Little by little, and with love

EssexHebridean

I’ve looked into the shopping scanning things a couple of times but have always decided that the time to return ratio isn’t right for me. For the same reason I’m looking to thin out surveys a bit now too - prolific and OnePoll are staying, I suspect Power of Opinions is going though…when I finally get to cash out this time, that is! 

RosaBernicia

EssexHebridean said:

I’ve looked into the shopping scanning things a couple of times but have always decided that the time to return ratio isn’t right for me. For the same reason I’m looking to thin out surveys a bit now too - prolific and OnePoll are staying, I suspect Power of Opinions is going though…when I finally get to cash out this time, that is! 

I used to do reasonably well out of one of the scan things when I was fully organised and shopping in store - now it's a bit more of a PITA as it somehow feels more hassle to zap stuff from an online delivery and I have been picking up more bits in the week which means more receipts.  I hadn't done it for ages by the time I moved so have given it up. 

RosaBernicia

Gah, forgot the bank hols will interrupt dog food delivery - we don't need it til after payday/ Christmas but it will have to come before to avoid running out.  Ordering on Monday. 

A couple of 3bay buys as well but should be worth the cost as low bids for a brand I know my size in, and shapes that should work.  Very grateful for my style consultant group/ lessons, that investment has already been worth it in saving me bad buys. 

A small top up shop today as met a friend to go walking at a service station with a M&S, and decided it just wasn't worth the drive and hassle of going separately.  Going to make a list as need to pick up cat food from a different town than I usually shop, and there is an A5da there, so will wander in there rather than make another trip. 

RosaBernicia

Belated Sunday shuffle...

No further news on spending - too late to get real Christmas cards done, so will send electronic ones (hopefully tomorrow) with apologies so no further stamps.  Need one more supermarket shop which I will do tomorrow, that trip should also enable £10 worth of returns and I'll start with Mo's for the 10% off. 

A bit more stress today with the family issues but I have politely said no to changing my plans and hope that will be sufficient.   Very slowly working on the house situation and am coming to accept that even the larger bits of work will have to be undertaken over time. 

Also thinking I need to review direct debits and cards - I need to keep my salary coming into the NW account, so really all the debits should come out of that, and then I could use the bird card on other spending.  I also ought to pay more attention to the prepaid card as have just realised I could get 4% cashback in addition to any offers with B&9.  Will have a look at that... but need to do tax return first... ugh.  Need motivation! 

TheAble

Why do people on here speak in code rather than mention brands? Why not just say eBay, Asda etc?

RosaBernicia

TheAble said:

Why do people on here speak in code rather than mention brands? Why not just say eBay, Asda etc?

I've always assumed it helped to avoid the posts coming up in searches for the brand and by their marketing people, possibly also to lessen any issues with libel or brand promotion for the forum (probably less relevant now, in the days of review websites, but company reps are supposed to declare themselves).  I don't think it's a formal policy or anything, but I'm following the example of more experienced posters. 

EssexHebridean

It's a public forum, where many of us are really pretty identifiable, so a rich seam of potential marketing for a brand that does a search. Most of us generally feel that it's better NOT to give them free advertising. some folk do it, some don't, but board etiquette is very much that if you're on a diary where the OP obscures brand names, you should follow suit, or simply avoid mentioning the names if you aren't willing to do that.  

EssexHebridean

Sorry to hear the family stuff is still rolling on Rosa - hopefully you calmly stating your position will as you hope do the trick.

I always used to get my tax return done as soon as it was available to me because I knew full well if I left it it would be harder to get motivated - plus mine being relatively simple (two income streams, both SE) was far easier if done while things were fresh in my mind. 

RosaBernicia

EssexHebridean said:

Sorry to hear the family stuff is still rolling on Rosa - hopefully you calmly stating your position will as you hope do the trick.

I always used to get my tax return done as soon as it was available to me because I knew full well if I left it it would be harder to get motivated - plus mine being relatively simple (two income streams, both SE) was far easier if done while things were fresh in my mind. 

Thanks EH.  It at least gets me some peace and that's my priority right now. 

The tax return isn't usually as awful as I think it will be, I just hate that period of searching for receipts etc.  I did make a list of things to consider, should really start saving receipts in a folder as well.  It's not terribly difficult as I am mostly PAYE but I do have some professional memberships I should claim for and there's the WFH rebate. 

RosaBernicia

Well, I have had to give in and join the supermarket madness as couldn't get some essentials in Sainsbugs yesterday - fortunately I now have the milk I wanted and a few extras and a pretty much stuffed fridge.  It's ridiculous but I didn't want to be stuck over the bank holidays.  Took a £10 voucher with me and forgot to use it [facepalm] but that's not disastrous, it can be used next month.   

Groceries budget is therefore busted again but the stocks should last a while except for milk and bread which I can get again from the 27th.  Also have to make a dash to Pets@ for the dog (who is costing a fortune, I had forgotten how expensive it is when you start out with a new pet and all the stuff you don't know they need!) and will consider topping up the petrol again (it's down to half a tank).  Pretty much done otherwise unless I decide to do last minute e-cards tomorrow. 

I've also budgeted £25 for PBs to get me back in the habit of saving.  (I know they're not the best interest wise, but it's easy access and the potential to win keeps me interested.  Every so often I debate buying a scratchcard but they are SO expensive I decide I'd rather put the money in PBs and it probably has better chances that way.)  CC statement confirms no interest - yay! - so at least I'm back to everything I throw at the spends coming off them.  Most of my refunds have come through already so I'm just budgeting to clear the card again a few days before the required date.  I've been wearing the boots I kept and am pleased with both pairs so really glad I kept looking, that decision alone saved me about three times what I paid vs the nearest options. 

Plans... none, for the next few days!