Frugal, thrifty, make do, mend! Let this debt come to an end!

Elisheba

Afternoon, all!

Eek, I look away for a second and its been over a month since I've posted!

Lots of news from Casa Elisheba.  I bought a car in the end!  Various things happened that I won't go into on here, but that made me decide getting back into debt again was necessary, so that's £340 a month I won't see again for a long while.  The car is huge and I have already been camping in it once with my awning and it was great.  I took out a loan for the car, but paid the years tax and insurance and 3 years warranty out of my money so that's left me with almost no ready cash.  

I've done all my budgeting for the month and am pretty much up to date with everything, and bearing in mind I have a holiday travelling round Scotland in 2 weeks, things will be super tight in September.  I also need to pay for kennels and the cat lady to come in, which adds to the expense. I'll be using my overdraft for most of it, and even still it will be close to the wire, but I should still manage.

After that you would think I had had enough of spending for a lifetime, but there is the possibility that I might be moving within the next few months as well!  Very tenuous at the moment, but out on a dog walk I saw a cottage for let that I absolutely love.  I called the estate agents and the sign had only just been put up, and it wasn't on the market yet.  I filled out their application form, and then they got back to me to say the landlord still hadn't filled out the necessary paperwork so they had taken the sign back down.  However, they will contact me when it is all sorted. 

If it all does get sorted their end, then I definitely want it (I've seen pictures form an old advert online and its perfect), although who knows if I will get it.  If I do though it will be an increase in rent of at least £165 a month, and could be more as they might bump up the rent from last time. I'll also need to borrow some money for the move although I can do that interest free on a card, and as I'd get my deposit back on this house, and as some of it would be a month's rent up front then that's should mean some of it is paid back almost instantly.  I'll also get a back dated payrise at some point which will pay off some more, so hopefully that will mean not much debt in the long term - just borrowing to cover cost upfront.  

Its all in my spreadsheet and I can afford it all, just about.  I'll need to be strict with the budget though - stricter than I have been in a while.  I won't move if this cottage doesn't work out, but if it does there is a quality of life aspect to it that I just can't ignore, added expense or not.  I know I should really be buckling down to save for a buying a house, but I really don't want anything within my price range where I live, so I'd rather move somewhere I do want to live.

Other than that I was camping over the bank holiday weekend and it was fab - bit of a shock to the system being back to work today!

I need to do a menu plan for September, and I'm going to use up lots of freezer stuff to keep my spending as low as possible.  Loads of quorn stuff in there so it shouldn't be too hard, and also I am away for a week so that will reduce costs on the food front at least (holiday spending money is another matter  ).

Housewise, I have tons of camping washing to do, camping stuff to put away and normal household chores.  I only got back late last night though so don't feel like doing much tonight, and tomorrow is an office day so doubt I will feel like it then either.  I've unpacked all the essentials I need, so the rest isn't going anywhere and will probably be Thursday before I can get around to it. I'm home this weekend and can get lots done then as well.

Well, that's all for now.  After years of frugality all the spending and potential spending is making me feel a little icky.  Still, without frugality I wouldn't be able to afford any of it.  In some ways it isn't the wisest spending ever, but there are various quality of life aspects involved and every penny is being accounted for, unlike the old spendy days when I just hoped for the best!

Cheery_Daff

Gosh, lots of excitement there elisheba! Fingers crossed for your cottage, that would be just lovely 🥰 I do miss having a car I can sleep in!

Makingabobor2

Sometimes you just see something and you know its the right thing to do. Hope the cottage comes good for you. 

beanielou

Happy new car.Toot toot.
Enjoy Scotland.
Hope the cottage works out for you.

SuzeQStan

Hey Elisheba - everything crossed for you re cottage!  Glad you are reaping the fruits of your hard saving - that’s what it’s all about after all.
take care xx

Elisheba

Morning, campers!

Well, back to the same old same old at this end.  I was in the office yesterday so am very confused at working today as I am normally in on a Friday and off the next day.

This weekend should be fairly quiet - I had planned a pub night with a friend from work on Friday, but the train strikes put paid to that idea.  Will be going to a free outdoor cinema event on Saturday evening if the weather is okay, so that will be nice.  Its the new Top Gun film, which I've not seen, so ideal seeing it for free!

I was paid today do have done the start of month money shuffle, and all cash is in the 5.12% interest account until it is needed.  

Spending wise yesterday I needed to pay for a train ticket to the office (budgeted for), £2.50 on a meal deal lunch (food budget - literally didn't have anything in to make sandwiches, but that'll be the last meal deal for a while), £2.69 on cheese (food budget), and £9 on a big box for my camping stuff (personal allowance).  Today and tomorrow should be NSD, and then on Saturday I'll do a food shop.

I wanted to ask everyone's advice on a problem I have had with some camping stuff I bought. I ordered it in good time for my camping trip but Yodel delivered the the wrong package - a box of slippers for the old folks home round the corner.  I contacted Yodel who said it would be sorted out in 24 hours, and it wasn't so I contacted them again and they said they had raised it as a priority and I said I wanted to make a formal complaint as I wouldn't have it in time for my trip, and they said they would get a manager to call me back. Again no word from them, until an email after I came back from camping saying they couldn't do anything and to contact the retailer directly.

Now in the meantime a friend had seen a message on a local FB group saying someone had my parcel, so I went there and collected it, and dropped off the stuff for the old folks home at the same time.  So essentially, I now have my stuff albeit too late (although obviously I'll use it for future camping trips) and no thanks to Yodel.  So should I pursue a complaint? I'm not sure - it'll mean extra hassle and I am not sure I am entitled to anything now I have managed to sort out the issue.  Anyone got any insight? Ideally I'd like some financial compensation, but not sure that'll happen.

Other than that I need to get some washing on today, and unpack my car.  Could see it far enough, but adulting must be done unfortunately. Also got my work to do, and a dog walk later on.  The weather is at that annoying stage where its cooler, but when I put on a coat its too hot.  Makes dog walking an exercise in putting on and taking off layers many times  .

No word on the cottage yet - I called the estate agents yesterday and they still don't have the paperwork they need from the owner.  I also have a Rightmove alert set up so if it does get put online without them letting me know I should see it.  I'm still trying not to get too excited as the chances are it'll fall through, but hard not to imagine sitting out in the garden for morning coffee, and where I will put all my furniture and the Xmas tree!

Hope everyone has a fabulous day

Elisheba

Just popping on again to make some To Do lists for the next few days..

Today - 

• Put washing on
• Hang up washing
• Empty car and put all camping stuff away
• Organise cupboard under the stairs for camping stuff
• Hoover
• Change cat litter
• Read more of my book
• Put bin out
• Order prescription early
• Prolific

Tomorrow -

• Put dry clothes away
• Dishwashing that doesn't fit in dishwasher
• Start audiobook
• Make a food plan and shopping list - have £8.50 in Tesco vouchers and a money off coupon so might go there.
• Collect prescription
• Hand in dog's vaccination record to vets for updating
• Book
• Audiobook
• Prolific
• Bra wash

Weekend - 

• Tip run
• Start declutter for potential move - be brutal
• Clean bathroom
• Weed driveway
• Hoover
• Dust
• Food shop
• Clear back of tree debris
• Plan clothes and things needed for backpacking week
• Strip beds and remake
• Towel and bedding wash

Fortune_Smiles

Elisheba said:

Morning, campers!

I wanted to ask everyone's advice on a problem I have had with some camping stuff I bought. I ordered it in good time for my camping trip but Yodel delivered the the wrong package - a box of slippers for the old folks home round the corner.  I contacted Yodel who said it would be sorted out in 24 hours, and it wasn't so I contacted them again and they said they had raised it as a priority and I said I wanted to make a formal complaint as I wouldn't have it in time for my trip, and they said they would get a manager to call me back. Again no word from them, until an email after I came back from camping saying they couldn't do anything and to contact the retailer directly.

Now in the meantime a friend had seen a message on a local FB group saying someone had my parcel, so I went there and collected it, and dropped off the stuff for the old folks home at the same time.  So essentially, I now have my stuff albeit too late (although obviously I'll use it for future camping trips) and no thanks to Yodel.  So should I pursue a complaint? I'm not sure - it'll mean extra hassle and I am not sure I am entitled to anything now I have managed to sort out the issue.  Anyone got any insight? Ideally I'd like some financial compensation, but not sure that'll happen.

Hi Eli.  Your contract for the goods, and the delivery of them, is with the retailer so you should address any complaint to them.  The would probably want to know what a rubbish job their courier is doing for them anyway.

You should at least have any delivery charge refunded and also reimbursement of your costs for making a trip to collect the goods.

Fortune x

Elisheba

Thanks, Fortune!  I had forgotten about the delivery charge which was £4 I think, so I think I will follow it up with them.  Collection was just round the corner so not much to claim there!

Fortune_Smiles

Elisheba said:

Thanks, Fortune!  I had forgotten about the delivery charge which was £4 I think, so I think I will follow it up with them.  Collection was just round the corner so not much to claim there!

Don't forget there's your time and the inconvenience to you of having to pick up.

Fortune x