Escape to the country & living off savings

Skint_yet_Again

Thanks SQS. 😊 

Sunny morning and not cold. Caught the bus into town with DF (2x £2 return for me). Fish & chips & mushy peas each, bread & butter for DF, pot of tea 2 cups each) £16. My turn to pay so I used the £20 in my purse. 

Bought a torch £1.35 for my emergency cupboard using cash in my purse. Also bought 2 pair of boots in shoe zone. A brown pair £16.99 and black ankle boots £19.99 total £36.98 paid from household bills pot. 

SQS you might want to consider buying online I have before & free delivery at the moment. I do prefer to try boots & shoes first before buying and as I was going into town I tried them in store first on this occasion. 

Raining here now. It’s turning cooler so I have put a fleece on over my cardi and am under a throw. I think I will put my winter quilt on my bed for tonight 

MovingForwards

Thank goodness the pool is warmer as it would put you off going when you're doing so well.

Did you buy a dehumidifier? As it's worth running during winter to help dry washing.

SuzeQStan

After reading your latest post SYA I decided to go ahead and get the thermal backing on the curtains attached.  

Have thought about a dehumidifier - was just concerned how much they cost & cost to run. 

Skint_yet_Again

I got one from scr3w f!x but it only does one room with the doors shut. Approx £130. I bought it just for my kitchen/diner. It has a drying clothes function and a timer but you can’t run it on a separate timer. On maximum setting for an hour I believe it uses 0.3kwh. So it then depends on your tariff for example 21.215p/kWh 

0.3kWh x 21.215p x 10 hours = 66.645p This would only be if it ran constantly for 10 hours. You can set the humidity level and once it reaches that level it stops condensing so does not use as much energy for the whole 10 hours. 

I was thinking if it was around £1 a day it doesn’t sound much but per 30 day month it would be £30 😳 I have been looking at a more expensive one (over £300) that will do the whole house so that the doors don’t have to be closed all the time but I need to do more research into how effective they are, timers and cost per kWh. 

SuzeQStan

That’s brill thanks SYA -

to be fair if I think about it £1 a day really isn’t too bad if it means the gas central heating can be on for less etc.  For me it’s the outlay of the dehumidifier itself.  Wonder if they ever come up used/ reconditioned for cheaper might keep an eye out 

Skint_yet_Again

Have spent today at home. Did some cleaning this morning and put Somerset pork in the slow cooker. DF came round for a cuppa. Have been reading this afternoon and just finished another book so decided to go for a walk. Headed up to the church, the village trees have changed to their autumn colours and started shedding their leaves plus conkers on the floor. 

Took back the 3 books borrowed from the community library in the old red phone box and borrowed 2 more. 

Aquafit tomorrow then I will call off at asd@ for a hot roast chicken using the last of the cash in my purse / bank account. Plenty in my freezer & stores to last until I “pay” myself again on Monday. Have adjusted my budget for October as it’s a 5 week month and my new direct debit for gas & electric will be starting. I have enough petrol to last next week so I shouldn’t need any extra for October. My friend is on holiday so no tea & cake this week 😇 but might treat myself to an ice cream if the van comes round over the weekend 😆

SuzeQStan

Ice cream treat at the weekend sounds just the ticket 👍🏻😊 

sorry if I missed it but has your direct debit gone up for gas and leccy? The five week month has bit here too - am praying for dry weather at weekend so we can get out and do something MSE free otherwise it’s beans on toast LOL

Skint_yet_Again

I’ve switched my g&e supplier to a fixed no-smart meter tariff. I paid the bills on receipt after monthly meter readings before & anything left from £100 a month I put aside for winter. Now based on annual usage over the last 12 months my new amount is £77 a month. I also have £90 compensation on the account as a credit. They suggested I lower the direct debit but I will leave it at £77 and see how it goes. It will be hard if I go into minus figure over winter but I should pay that off over the summer when I use less than £77 so I just have to keep my nerve. 

I think the forecast is dry here for the weekend 🤞so I’m hoping to get some washing dried outside. 

Skint_yet_Again

Had a phone call just before 9am advising aquafit is cancelled due to instructor being ill. Am at a bit of a loss what to do today.

It’s sunny between showers so not planning to do any washing and don’t want to get caught out in the rain on a walk. Think I might have a clean and sort out my kitchen cupboards. Also could clean the inside of my windows and doors. 

Gammon in the slow cooker. Just having a cuppa. Might start my new book. 😆

Skint_yet_Again

Chilly morning down to 15 degrees according to my thermostat but bright and sunny ☀️ I’ve opened the curtains in my bedroom and living room to let the sun warm the rooms. Just had cereal for breakfast with warm milk 😆

It brightened up yesterday so I got a load of washing hung out. Niece came to DF’s in the afternoon so I went round for a cuppa and baby cuddles 🥰 

Tidied the kitchen, loaded the dishwasher and brought in dry washing. More washing to do today. Planning to go for a walk later. Am booked in for my flu & Covid jabs in October and will have to buy some vit D as I am usually deficient in the winter.