We will get this debt down & the savings up

Makingabobor2

Just a quick update as been busy all day and need to get on with tea.

Had a busy weekend, a tip run, we washed the car, picked up some light bulbs from Scr*wF*x that can't find anywhere else, apart from the big river site….but they only had them in packs of 5 and were going to charge delivery. Only needed 2. We also went to watch DGS3 in a Taekwando competition, and he got a silver medal. Then I cut DH's hair for him….although always moans that I take too long. I said well the alternative is to go elsewhere and pay £15 every couple of weeks….LOL Been doing it since lockdown now, its getting easy now…LOL

This morning I went to get my hair trimmed and she did it for free, as I had to wait a long time, due to a client turning up before me, who she wasn't expecting, and as the client has anxiety and had got the appointment day wrong, she didn't have the heart to tell her. She is such a lovely hairdresser, works from home, and only charges £20 anyway, but she was adamant she didn't want paying. I might take her some chocs next time.

After that a quick trip to Mr M. Don't often buy much in there, but as the app showed a few extra points on the things I did want this week, fruit/veg and petrol, I decided to give it a go. Over all it is dearer than L*d! but with the points it was worth having just for a few bits. Also their veg is better quality than L*d! if I can't get to the market or farm shop. Got some yellow stickered bread rolls as well….said there was 4 in a pack, but there was actually 5! So that was enough to trigger the £5 voucher, and it also spewed out a £2 voucher as well. So took it back to the car and then had a think about what else I really needed, and decided to nip back in and get some frozen fruit, which I was going to get at L*d! on Weds as theirs is cheaper. , but as I had the voucher thought I might as well get it for free, also some ham. So all in all a good day's shop.

Then made some tasty veg soup which will do more than 1 meal and we will have with one of the crusty bread rolls. Only way I can eat crusty rolls these days is dunked in soup….my teeth aren't what they used to be…..lol.

Also decided on ordering the dehumidifier, and as everyone seems to like the Me*c0 one, I got one of those. Got it through TCB as well, so 10.5% cashback there.

Not had time for any P/fc today, but still have over £16 waiting to approve, and already having a good month. Hopefully there will be some tomorrow when I have more time.

That's it for now. Have a good evening all.

Makingabobor2

Well what a lovely sunny day it has been. Nipped to village first thing as needed milk to make pancakes later. We only every have almond milk in the house unless we get visitors, and I tried that before for pancakes and it wasn't as good. So batter is all made up ready for when DH gets in. He will have some more of yesterday's soup, but a few pancakes is enough for me today. Find them quite filling, and one day of an unhealthy dinner won't hurt. I did have healthy breakfast with fruit and protein with 2 eggs for lunch. I'll put fruit on my pancakes as well, although I suspect DH will drown his in sugar!!!!

Washing pegged out and dry, just needed a quick half hour on the airer.

Decided to make up some home made weed killer and tackle the weeds coming through the slabs in front garden. But I also had to clear up someone's disgusting dog mess from right outside the front gate. Surprised the postie didn't tread in it TBH. Glad we have water butts as it took a lot of water and shoveling and sweeping. It wasn't in a fit state to pick up with a poo bag. Glad that task is over!

Dehumidifier has arrived, but not opened it yet as been so busy. Baked a couple of cakes this afternoon ready for DGS's x 4 all coming for lunch on Thursday, and I am out tomorrow for a bit, so won't have time. Then I did some piano practice. Think I am coming on slowly…..very slowly….lol.

So apart from the milk, it has been a NSD, which is good.

Makingabobor2

Nipped in to L*d! on my way to visit a friend this morning, and was pleased to see that they have taken out 2 tills and replaced with 6 self scan tills. This is brilliant news, as they never get busy enough to need all 8 tills and if you only have a few bits, the self scan tills are so quick. Only thing is, you then have to scan your receipt, to be able to get out through the automatic gate, which I hadn't realised and had stuffed it in my purse! Got a loaf that had been orange stickered by 20% and it didn't scan, so the assistant came to sort it out and said he'd give me 50% discount on it instead…..that was very nice of him. Other than that, no great discounted items, but I only had a few bits anyway.

Opened the dehumidifier last night, but never got round to reading instructions and trying it yet, that is a job for later today or tomorrow I think. This week seems to have been so busy.

Was looking on the tentacled ones website yesterday at our account, and noticed that on their balance predictor thingy, they suggest that our payment could drop to £121 a month, currently paying £135. But we have gone through the winter without going into the red or them asking for us to put up payments, as has happened in the past. So think I need to work this out a bit. Maybe I can reduce it a bit, but not that much. I much prefer to be in credit over winter still, as it makes me feel less guilty having the heating on….and it is still very cold.

Had the next bill from STW, and they are putting our DD up from £35 to £39. So DH is under strict instructions to reduce his usage even further. This is almost a year we have had the meter now….can't believer its gone so quickly. So its still a lot less than we would have been paying on normal water rates. My DD is paying £90! But she does have 4 kids, and they do spend ages in the shower and she does sooooo much washing and has a DW. Because the meter was already there when they moved in over 18 years ago, they won't allow them to go onto normal rates now, which I think is so wrong, as she would actually be paying less, as normal rates are £100, but only over 8 months.

Anyway, that's all for now. Hoping for some P/fc this afternoon, as its been a bit slow this week after such good start to the month

Makingabobor2

Just to add, went back into Oct0p*s and amended the payment down to £130. That extra £5 will cover the new water bill. Will wait and see what C/tax is, I hear rumours its going up by 5%.

Makingabobor2

Finally got back to the gym today, after the road being closed due to burst water main for 2 weeks, and the diversion was awful…narrow lanes and far too much traffic going through it. You should see the road though…..so many potholes! I swear our county is the worst in the country for potholes. Some of them are massive. Anyway, the gym was great, although starting to get a bit busy by the time I left. On the way out I stopped to look at the Free Book Table in the foyer, and managed to pick up a nice recipe book of tray bakes. I will probably just write down any interesting useful ones and then donate the book to CS or take it back to the table next time. Its such a lovely idea. I often donate our books to the table now.

After that, quick trip to the library to return 2 books and picked up another 4. I'm being really good this year, and not actually bought any books at all, not even in CS. Every time I get one from the library, I am putting £1 to debt pot or holiday pot or something. In fact I didn't even look at the books in there when I nipped in today.

Not much else to report. Just about to tidy kitchen and have a quick shower and wash my hair. DH now has to work an extra Saturday morning tomorrow, so I can have a lazy start and then get some cleaning done, before he gets home.

foxgloves

Great idea about library use & £1 to your debt pot.

Makingabobor2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81892735#Comment_81892735

Thanks, you know what they say….Mighty oaks from little acorns grow….LOL

Blackcats

good idea to put £1 per book into a kitty. I'm probably irresponsible but I'd use it for holiday treats. That bag of chips or coffee treat will feel like a great reward.

Makingabobor2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81892875#Comment_81892875

Very true. I do have a "fun pot" that I put the odd amounts from the normal current accounts in every day, that mounts up quite quickly and we use that for things like that as well. Then I sometimes put some of my survey money into it. It all goes towards the odd little breaks away, or something.

Sun_Addict

The potholes situation is dire here too. My local area has even made it onto the news with them. There’s been a problem with potholes locally ever since I can remember but it seems the situation has suddenly got much worse and they’re cropping up everywhere. I don’t drive but have noticed the roads getting worse as a pedestrian.