Mortgage Free now aiming for FIRE

TallGirl

Between meeting I decided to check if I could get a better deal from Vig@n and glad I did. We pay £90 and it is going up to £110 in April. It was so easy on the chat I got £70 for the same package for 18 months and when I pushed them I got £79 with almost double the internet speed. That will go up to £110 in April so more for less in effect. 

Got my refund approved from LTS sad thing is I really want that hoodie as it goes with my trousers. It costs to order from them so I asked for a replacement when I sent it back but looks like they ignored it. I have put a ticket in lets see what they say as it would stop me spending £75 on there (even in the sale) as I do not need more clothes just to save the postage. 

First window quote in £150 we shall see what the second one says coming today hopefully. 

Update LTS will refund the delivery charge so order the 3rd on of these tops fingers crossed this does not have any issues with it. I also did not order anything else from LTS as I really do not need any more clothes. 

Window guy seemed really nice and knowledgeable so fingers crossed he will come back with the quote soon so it can get done. He came back with a professional quote £234 incl VAT and toughened glass so gone with them as they came out and the other one I had to chase. So glad that is now being sorted and can come off my list.  

To do for January:
Get cracked window fixed - accepted the quote
Book lunch for Civil Ceremony
Write wows
Get coat/jacket to cover dress 
Book hotel to use voucher by end of Feb 

TallGirl

We had an email from the event we are going to on Saturday in London they are overbooked would anyone like to give up their ticket. We are happy to do that as much as it was a great thing to do and would have been fun there would have been other costs such as drinks (its a swanky restaurant so even non alcoholic would add up). So we get £50 back on the dinner tickets but we cannot get the train tickets refunded but they were only £45 for both of us. Not the end of the world but still annoying. 

I could move the train tickets to another time but we have no need to go to London and the other tickets are a lot more money so I do not really see the point. It is still very annoying to lose £45 not MSE at all. 

Our friends who are coming to the small Civil Ceremony has invited us to lunch next month so talk about the prep. That has kind of got us spurred on we really need to get this sorted. There is not a lot to sort out but still needs doing. Thank goodness it is such a small event just shows how useless we are at getting things done. 

My meeting wasn't too late last night so that was good but I am going to the gym instead tonight for the one I missed yesterday. The cat also has the vets today for his teeth so DG needs to bring him back this evening I am just taking him. 

Also my S&S ISA has landed in MoneyB@x so should get £20 for the transfer and my ISA's are now only in 2 places not 3. 

Final spend of the day was a filter for our hot tap. Now I do remember then changing the system so you had to upgrade. Usually they are £80 for a filter that lasts about 6 months. The new system is £245 but can last 18 months to 24 months. Now I do not want to spend that sort of money so I have bought a copy from The R@nge for £71 that feels better as this should hopefully be the last one as the 2 we have just used lasted 18 months.

Right enough procrastination best do some work.

TallGirl

Cat has been taken to the vet the max bill could be £900 really hope it is not that much as we are not insured. Cat is 10 years old so would have been expensive even when we got him. When we move and we both work in the same area I want to make sure there is enough pots to pay for vet etc it is very inconvenient to have a vet bill and a window repair in the same month. 

Waiting for a call to start and I am struggling to get into work today for some reason. I have some big stuff to do but it is so boring so as always putting those off incl my PDR's does anyone even like doing those. 

Planning an actual work visit to a site about 2 1/2 hour away next month overnight. I will be taking the car so should be a nice trip. 

stoplurking

Hi TG
I use Trainline for my train tickets and have been able to have my costs refunded after plans changed and I no longer needed to travel.  Maybe you will be able to do that via your booking site.  

I hope your cat is ok after vet visits and treatment.  

Have a good weekend. SL.  

Watty1

Hope cat is ok.

TallGirl

Thank you Stoplurking I booked with trainline but it was a special off peak ticket or something so not refundable but you could change it for a fee. Problem was I could only change it to the same route and we do not need to go in the foreseeable future plus the ticket prices were just silly like double of what I paid plus obviously there is the admin fee. I might post it on a local facebook page see if anyone wants the tickets for free so they do not go to waste. We have had the credit for the dinner so that is £50 back in the joint account which is helpful.

Watty cat came home very drugged up last night and did not want to eat but this morning he had cleared all the bowls overnight so on the mend. He is not allowed out so that is a pain for his brother but we can let him out of the front door at least. It is only 48 hours so lets see how it goes. Bill was £844 and he might need the rest of the teeth out later on. Poor boy. 

I am so glad it is Friday been a long week. I cannot wait to get rid of January next week is the Mystery Stay so that should be fun. We still need to ask our neighbours if they can cat sit. 

I also need some breakfast before my next meeting no idea why I am so hungry already.  

To do for January:
Ask neighbours to cat sit. 
Get cracked window fixed - being fitted 5/2
Book lunch for Civil Ceremony
Write wows
Get coat/jacket to cover dress 
Book hotel to use voucher by end of Feb 

TallGirl

Morning DG is working today so thought I would come on here and say hi. We are obviously not on the train to London so the tickets did go to waste but hey ho that is life we got the money back for the dinner and the Valentines one is booked instead. Much nicer as it is local and we can also drink by then. 

Did go to the golf range last night had a relaxing if a bit cold time but did not buy any drinks but did stop at Sainsby on the way back. They had 2 meal kits reduced from £9.95 to £4.95 so bought one as I recognised the Chicken Tinga but did not click they are actually Simply Cook Meals. Now those kits are about £2.50 each for the spiced (unless you subscribe) so that is a cheap bargain. Was a bit annoyed with myself for not getting the other kit. The one we did get has 3 chicken thighs in it and says it feeds 4 people. On my original recipe card it says 6 thighs to feed 4 so that is interesting maybe the Sainsbo ones are bigger. Anyway having that tonight as a meal so look forward to them as tacos with pulled chicken in effect. (Removed by Forum Team). It just helps the boredom of finding dishes to cook and I still cook quite a few of them now just got my own spices. 

Anyway today I have sorted the hot tub out by sorting the chemicals and the filters. I have also replaced the hot tap filter too. I have also marinated the chicken ready for tonight. We have let the cat back out so the flap is now open so that is quite good so they are more settled. I am dreading when we move and they have to be kept in. They hate the litter box at all costs and I am not a fan either. 

DG has booked an appointment with a web developer firm to do the new website. DGs cousin also came good and sent us 10 logos to have a look at and they are all really good. We just need to decide colour pallet and sort out what pages we need. Feels like it is really moving forward it is her last week on the course next week. 

I would like to get 3 things listed on Vinted and also play with my new knitting kit. I have tried to have a go at the dandelion pattern it is not that hard but will need practise so I will not start until I can master it. I do still have the other one to complete which is also fun and very easy. If I cannot master the intermediate kit then I can also make the same cardigan again but in blue. 

Tomorrow is a golf match as a team so hopefully be nice weather. 

Enjoy your Saturdays hope you are having a nice time. 

 

LadyWithAPlan

Glad the cat ok but ouch tp the vet bill.

The V day dinner sounds lovely and fun.. 
I may yet try that simplycook link yet
London drink prices - even in pubs are getting super high. My local -  2 glasses of wine are £20+ and in soho 2 drinks = £25-30+  I cant imagine how difficult it will be when the NI changes kick in

savingholmes

Ouch to the vet bill. 

Glad your new business plans and logo are coming together.

TallGirl

Thanks LWAP yes it is expensive to drink in pubs etc we've just been discussing our hotel stay coming up we need to stay dry January or it is going to be not only expensive but also not good for the diet. It is hard though when you have entertainment etc all laid out. I will have to be mindful of the calories I have got lunch out on the Friday with my colleague so need to be mindful of the dinner at the hotel. Breakfast is lovely so can have that Sat plus dinner and then a very small lunch. Sunday we will just have breakfast I am guessing. Really not ideal going away this soon but it will be fun and it is also work.

Yes Savingsholmes it does feel more real now having a logo we still need to find a slogan, thinking hard needs to be ready before DG does her presentation on Friday. We have just agreed to set some time aside today to work on it so she is ready. 

Golf was actually nice if not cold but we did not come last and we played ok as a team Dg was actually better than me for a change. We only had one hot drink then went home to have lunch/dinner. The SimplyCook has enough for two dinners for us and 3 in the freezer we did add some turkey chunks (Lidl had sold out of chicken) as there was so much sauce. At least it shows that SimplyCook is still 4 big portions when you follow the recipe for 4. 

Joint account a bit low and the credit card is building up due to cat and filters but at least no real other spends other than my knitting kits this month. We should not need much from Asd@ deliveries this week as we are not here Fri to Sun. The neighbour can cat sit so that is a relief as well they are likely to move Feb I really hope they stay on until March so they can catsit while we are in Portugal but we will know soon. 

I do have a bit o a buy week this week but not too bad. My Podiatry app is tomorrow I am still struggling with the insoles but they do work so money well spend just need to get the adjustments right. Very handy I paid for a packaged deal so I can have as many adjustments as I like all included in the price. 

In money news my big ISA is doing really well back up so £24K increase since Covid. Also my pension has shot up looking both have increased by nearly £3K since 17/1 so that is nice. Can't wait to up the house back on the market and get moving my sister sent another house through yesterday one I had seen in the right area but it has a massive garden/woodland. In the right price bracket but not been for sale that long.  

Almost forgot I did also sell an item on Vinted only £3 but it was something that was part of a bulk buy so never liked it and it did not fit me. Bit of a pain to post it as it is saying I cannot post it in my local inpost lockers so waiting a bit so see if they come up as an option soon.