It's getting tough out there. Feeling the pinch?

Floss

For anyone on an Ictopus fix, I got an email yesterday:

TheAble

YorksLass said:

Our energy supplier has deducted the first instalment of the £400 from our October DD (not due until the 28th) but I'm still waiting to find out how much the unit rates/daily standing charges will be under the EPG from the 1st Oct.  We're on a fixed rate that's over the new £2500 "average" so there should be some adjustment.  Once I have that information I can decide whether to stay on the fixed rate (no exit fees) or change back to the SVT.

Consider staying on the fix if not too much more expensive. You'll then have it to fall back on in case the govt pulls the cap for whatever reason. Could be cheap insurance.

Spendless

Pollycat said:

Spendless said:

I've just been to get DD some hair conditioner and could have quite easily cried at the prices. I went to get Aussie, £4.50 in Tesco or 3 for a tenner. I decided I didn't want to spend £10 as she moves away on Saturday and I don't know how much/which hair products she already has in, so though nip to Home Bargains instead which is a few mins car ride away. There the conditioner was £5.89. Never seen it as expensive as that before in there. I got her a hair mask instead at a more reasonable £2.99.

I'm glad I've already got her some toiletries to go away with and we're not having to buy every item. 

What size?
Savers - if you have one close to you - do 250ml shampoo for £2.49 and £5.99 for 700ml.

Thanks. That's where I bought in the end as I went into town, the smaller size. DD moves Saturday into halls, we've never seen her room so no idea of size so she's trying to take less bulky items and then when runs out will buy larger when there and she knows her space.

My fav shampoo/conditioner that I got the absolute best results from was discontinued a very long time ago. I've tried umpteen ones since and only get the best results from certain ones (I need smoothing/moisture ones, or hair is just frizzy and a mess). My hair is both thick as in lots of it and flyaway, daughter's is the same but her hair is also very long. Aussie is probably the cheapest in the range of hair products that suits, usually anyway. 

EssexHebridean

You may find the same as I did there Spendless. The same hairdresser who told me about shampoo amounts also mentioned the “smoothing” type shampoos - her views was avoid because they always contain ingredients that are designed to leave a coating on the hair to make it feel more silky - over time those coatings build up and that is what then makes hair feel unruly/rough/dry. She reckoned “moisture containing” conditioners were less of an issue but again said to avoid “frizz preventing” ones for the same reason. Her recommendation was the clarifying shampoo I mentioned before, conditioner and then follow up with Moroccan Oil - which is painfully expensive but a bottle does last an awfully long time as you only use a tiny amount (my first bottle did me at least 4 years I think, and I asked for the second as a Christmas present).  I can genuinely say her advice has completely changed my hair’s condition - I don’t even think of it as frizz-prone any more - well not until I end up out for a run or cycle in the wind & rain and then have to try to get a brush through it afterwards, anyway! 😆

Wednesday2000

EssexHebridean said:

You may find the same as I did there Spendless. The same hairdresser who told me about shampoo amounts also mentioned the “smoothing” type shampoos - her views was avoid because they always contain ingredients that are designed to leave a coating on the hair to make it feel more silky - over time those coatings build up and that is what then makes hair feel unruly/rough/dry. She reckoned “moisture containing” conditioners were less of an issue but again said to avoid “frizz preventing” ones for the same reason. Her recommendation was the clarifying shampoo I mentioned before, conditioner and then follow up with Moroccan Oil - which is painfully expensive but a bottle does last an awfully long time as you only use a tiny amount (my first bottle did me at least 4 years I think, and I asked for the second as a Christmas present).  I can genuinely say her advice has completely changed my hair’s condition - I don’t even think of it as frizz-prone any more - well not until I end up out for a run or cycle in the wind & rain and then have to try to get a brush through it afterwards, anyway! 😆

Oh that is interesting!:) Moroccan oil does last ages, I have tried that before.

I was very happy to find some Aveda leave in conditioner in a charity shop the other day. £1 each for two bottles. I assume the charity shop workers didn't realise that the retail price is about £30 each!

Siebrie

I have shoulder length curly hair (think Hermione Granger in her first year at Hogwarts) and I have found that it helps if I put it in a bun on top of my head at night. Just a simple ponytail dead centre on top, then fold it double and wrap the elastic band around it again. Every morning I spray a little water on my hair, from a plant spray bottle, and comb it with a wide toothed comb. I usually wear my hair in a clip or elastic band, to prevent movement at the roots, because I have found that the more my hair moves, the greasier it gets. I wash my hair once a week, using a pharmacy's own brand 'for curls' shampoo, and a conditioner (whichever is on sale).

In other news: Belgian schools are starting cancelling their multiple-day trips to 'the farm', 'the woods' and 'the sea', which are normally part of every primary school's curriculum.

Wednesday2000

My sister-in-law received her £150 PIP payment yesterday so just a few days after mine arrived.

She said she got a full £400 refund payment for her energy. I just checked our bank account (as I do every morning) and OVO are due to take out our normal amount. I thought they would have deducted the rebate from our monthly payment. I'm not sure when we will get the money, but I'm definitely going to keep an eye on it.

dreaming

Wednesday2000 said:

My sister-in-law received her £150 PIP payment yesterday so just a few days after mine arrived.

She said she got a full £400 refund payment for her energy. I just checked our bank account (as I do every morning) and OVO are due to take out our normal amount. I thought they would have deducted the rebate from our monthly payment. I'm not sure when we will get the money, but I'm definitely going to keep an eye on it.

I am also with OVO and they state that if you pay by direct debit, the refund will be paid into your bank account once the DD has cleared. So I will be checking at the end of next week as my payment goes out on 1st, which is a Saturday, so I will start to look for it around Thursday/Friday.

MrsFarmer19

Wet & windy here in the deep dark north of england.  Just been to my beehives to tidy up after extracting the honey yesterday, no stings so I'm winning so far!  Lots of honey to jar up & I'll be selling most of it to friends & neigbours, going to stash the money to go towards xmas gifts.  Tried submitting my water meter reading for past 3 days, apparently I'm not a customer of UU?? I beg to differ! 
Anyway, off to finish a welcome home cake for someone who's mother is moving back here from Florida, arriving tomorrow all being well.
hope everyone is having a good day!

Jxx

Wednesday2000

dreaming said:

Wednesday2000 said:

My sister-in-law received her £150 PIP payment yesterday so just a few days after mine arrived.

She said she got a full £400 refund payment for her energy. I just checked our bank account (as I do every morning) and OVO are due to take out our normal amount. I thought they would have deducted the rebate from our monthly payment. I'm not sure when we will get the money, but I'm definitely going to keep an eye on it.

I am also with OVO and they state that if you pay by direct debit, the refund will be paid into your bank account once the DD has cleared. So I will be checking at the end of next week as my payment goes out on 1st, which is a Saturday, so I will start to look for it around Thursday/Friday.

Oh thanks. I just checked both our emails and neither of us got an email about it for some reason. I just read that we are £208 in credit with them at the moment which will come in handy when the dreaded heating switch on takes place.