2022 Frugal Living Challenge

tboo

cw18 said:

And I'm now VERY confused.

Found the bulk swap form, and yes it does say they'll refund the cost of SD by sending extra stamps

BUT - the form also says that non-barcoded Christmas stamps will still be valid.  Yet the articles I read when this was first announced said that Christmas ones WOULD need swapping (but other 'specials' wouldn't).

So it looks like I may actually have very few stamps to swap out.....

I have 16x 2nd class, 7x 2nd class Large, 17x first, and 3x 1st Large.

I then have a small handful of very old specials (9x 19p and 1x 1st class) which have never needed to be swapped out.

I recall they changed their minds about the Christmas stamps.

If you have any questions this forum has been/is discussing the swap out

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5688834/royal-mail-monitoring-and-posting-panel#latest

Paspatur

cw18 they changed the rules for the Christmas ones after the first announcement, can't remember where I read it
My OH is a postie and he shares his free Christmas stamps amongst his eldery neighbours as they are of a generation that still sends Christmas cards

cw18

Wish I'd seen the change about the Christmas stamp sooner - the idea of sending so many to a Freepost address has been freaking me out since I first heard about the Jan 31st deadline !!!    I hadn't even heard about the refund of Special Delivery costs (although getting it as stamps would be less than ideal for me, it's definitely better than nothing).

Still not especially happy about sending the small handful of others in that way if I have to, but it's not as big a deal.   So I'll wait until closer to the deadline to see if I can get them used up first.

I don't know anyone who uses more than a half dozen or so stamps a year, and my neighbours are mostly younger than me so I can't see any of them using on a regular basis.    I've used about a dozen a year for the last couple of years (Covid travel bans meant I couldn't visit grand-daughters and other family for their birthdays), but it's tailing off again now     People may get a shock when I finish my old stock (or their replacements) though, as I rarely send 1st class and only keep those stamps in for emergency use  - but once I start using my freebies everything will be going first class !!   (Forgot the Bank Holiday yesterday when working out when to post a card to my nephew for tomorrow, so he's got one this time).

I'm actually look at trying to sell a few things that will need posting, so that might clear my stock and start me on the others.    One way to use them up (and cash them out) would be to use them for mailing out stuff where the buyer actually pays the postage cost - use stamps I have instead of paying at the PO counter for a label, and I can then deplete my stamp pile and add some pennies to my bank account

nannygladys

I don't use many stamps, but I still write letters to bestie and some other friends and relatives, don't seem to get that many back though!!!

Paspatur

I have used OH Christmas stamps in the past to send Eba* parcels, and he has also sent them to my sister who runs an online craft business
I have also used them for the occassional letter at work, I work for a charity so saves them a little bit of money

Kitchenbunny

Evening. Still lurking  and ticking along. I completed April’s test and stick to my budget, and now feel comfortable sticking to a certain amount (much less than I have done previously, mainly down to cutting down on pop!) I’m really enjoying keeping up with the challenge and reading everyone’s journeys. Mine isn’t too exciting - just doing what I can and all - and questioning the value of everything before spending. 

For example, I could do with some new walking shoes, as we walk miles every year and mine were looking worse for wear. They had tears in the inner lining, the insoles were worn and smelled used 🤣 and the laces were stretched. I got lucky finding some insoles reduced to 10p, bought some laces for £2.49 and sewed up the bits I can with embroidery thread and they’ll do until I can put them on a birthday list or can use vouchers to get them replaced. 

Hoping to get the grocery spend down even further so we get used to being adaptable before we need to. Noticing I’m getting emails from the supermarkets today about how they’re cutting prices and can’t help but wonder what other margins are getting squeezed 🙄

just wanted to say thanks for the thread being active and providing inspiration for this old bun. 

otb666

@Kitchenbunny Shoes is a strange one I dont wear shoes everyday now However I have managed to bag 3 pairs of hotters from my MIL. (she was going to put them in bin ) As she rarely goes out now. £85 £89 and £79 hardly worn.  They will last me a long time as really dont use shoes /trainers very often now.

@cw18 I manged to fixed in 15 january 2022 this year a few days before the war.  I had to persuade hubby right thing to do as he was not happy since sept 21 DD has gone from 80pm to 120  and now 230pm.  We were on a fix until 31/3/22 which we ended early.to get the fix at SVR more or less elect 28p and gas 6p per unit.  So we will only gain if prices do go up again oct 22.. The other thing that worries me is that SP has a clause in terms where they can change the prices on a fix.  When we are back to normal times I will switch to another on of the big 6 as I dont like this clause.

cw18

otb666 said:

The other thing that worries me is that SP has a clause in terms where they can change the prices on a fix.  When we are back to normal times I will switch to another on of the big 6 as I dont like this clause.

That horrifies me - that means a fix isn't really a fix

otb666

I have just checked my T and Cs And thankfully cannot find it But one of the energy buffs on MSE found it somewhere after i had fixed.  I really think that its only an act of god clause type thing like you get on insurance But as not included in my T+Cs not worried now As a fix should be a fix Thanks @cw18 you have stopped me having that niggle to worry about now i have checked

Sweetlittledaydreams

@Kitchenbunny I'm not sure if it works on walking boots or just leather boots, but somebody told me recently if you spray boots with wd40 it makes them waterproof, but only do it on dark boots because it might stain. I need to try it on mine because they leak but they're my favourite boots, they look good with jeans, they're good for muddy walks and they've got enough of a heel that I could probably use them to ride in if I ever get back into horses again. 
It's nice that it's milder in the evenings now, it's dark now but I'm still sat out in the garden and it's lovely. The simple pleasures in life are the ones for me. It's so peaceful.
Hope everyone is well.