We will get this debt down & the savings up

Makingabobor2

Afternoon my money saving friends.  Just a quick update to let you know that yesterday I received a text from the mortgage company, saying someone would be ringing me yesterday.  Well they never did, or if they did ring on the landline when I was out, they never left a message.  But I logged into our joint bank account today to check a few things and found a £40 bank credit sitting there, with a ref that matches the complaint ref. So looks as though they have sent it as compensation.  So I added another £10 and sent £50 OP to mortgage.  I'm presuming this means they realise they were wrong, so I will wait and see if anyone contacts me on Monday to explain it all, or if we just get an email or letter.  So not a bad result really. 

In other MSE news, DH picked up a TGTG bag from a new  Gr**gs that has opened at a local filling station, on the way home last  night.  Very good value. For £2.95, we got 4 sausage rolls, a veg slice, cheese & bacon wrap, chicken & salad bap, 2 fancy donuts, 2 plain donuts and 2 Yummies. Gave the plain donuts & yummies to DD for the GKs and put the slice and wrap in the freezer.  We had a sausage roll each for lunch and DH had the bap, which he said was very tasty. So this might be one to look out for in the future. 

Went down to the village earlier and had a quick look in the 1 charity shop we have there. Picked up a lovely top for £2.75 and a beautiful vase for £1.50.  I don't normally buy household knick-knacks as I am all about getting rid of stuff and decluttering, but I just fell in love with the vase and thought it will look lovely on the kitchen table when I sometimes manage to find some reduced flowers in the local C00p.  Will see if I can manage to upload a photo of the vase later....never done photos on here, so not sure how easy it is. 

Just sent this months readings to the tentacled ones and was disappointed to see that this month's bill was only £6 less than last month's, at £204!!  I really thought I had cut down a lot with the heating etc, and also we now have an air fryer, so have only used the oven once this month.  I know I did use the tumble dryer 3 or 4 times this month, so may have to cut that down a bit, but some days its so hard to get stuff dry indoors and just no more room on the airers . At least its outside blowing in the wind today on the line.  So I am going to put the CH to come on 20 mins later every morning and see what difference that makes. Thermostat is only set on about 16-17c as it is.  I think I need to get back into batch cooking more as well, as I am sure that saves money. When I broke my wrist I wasn't really able to do that, but should be ok again now.   Still on the positive side, we are still £156 in credit, with the next payment of £130 due on 24th, so that will put us at £286 in credit by the time the next reading is due.  My mission is to get it down to at least £175....so any more tips will be welcome. 

Anyway, hope you all have a good afternoon/evening. I am off to look for some surveys now, finish my jigsaw and watch Strictly tonight.  

Makingabobor2

Well that was easier than I thought to post a photo.  I'm sure it will look even better with flowers in

Four_Seasons

Oh it's lovely xx

Sun_Addict

It’s a lovely vase. Congratulations on posting your first photo 👏

marionmgcars

I had smart meters installed as was away from home lots and difficult to get meter readings done.  However after one went haywire I decided I might want to change back, now I’m retired readings would be no problem.  I was told the cost would be £100 for each meter !  So stayed with smart meter and keep a sharp eye in them.  Always be sure you want to change.  X

Makingabobor2

Afternoon all.  Its very cold & damp here. 
Well on the MSE front I have some excellent news. 
*At the weekend we were given an unexpected cheque from DH's dad,  and I have sent an extra £1000 OP to the mortgage today. That means that by the time the next normal monthly payment comes out on the 31st, we will be starting the year below £20K of mortgage. I can feel that MFD getting closer by the week. 

*Mr S delivery finalised and I had over £8 of vouchers & Nectar points to apply, so that helped as well

*Managed to get the Kindle recipe book that Sun_Addict mentioned in her diary. Pleased with that. 

Think that's about it for money saving today. Surveys are very slow, although I do have some to cash out on P/fc in a minute. 
My new budgets and savings pots are just about sorted for 2024, just a bit more tweaking to do and a few lines needing to be drawn in the book and lovely coloured pens applied.  I really feel that after the few months since my state pension kicked in, I have managed to get a much better grip on things and we are doing so much better.  I mean we even managed to buy a cordless vacuum and an air fryer in the last couple of months, and pay for it. The vacuum was definitely needed as with my broken wrist I was really stuck with our old monster of a Dyson. Loving the new Vax, can whizz round the house in no time and the suction is amazing. The air fryer could be argued that is wasn't actually "needed", but after doing lots of research I came to the conclusion that for the 2 of us, it would save money by not having to use the oven so much.  It certainly seems to cook quickly and so far, I'm very happy with it. Apart from the amount of space it takes up on the work top....lol

So that's about all the news for now I think. Lots to do tomorrow, starting with Mr S delivery between 6-10, they will email me in the morning with the 1 hour slot. Hoping its actually an early one as DH leaves for work at 7.30 and its a lot easier if he's here to help unload it all while my wrist is still not 100%.  I have ordered twice as much as a normal week, but looking at the grocery budget, I think we will still be ok as won't want much for next couple of weeks and my 4 week period starts on Jan 8th

Off to do my wrist exercise now, as it is "Giving me jip" as my mum used to say

Have a good evening. 

Makingabobor2

Well I just typed a whole load of stuff out and thought I'd pressed post and obviously didn't, and its now vanished. Probably posted it on someone else's diary by mistake....lol

so just a quick one really as I am needing to get on with dinner now. 
Mr S delivery all arrived safe and sound. Spent the morning freezing parsnips and tonight I will get DH to chop the swedes for freezing as I find them still too hard with my wrist. Carrots in fridge as we will eat them quicker and only ordered 1 bag. Sharing a red cabbage with DD who lives down the road, as neither of us eat enough to buy a whole one. 
* Cashed out £10.80 on P/fc so a good day there. 
* DH got turkey cobs for lunch at work today, so that saved him having to take a packed lunch. He also tells me he has a nice tin of shortbread to bring home....will hide those I think...lol

Tomorrow I have allocated as baking day, ( was actually going to make shortbread...lol) so lots of cakes and things on the horizon. 
Speaking of baking. What plastic containers does anyone recommend for storing flour etc?  I have used glass jars for years, but finding my wrist is not so strong now and my grip not so good and a bit worried about dropping them as I get them down from the cupboard. Anyone suggest the best airtight, BPA free containers? 

Ok now I need to dash off and do my wrist exercises and start dinner. Spuds/veg are all prepped for mash and we have salmon fishcakes with it. 
Have a good evening

Sun_Addict

You won’t regret getting an air fryer. I haven’t used my oven for over 3 years now. Be warned they have a tendency to breed 🤣 I started off with one and now have three. 

I just store my flour in the bag it came in but I don’t bake so don’t buy it that often. 

How lovely to get the unexpected cheque 🙂

marionmgcars

I put a small amount in a plastic tub and freeze the rest until I need it as font use it very often x

Blackcats

how lovely to receive that cheque and very sensible use of it too.  we are all getting very grown up and sensible now aren't we???  back in the day I would have spent that as soon as the cheque had cleared in my account, or sooner if there was a way to do so.