New plan...time to see some movement!

jwil

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

I'm sure you can get it a lot lower by shopping around. We're going to have to pay monthly this year too .

It's annoying isn't it. It's just an extra expense each month (as well as costing more overall!) I'd prefer to pay and forget about it for a year.

HairyHandofDartmoor

Me too .

jwil

I've made myself a bit of a 'to do' list to try and get some stuff sorted.

• Sort out Xmas/Birthday presents and see what needs to be done
  [STRIKE]
• Car insurance quotes[/STRIKE]
• New SOA
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• Ebay listings[/STRIKE]
• Research PAYG sim cards
  [STRIKE]
• Flu Vacc little miss[/STRIKE]
  [STRIKE]
• Phone Eon[/STRIKE]
• Sort out pension buy-back
• Reconfirm childcare
  [STRIKE]
• Reply to birthday invite[/STRIKE]
• Sort out gift
• Look at audible subscription
• Book father Christmas
• Update lists
• Meal plan
• Sort out chair
• Sort out books
• Look out books for Book advent calendar
• Tidy up toys
  [STRIKE]
• See if there is an offer for a magazine subscription[/STRIKE]

jwil

I've ticked a few things off my list. The biggest one being getting some quotes for car insurance. I can't do it until next week, so hoping they stay valid. I've managed to get a good £60 off the price using a big name, and more if I go for others. So I've cancelled my renewal and will go elsewhere.

I've also signed up for a £6 - 6 week edition trial of a particular TV magazine in order to get the Xmas edition much cheaper! We tend to only buy this one at Xmas, and I do buy a cheaper one each week. As long as I remember to cancel the subscription at the end of the 6 weeks, it will save a few ££.

HairyHandofDartmoor

Well done on getting the car insurance quotes, that's a horrible job.

retiredandskint

I hate doing price comparison but it certainly paid off. Since becoming debt free i do put money aside each month for car related expenses. After years of paying over the odds and panicking every time a car related bill came in is priceless in itself.

Hope you are feeling better jwil. On a positive note not too far from the shortest day and then we can look forward to lighter nights.

Mr Retired is declining quite fast and now needs a wheelchair when out. I have carers in twice a day to help and I get extra hours Tuesdays and Thursdays so manage to get time out. It costs a fortune tho but I can't manage on my own any more. He had three falls yesterday afternoon, fortunately he didn't seriously hurt himself.

How's the decluttering going I'm failing and clutter seems to be building up again. I've given up with eBay now and give anything that's good to charity after daughter in law has rummaged through it first :rotfl:

Kitten868

That's the biggest problem with stuff. You're constantly having to keep on top of getting rid of it. It's never finished! Especially with the kids. I can understand what you mean where you haven't got rid of the old stuff yet but there's more for the pile. Seriously, seriously pleased for you about the big stuff going. That's brilliant news. I've started watching this program called consumed. It's about people with too much stuff so they take everything away and they live without sofas or anything for 2 weeks then they decide whether or not to keep any of it. And they can only keep 25% of it. I love it.

I think that's a definite challenge for hubby - clear the living room for Christmas. We are currently challenging ourselves to finish the front room in time for Christmas. Obviously not completely due to finances but getting all the painting done and laying the floor we've got. Hubby has totally got on board and the deadline is next weekend so I'm only telling you what I do. I'm not an armchair preacher lol.

Do the reconfirmation for the 30 hours - it takes seconds. School pictures I ended up with 5 different ones. Every time they do them they complain as they're so poor. It wasn't just the parents this time so I've ended up with some nice ones. I bought the rights to the picture so everyone can have one. Much cheaper that way but still expensive.

I've been hammering Amazon and I'm nearly done for my kids. Always easier shopping for the eldest. Plus my youngest is more into other kids than toys.

Keep all your positive attitude jwil as you really are moving mountains. Get out the old clutter pictures? I've been looking at all the before pictures of my place alot lately and it's pushing me forward when I feel overwhelmed with the dust and dirt and mess. It really shows how far we have come. As for less clutter for Christmas I'm just buying smaller toys and mainly crafts so I can get rid once they're done. I'm not a true convert lol xxxx

Kitten868

I'm sorry R&S that life is becoming so difficult for you. I will say that I always though the worst of homes but actually experiencing them and seeing the difference it makes for friends had totally changed my mindset. You can do your research and find one your confident in. Results in less falls and accidents for them and you get a bit of you back so that the time you do get together you have some energy to really engage. I have no idea if this is more expensive or a viable option for you but I just thought to say it as previously I never would have considered it. The home my nan went to had far better entertainment than we ever could put on as well. As I say I don't know anything about you or your partner. I'm just thinking of all the women I know in my life struggling through to care for their partners. The other thing is ask family for help more too - we don't think to help, it's not that we don't want to. Also we don't know what would help. Xxxx

brizzlegirl

Jwil - you're always doing brilliantly. Course you have low days which particularly if you don't get enough sleep will get you down but look at how far you and OH have come....you're letting in space and light (and making money in the process!)

Have a good weekend

x

brizzlegirl

Sorry to hear that R&S..stressful. As kitten says., make sure you ask for all the help you can, especially from friends and family xx