Giving every £ a job

Tightpants24

Hi Blackcats.
I am fairly new to this mse way of thinking and have been reading through the diaries for inspiration.  Your posts are really motivating and they make me laugh.  I too can identify with the N5xt account weakness.  Nothing excites me more than getting homeware from the sale.   I was so bad that I had stuff "hidden" and forgot about it.  I remember my surprise upon "discovering" the large ornamental sheep plant pot still in the box when I was rummaging through the garage in first lockdown!!  Now I guess it was shopping from home and I do like how it looks on the patio but I didn't really need that sheep 😁.  
I too have been guilty of the "buying and can't be bothered to return it" malaise.  I have a variety of sparkly dresses from Mensoon that will never see the light of day as I do not live a sparkly social life 😔.  
It is funny how so many of us have succumbed to this problem.  I have been working hard at my reformed behaviour and bizarrely now find I don't need the extra stuff and I am saving money 🥳 ....who would have guessed.

Blackcats

Thank you for the encouragement about the 9 day fortnight SA, SH and Sarah.  I am going to apply because of my carer responsibilities for my elderly relative's.  My boss is not very empathetic and they don't make it easy to ask for anything but the potential reward of a day off a fortnight will be worth the awkward conversation.  I'll keep building up the courage ahead of my next 1:1.
hello tight pants!  Nice to meet you.  Ah yes -  the lure of the N*xt Directory obviously hooked us both in.  I love that you found an unexpected ornamental sheep in your garage - that's fantastic.  Of course I momentarily wondered if I needed an ornamental sheep planter for my garden..... old habits die hard!  You reminded me that I do have a large ornamental pig somewhere in my garage - it isn't even as useful as your planter 🐑. 

I do like a sparkly dress from that particular shop too - and so easy to pop next door to accessorise to buy accompanying jewellery and bags - it is now so bloomin obvious why I had such a massive pile of credit card debt.  

I haven't spent any money today. 😇  I pulled out some unlabelled frozen dinners tonight to chose for tea.  They were labelled once but the writing has rubbed off.  I was hoping for a chilli but found some sliced roast beef in gravy, a chicken curry, some soup and a beef stew.  That's why it was "freezer surprise" on my meal plan I suppose.

savingholmes

LOL at hidden sheep and pig... LOL too at freezer surprise. Glad you are going to go ahead an ask for the flexible working. Look at ACAS guidance on how to phrase the request so you can answer their legitimate concerns in an ordered way and make it harder for them to say no. You could also offer to do a 3 month trial...

Sun_Addict

Have you got a Carer’s Passport in place? If not you need to get one.

Blackcats

Thank you SH and SA.  I will look at ACAS and work policy and I'll find out about a carer's passport (I'd never heard of it).  I noticed there were questions about carer responsibilities on the census when I filled it in for both households.  

I was pleased to get an email from my energy provider saying I'll be getting £158 back as I've overpaid.  It's ridiculous to admit that I've never really paid much attention to usage over the years - just moaned at the size of my bills.  Over the last year I've made an effort and shock/horror/no surprise that my bills have decreased.  Talk about bloomin obvious 🙀.  I've now got low energy light bulbs everywhere and switch off lights when I'm not in the room.  There are loads of lights in my kitchen so I think that's made a difference.  I've also turned the radiators down in the bedrooms I don't use.  So whilst I am pleased with the usage reduction I am slightly peeved with myself that I knew the answers for all these years but just hadn't bothered.  
Ironically, the second paragraph in the email from the energy supplier said they are putting up my direct debit by £58 a month !!!! On closer checking it's because my price fix is ending so I'll be looking for a better deal or a switch - preferably with some cash back 😀.

I'd like to check that the elderly relative's are on the best deals but they are very traditional about suppliers preferring the British G name and they think that swopping providers is risky.  I might just check their tarif is ok though.  Their house is like a sauna with the heating on high all day.  Still they like to be cosy and I'm glad they don't have to chose to heat or eat like some people do.  I have to wear short sleeves when I visit (even when it's freezing outside) as it's sooo warm in there.  

Tightpants24

Glad to hear you're getting your energy costs down.  I wish I could get my family to catch on to the fact that lights can be turned off.   Luckily our water bill goes down when DD is away at uni as she likes a daily bath while the rest of us shower.  
My parents were reluctant to change energy providers when I suggested it.  But when Angela Rippon mentioned it on the telly they thought that it must be OK 🙄 

Blackcats

Hello tight pants - my children were terrors for leaving lights, radios, TVs etc on.  When the eldest moved into a shared house at uni they rang me complaining that they had received a massive electricity bill that the housemates weren't going to pay as they didn't think that had used any electricity 🤷‍♀️.  When I explained about lights, hair straighteners, TVs, washing machines, radios etc all using electricity they said "oh it makes sense now-  I never knew why you were always shouting at me to turn things off".  You couldn't make it up 🤣
I spent some money yesterday on Easter cards and some little gifts.  I normally make a family lunch at Easter but won't be doing so this year so I thought people would appreciate a card in the post.  

Went for a long walk today - it was lovely seeing daffodils and blossom so although the sky was a bit overcast and it was a bit chilly, it is beginning to feel very spring like. 

savingholmes

LOL at the electricity saga - that will be my kids

Blackcats

SH - I do blame the parent too though as clearly I had never adequately explained utility bills 🤷‍♀️.  

I had the urge to spend some money today so I bought some birthday gifts in a sale ready for later in the year and then unsubscribed from the website that tempts me almost every day.  I will make a note of what I bought and also which safe place I've put the gifts in.  

savingholmes

I keep a spreadsheet these days if I buy things early. I've unsubscribed from most shopping emails now. It does help.