The long haul supporters thread...

psychopathbabble

nomorespending wrote: »

Thanks thevinternet - i have thought about this but I don't think i've got a payment a day I can make, - its good advice though - I used to be on the what small things will you do today thread but because my posts are always late at night and the thread starts new every day i felt like i was just writing to myself as no one really ever responded to me - not a complaint at all just the time of day I post! if you know of any late night threads let me know- I definitly would like to be part of a regular thread to help with money saving ideas etc.

This morning my gas and electric and electric bill came through by email - i nearly cried £186 for one month!!!!!!! I'm gutted. I need to drill down and see what is more - i suspect gas because of having the heating on. I had a long chat with my OH on the phone - he got defensice first and said its because i leave lights on all the time and he goes round turngin them off after me ( i'm not sure how true this is) however after a couple of mins he apologised and said we'd work out a plan to pay it ( its due on the 12th and i only planned 120 for it! - i was hoping that would be loads!!)
So from tonight we 're going to reduce the time we have the heating on - from 7pm - 9pm each night only and for 1 hour in the morning.. we'll see how that goes.

You don't have to make a payment a day but you would be surprised at how addictive it is I've paid over half my debt off in 2 years being on that thread... I never thought I had any spare cash! Everyone is very welcome on there, it's one of the friendliest threads I've been on! x

thevinternet

nomorespending wrote: »

This morning my gas and electric and electric bill came through by email - i nearly cried £186 for one month!!!!!!! I'm gutted. I need to drill down and see what is more - i suspect gas because of having the heating on. I had a long chat with my OH on the phone - he got defensice first and said its because i leave lights on all the time and he goes round turngin them off after me ( i'm not sure how true this is) however after a couple of mins he apologised and said we'd work out a plan to pay it ( its due on the 12th and i only planned 120 for it! - i was hoping that would be loads!!)
So from tonight we 're going to reduce the time we have the heating on - from 7pm - 9pm each night only and for 1 hour in the morning.. we'll see how that goes.

Oh bless you - that sucks.

The only advice I can give on this is to maybe get one of those free energy reading meters for electricity - if you are with British Gas, I believe they will give you one - then plug it in and see what's happening. I was amazed at the difference that just unplugging everything that was on standby made.

In terms of your gas, we have our heating on for three hours a day, that is ok but we also use draft excluders everywhere and walk round with jumpers on (I have a blanket for the sofa like an old woman, lol!). How often are you heating your water? We again just have ours coming on in the morning and at night briefly. Have you bled your radiators this year? There is also free insulation available, I believe it's often talked about in Martin's weekly email.

That's all I can think of for now, hope it's of some use anyway! As for late night threads, if you want to start a diary, I'd be more than happy to subscribe, I am often on here late at night! xx

Frodobaggins

Me too, I would subscribe to your diary as I work at least one, usually two night shifts a week.
I would like to echo whats been said, the daily challenges, Payment a day(PAD) and no spend day (NSD), I find really helpful and friendly, and definetly help me keep focused and motivated.

Itsadogslife_2

Nomorespending, I am with Frodo, maybe find a diary that you like and subscribe.

I often think I am waffling away to myself on mine so you would be very welcome :o

I do something similar to PAD, I round down my bank account to an adjoined everyday saver. I round down to the nearest five pounds but you could just shave off the pennies? in the last five weeks I now have £44.00 :j

millionaire_in_training

No more spending I'm often not on until later either. Subscribe to some diaries like the others say and then you always have some things to catch up on ..

Dont know where you all are living but I am in west central Scotland and we have a lovely hurricane today. So scary. Allschools closed and lots of offices etc closed down. We were sent home at 12 thank god. Thought my wee car was going to turn into chitty chitty bang bang :rotfl:

sickasachip13

nomorespending - our heating is costing too much too, although less than last year. I seriously recommend door curtains, draft excluders, that sponge draft stuff stuck around your windows (£1 shops often have it), shut your curtains early and, like thevinternet says - have a blanket on the settee, ready to wrap up warm. It's generally when human's sit still in the house that they get cold so, get a blankey out! Also, do a hot water bottle - a source of heat does a lot for your overall warmth.

psychopathbabble

sickasachip13 wrote: »

nomorespending - our heating is costing too much too, although less than last year. I seriously recommend door curtains, draft excluders, that sponge draft stuff stuck around your windows (£1 shops often have it), shut your curtains early and, like thevinternet says - have a blanket on the settee, ready to wrap up warm. It's generally when human's sit still in the house that they get cold so, get a blankey out! Also, do a hot water bottle - a source of heat does a lot for your overall warmth.

I do this but my housemate has the heating on 20 degrees :eek::eek::eek: She won't just go and put a jumper on... I'm seriously freaking out about the possible gas bill! We were £300 in credit but then it turned out they weren't actually taking any money for the gas, and when they sorted it all out, we were left with just £9... thats from February (maybe march) until mid november! We do have to heat our water using gas, and timers are useless for heating as we both work shifts so the times we are there changes every day. Boooo!

nomorespending

Thanks all for the advice about the heating - We had the heating on for 30 mins this mornign and not at all tonight - Oh has got big fluffy socks on and I am sat on the sofa with a blanket around me - our kitchen and lounge are connected so it warmed up quite a bit when we cooked tea - and OH left the oven door open after he'd finished cooking so that heating things up quite a bit!! hes really supporting this gettin gthe heating bill down i'm very impressed!!
We have a combi so water is only heated as its needed but we have an electric shower so its not used for that. My raidiators have all been bled recently so there shouldn't be too much of a energy loss there....i think its just been us having the house toastie without thought - probably this lack of thought that has got us to where we are - in lots of debt and on the long haul out!!
tomorrow is another late night of work so shouldn't need the heating on. I have an electric monitor - we have one of those kettles that only boils one cup of water at a time - i have been making an extra conscious effort to turn lights off after ohs remarks!!! I know the dryer boosts the electric a lot but its only really on twice a week. OH has just transferred me his petrol money for next week, he's goign to just put enough petrol in to last until the 15th and then fill up on pay day, this means i'll have enough to cover the heating bill thank goodness - without goign overdrawn!! I worked really hard to get rid of that over draft - i do not want it slipping again. and loyds charge me £5 to use it!

I've started a diary - its called my first diary - i feel like its a right load of old waffle but its helping me plan at least!! I didn't realise you coudl subscribe to diaries - i thought they were just for peoples personal use so i haven't been looking at them!! Doh! so much to learn about the ways of the MSEs !

I might have a little look at PAD and see if i can join.. thanks for the advice on that one. xx

mushy_pea

Hi,

I really feel for you. I used to feel like crying quite a lot, but now i only do it every now and again (progress! lol!). Actually felt like that earlier when i realised i had made a vast underestimation of my DFD. Had to add another few years to it.
I have superglued a jam jar shut and am emptying my coppers into there. Used to do it before, but would raid it every now and again. Am determined not to this time though, and reckon after a couple of months i'll be able to pay a little off my water bill (which isnt included n my payplan plan).

Keep your chin up.

thevinternet

mushy_pea wrote: »

I have superglued a jam jar shut and am emptying my coppers into there. Used to do it before, but would raid it every now and again.

And then? SMASH?! That must be such fun!!

Nomorespending I will go look for your diary now - don't worry, mine is a load of old waffle too but it is MY waffle...with syrup...nyom nyom nyom...lol xx