Sort of debt-free but hope to be a super-scrimper in 2019

jwil

How frustrating. Have you just spoken by phone? Is it worth writing a complaint with a copy of your account details (old statement or something) and a screenshot of that account on your credit file? I'm not sure if it would make a difference, but it might be worth a try.

Karmacat

Thats a point, writing it out in a printed letter, and printing out a screen shot, could be really good, a detailed history, with as much reference info as you can find. If that won't help, is there an ombudsman? There must be, surely ... or a money advice column like in the Guardian or the Beeb? Sorry it's so frustrating

HairyHandofDartmoor

jwil wrote: »

How frustrating. Have you just spoken by phone? Is it worth writing a complaint with a copy of your account details (old statement or something) and a screenshot of that account on your credit file? I'm not sure if it would make a difference, but it might be worth a try.

Karmacat wrote: »

Thats a point, writing it out in a printed letter, and printing out a screen shot, could be really good, a detailed history, with as much reference info as you can find. If that won't help, is there an ombudsman? There must be, surely ... or a money advice column like in the Guardian or the Beeb? Sorry it's so frustrating

How annoying Carboot :mad: I think the above suggestions sound very sensible and would definitely be worth a try.

[Deleted User]

Thanks very much for the suggestions jwil, Karmacat and HH:T


I agree that a letter is definitely the way to go with this. I thought initially that it would be quicker and easier:eek: to talk to someone on the phone but as it proved fruitless, despite the two lovely ladies who did their utmost to locate my details, I'll set everything out in a letter. I can't face it tomorrow:o, I'll have a day off from it, and do it on Sunday. Our post collection is 9.30 in the morning on a Saturday so the letter won't be collected until Monday anyway.


After I'd had a couple of cups of tea and calmed down a bit I had a quick look on Prolific to see if there was anything for me and was really pleased that there were 3 studies available. That was a pleasant change, especially as the last one still had places available by the time I'd completed the other two. The first one was quite long but netted £2.50 and altogether I made £3.95. They've all been approved already which makes a nice change:j.

HairyHandofDartmoor

Yes definitely leave it until Sunday! It is worth checking your credit file from time to time. Hopefully a letter and a copy of your statements etc will get it sorted out in the end.

Good news on the PA surveys, especially when they get approved straight away .

[Deleted User]

Retired_lady wrote: »

I have taken Veganin for years. It contains coedine, paracetamol and aspirin. I used to take it many years ago for severe period pains and it was the only over the counter tablet that helped to relieve the pain. I eventually went on a prescription pill for the pain (can’t remember the name as it was so long ago). I still take Veganin on the odd occasion for tension headaches and when my back pain flares up it’s the only thing that touches the pain. A few years back, when I was visiting my mum, I had a really bad headache and she offered me one of her Cocodamol tablets - that never touched the pain either. I called at the Chemist on the way home and the pain subsided immediately. I don’t know why it always works for me, maybe it’s the aspirin, combined with coedine and paracetamol? Worth a try maybe?

I've just been on the Boots website to check the price of the Veganin but from the list of 'ingredients' it doesn't look as if there's any aspirin in it. It has exactly the same amount of paracetamol and codeine as the Co-codomol that I've been taking. The only additional ingredient in the Veganin is caffeine. I get plenty of caffeine from all the cups of strong tea that I drink every day:eek: so don't really want to consume any more. I was hoping I'd found the answer but regrettably I'll be giving Veganin a miss and will stick to the Co-codomol until the GP prescribes something better. I was complaining about the cost of the Co-codomol (especially the soluble version that I take) but it seems to be cheaper than the Veganin. I don't want to pay any more just for the caffeine.

[Deleted User]

I just thought I'd do a quick update on my No Spend On Groceries type challenge that I set myself for January. It ended on Thursday night and we survived without suffering from malnutrition:rotfl:


One of the main reasons I undertook the challenge for a whole month was to run down stocks in the chest freezer so I could defrost it. I missed doing it last year because I wasn't well and was totally devoid of energy or enthusiasm. Then, before I knew it the home-grown veg (and last summer was a bumper season for most things) was ready to be frozen and I'd missed my chance entirely:eek:. I hate doing it as, with the freezer being big and deep and my being short, I almost fall in:eek:. It's really old now but has served me well. It isn't as energy-efficient as modern ones and I think the rubber seals round the lid have 'gone' because there is always a big ice build-up at the top. This last few weeks I've had problems opening and closing the lid so knew I had to do something asap.


The weather has been my friend this past couple of days as not only have I not wanted to venture out in it:o but I had no excuses not to do indoor jobs like defrosting the freezer. The current icy conditions have been perfect for keeping frozen things at ideal temperature while I did the job. I put all the sealed bags and storage containers of food into a couple of bin bags and pushed them into a little drift of snow near the back door as soon as I got up this morning. We had our first snowfall of any depth overnight, it couldn't have come at a better time:j. Anyway, the freezer ice is mostly chipped off and thrown onto the snow. What's left is melting quickly and once I've dried the freezer out I can have a sort out of the bin bags to see just what I have left and get it stashed away again.


Delving into the freezer for suitable meal combinations during the challenge reminded me that I really do need to label everything that I put in there. It's all very well saying I'll remember what it is and that's pretty much the case with the fruit and veg as we normally eat up what I've frozen before the next season's crops are ready to freeze. I freeze them in see-through bags and it's pretty obvious whether they contain leeks or blackberries:rotfl: for instance. Opaque containers of foods that I've batch-cooked are a different matter entirely. Although the date labelling isn't too much of an issue as I don't store things for long anyway it's practically impossible to recall what the food actually is. I always make sure casseroles etc have a lot of gravy/sauce as I like to add extra veg to them when they are reheating but they all tend to look the same when frozen solid:eek:. I've confused soups with casseroles more than once this past month:(. I've found my freezer pen and some labels now:j so will try to be more efficient with my system, well, establish one really, from now on.



Off now to finish off the freezer, have a cuppa and then I'll be back with more of what the challenge in general has taught me:). I'm really pleased I did it and will certainly have another go later in the year although probably not for a whole month next time

elizabethhull

carbootcrazy wrote: »

I just thought I'd do a quick update on my No Spend On Groceries type challenge that I set myself for January. It ended on Thursday night and we survived without suffering from malnutrition:rotfl:

I put all the sealed bags and storage containers of food into a couple of bin bags and pushed them into a little drift of snow near the back door as soon as I got up this morning. We had our first snowfall of any depth overnight, it couldn't have come at a better time:j. Anyway, the freezer ice is mostly chipped off and thrown onto the snow. What's left is melting quickly and once I've dried the freezer out I can have a sort out of the bin bags to see just what I have left and get it stashed away again.

I really do need to label everything that I put in there. make sure casseroles etc have a lot of gravy/sauce as I like to add extra veg to them when they are reheating but they all tend to look the same when frozen solid:eek:.

Very well done on surviving your challenge. And extra well done on your imaginative use of snow :T:T

(Our freezer also needs defrosting)

Regarding the labelling - I have the test posting for Royal Mail to thank for achieving that ! Along with the test items come labels for the intended recipients, and these adhesive labels come on a sheet, where quite a few are unused. So I ALWAYS have spare sticky labels in the kitchen ready to use on frozen goods.
I've recently used up the very last frozen leftover Xmas goodies (sigh !). They were cookies made with the Millie's cookies recipe - they are very sweet but gorgeous with rinsed glace cherries or candied ginger.

[Deleted User]

elizabethhull wrote: »

Very well done on surviving your challenge. And extra well done on your imaginative use of snow :T:T

(Our freezer also needs defrosting)

Regarding the labelling - I have the test posting for Royal Mail to thank for achieving that ! Along with the test items come labels for the intended recipients, and these adhesive labels come on a sheet, where quite a few are unused. So I ALWAYS have spare sticky labels in the kitchen ready to use on frozen goods.
I've recently used up the very last frozen leftover Xmas goodies (sigh !). They were cookies made with the Millie's cookies recipe - they are very sweet but gorgeous with rinsed glace cherries or candied ginger.

Thanks, Elizabeth. Yes, snow can have its uses even for those of us long past the tobogganing stage;)

I did the Royal Mail postings for years but was dismissed from the panel because one of the test items was damaged in transit to me. The envelope was totally ripped apart. Royal Mail inserted it in a polybag with a message of the 'sorry your item was damaged in transit' type of message. It all looked intact, the transponder and everything was present and undamaged but I made the mistake of being too honest and notifying the survey company of events. They immediately contacted me to say I had most likely been identified as a participant by either my postman or the local sorting office and so the integrity of the service I may receive in future would be compromised:eek:. I was hopping mad as I loved participating in the RM testings and the stamps, vouchers and labels came in very handy.


I think there was something in their suspicion that I may receive better service from the postman etc once they were aware that I was 'working' for RM as since that date our postman can't do enough for me:rotfl:. He was always a grumpy and rather unco-operative individual but mow he carries even the most awkward parcels directly round to the door at the back where he knows I'm likely to be instead of ringing the front doorbell and expecting me to go out to receive them. He engages me in friendly chat whenever he sees me, something he didn't do for about 30 years:eek:. I love it and will make the most of it while it lasts. Losing the stamps etc does have its compensations;)

Karmacat

Oh wow, CBC, thats quite something! How horrendous to be dismissed like that, though, for something that was nothing to do with you I'm glad you're able to go for the defrosting finally, it certainly gets it over with.