So close, we can smell mortgage freedom!

try_harder

themadvix .You are always so good at money saving ,very inspiring 

EssexHebridean

TMV I have the iPhone 12 mini and absolutely love it! I had an original SE before, and hung on and on to replace it until they released the replacement - then before I got round to committing to that they then released the 12 as well so I compared and decided the extra was well worth it. I feel that the battery life on this one is holding out far better than on previous ones too - mine is now over 2 years old and still holding charge really well. 

themadvix

Ah, thanks Try Harder, I'm not sure I am, but I appreciate the sentiment! 

EH, that is really helpful info, thank you. The batteries on the newer ones are much bigger, so I'm hoping that would help too. The 7 doesn't get iOS updates (apart from security ones) any more, and this is beginning to be an issue with our Homepods etc. too.  I like the size of the 7/SE/12 mini, which is why I was heading in the SE direction - suspect that might be the same for you - the others seem huge and I like to be able to use mine one-handed!

(Honestly, before 2019 we were the biggest anti-Apple, 'idiot-phones' people and now you'd think our house was a (refurbished) Apple showroom 🙄🤣).

Well I've discovered the problem with cycling (aka exercise) is that it makes afternoon naps much more appealing.... whoops! My main client keeps telling me I'm on track though (as he sends more work through), so it can't be too bad.

Received the plot sign I'd ordered for my allotment in the post - except it's definitely not mine! Messaged the seller and he's going to send the right one and a return label for me to send the other one back. It looks good though, so that's something.

I did start looking at home insurance yesterday, but then Mr MV pointed out that I need to check about solar cover (and battery - which is housed in what an insurance co would call an outhouse) - which is a whole other pita, so I'm going to ring our current insurer first as their policy document only seems to mention solar hot water, not PV. Maybe I should find the appropriate forum on here... Before that came up I'd found a much cheaper policy only to discover it didn't include cover for locked garages or outhouses.... which we definitely need! Why is it so difficult?!

And then there'll be bike insurance if I buy an e-bike - better to add onto the house insurance or get a separate policy? Aaargh! Oh, and I never did sort laptop insurance - which maybe I should do rather than adding it onto the home insurance.... I hate insurance renewal time!

badmemory

I must admit I sometimes miss the days (like 50 yrs ago) when you popped into an insurance agents office & asked for what you needed & that was that.  It is almost as if they design in failure now.

themadvix

That sounds like bliss badmemory... but probably relatively more expensive than it is these days. 

badmemory

It wasn't as bad as it sounds because it didn't involve house insurance.  If you had a mortgage you had to insure through the mortgage holder, now that was expensive.  My house & contents ins is still only half what it was 25 years ago.

Baileys_Babe

@themadvix we use https://www.eta.co.uk/bicycle-insurance/
for cycle insurance, they also insure e-cycles ad well as cycle recovery.

themadvix

badmemory said:

It wasn't as bad as it sounds because it didn't involve house insurance.  If you had a mortgage you had to insure through the mortgage holder, now that was expensive.  My house & contents ins is still only half what it was 25 years ago.

I had forgotten that you used to have to get insurance through the mortgage provider - before my time, but I've heard so much about how things were tied in as my in-laws used to work in banking (the branch variety, not the irresponsible high-up variety).

themadvix

Baileys_Babe said:

@themadvix we use https://www.eta.co.uk/bicycle-insurance/
for cycle insurance, they also insure e-cycles ad well as cycle recovery.

Thanks BB, that's worth knowing. I had a read of Martin's pages on bikes/insurance last night - it seems there are a few specialist ones. If I buy the bike I'm planning to, I hopefully won't need recovery - it's a folding one, so that I can be recovered by Mr MV when I've had enough! 🤣 Mum lives 18km away, between us and Mr MV's work, so potentially I could cycle to her and then him give me a lift home if I pop down during the week. (Or similar - I do have a fear of being stranded!)

themadvix

Morning all,

Stir fry from leftover Olio was horrible last night - Mr MV ate it but I thought there was something chemically smelling about it, so I just picked out the noodles (which I'd bought). No adverse effects so hopefully it was just my sense of smell. I'm thinking we might have burger and chips tonight as I have a couple of plant-based (Olio) burgers in the freezer and found a beef one in there yesterday too. I need to do a freezer inventory too - it's rather full and I'd like to minimise any food spending for the rest of the month now. (*Goes off to cancel tomorrow's pint of milk as bought some yesterday*) Supermarket delivery came yesterday - £55 (but in the end Mr MV paid) as well as a cat delivery - litter, big sack of food - £75. The cat fund is about to look rather sorry for itself as it's vaccinations time - I think we need to up contributions to it as the price rises have taken their toll (and that's without factoring in the price rises for the vet visit).

A friend is visiting for a cuppa this afternoon so I'm trying to get caught up on work this morning and I need to visit the cats. Just the long-term ones today, so I might walk - will see how I get on with work. Picking up the key for another repeat customer this evening. Also need to collect 10 bananas from Olio/cat friend who covered my slot last night... that may have to wait until I have the car, unless I do really well with the work!

MS things:
* Clicks and HW done - nada again today!
* Must post an Ebay sale
* Will put d/w on but save the washing as the sun is not making an appearance today
* Have sorted parking plans for the weekend for football - saving £10

Gratitudes:
* Friend is coming to me - while I'll have to hoover, it takes less time than the driving to hers, so more time to get stuff done
* Sister dropped box for ebay parcel round last night after she'd finished work - really appreciated this!
* Gorgeous afternoon sunshine in the living room yesterday (It may have contributed to my cat nap!)

Have a good day all!

ETA: Forgot the major MS point - last Cambridge pay received and transferred in full to savings - back over the nominal £8k mark again, but still not where I should be (stupid roofing payments - hmm.... Mr MV needs to chase that, we've not even had an acknowledgement from Eon yet.)