We will get this debt down & the savings up

maggiem

@Makingabobor2 you won’t get your shingles vaccine until you are 70 as you must have been over 65 in 2023. Eventually everyone will get shingles vaccination at 65 but those of us who were over 65 on that date have to wait until 70. So my younger sister has had her shingles vaccine (think it’s two injections separated by time) and I’m having to wait for mine.

Makingabobor2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82165915#Comment_82165915

Aah, I understand it now...lol. So next year for me then. My sister had hers & she was 65 in Oct 2025. I turned 65 in June 2022, so just missed it. They do make it complicated

Makingabobor2

Is anyone else so cold today? Or is it just me? Weather app says its 17c but feels like 19, and yet I am indoors wearing leggings, leg warmers, slippers, cami top, T shirt, mid layer, and body warmer…oh, and wrist warmers. I am sat a laptop doing some online stuff and not moving around much at the moment, but I am just so cold. I refuse to put the heating on yet. Went to dance class this morning and even that seemed cold. Nipped to A!d* as it was the best on on my way home, and just needed some sugar, green beans and bread rolls. Definitely warmer outside than it is in here. Maybe I will get up and do a quick aerobics work out for 10 mins.

So, what else has been happening? Well, not much really. The new SC is working well, so the old one is in the boot ready to go to the tip. I was going to drop it off today with some more small electrical bits and a small bag of metal bits, but it was raining when I came back from dancing and I just couldn't be bothered, so left it till next time I go that way. I made enough chicken casserole in it yesterday, for 2 meals and could easily have got another 2 portions in it, so pleased with that. I have ordered some silicone inserts in it to keep it clean, as I am frightened I will break it trying to clean/wash it, as its so big and heavy.

Today is the start of new budget period/pension day and I am currently working my way through money shuffling etc. Credit card that I used yesterday has now been paid off and also today was the day the DDs go out towards the debts. Apparently if I want to make extra payments I need to contact them first to make sure they are paid to the right dept apparently. All the remaining debts are with C*b*t and L!*k, having been sold on from the original lenders years ago. So I am just about to contact them to ask how I go about making the extra payments, over and above our normal payment plan, as & when I have any spare money. Been meaning to do this for ages, but something always seemed to be swallowing the extra money up, but now I am determined to do it.

P/fc seems to still be going well, and at this rate I will probably need to do a SA after April and declare extra income over £1K. I'm at over £800 already since this April. Although I really begrudge having to do that, as my pension is already taxed, but if it means I can earn a bit more through surveys, then its worth it. I call it my home "job"….LOL

Sold another item on V!nt*d, but I spent 32p and used up my earnings to buy a nice fleece top….oops

At the weekend I finally sorted out the understairs cupboard and today I cleaned and tidied the 3 big kitchen drawers and moved all my candles/scented waxes/essential oils, to a basket in another cupboard with no food related stuff in it, as it seemed as though my baking paper and stuff, was starting to smell scented…LOL

Going to start on the cupboards, and have actually ordered some cheap pull out drawers from the BIg River site, as its getting so much harder for me to get down on to retrieve stuff from the back of 2 of the cupboards and consequently I'm not getting baking tins etc out and baking as much as I want to. Think there may be a few bits I can send to the CS when I clear out as well.

Talking of baking, I was reading that it is possible to make bread in a slow cooker and then just give it 10 mins in the oven to brown the top. Has anyone tried that.?? I want to start doing bread, but haven't made bread since I was at school…and that's a very long time ago…LOL So many recipes and different methods and just don't know where to start really.

Finished my latest novel last night, another easy reading romance. Will drop it at the free table at the gym on Wednesday and see if there is anything there I can pick up. Think its time I had something a bit meaty to get my teeth into. Getting a bit fed up with books that are predictable.

So, onwards and upwards now, I need to make this week's meal plan, as hoping we have enough in stock that I don't need to do a big shop this week, which will help with the house keeping budget. Tonight is jacket potatoes and I am using up some bacon I bought for the weekend and we never used. Maybe put some cheese on DH's as well…but I hate cheese. Still got some garden tomatoes and green pepper, so can use that as well.

Baldybear

Do you like historical fiction if so highly recommend ken follett books, not the spy ones but the kingsbridge series, world without end, pillars of the earth etc. Also love a bit of stephen king if thats your thing too 😊

foxgloves

I love the Kingsbridge series of novels.

Makingabobor2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82166541#Comment_82166541

Not familiar with Ken Follett, will have a look. Not a fan of Stephen King at all, just not my thing.

Makingabobor2

Cut off the end of handcream tube. Can't believe how much is still on there that you can't squeeze out. Also, for anyone who uses N*ve* anti aging Q!0....or whatever they call it now, try L*d! instead. Just as good, and less than half the price. Also the N*ve* doesn't smell so nice since they changed the formula.

Makingabobor2

More wind and drizzly rain today. I need sunshine, or at least a bit drier and warmer, as still have some tidying bits to do in the garden

◾️So today's plans are to walk down to the butchers for eggs, much better than supermarket ones and surprisingly, not actually any dearer.

◾️Then I have a list of online stuff I need to get done and also finish off my new planner/diary. I have one that runs from August '26 to Dec '27, but I haven't got round to filling it all in yet.

◾️Make a Christmas list of food/baking stuff needed as well as a present list…which will be very short as we only really buy for grandkids, and mostly give money with just a little present for them to open. I may buy a little something for DH ( maybe a book, as we don't really give each other anything…waste of money), my sister, my lovely BF and maybe my dad. But it gets harder every year knowing what to buy him, at 94. I think I still have cards left from last year, so will dig them out and have a look. We only send cards to my dad, Inlaws, and my BF. As you will know from previous years, I am a scrooge and not a great fan of Christmas.

◾️Oh, and I have 1 window left to clean. For some reason I forgot the dining room the other day, so must get that one done.

If I have any spare time I would like to get some piano playing done and maybe start on sorting out another cupboard.

So I best get on. Looks like its raining even harder now, so may leave the trip to the butcher until later, or even tomorrow if it doesn't stop.

Have a good day everyone.

foxgloves

Rain here too. I have 1 garden task I'd like to do this afternoon. It will only take me about 20 mins so I'm minded to do it even if it's drizzly but not if it's raining as much as it is atm. Been quite busy so far. Desk jobs for me now & baking later.