More WIRE than FIRE, simplifying, saving and savvy spending

ShyAndRetiring

@Humboldt thanks for stopping by!

Yes, it's been a good week and a useful win on the PB ~ definitely it'll be helpful to build that pot up a bit before we have to fork out on a new-to-us car!

Yellow-sticker pop shops are definitely a thing now, the only problem is that our local SM is the only one for miles and it's also used by visitors to several local caravan parks, so at this time of year yellow-stickers are a rarity! You can always guarantee yellow-sticker mushrooms though, so mushroom omelettes and mushroom risotto are menu regulars at the moment!

Hope you're having a restful weekend now that you are free of visitors for the time being, S&R x

ShyAndRetiring

  It's been a busy, but good week and I'm definitely benefitting from being back and accountable. Some gently-does-it progress since Wednesday's update:

Extra £ / Surveys etc

• Surveys: £12 / £10 this week so very happy with this. New goal of £10 over the coming week now set.

Spending

2 more NSDs across Thurs and Fri, so 5 / 4 achieved, over target on that too. We have visitors currently until Monday, I think so I'll stick with aim of 4 for next week as it's more realistic.   

Saving 

• Have finally been able to book us for a SMART meter installation. Before it's always come back as not possible in our (rural) area, but our provider invited us to book for our address. Have booked for early next month, so that will hopefully be a saving across the winter.
• Survey money for this week has been saved into Xmas pot.

Sorting 

• My savings account sort-out hasn't happened because I don't want to lock any cash away that we might need to use for the car. Need to think about this some more.
• Small bedroom sorted for visitors, some books given to charity shop, a few ornamental bits too, so 25 / 365 items out of here so far.
• A few medical appointments coming up for both of us, so a bit of diary sorting going on to accommodate everything, especially with OH not being able to drive currently.

WIRE stuff

• Haven't had time to do much WIRE planning this week, with work and visitors etc, but am hoping to schedule some time before the end of the month to look at Savings Ladder for draw down & proposed car purchase. It's a key thing for retirement planning, isn't it, planning in for replacing things? I just hadn't planned for it to happen before getting to that lump sum at the start of next year, so it definitely bears looking at. Might plan myself a coffee & spreadsheet morning some time soon. 

All Good Things ...

• Seeing a Hummingbird Hawkmoth again in the garden, seems to be a regular visitor this week.
• Took a long walk with OH, dog and visitors this morning, OH's holding up marvellously after his surgery and it's good to see him getting back to walks we enjoy.
• Have managed a bit of garden-sorting time yesterday and today, visitors have enjoyed a bit of down-time sitting and reading, whilst I've enjoyed weeding around them!

Hope everyone is having a good weekend, S&R x

Humboldt

Hi @ShyandRetiring, so lovely to read that your OH is doing so well after his recent surgery and that he is now able to join you on some of your walks.  

I agree that replacement planning is an important factor when retired. We transfer a set amount to our 'household fund' each month and use the monies for this purpose.  I am aware that our fridge freezer will need replacing soon (it needs defrosting more often than it should), but it is integrated and will not be easy to replace, so it remains on the to-do list.  Yes, I know .... best to do the research now before the inevitable happens.

Good to see that you are fitting some downtime into your busy days.  Hope that you find time to enjoy the lovely sunny weather this week.

ShyAndRetiring

Humboldt said:

Hi @ShyandRetiring, so lovely to read that your OH is doing so well after his recent surgery and that he is now able to join you on some of your walks.  

I agree that replacement planning is an important factor when retired. We transfer a set amount to our 'household fund' each month and use the monies for this purpose.  I am aware that our fridge freezer will need replacing soon (it needs defrosting more often than it should), but it is integrated and will not be easy to replace, so it remains on the to-do list.  Yes, I know .... best to do the research now before the inevitable happens.

Good to see that you are fitting some downtime into your busy days.  Hope that you find time to enjoy the lovely sunny weather this week.

Hi @Humboldt

Thanks for stopping by! It's a pain when things are so well integrated that replacement becomes a faff as well as an expense, isn't it? We had this with a fridge freezer too but ended up getting a smaller one into the space and adding a shelf above, just to make it all easier. 

It's also the unknown in terms of timing isn't it? In theory, we could have up to a year with the car, but in practice it could 'go' tomorrow. Personally, I'd like it to hang on until I get my lump sum next year, let's see shall we?! 

Hope you're having a lovely week and sunshine where you are.

S&R x

ShyAndRetiring

   Ooops, slow to update at the moment, got knocked off my feet with a 48-hour bug which wasn't pleasant, but the enforced rest has been useful, I guess. Thankfully OH didn't succumb!

Extra £ / Surveys etc

• Surveys: £12.75 / £10 this week so far, which is good.

Spending

3 NSDs so far this week.   

Saving 

• My phone contract has finished so, although my phone has seen better days, I'm rejecting upgrade options and going to go SIM only. We have difficulties because of network signal in our area but I'm going to try a Sm@rty SIM and see. This will be 1/3 of the price of my contract that's just expired, so fingers crossed it works. Changeover will be at the end of the month.
• Have saved petrol money this week as have been unable to drive. OH is enjoying his bus pass instead! 

Sorting 

• I had a plan to have a bit of a sort out of the bedroom this week, but I've ended up sorting the bathroom, after everything else this week 
• Some decluttering of new toiletries (still in packaging) as donation for a raffle, 25 / 365.
• I've forgotten to account for my UseUps ~ I'm still aiming for weekly use ups of things, and several hair products and body sprays etc have been used up. Getting low on handwash but we have loads of shower gel which has been diluted and repurposed as handwash for the time being. Approx 30 / 52 items in all so far.

WIRE stuff

• Haven't had time to sort my spreadsheets, but have picked up a couple of (library) books whilst I've been off my feet.  
• I have been able to look at the savings though, to work out affordability for replacement car. Hoping to do this without breaking into main WIRE savings pot.

All Good Things ...

• Tomatoes and courgettes continue to be the gifts that keep giving! 
• OH continues to make progress, another medical appointment has come and gone and they're very happy with his mobility now.
• Lots of dragonflies around at the moment, lovely to see.

Organgrinder

ShyAndRetiring said:

   Ooops, slow to update at the moment, got knocked off my feet with a 48-hour bug which wasn't pleasant, but the enforced rest has been useful, I guess. Thankfully OH didn't succumb!

Extra £ / Surveys etc

• Surveys: £12.75 / £10 this week so far, which is good.

Spending

3 NSDs so far this week.   

Saving 

• My phone contract has finished so, although my phone has seen better days, I'm rejecting upgrade options and going to go SIM only. We have difficulties because of network signal in our area but I'm going to try a Sm@rty SIM and see. This will be 1/3 of the price of my contract that's just expired, so fingers crossed it works. Changeover will be at the end of the month.
• Have saved petrol money this week as have been unable to drive. OH is enjoying his bus pass instead! 

Sorting 

• I had a plan to have a bit of a sort out of the bedroom this week, but I've ended up sorting the bathroom, after everything else this week 
• Some decluttering of new toiletries (still in packaging) as donation for a raffle, 25 / 365.
• I've forgotten to account for my UseUps ~ I'm still aiming for weekly use ups of things, and several hair products and body sprays etc have been used up. Getting low on handwash but we have loads of shower gel which has been diluted and repurposed as handwash for the time being. Approx 30 / 52 items in all so far.

WIRE stuff

• Haven't had time to sort my spreadsheets, but have picked up a couple of (library) books whilst I've been off my feet.  
• I have been able to look at the savings though, to work out affordability for replacement car. Hoping to do this without breaking into main WIRE savings pot.

All Good Things ...

• Tomatoes and courgettes continue to be the gifts that keep giving! 
• OH continues to make progress, another medical appointment has come and gone and they're very happy with his mobility now.
• Lots of dragonflies around at the moment, lovely to see.

Remember there are only four mobile phone networks in the UK, all others piggy back.

Eg I was with 3 for years. Never had a problem. But they kept increasing the prices so I switched to ID Mobile who piggyback off 3 and more than halved my monthly fee.

Full list of who piggybacks off who here.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/mobiles/piggybacking/

I never buy a phone on contract but that's because I don't have a high end phone. I take the odd photo, use email, social media, phone, messaging and browsing. A £150 phone does all that and after 18 months I sell it and buy a new one. Usually because the battery life isn't so good.

Humboldt

@Organgrinder thanks for sharing the details regarding mobile phone networks in the UK.  I found it to be really insightful.

Humboldt

Sorry to hear that you have been unwell @ShyAndRetiring, and hope that you are now feeling much better. Well done on sorting the bathroom.  I love having a good sort out.  I did under the sink the other day and it looks lots better - simple pleasures.  Enjoy the weekend x

Organgrinder

Humboldt said:

@Organgrinder thanks for sharing the details regarding mobile phone networks in the UK.  I found it to be really insightful.

It never ceases to amaze me how much the main network providers charge in comparison to companies who are using their networks. With it being so easy to switch and port your number, for me it's a no brainer.

But then how many of us never switch on things like energy, insurance etc. It's what many companies rely on, "loyalty", "ignorance" or "laziness".

ShyAndRetiring

Organgrinder said:

ShyAndRetiring said:

   Ooops, slow to update at the moment, got knocked off my feet with a 48-hour bug which wasn't pleasant, but the enforced rest has been useful, I guess. Thankfully OH didn't succumb!

Extra £ / Surveys etc

• Surveys: £12.75 / £10 this week so far, which is good.

Spending

3 NSDs so far this week.   

Saving 

• My phone contract has finished so, although my phone has seen better days, I'm rejecting upgrade options and going to go SIM only. We have difficulties because of network signal in our area but I'm going to try a Sm@rty SIM and see. This will be 1/3 of the price of my contract that's just expired, so fingers crossed it works. Changeover will be at the end of the month.
• Have saved petrol money this week as have been unable to drive. OH is enjoying his bus pass instead! 

Sorting 

• I had a plan to have a bit of a sort out of the bedroom this week, but I've ended up sorting the bathroom, after everything else this week 
• Some decluttering of new toiletries (still in packaging) as donation for a raffle, 25 / 365.
• I've forgotten to account for my UseUps ~ I'm still aiming for weekly use ups of things, and several hair products and body sprays etc have been used up. Getting low on handwash but we have loads of shower gel which has been diluted and repurposed as handwash for the time being. Approx 30 / 52 items in all so far.

WIRE stuff

• Haven't had time to sort my spreadsheets, but have picked up a couple of (library) books whilst I've been off my feet.  
• I have been able to look at the savings though, to work out affordability for replacement car. Hoping to do this without breaking into main WIRE savings pot.

All Good Things ...

• Tomatoes and courgettes continue to be the gifts that keep giving! 
• OH continues to make progress, another medical appointment has come and gone and they're very happy with his mobility now.
• Lots of dragonflies around at the moment, lovely to see.

Remember there are only four mobile phone networks in the UK, all others piggy back.

Eg I was with 3 for years. Never had a problem. But they kept increasing the prices so I switched to ID Mobile who piggyback off 3 and more than halved my monthly fee.

Full list of who piggybacks off who here.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/mobiles/piggybacking/

I never buy a phone on contract but that's because I don't have a high end phone. I take the odd photo, use email, social media, phone, messaging and browsing. A £150 phone does all that and after 18 months I sell it and buy a new one. Usually because the battery life isn't so good.

Thanks @organgrinder that's very interesting. I'm current with T0sco and my signal is awful, OH changed to G1ffG@ff and his is much improved, so I can't really understand that if they're both Piggybacking off 02. Your link showed that Sm@rty is another network altogether which is something OH and I think is useful, if one network goes down in our rural area, we still have a fighting chance of the other one of us getting a signal! 

Thanks for the heads up and the help, S&R x