Escape to the country & living off savings

thriftylynny

Sorry to hear you're a bit down SYA , I think it's that time of year & way life is for some at mo that gets those close to us on a downer at times ..you're a good friend that's the main thing x Pots looking all on track ! 

Skint_yet_Again

Thanks SQS, Baron_Dale and thriftylynny 😊

Aquafit was very energetic today. Feel shattered 😆 Have found some lino £11.99 m2 with £45 for fitting & £7.99 for spray glue. DF is finishing final touches to kitchen floor / kick boards on Thursday so I will order on Friday. 

I am having my hair cut and blow dried in the morning £25 from household bills pot. I haven’t had my hair coloured for several years now and have gone grey but my hairdresser says it is a lovely grey with warm & silvery tones 👵🏻 It’s just going to be the same short bob but I am looking forward to relaxing and no longer looking like I have been dragged through a hedge backwards! 

Then I am going out with my old school friend for lunch. We are walking to the local pub. They do a mid-week carvery with pud for under a tenner. 😋 Will be paid from this months entertainment budget. 

SuzeQStan

Enjoy the pamper sesh SYA - my SiL is just the same with her hair colour - teenagers stopping her to ask what she uses to get the lovely colour 😍 😂

Time2count

Sorry to hear about your friend, I'm similar, I won't usually confront someone but I will back away subtly - once burned, twice shy.
I honestly think you're great with the heating, I must have cold blood, I can't set it as low as you. Admittedly I try to minimise it by always wearing my fluffy dressing gown around the flat and have a duvet on the sofa!

Skint_yet_Again

Thanks SQS and Time2count 😊

It’s been cold today and the heating has been on when I’ve been home. I usually have at least 2 layers on and I have a throw on my leather sofa that I sit on and another one over my legs. The thermostat is set to 17 and it’s usually 17.5 - 18 degrees when it turns off & 16.5 when it comes back on. 

This months gas & electric bill is £126.84. I have £305 left in the energy pot. I am thinking I may use the pot for this months bill and use the £100 in my budget for a new duvet cover & curtains for my kitchen/ diner. 

Lunch out was 😋 Roast beef carvery, didn’t have yorkshire pud or stuffing, instead opted for loads of veg & choc fudge cake & cream for pud 😁

SuzeQStan

👍🏻 on prioritising the sweet over the savoury SYA - girl after my own heart 🤗😉

think your plan for using monthly energy payment for duvet/ curtains is sound - we are surely past the worst of the cold temps and spring on the horizon so might as well use the pot up! 

Done something similar here but have requested credit refunding back to us.  We keep the house at similar temperatures to you - funny thing is that we spend less on energy now than prior to the energy crisis.  

Skint_yet_Again

Well done on reducing your energy spend SQS 😊

I have seen a nice duvet set £16 and sheet £8, plus new knickers and 2 tops jumped into my basket to make it free delivery 😆 currently £53.50. I will consider the clothes a bit longer before ordering. No impulse spending here 😉

Very dark & grey here this morning. I am grocery shopping at aldee later & round to my friend’s for a cuppa this afternoon. 

thriftylynny

SYA hope you don't mind me asking but do you set your thermostat wen you're in the house to 17 & let it click on & off all day as your bills seem pretty reasonable?  I'm wondering if that mite be better for me as I've been turning my heating off completely soon as it reaches 18 , my small house retains the warmth in the evening but gets cold really  quickly during day ? I could do a test as I have one of those g/e monitor thingys but the damn things only showing electric useage !!

Skint_yet_Again

I don't mind thriftylynny. I set the thermostat when I am home and let it click on and off all day / evening. I turn my heating off when I go to bed at night. This is my first winter in this house and I am quite surprised how reasonable (to me/my budget) my gas bills are as I was worried about big winter bills. I am on a variable rate with no direct debit. 

Shopping done £31.12. Meals this week will be gammon & roasted Mediterranean veg, gammon, cauli & broccoli cheese (cheese sauce made with double cream warmed with grated cheese) & plenty of leftover gammon for sandwiches, omelette. Pork & apple casserole & chicken with chickpea & cauli/broccoli curry. 

MovingForwards

Sounds like you've more than made up for the blip earlier with that fantastic meal and pud, and delightful aqua. 
Glad you're settled on lino and it's great buying the extra homely bits.
Home cooked meals are mouthwatering as always!