From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

Greying_Pilgrim

Watty1 said:

Oh The Railway Children.  I have not watched that (original version) in years. I'm going to add that to my watch list   Thank you.

I would watch the original too Watty 😁

Right, a bit of knitting done.  Breakfast taken by those that eat it.  Second cup of coffee drunk.  We're starting to make a move, at least 😁

Greying X

Humdinger1

@Greying_Pilgrim I am only on page 9 of your diary but am enthralled.   May I say re the frustration of dealing with utility companies that your reaction is indeed entirely understandable.   I used to live my life in a red haze of exasperation, probably much worse than what you're describing.   Now, I must make hundreds or possibly thousands per year out of requesting compensation and goodwill gestures; I decided I wasn't going to get mad but get even. Mostly I do this myself but have on occasion roped in my MP.  I have found that the best way to achieve this is by empathising with everyone at the company so that they feel I'm addressing their frustrations with the system.  I request goodwill gestures where compensation is perhaps less likely. I don't view this as milking the system but rather a constructive way of sending a legitimate message.  Not sure how to link my diary but if you have time, you'd be very welcome to comment.   Onwards and upwards love Humdinger xx 

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning MFW'rs

Humdinger - thankfully, we left THAT utility company behind with the rental house and are now with someone else - and whilst they too have have their share of unhappy customers - fingers crossed, thus far we have found them to be fine.  They supply energy, we use it, submit our meter readings and pay the bills.  Considering we were "supposed" to be on smart meters and with IHD at the rental, we could never get a handle on what our useage was, nor what our bills would be.  I only ever once spoke to a human being who admitted that the system was broken and that customers were being unfairly penalised - the company had the knack of closing complaints down so that compensation never kicked in.  Unless I absolutely have to, I will never (willingly) become a customer of that company again.  Currently, I can take a meter reading, submit it online and our bill/useage is updated - usually within minutes, and we can see immediately if we are in credit or arrears, or are using more/less power etc etc etc, and can take action accordingly.  To me (simpleton that I am), just how it should be.  

Well, it's been a strange NYD.  Let's just leave it at 'weird incident #2' and leave it there.  But will there be a #3? 😟  #No good deed goes unpunished.........

Everything back to normal workwise today.  DH has gone in for the normal time and will be home normal-ish, although his commute may be a bit swifter with the schools still being off.  

Tea last night was vegetarian 'Hoppin John' and we had lentil & swede soup for lunch - so in terms of 'lucky' symbols food, hopefully we ate our fill..........  Fingers crossed something begins to rub off.......... 😟

No point in doing any washing today, as whilst it is supposed to remain dry, it is so cold and there is no breeze, nothing is likely to dry in our sun-starved garden.  

Right, I have parental duties to perform, and I can't think of anything directly MSE related to natter about, so I will push orf.  Most of the DD's should be exiting our account today - the money is there to pay them, so everything should be fine.  I DID pay the CC bill before the day went pear-shaped, so that is all done.

Ta for popping by.  Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Good afternoon MFW'rs

Although we are lucky, and the sun is shining, gosh is it already starting to get cold.  Mostly this arvo you may find me wrapped around a hot-chocolate and/or under a duvet - brrrr 🥶

I popped to hB and MrS.  Couldn't find what I wanted in hB - either they hadn't had a delivery of fresh/chilled foodstuffs, or everyone had been through and swept the shelves clean....

Was much more successful in MrS and got everything on my list.  I did a smartshop to get a couple of items a bit cheaper - which thrilled LG who loves zapping things with the handheld zapper.  The only items not on my list were mince pies - which at 75p/6 were quite the bargain for TTD mince pies that had previously been priced at £3 a box.......  We bought 2 boxes as they are good until..... sometime in the summer .... and actually, none of us has had any mince pies this Christmas season.

LG finished their thank you cards and we popped to the PO to purchase some stamps and put back the grocery money into the bank that was spent on the smartshop this morning - I have altered my siggie, but spent £1.49 in hB and £14.54 in MrS and £6.80 on a book of stamps.  

I am hopeful (in an odd sort of way), that a 'weird co-incidence' today constitutes the #3 in the series of unfortunate events.... I've had enough now.

I did get around to making the parsnip curry yesterday - using up all the 15p parsnips.  I didn't add the coconut milk, but froze in portions and when I come to use it, will add in the coconut milk at that point.  There was also left over black eyed bean mix from the 'Hoppin John' so I have frozen that for another day - either for HJ again, or for 'dirty rice' or a stew or something.

I'm hopeful that I won't need to go food shopping again until next week.  We now have bread and milk and plenty of everything else, so........

Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Tea was Omlette, mash (tatties and swede), broccoli and baked beans.  The omlette made use of the eggs that were "use by" today - I had initially bought them with the intention of Chrimbo baking, but that didn't happen.  But better they provide us with a good meal, than go to waste, eh?

There is a small bit of mash left, so I have put it in a tub and will freeze as it's a portion's worth.  I know swede isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I do like mash that includes swede - just adds such a nice flavour.  

Anyhoo, a cheap and cheerful meal, that filled a space.  

LG has been their best self today.  We've done shopping, got the thanks for pressies committed to paper then sent out and just had a nice time together.  I know it can't always be like this, and humans all have their grump days and raging (or lagging) hormones, but I for one recognise a 'wonderful' day when I encounter one - made all the more special because we weren't doing anything spiffy, we were just bobbling along through a Thursday, so LG was just being themself, no pretence, no acting for show.  Marvellous.

Ta for popping in.  Appreciated.  Greying X

Greying_Pilgrim

Frosty start with us.  It actually "feels" warmer than yesterday morning (and the temps confirm this), but there is definitely a harder frost on everything.  

I have decided to not go to the next market town across the way this morning.  Whilst the main road should be treated (not a given any longer), there are roads at the beginning and end of the journey that may well be untreated, and I just don't think it's worth the risk.  DH is eye-rolling at my decision, but he would be eye-rolling if I said I was going to travel too, #can'twin

We have got a meet-up with a chum planned this arvo and that should go ahead.

I have put a wash on as there is supposed to be a breeze today.  I need to try to get ahead with DH's workwear and there is an item of activity wear of LG's that I have forgotten about that has got chucked in the wash too.  

Today's expenditure will be 'social' and the money is in the CHB pot to cover it.  

I can't think of anything else MSE to report at the mo, so best shuffle orf to get some warm water to defrost cars.

Greying X

teapot2

Enjoy your meet up this affy. Freezing cold up here though the sun has been shining which might push it up a degree or two over zero 🤞🏼.

Humdinger1

@Greying_Pilgrim now on p24 of your diary.  Re 'have's vs have-nots'; my daughter went to an independent secondary school, state primary and sixth form.  At the posh school, there were many impressive cars.  Mine was a beat-up Mitsubishi and DD was teased.  I suggested she tell anyone interested that as I was a debt coach, it would be rude of me to go roaring round to families in trouble  in a Ferrari.  I also know that many parents couldn't afford the houses and cars they had. The school closed at least partly because not enough parents were paying the fees.  The bursary staff told me that when I sent them messages to say I'd just paid, they could always rely on me.  Some others, not so much.  I was conflicted over private education but in the end, DD's requirements trumped my political beliefs.   DD now has a balanced group of friends and gets on with everyone. You are plainly rearing a fab child.  The egotists' lifestyles will all come tumbling down; I saw this later when assessing bursary applications for help with school fees. Love Humdinger xx 

Greying_Pilgrim

Good Morning MFW'rs

Humdinger - Your experiences of the private education system mirror my own contact with it through work and the experience of friends who have/are currently, negotiating the sector.  I might be mistaken, but it "seems" like there has been a calming down of "I've got this, I've got that, We're going here, We're going there" this term at school. I suspect that there will be a curtailing of any 'non-essential' trips at school this (calendar) year, as I think several families have been refusing to pay, and the school has taken their child regardless.  Whilst the folk who pay aren't 'supposed' to have to support those that can't, I really don't see how trips can function otherwise.  The 'support' fund isn't a bottomless pit, and our parents voluntary fundraising group does well, but they aren't raising millions each school year.......  LG didn't participate in one of the 'non-essential' trips, and they 'stayed behind' at school.  Thankfully they weren't the only child, and as far as I know, they haven't received any ribbing about us being poor, but school do seem reluctant to allow parents to opt out of trips that cost money - and we came under tremendous pressure to make LG go.  Anyone would think that the Head doesn't want to be challenged on their provision of non-essential guff that is funded by others.......

Over the holidays we watched a film (as a family), called 'Ron's gone wrong'.  So prescient.  I'm sure many folk would miss the messages the film contains - or choose not to listen, but it ought to be required viewing in schools I think.......

So we went out with our chums to the cinema yesterday and had a lovely time.  Although the cinema - like for first dates - isn't exactly set up to have a chat, is it? But we had a good time.  LG took some of their Chrimbo choc (not a big haul), in a little pot and they shared beautifully with their chum, who easily reciprocated with their snack stash.  

Unfortunately it looks like my little car is having battery issues - cold weather is a car battery annihilator - which is going to need replacing.  Luckily my car is a glorified sewing machine, and DH can sort it out, but still.  As if the car fund didn't take enough of a hit in 2024......

No washing today, apart from the cold-ish temperatures (which would be positively balmy compared to some places in the UK!), there is absolutely zero breeze.  The washing yesterday did quite well, considering it was only out for 5 hrs or so, and only had the breeze to dry it - not a dollop of sunlight too.  I did put the dehu on for an hour, and it was on the airer in front of the radiator.  I shall put the washing away just now.

Tea last night was a sort of sausage pasta sauce (chopped up cocktail veggie sausages in a tommie sauce with added veg) and pasta.  Crowd pleaser and cleared plates resulted.  The veggie cocktail sausages were in h3r0n for 69p a packet (bb 5/1), compared to £2.60 per pack in MrS 😱  I had made a quick tommie veg soup for lunch for LG and me, before we went to the pictures.  I also had 3 hot dog rolls - which were pre cut - that i decided to use them up, and sliced each roll into 3 lengthwise, toasted and then melted cheese on the other side, so toasted cheese fingers, if you will.  I am delighted to say that such simple 'use up' food went down a storm with LG and they lapped up every drop and crumb.  It was soooooo the weather for soup and toasted cheese......... 😉

Not too sure what will be for lunch today, as DH and LG have gone off to have an adventure and to sort the car (LG is wrapped up warm in the top we bought from the chazzer the other day 👍), so I'm not sure what time they will be around home.  Pizza was requested for tea, but we'll have to see how things go.  

I can't think of anything MSE related to natter about, further, so I had better push orf.  But just in case anyone was ever in any doubt about the support I feel flows from this online community, just let me say how much I appreciate you popping in and joining the conversation.  It's more helpful than you'll perhaps ever know......

Greying X

FrugalHedonist

@Greying_Pilgrim I watched Rons gone wrong with my daughter and i thought it was brilliant, a real conversation starter. I think certain 'childrens films' such as walllie and wild robot are fabulous