empty or completely depleted we are running out of essential stuff and I need to make a list and either online shop or venture to the land of the consumers.

Fire in kitchen is on, so cosy in here where the washing is also lurking.

Ordered oil again (MY GOD THE PRICE) although its the first delivery since start January - which isn't great but then again I see last winter we ordered double in December and ordered again in March - so we're certainly down on usuage. Heating is off aside an occasional boost for an hour when we need it. But, the fires are keeping us cosy.

We have decided to get rid of the oil system this year and try and replace with a mix of solar/electric or something less smelly, erratically priced and doomsome for the environment. Any suggestions gratefully recieved, have looked at panels for electric only, (although we hardly use any and the feed in tariff is now badly supported) - and panels for water which is probably our best bet with a boost from electric.

Any suggestions on a post card please.

Off to tottle about the banks, put the kettle on and see what needs paying.

Toodalu the noo

beanielou

Good to see you :wave:

Pippilongstocking

beanielou wrote: »

Good to see you :wave:

:A hope you're wrapped up. Its so windy!

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

Pippilongstocking

Half way through the month and the wages are still looking resplendent - so I've paid an extra £250 to the card. Must check where the balance is with that.

Had a pesky £425 bill for the garage out of the wages - not good and seems oil is still leaking from the car - bit annoying taking that in today.

I'm currently NOT in either overdraft - so I'll see how we fare this month and the fees saved can also go to the card.

Not spent very much on food shopping tbh - we did buy some meat as a treat at the local food fayre but that was himselfs treats budget. Limited takeaways (although not none, we've had one) this month again so its not too bad. Although the cupboards are getting a bit squeaky.

Gas has lasted OK although I've three red bottles and one blue one - so might see if we can swap a red for a blue IYSWIM and then I'll be grand for swapping if we run out.

Council tax bill is in, sometimes I wish they'd do it over 12 months instead of 10 as its nice having a holiday from it but youchy when it lands again.

Phone and BB still sitting at £50/month - its way too expensive. Limited choice but might see if Uswitch can offer something better.

Petrol has been less with working and only two trips to the hospital. Also had DH car in garage so mine was used by him and he took me to work, so less miles for me.

Overall February, lol I mean MARCH hasn't been too bad for spends. But do need to top up some essential supplies.

Vet bills zero this month - and only used 12p/s worth of paraceatamol for himself.

Fuel for stoves I've bought a bit of peat and coal in with that bad weather - so spent about £32 there - but like I say heating has been largely off and we have hugely reduced our oil spend.

Hey ho.

Washing to hang up this end, deep joy.

Transfer to the charity branch of our work this month, looking forward to that I must say.

beanielou

Pippilongstocking wrote: »

:A hope you're wrapped up. Its so windy!

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

Yes, blowing some hoolie:eek::eek:

beanielou

You can ask to have the council tax over 12 months I think pippi.

carlislelass

beanielou wrote: »

You can ask to have the council tax over 12 months I think pippi.

Our council will do 12 mths

Pippilongstocking

Thanks for the info - much appreicated.

Well I spent £50.23 in HB on grub largely and household stuff but reckon that should top things up very nicely until we go to Canada.

Also spent 32 in the local farm shop on cheese, veg, beetroot, kindling, logs and peat - she threw a bin bag at me and said fill up from our delivery logs some hard wood and some soft wood to try if you like it buy some! So also got 12 free logs. Huzzah. Prices for large tonne bags were quite good so we'll see and they deliver for free.

Nothing much in the way of bargains although did get some morning rolls for £1.02 for 10 as it was the afternoon.

Topped up the fish supplies at the fishmonger £11 spent but many teas from that.

Supplies are replinshed.

rtandon27

Well done on reducing your oil consumption Pips!:j:j:j

My fist has been so tight with the extraordinary pricing that we managed an extra 3 months on what was in the tank - but come April we will have to top up or bathe in cold water!

Hooray for free wood as well! - how much quicker does softwood burn than hard wood? or does that even out because the price is so bargains, that it would not matter?

We've not used our living room fireplace once since we moved here! - wondering if it would reduce our heating bill any or just be an added expense as the rest of the house is on the radiators... off to ponder...