We will get this debt down & the savings up

Makingabobor2

Yes @Sun_Addict, he certainly does think he is invincible.  If we try and say anything, he just changes the subject. I've told him if he falls and breaks a hip he will be in hospital and then not allowed to live alone after, and if he falls and hits his head, he could die of a brain bleed, which is what happened to his 94 year old brother earlier this year.  But he just doesn't think these things will ever happen to him. Hey ho, all we can do is let him get on with it. 

Anyway, afternoon all.  What a hot one it is. I am not a fan of really hot weather, I prefer it just low to mid 20's.  So no plans to go out today, which is actually good, as I am waiting for the plumber to come and fix a leaky sink that we discovered on Saturday. No idea what's happened, but we did have a new tap installed a few months ago, so imagine its to do with that. 

Everything's ticking along here. Done some financial admin today and sorted out a few things. Amended a few transfers for getting the debts down.  hoping that if we are seen to be paying slightly more, there might be a few F&F settlements on offer. They did offer us one the other week, but wouldn't allow me to spread it over 3 months, and we didn't have enough in the F&F pot. 
  Checked the spread sheet, and there was £2 more in the bank than the spread sheet showed. So sent it to the Christmas pot. 
Just started the meal plan for the week, but too hot to think about food...lol.  Its jacket spud tonight and I'll think about the rest in a bit when I check the freezer. 
My new planner is just about sorted, so everything is in one place now. Saturday and today have been NSD's, but I did spend in the C00p yesterday. Went in to drop off the plastic recycling and they had broccoli reduced to 40p and they actually looked really good still. So got 2 of those and also an orange stickered sourdough loaf. 

More decluttering been done and finally got rid of the old keyboard on freebie FB page. The last woman who wanted it, never turned up and even after rearranging she didn't bother. There is only so long I will keep hold of things for people. 

Both the water butts are now empty!  Can't believe I may have to resort to tap water to keep the veggies alive.  I am still catching water in a bowl in sink when I can and chucking washing up water over the lawn.  So hoping for some rain soon.  I'm not watering all the flowers, only a couple of special ones that were given to me. If the others die, so be it.  I need the water for the veggies.  Speaking of veggies, there were a few more raspberries and strawberries over the weekend, and a small courgette. 

While on the subject of raspberries, something is eating the leaves near the bottom.  I read online it could be earwigs, and that you should make a trap with veg oil and soy, and bury it just below the soil.  Anybody ever tried this, or got any other tips? 

P/fc is doing really well this month, just over £100 so far. So really pleased with that. Expect it will be quite a bit less in July and August, they are normally quiet months. 

Want to go and sort out the clothes ready for when we go away for a few days next month, but it is so hot upstairs I think I might have to leave it for another day. 

Makingabobor2

Well just had an email from one of the creditors.  Can't believe they employ such idiots.  She said that she thanked me for my email, but was concerned that the debt would take 20 years to repay at the amount I was suggesting!!!!  Oh dear, somebody best go back to school and learn to do simple multiplication and division!!!  

Makingabobor2

How can we be 4 days into July already?  Where is the year going? 

Things are still going well here. Had the email from the tentacled ones, as our fix runs out in August. The new 12 month fix they are offering will be £10 a month cheaper apparently, and we are £316 in credit, so sounds like a good one to me.  Seems like the price per KWH has gone down for the electric, but up a bit for the gas. So we should be quite a bit more in credit by the start of winter, and we also have 12 days away in November, so that should all help. Hoping for a nice mild winter. 

Washing is blowing in the wind, and probably already dry TBH.  Just been to the CS with another bag of stuff, decluttering is continuing at pace.  

Had a nice email from one of our creditors, saying thankyou for increasing the payments, and they would be happy to engage with us on any final settlement offers we cared to make.  Worth thinking about for when we have saved a bit more. I am determined to get these gone asap.  

Just a bit of an update for those of you who remember the problem we had with next door's barking dog. Well, the tenant who owned the dog ( the house is rented out to 3 different people), has now moved out, after being arrested for something drug related.  We were worried about the state of the overgrown back garden, (I'm talking really high, weeds and grass at least 3' or more) in there as none of them did anything about it, and as I suffer really badly with allergies and hayfever etc, it has been a nightmare at night as our main bedroom faces the back and having the window open and fan on has just been practically impossible for me.   Anyway, yesterday I was taking the bins in and a chap came out and introduced himself as one of the new tenants, and it turns out he is a landscape gardener and is making a start on clearing the garden as well as decorating the house, which apparently was pretty dire inside, due to "dog lady".  Can't tell you how much better that makes me feel. Just to be able to look out on the garden when he's done it and not see it looking such a mess. 

P/fc studies seem to have started off well this month, currently got over £30 in the pot waiting to cash out later today, this included part 2 of one I had forgotten all about as the first part was 6 months ago, that was worth over £8, so definitely worth doing.  I am trying to share the survey money these days, between my personal spends/debts/holiday pot.  I'm sure others may have other ideas as to what is best, but it works for me. 

Off down to DD's later to sit with the 2 youngest for half hour, while she takes the 2 eldest to their school prom....how can they be that age already. Doesn't seem 5 mins since I used to pick them up from school 2 days a week when DD was working.  Makes me feel old......lol. 

Well that's about it for now.  Dinner tonight is a TGTG Gr**gs bake that has been in the freezer for ages for DH, a piece of fish from freezer for me.  DH likes fries with his & mushy peas, but I may make a mash of sweet potato, carrot and broccoli for me.  If I make extra then I can save some for another day.  Not had any good TGTG bags lately, they seem to all sell out before I look.  

Sun_Addict

Great news about the new neighbour and that the dog lady has moved on 🙂

ladyholly

Your new neighbour sounds a great improvement over a barking dog and having a hay field next door.

Makingabobor2

Well, I seem to have been so busy lately, with no time to update.  
So far, the new neighbour has not turned out as hoped. He smokes "nasty stuff", with the windows open and it drifts into our bedroom. I have had to start shutting window again and having the fan on instrad, with the windows in the other side of the house open, in the hope that some fresh air comes through at night. It is really disgusting smell.   Also he has decided to start playing very loud music at all hours. So I have put a note in the door, asking him to respect the fact that we are a semi detached house and we can hear is  music all over the house, even with the windows closed.  The other thing, a large pile of rubbish appeared last week, next to our garage....we are in a block of 4 garages, and there is a large space next to ours, designated as extra parking space according to our house deeds.  I am talking massive amount of rubbish here....old chairs, stools, plastic bins, loads of cardboard, metal stuff. So DH happened to see him down by the garage, and he assured DH that it wouldn't be there for long and he would be disposing of it. Well, a week later and its still there.  Its not like he doesn't have time, as he doesn't appear to go to work, even though he told me he was a landscape gardener, he seems to spend all day in his bedroom with open windows,  music, and lots of beer bottles lining the window sill. So we'll give him the benefit of the doubt, but its not looking as good as I had hoped. 

Anyway, enough of my moaning. 

In MSE news, the debts are going down, another £140 paid off the total yesterday
P/fc has started very well this month, but not had much time the last couple of days to log in, and next week we are away Mon -Fri, so hoping for a few more before we go and a good 10 days after we get back. 
Yesterday and today are NSD's and all savings pots are looking ok. Our break away is all paid for next week, so just need to top up the petrol (money already in the pot), and get ourselves something to eat on the Monday evening, all food is paid for from then onwards.

Nipped into the C00p the other day and they had loads of orange stickered crumpets, so a got a fw and popped them in freezer. 

Finally found a lovely pair of crop trousers on V*nt*d for just £4 and they arrived today and actually fit!  that is something I am grateful for. They are currently on the washing line and then a quick iron and they will be ready to go. Normally I find it so hard to find trousers that fit.

Garden is coming on, starting to get tomatoes now and the courgettes are still going strong, after a bad, slow start. Definitely going to try and look into some sort of green house/cold frame etc for next year, and get some more big planters/pots. 
Will be moving as much as I can into the shade on Sunday evening and trying the water bottle method to keep stuff watered for a few days. DD would normally come round, but they are all in Florida!...way too hot!!! But looks like they are having an amazing time.

that's about it for now. Best get on with a few jobs. 

badmemory

Is it possible that his gardening involves an expensive money crop & that is what you can smell?

honeybee1234

That's disappointing about the new neighbour @Makingabobor2. Sounds like he's armed with good intentions but not so able to carry through? The smoking 'things' issue would definitely annoy me as well. Here's hoping he gets everything sorted ASAP.

Bet you're looking forward to your break, you sound really organised with it which I can only aspire to be! 

Blackcats

Hope the rubbish is cleared quickly and the new neighbour starts to be a bit more respectful about his noise, mess and puffing.

Makingabobor2

badmemory said:

Is it possible that his gardening involves an expensive money crop & that is what you can smell?

No, I think he is smoking it & not growing it...lol.  There are 3 tenants & its only a 3 bedroom house, so no room to grow & they have the windows wide open. Just a shame his bedroom is next to ours.