Eating a Vegetarian Elephant

debtfreeoneday

Awesome PB wins. How exciting about the pup!  Boy or girl?

Chiglepig

@debtfreeoneday, little boy - all black apart from a white bib!

Chiglepig

Morning All.

Very little to report this week, we are off to visit family in the Midlands next weekend - the closest we have come to a get-away holiday since July 2019 , then back for Mr C's early birthday meal, and counting down the days until Pup joins the family.

It's weird getting back to spending after the last year, apart from the supermarket (which is still larger than it should be), though, we're still spending less, and I don't see that changing apart from a few big-ticket items that we've budgeted for anyway. We've been really fortunate to be in stable employment positions through the pandemic and have come out financially better off (small second mortgage paid off, increased savings, additional main mortgage overpayments), but much more cautious about preserving that.

Oh and STILL having energy supplier trouble, another estimated bill after they said they had sorted the smart meter issue at the begining of June - particularly annoying as the credit on the account is over £300, but I don't want to ask for it back until the issue is sorted (I know I could just send a reading, but that's not the point of smart meters!).

greent

What's the issue, Chigle? Our gas smart meter won't submit readings but the electricity one does
 Shell promised to sort it initially and now (after me chasing and chasing) say its a WiFi issue and that they can't do anything.  As I despise their service anyway I will be looking to leave them ASAP (think my window opens next week) - I only had the smart meters installed because I had to for my tariff (small print condition on about pg 4.....)

Chiglepig

@greent, the original problem was that the installer hadn't registered the new meter (fortunately we had all of the readings), so it was registered by the man who came to check it, but now it's obviously not communicating with SSE - although it is with the display in the house. I'd think signal if it wasn't bang next to the gas meter! Anyway, submitted the query and now just waiting.

Chiglepig

The Godess of Money Saving must have been looking after me today, I went to M&S for a pair of wide-leg black linen trousers - (the only non-underwear items I buy from them now) - I buy a pair every couple of years, they suit me, they fit, and they're a good dress-up or dress-down item. They Have Changed their SIZING  I tried a pair of 12 short (I'm 5ft 1in) . . . they trailed along the floor.  So Grrrr - I didn't get trousers I wanted. But Yah I didn't need them, so that's money saved.

And came home to an email for a Populus Live surevey - another £2 closer to cash out (although at this rate, I'll be drawing my pensin first).

Chiglepig

Morning All.

Looking back at my last post, I REALLY need better proof reading skills

Some small MSE gains this morning (yes already!) Mr C discovered we'd been charged for Apple TV at the end of a free deal and has cancelled it, and I've changed my Union subscription to reflect my 0.8 contract, saving £3 per month - although I'd rather have my full time contract back

Mr C's favourite toiletries have Nectar points on them this month - Happy Birthday!

Cheery_Daff

Is there any sign of you getting your full time contract back anytime soon? (Thanks for the nudge on the union membership- I'm voluntarily dropping to 0.8 soon and hadn't though to switch)

Chiglepig

Cheery_Daff said:

Is there any sign of you getting your full time contract back anytime soon? (Thanks for the nudge on the union membership- I'm voluntarily dropping to 0.8 soon and hadn't though to switch)

We haven't heard a peep - it's something I have to chase today as I'm back at work until Friday then off for another week . I suspect, looking at recruitment, I won't, but they have to confirm the VS by the end of this month. Our workloads for 21/22 are SOOOO far from being sorted.

Don't for get you can claim back for Union fees as well, going back three years, the details including the subs rates are on the UCU website.

Cheery_Daff

Thanks - I'm still full time til the end of August so plenty of time to sort it.

Good luck. Our workloads are pretty much sorted now as far as I know - pending recruitment though which may mess things up a little. No reduction in hours overall for us, but we've had one staff member leave, me drop a day, and someone else drop 2 days, and none of that is being replaced, so... 🙄