Escape to the country & living off savings

SuzeQStan

So very relieved they finally got it right - you really shouldn’t have had to fight as hard as you did for it but at least it’s sorted now and you can focus on Christmas family time and think about your lovely DF.  Biggest hugs to you 🥰❤️

Tresinia511

Hooray for that.  Time for some relaxing now awhile x

KajiKita

Oh finally! What a relief and as you can say, you can relax a bit now and enjoy Christmas and your memories of your dad x

KK

Skint_yet_Again

Thank you Suze, Tresinia and KajiKita 🥰

Have been to meet up with my niece and little lad for lunch 2 meals, 2 refillable hot drinks=£15 & kids eat free including drink in morries cafe. Picked up a few gluten free items on offer for DS’s gf. 

Called off on the way home to deliver Xmas cards to mums brothers (my uncles) & cuppa and chat. 

Have done a round up of bank accounts into my current account. Hair cut thu will be £28 from annual bills pot. Christmas meal out with friend on Friday from this months entertainment pot. Current account stands at £154.35. Still to buy / pay for = 

Friday lunch out £30 ?? 

shopping = £50 ??? = chicken, mushrooms, leeks, soft cream cheese, (pasta bake) & gluten free garlic bread. Plus bacon, eggs, double cream, natural yogurt. I have gluten free pasta & gf fajita kit. 

Petrol to my sisters £50 

Next week = out for carvery with DS & gf & niece & little lad. I would like to pay for this. I think £80 should cover it & I am going to borrow from one of my pots. 

After Christmas now we have probate I should be able to get out of the executor account the money I am still owed (used my diy / interest pot) for death certs £50, insurance on dads house £500, Dads boiler service £85 & EPC £65 plus other bits & bobs (postage stationary etc).

Tresinia511

Sya I love meeting up and going out to eat with friends and family.  Can sometimes pull a bit on the old budget but if not at Christmas, then when,  I say xx

Skint_yet_Again

I agree Tresinia ☺️

Mostly resting yesterday. Went to friends house mid morning for cuppa & called into dads to check all ok on the way back home. 

Sorted online access to his energy provider. Bill currently standing at just over £100 most of which is standing charge and vat. 😕 After Christmas I will take probate into the executor bank to pay all outstanding amounts and set up direct debits for utilities going forward. Once they are paid by Ddebit the cost will go down a little more. 

Had a response following my complaint about probate which mentions further training will be given and they are committed to improving the service. Hope they do as I wouldn’t want anyone else going through the same at such an already difficult time. 

Did I mention the mobile phone refund cheque of £4 finally arrived. You may remember I posted that their process was to send dad a message and gift voucher after we had notified them he had passed away 😡 I will pay that into the executor account too. 

Today I am having my hair cut. Maybe final grocery shop later if I feel up to it. Friends for a cuppa and cake this afternoon then do some more wrapping. I always put wrapping off as long as possible as I really don’t enjoy it. 

SuzeQStan

Can’t believe all your effort required to get that mobile refund cheque!!  😡 

Hope you are feeling a bit better today? 

I dislike wrapping presents as well SYA so I tend to used the gift bags which is quicker/easier.
- and I know you aren’t on the free apps like Ol!o etc but i keep an eye out for used gift bags on there to collect locally as people will often offer used (but still good) gift bags

.  I had a couple collections of these last year after Christmas - about 50 of them in total (!!) so that’s me sorted for years gift wrapping wise 🤣 

xx

Skint_yet_Again

I would love to just shove them all in gift bags Suze unfortunately it’s always been a tradition to spread the gifts all over the floor of the living room and hand them out one at a time 🙄 It seems that it’s only me that hates wrapping 😬 bah humbug 🎁🎄😆

MovingForwards

Glad probate has finally been issued correctly and the mobile has been refunded; these companies need a lot more training for staff when dealing with the bereaved.

Are you able to put a film or play music, pour a glass of cider and tackle the wrapping. Gift bags are not cheap compared to a roll paper.

Hope you're feeling a little better.

Skint_yet_Again

Thanks MF ☺️ I am getting there. Have wrapped my friends gift & just her husbands to do then I can take them with me tomorrow when we go to the garden centre for lunch. 

Hair cut this morning £28 then went to get a few food items in aldee and spent £39.99 😳 Got 2 packs of chicken, 2 packs of bacon, beef, carrots/parsnips/swede/brussels 8p each, cheeses, dips, eggs, bread. Plus biscuits & mince pies for DS (already got gluten free versions for his gf).

Pouring with rain this afternoon so I drove down to friends for cuppa. Bins out when I got home. Now resting. Just a bit more wrapping tonight.