Giving every £ a job

foxgloves

We are doing the same re energy, @Blackcats -building up as much credit as poss before October to try & offset the hideous prices as much as possible. I read in the News over the weekend that the £400 govt credit to our energy accounts will be paid over 6 months in £66 instalments, which I think I prefer to a single lump sum. Either way, I think this winter that energy company call centres will soon be swamped with cases of people who are unable to pay & I think some of these arrears coupled with other increasing expenses/costs, will be unsustainable without some kind of further intervention. I think the govt is so busy wrangling over its current beauty contest that many of them haven't really taken on board just HOW bad the impact of the energy crisis is going to be on ordinary households.
Re shredding - I was too stingy to run the shredder this month.....I soaked the pile of paper in used washing-up water & bunged it on the compost. Probably only saved about 5p but it was our 5p!
I love folders, files & notebooks too.
F x

ladyholly

I collect shredding in the shredder until its full to bursting . Other paperwork is filed in a file until thats full then it goes on top of the box holding all the seperate files and occasionally I file it all properly. Have you guessed I am no good at paperwork.

savingholmes

I just group my paperwork too and don't do a lot with it until like you I do a big blitz.

Definitely need to bump up those direct debits to energy now to smooth the curve later.

CRANKY40

Another paperwork procrastinator here. I save it in a big gift bag until I'm in the mood to file it or shred/throw it. 

lucielle

I'm a file it or bin it kind of girl.
L

Blackcats

Thank you for your comments on tackling paperwork .... seems like we all have our ways of managing it eventually.

I did think of you Foxgloves when I was shredding as I remembered you saying that alternative paper disposal was an energy saving tip, however, I then started to sing "don't stop me now" in my best Freddie Mercury voice and kept going until it was finally finished.  

In my first job, many, many years ago (Girl Friday - I don't think you can advertise for one of them anymore!) .... well anyway I had to do the filing and even then I thought it was the most tedious job ever and I often stashed papers in my desk drawer until I could sneakily throw them away.  My boss, the "office manager" had created the most elaborate filing system and I'm sure she was very confused and disappointed when paperwork couldn't be found.

we went to a friend's bbq this weekend - it was really lovely.  There was a big crowd there and a few people I didn't know.  I was surprised at how materialistic some of the conversations were - lots of talk of new purchases, money spent on cars, clothes, garden re-designs and travel.  lots of people trying to impress and outdo each other.  

 I think I must have changed a lot because I didn't feel impressed or envious as I would previously have done.  Instead I felt happy with what I've got and a bit concerned for them that the cost of living crisis might cause them difficulties.  As soon as I got home I read a few diaries to validate a more frugal lifestyle.

Sun_Addict

I hate one up-manship chatter at gatherings. It doesn’t take much for that sort of materialistic world to come crashing down. It doesn’t impress me either, they could be up to their eyeballs in debt.

savingholmes

I think we are much more sensible - trying to retire earlier and get debt and mortgage free. 

I was gobsmacked that my ex BIL was on an interest only mortgage but spending thousands on first class tickets etc.

[Deleted User]

I hear you on those convos blackcats!  There is a lot of this at my work - and my horrible boss (in this office, my 'official' boss is in another office and is lovely) knows the price of everything and the value of nothing - tells everyone how much he's spent on everything (and it's eyewatering sums) and it just leaves a very bad taste in my mouth.  I can't bear it and sometimes really wish we had moved away to get our children away from this eliteist lifestyle.

Blackcats

I agree SunAddict - some of these superficially affluent lifestyles are very precariously balanced and it doesn't take much for them to topple.  An acquaintance was married to a fairly successful sportsman and they leased the fanciest cars (Aston Martins, Bentleys) had designer clothes, shoes, bags, kids at private schools etc - when his career ended prematurely it all tumbled down and they ended up having to move in with her parents.

savingHolmes, interest only mortgages are scary.  I know you've just moved to repayment - it's harder at the start but at least it's reducing.  My daughter's friend had a North ern Rock 110% interest only mortgage a few years ago.  My daughter was jealous at the time as the friend managed to buy, lots of furniture, new carpets and holidays.  It wasn't long before the amount of negative equity meant it was almost impossible to sell their house.

rebecca!  Lovely to see you - have I missed your diary updates?  Price of everything and value of nothing is exactly right.

I've had a good week - I've just done the end of month budget round up.  My credit card statement is generated on 5th which is a bit of a faff but I've got a work around system that's ok.  Some categories were overspent but more were underspent and overall I had a good surplus.  

Food spending has reduced a lot - Olio, menu planning and Lidlee shopping.  I'm planning a use it up and freezer week with the hope of a minimal spend week.
Meal plan is
veggie curry (I got a cauliflower, carrots, potatoes and sweet potatoes in the £1.50 box
beef rendang (I buy the simplee cook spice kits.  They are £10 for 4 but we really like them and they help with not buying a takeaway as we enjoy cooking them)
herby salmon (freezer) with garlic and rosemary potatoes (potatoes in the £1.50 box too) with green beans
stuffed peppers (peppers from olio and rice etc from stocks
courgette and pancetta carbonara (both from olio)
beef burgers - from depth of freezer with cowboy spicy beans 
tapas - bought a few bits from the lidlee Spanish week promotion 

I'll need to buy milk and possibly bananas.  

My fig tree has produced about 15 edible fruits (first time ever) so we will have them with some yoghurt and poached apricots for breakfasts and pretend we are in Greece.  I got apples, oranges and pears in the box too.