Resourcefulness: The budgeter's friend

EssexHebridean

Raining here too now - pffft! It wants to flipping well stop by the time I leave here in an hour, I can tell it that much! 

CRANKY40

You seem to have the rain that the weather guess promised for us by 4pm when i checked this morning. There's no sign of ours yet so I'm happy that I watered the newish plants myself the last two days instead of waiting for mother nature to do it. 

Makingabobor2

We've had rain this afternoon and its been cold all day. Really had enough of it now. Had to relent and put the heat on, its that cold. 

themadvix

We are on a different to standard tariff with the Cephalopods because of the electric car and like everyone else, our rate went up slightly at the beginning of April. But on 15th (I think), we had an email saying the rates would be dropping as of midnight the following night - so I think you’ll be fine with the Cephalopods Foxgloves. They are not your usual energy company.

foxgloves

I don't have any complaints about the Cephalopods tbf @themadvix. They communicate clearly & when I had a smart meter problem, it was dealt with professionally, effectively & importantly, I dealt with the same named individual throughout. Probably the best energy provider we've been with. At the other end of the scale (the cesspit end) was one of the Big Six, who after an ongoing dispute told me they agreed with my figures (which clearly showed they were over-charging by a country mile) but didn't intend reducing my DD. So that was 'Bye bye' from us!
It's more the wider oil & gas producer industry I don't trust, as well as other huge rip-off  businesses who use shameless price-gouging during a cost of living crisis to massage upwards the trajectory of their shareholder profits. And instead of blaming this practice for keeping inflation high, we are instead encouraged to blame nurses & other public sector workers for asking for meaningful pay-rises after years of 'austerity' wage freezes or below inflation 1%/1.5% pay awards.
I shall be making a placard in a minute!
F x

2Scratters

@EssexHebridean - re your renewals... is your breakdown cover just one policy covering you both. I contacted RAC this year about the price and got it halved for 18 months at £66 and also claimed a loyalty offer (can't remember what it was though). We are both covered either as driver or passenger in any vehicle. 
I didn't like how OCtpus reduced our normal payment whilst being subsidised. I had for a couple of months paid manually the difference then took my eye off the ball so only £16 in credit. They wanted £112 but I did not want to pay more than £100. They were fine about it and reduced it accordingly. I will be putting the balance of money that would have gone from our account to bring it up in due course to where it would have been. At least not in debt so that's still good.

2 Scratters xx

themadvix

foxgloves said:

It's more the wider oil & gas producer industry I don't trust, as well as other huge rip-off  businesses who use shameless price-gouging during a cost of living crisis to massage upwards the trajectory of their shareholder profits. And instead of blaming this practice for keeping inflation high, we are instead encouraged to blame nurses & other public sector workers for asking for meaningful pay-rises after years of 'austerity' wage freezes or below inflation 1%/1.5% pay awards.
I shall be making a placard in a minute!
F x

Yes.... couldn't agree more!! Feel free to get your placards out! (Don't pretend you don't already have them ready-made somewhere - we know you too well! 😂)

foxgloves

@themadvix - Well, I'd be lying if I said I'd never been on a demo (starting with one of the big anti-Thatcher marches in London) & I've been involved in politics locally in the past. I took a break when I lost both my parents within barely a year of each other, plus one of my best friends. It just got too much. We were just getting geared up to getting politically active again when the pandemic struck, so it didn't happen. I will probably return to it at some point, but have no intention of standing for election again.
F

Four_Seasons

Happy Birthday Foxgloves hope you have had a lovely day xx

foxgloves

Thanks, @Four_Seasons. I had a gentle day, as am not feeling 100%, though am functional & am uncomfortable more than in pain now. We went out to a nice farm shop cafe for our breakfast & I treated myself to some plants. I really enjoyed opening all my lovely presents & cards. Mr F bought me a coldframe, which he put together for me in the afternoon..We had a pleasant evening - watched a film while eating scampi, salted caramel cheesecake & champagne truffles. That's the life, lol.
Not sure about the weather yet this morning - we need to go into town but gardening days may be tomorrow & Monday if it's showery today. If I can get a little time in the greenhouse today though, I will, as have a whole heap of jobs to do.
F x