Head out of the sand. Saving for a shiny future

ForestBluebells

I only have 3 heaters so only have lounge and bedroom on. I don’t use the one in the hall. They are set to heat to the lowest charge possible, the max I ever set them to is 2/5.  

I have from memory a packet of potato roti, ramen noodle kit, tuna, whole tray of 6 yoghurts needed eating yesterday 🙊 will try eat 2 a day to use them up quick, different types of pasta, gnocchi, crispy onions, crackers, pasta sauce, pesto, sardines, gochujang paste is the main bits. I must have more somewhere… i don’t even know why I bought it all I have no plans for it. Mum was going on about war prepping in case things get nuclear 🙈 I kinda just randomly bought a few long life items. 

Got a pulled pork and bean jacket potato dish tonight (gousto. 🙈) 

I have another 3 weeks of gousto scheduled due to the promotion so will hugely be over budget this month and I already needed a 2nd tank of petrol this month when I usually only buy one as I have been going a few more places.

 I will definitely plan something with my random purchases after. I could probably go a whole month just using my food I have in and just getting a few fresh veggies. Thinking maybe a Korean fried chicken or cauliflower. I just can’t turn down a gousto offer when I get one as I love their recipes and the convenience. 

Bit bored today after my run this morning I’ve not done anything. Might groom the old doggie in a min. 

Skint_yet_Again

Just watch out for damp in the unheated rooms. You can freeze yoghurts & either defrost before eating or eat frozen like ice cream. I’ve never heard of gochujang paste. 😁

ForestBluebells

Damp is a problem in all my rooms 🙈 I stopped storing things under my lift up bed due to white mould and my clothes go mouldy in my wardrobe (the ones I don’t wear regularly. Need to go through and throw some out I guess. I have a dehumidifier I run when drying clothes to try help. I need to replace the front door really as there are gaps around it so I can see outside so it lets out a lot of heat but I don’t know if I need planning permission to do that in a maisonette. I tried buying some stick on stuff but it meant I then couldn’t close the door. 

I also have mould in the lounge where the tv cable (that I don’t use as I don’t have sky) comes in and above the kitchen window (I think a leak from upstairs… it first started when they had a bad leak)

only small patches at least 🤷‍♀️

I didn’t know you could freeze yogurt, I’ll try that. 

MovingForwards

Less clothes in the wardrobe, if it's against the wall move it forward a couple of inches, both allow air to circulate. I've put the £1 moist air catching pots in wardrobes before; the last flat was dreadful for damp.

Under the bed needs air to circulate too, packing it full of items won't help.

With your door, screw the draught exclude plate to the door itself, along the three opening sides. If it's still drafty, hang a lined curtain on a plastic track.

If the leak has been sorted, buy some damp stop paint for that area, then repaint the whole wall.

Have a look at the outside wall where the cable comes in, use the zoom on your phone if needs be, see if there's anything obvious eg a crack in the rendering or pointing between the bricks. I didn't have a damp issue with mine, but filled the hole as I did other things.

Windows must get opened, even if it's for 10 minutes. 

ForestBluebells

I open my windows every morning for at least 15 minutes 

I definitely will try the moisture capture in the wardrobe. I’ll go through and throw out what I know I no won’t wear or take to charity shop so it’s not full

The cables from outside just have too big a hole drilled and no sealant so it’s just a hole. There’s also a hole underneath the windowsill, I bought some expanding foam but not sure if that’s the right stuff to use to fill it. It’s not a big hole but drafty.I’ll see if I can fill the hole. 

I took 2 of the panels out from underneath the bed and no longer store anything under there. 

I bought some damp paint I just haven’t used it 🙈 the blind is a little mouldy too

groomed my old dog now so he’s all fresh and gave him a bath. Need to trim his claws and brush his teeth still. 

Sun is back out so will go on a walk with my young dog now

atrixa

Your place sounds like my old flat. It was a 60's build with electric storage 'blow' heating, so instead of little radiators there were vents that blew hot air out. No matter how much I kept the windows open I had a terrible mould issue. With that type of heating you end up with 'hot spots' then the rest of the place is freezing. I've got gas central heating in my house and no mould issues whatsoever.

Is the damp paint a mould resistant thing or a plastic product to stop dampness coming through to the internal wall? If it's the latter I don't think it will help much.

ForestBluebells

Yeah it’s storage heaters and there is a fan heater in the floor in the kitchen but it only turns on for 30 seconds max then cuts out. The storage heaters don’t distribute the heat that well I guess. I want to replace my windows to more modern double glazing as these are from the 70s and original double glazing so not as good at holding the heat

i wish when I replaced my flooring I’d put in underfloor insulation but I didn’t know that was a thing when I did it. It has cavity wall insulation. I don’t know if I can insulate the ceiling. 

savingwannabe

My bungalow has mould when i dont have dehumidifier on in winter. Use white vinegar and also bicarbonate of soda to clean it off and this prevents it coming back. It is so satisfying as it works straight away. When this is dry and clean add anti -mould paint. I hate the damp. It's all over my street everyone has it, something to do with what they built the houses on and the soil type underground someone told me. 

Have a good weekend. 

ForestBluebells

savingwannabe said:

My bungalow has mould when i dont have dehumidifier on in winter. Use white vinegar and also bicarbonate of soda to clean it off and this prevents it coming back. It is so satisfying as it works straight away. When this is dry and clean add anti -mould paint. I hate the damp. It's all over my street everyone has it, something to do with what they built the houses on and the soil type underground someone told me. 

Have a good weekend. 

Oh I’ll definitely try that thank you! 

I booked a long weekend as I have Monday to Wednesday off. I really needed it as ive been so burnt out, I’ve been unable to sleep from stress and just keep waking up thinking about work. I can feel my heart beating just thinking about it. 

I had a lovely day today, went for a gentle canicross run this morning in the sun with friends and then walked my elderly doggie after (he’s going back outside now on short walks finally). 

I cut my own hair, looks good so I’m pleased with that and feels much better now, I’ll do that more often. 

My mum bought me 2 new trees for my garden last weekend so I went to get some tree stakes and ties today. Will put them in tomorrow. 

I’m so so over budget this month, must control my food spend next month!! 

I have £60 a month spare from April as my online education contract ended so I’ll add some more to my petrol budget and food budget (I guess £160 isn’t enough food budget if I go over every month. I’ll pop anything else in my pension or ISA. 

Although saying that I guess I won’t as my council tax goes up so will need to redo my budget. Can’t remember getting a letter about water so that must still be £12. 

Tried to buy my mum some flowers today but they didn’t have a barcode on and the lady wouldn’t help me so I left them and will need to go back out tomorrow and try again. 

Going to cook dinner now, aubergine daal 😊

ForestBluebells

Rejigged my budget to allocate the spare £60 a month from April, half went on extra council tax, added petrol costs and food costs (looked back and I tend to spend £250-300 a month on food 🙈 definitely not sticking to my £160 a month budget, I’ve upped it to £180… I’ll be amazed if I stick to that too… really need to sort my food spend!

i put the other half in my pension. 

Made plans to sell my LISA funds and reinvest it in an ETF for the lower fees. Still waiting for the sale to go through, not sure why it takes so long as it should go through at 12 but it hasn’t. 

Old dog had been doing well but took a turn for the worse yesterday so we are back at the vet today, hopefully they can make him more comfortable. 

My savings will drop now as earning less on freelance work but I’m a bit burnt out so happy to do a bit less for a while.