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

Suffolk_lass

If the subsidence issue is putting all on hold and your electrics are getting you down, one possibility you could consider is having a separate spur or circuit with a new (additional) fuse system (I think your current one involves fuse wire rather than switches but I might be confusing you with someone else) - a new limited ring-main put in, eg to the area of the house that was previously treated for subsidence and a bit of a health-check done on the rest. A good electrician will work with you - ours did to install a separate circuit for the outside electrics, including its own circuit breaker to prevent a repetition of the mouse in the powerpoint (long story) episode.

Then you could use this part normally (even using a slow cooker or similar there to take the pressure off your dinner times). A sort of temporary permanent fix IYSWIM

[Deleted User]

Suffolk_lass wrote: »

If the subsidence issue is putting all on hold and your electrics are getting you down, one possibility you could consider is having a separate spur or circuit with a new (additional) fuse system (I think your current one involves fuse wire rather than switches but I might be confusing you with someone else) - a new limited ring-main put in, eg to the area of the house that was previously treated for subsidence and a bit of a health-check done on the rest. A good electrician will work with you - ours did to install a separate circuit for the outside electrics, including its own circuit breaker to prevent a repetition of the mouse in the powerpoint (long story) episode.

Then you could use this part normally (even using a slow cooker or similar there to take the pressure off your dinner times). A sort of temporary permanent fix IYSWIM

Thanks so much for that useful advice, Suffolk Lass:T:A. A mouse in the powerpoint though:eek:? At least I don't think we've got one of them. Yet!

No. we haven't still got the fuse wire system. We had a consumer box or whatever it's called fitted when we had some work done a few years ago and the electrician said the old box was obsolete. Much better as it's so easy to reset anything that has tripped. I think I'd have had a total nervous breakdown if I was still having to cope with fuse wire:o. The box is so super-sensitive that it seems to be tripping at the least thing:(. The problem is where there is a major issue with one of the circuits and the switch refuses to switch on again. That means the whole system stays off:mad:


We still have usable electrics in one part of the house and have to use long extension cables (the kind on big reels) to make sure there's electricity where it's needed, such as the kitchen. I can't overload them though and worry about tripping over cables etc especially when I'm carrying pans of food or boiling water. The electric shower works OK as do all the lights so things could be worse. I can even use the washing machine but not at the same time as another power-hungry item. I can use various cooking appliances such as microwave, Remoska, portable hotplate, airfryer but obviously not all at the same time. We have no working cooker/oven as the circuit for that has been condemned:mad:. I shall be so happy when I have a fully-operational cooker again and can boil, bake, roast and grill all in the same unit:j:j:j

[Deleted User]

elizabethhull wrote: »

Your treat fund is looking delightfully healthy. Although I'm all for your new chair and lamp, I agree the timing is not right. So much to get sorted before you can progress in so many ways - how frustrating for you.

How you manage to produce meals in your circumstances astonishes me - I don't think your OH has a clue how much effort it takes, and how lucky he is that you don't demand lots of meals out.

Isn't it wonderful when unnecessary stuff goes !!

Thank you, Elizabeth:)

You're right, OH doesn't have a clue about how the meals end up on his plate. He never did though, even when everything was fully operational. The kitchen has always been unchartered territory for him:rotfl:.


If we lived in or nearer civilization I think I'd insist on takeaways or something pretty regularly. As it is the nearest pub/restaurant/fast food places are a round trip of 14 miles away, further for a good choice of eateries, and to be honest I couldn't be bothered getting myself ready to go out and have to drive there on a regular basis. OH would drive of course but to be honest I always feel a strange sense of satisfaction when I put a lovely meal before OH and he says how much he enjoyed it. The other night he told me I'd been excelling myself lately with some 'different' dishes:rotfl:. I felt like a million dollars at the accolade:j. He hasn't a clue about the trials and tribulations of deciding what I can rustle up and the logistics of having it all come to fruition at the same time. If he eats it and enjoys it, job done IMO.


To be honest, I feel there's something 'out of kilter' with my mindset:o. I battled my debt nightmare without anyone else ever having a clue it was happening. Maybe there's something weird about me that I need to overcome obstacles in secret and appear as if everything is normal. A throwback maybe to having a mother who managed to find something to criticise in every achievement I ever made and who would certainly make capital out of anything I failed in or did wrong:(. I did see a therapist for a short time several years ago and we sort of touched on this but I found the sessions so gruelling and painful that I backed out:o. So many distressing things were surfacing that I was feeling far worse than I ever did when actually living through them in the first place:(. It's only on this diary that I've ever discussed things like this. Maybe that's the only therapy I need;). Free too:j

[Deleted User]

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

You should definitely get a camping stove if you're prone to power cuts Carboot. I hate it when I can't have a hot drink. Also your Halfords voucher may expire if you don't use it. DH was very annoyed recently when he tried to use a Millets voucher only to be told that it had expired :mad:. It had only been valid for twelve months which seemed a very short time to us!

I'm sorry your relaxing evening wasn't as relaxing as you hoped, but at least you slept well and that's important .

Your Chuckle brother analogy made me laugh :rotfl:.

Thanks, HH:)

12 months seems a very short time for your DH's Millets voucher to expire:eek:. I must get the Halfords one out and check if there's a date on it. Thanks for the tip:T

[Deleted User]

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

You are most certainly not moaning Carboot, just telling it like it is and you could do with some support and sympathy, which we are all happy to give . You're coping amazingly well with a very difficult situation. Many people would be having a nervous breakdown and you're still being calm, cheerful and supportive to other people :T.

It does sound as if the insurance will pay out so fingers crossed. I wouldn't have thought they would want to wait for too long before doing remedial works as they don't want things to get worse. Although I have no knowledge of subsidence so I may be talking utter nonsense . I certainly hope that they will sort it out for you soon as I don't blame you for being fed up about the electrical problems :eek:. At this rate you'll need to be cooking on a fire pit in the garden or on a barbeue :eek:.

I think you're amazingly resourceful to have cooked lovely meals in such difficult circumstances :T.

I hope you dont' have to wait too long for your comfortable chair and reading lamp. Very well done on making so much money at the sale and fo clearing some clutter :T.

Thank you, HH:)

You're always so sweet and understanding even though you have so many troublesome things to deal with yourself:A

[Deleted User]

beanielou wrote: »

That was an amazing amont to make at the sale :j :j :j

Thanks, beanielou:). Yes, I was amazed myself.


I typed a post in response to your post but it disappeared somehow:mad:.


Just to summarise, outdoor car boot sales can be more lucrative but the fact that there's usually a lot of potential buyers doesn't necessarily mean they'll put their hands in their pockets and actually buy anything:(. Then there's usually competition from lots of sellers.


Indoor sales can be very hit and miss because they're usually held in local village halls where footfall is small and only locals know they're on. There's often something which inhibits people from going into a building rather than an open field. This particular sale was very good as it was in a bigger village where all events are very well supported. There's a lovely community spirit there. Also, they bother to advertise in the local press and freesheet, Facebook etc and because the events are successful people make a point of looking out for when they're on. Sellers know they are good sales and competition for pitches is pretty cut-throat:eek:. The type of buyers at this sale tend to have more available money that they're willing to spend but it's no use trying to sell 'tat' there:eek:. Anything 'nice' always does well. I tend to save my better class of clutter for sales like this;)

Karmacat

That's sort of a "virtuous circle" isn't it, for that particular sale. Great news for you.

HairyHandofDartmoor

carbootcrazy wrote: »

Thank you, HH:)

You're always so sweet and understanding even though you have so many troublesome things to deal with yourself:A

You're also helping and supporting me on my diary Carboot so it's always a pleasure to try and do the same in return .

elizabethhull

carbootcrazy wrote: »

m lots of sellers.

I tend to save my better class of clutter for sales like this;)

Love the phrase! I suspect minimalists haven't a clue what it means !

[Deleted User]

elizabethhull wrote: »

Love the phrase! I suspect minimalists haven't a clue what it means !

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

My ambition is to be a minimalist but I fear it's one that won't be attained:(