Saving lots in pots!

debtfreewannabe321

Reading this has reminded me I need another pot for things like opticians and dentists! I am working on my EF so I guess it could come from there right now, but it would be good to have a pot to draw from. I have the opticians booked next month, I had to move the appointment from this month because I realised I had no pot there to pay for even the appointment, never mind the glasses so I moved it and will budget it into next month's budget.

~FlowerPot~

debtfreewannabe321 said:

Reading this has reminded me I need another pot for things like opticians and dentists! I am working on my EF so I guess it could come from there right now, but it would be good to have a pot to draw from. I have the opticians booked next month, I had to move the appointment from this month because I realised I had no pot there to pay for even the appointment, never mind the glasses so I moved it and will budget it into next month's budget.

I def need a health pot for dentist and opticians, havent managed to fully fund it though before ransacking it!!! Plus i hadnt anticipated having to cover the kids costs (2 are adults and so have to pay)

~FlowerPot~

This morning I ticked off a job on the Feb to do list ~ clean window sills in upstrairs hall. This took 3 hours! I cleaned the sills and the frames and the glass and the really yucky window crease bits, that were very grim! Plus I then wiped down the walls sorted the bookcases (removed 5 for the CS) watered and dusted the plants and hovered it all up and then did the stairs. So now I have a lovely clean hallway, but I havent cleaned the bathroom, which was job number 2!!

Now resting on the sofa, I have to pace my energy or I will be good for nothing tomorrow! ANd I plan to get going on the hedges again tomorrow if it stays dry.

In a bit I am going to take DS1s GF into town to chase her her dentist. She finally manged to find a NHS dentist taking patients on and signed up but has heard nothing since and this was october. SHe has tried ringing numerous times, but theres never an answer. So we are going in to see if we can make an appointment/find out what going on.

Doris17

Sounds like a productive morning.

MovingForwards

If you've teeth either side ask if it's viable to have a bridge fitted, can't remember the maximum amount that can be missing for it not to be possible.

Great news with surveys, all helps keep the pots fed.

Do you have a website as you could add a notice to say about the charge. Do it as a blanket no X amount of notice means £ charge. When in the clinic have a notice/ poster up and if you've got a printer do little notices to hand out at home visits; should be able to get 2 or 4 on A4, print them at the library, hand cut at home and get a receipt for tax purposes.

That's a very busy and active day, hope you got some R&R.

~FlowerPot~

thankd MF, you are lovely coming to post on my diary.

When I get clients not turning up I always say Im going to get stricter with my cancellation policy , print up a poster, tell them all it will cost them if they dont show up ~ blah blah, but I never seem to do it, too soft! But i definetely should, its different if they are ill, you cant always know, but again alot of mine are very old and beginning to lose it memory wise.!!

~FlowerPot~

Thank crunchie is Friday.

I have just done a huge food online shop that has burst the  food budget by a huge amount we only had £34 left in and the order was for £175 and then £20 in vouchers taken off. It is a full weeks shop and extras because I havent done a full weeks shop for a couple of weeks. I need to get back on my fortnightky big shop and small top up for fresh. ALso need to look at the food budget as £450 for the months for 5 of us and oftern this is 6 as the GF stays over alot. THis needs to be discussed as its been £450 a month since we moved here and that was 8 years ago and we all know just how much food has gone up. PLes we now have a ceolaic, so that does bump it up on top.

Anyways enough moaning I am about to garden ~ to tackle to hedges if the rain holds off.

TIme for a round up

EF~ £1700 ~ same, had to borrow a bit for tooth work!!

Car pot: £420 ~

Health pot: big fat zero.

pension: £15 this week

challenges: 

£1 a day ~ £91/366

1p 365 challenge (XMAS savings) ~ £205 

52 week envelope stuffing ~ £ 9/52   £20 ~ from client who didnt show

MMOP ~ £60/ £60 FEB 
ISA - i put in £60

Im abit behind with my accounts, I havent banked my money yet ~ need to pull my socks up

Right to the garden ........

MovingForwards

Call / text them the day before, make sure the apt is on their calendar / in their diary before you go. Send an invoice when apts are missed. Do a price increase across everyone to cover the FTA's. I do appreciate it's hard, however it's time you can't fill.

The food budget was set when the kids may not have been eating as much as they are now too. Some things are coming down in price. Not sure if cooking according to what veg or other items are on offer would help with costs. 

You're doing well with the savings, it's only Feb.

Good luck with the garden. Any chance of roping the kids in to do a bit.

~FlowerPot~

Thanks MF, We need to address the food budget, Its not been realistic for years. DH just doesnt want to pay any more for food. But he then always has to pay for the top ups when we run out and I put some on my account too. I think knowing that we never have enough in a wired way stops me trying to stay within the budget. I think Its time we had that chat!!

DS2 is being paid to help in the garden and actually he quite enjoys it. we did 5 hours yesterday! WHich is great because DH cant do any work currently due to his eye and there is a mountain of work to get through in the garden!!

Today will be much quieter, mostly because I ache!!! and also it is raining (im secretly pleased so I feel less guilty!)

Taking the GF to the dentist this morning and then the train station. THen zero plans ~ lush!

Arrietty

Hello,

I think MovingForwards is right that you do need to charge something for a missed appointment; because you have lost income and also wasted time you could have used doing something else. 
I work in a clinic where we had 392 DNA's (did not attend appointments) last year which equates to nearly 6 weeks worth of clinics!  

Maybe you could keep a task in mind that you can get on with if the client is a no-show.

Happy gardening - we have rain 🫤