Old Style Diary Archive - JUL 05

BWZN93

I think its my turn for a bad day today!

I woke up at 6am this morning intending to do some interview preparation before going to work, and then take a long lunch break for the interview, then go back to work. Only, I got up, and promptly felt so sick, I couldnt go to work. I got back in bed after calling the agency, and managed to get out to the interview, as id stopped being sick then.

I came home, and had the laptop in bed looking for some places to move to, and rang a few up, only it would seem that the landlords in bath are very snobby, all have exacting requirements, and we dont match. Everything else is going so quickly, I dont think we are going to find somewhere in time. Which might mean staying in this awful hell hole and suffering for another year, but ill probably crack up way before then and end up in a padded cell, going nowhere.

Its basically a nightmare. I cant beleive that landlords would say that the tenants must be married couples only, or must have been working for the same company for over a year, or must not be a recent graduate. Its pretty rediculous, as it wouldnt make any difference if me and the boyf were married, we'd still be the same people. Or am I missing something? Do married couples suddenly learn the secrets of the world that us unmarrieds dont?

Our house at the moment is for students too, and has 7 bedrooms. We are paying out the same amount for our two rooms that we could have a 1bed flat or house for. If we have to stay here, we will have to pay council tax on the place, and Im not quite sure how it works, but in my eyes would mean hassling our 'housemates' to make sure they gave us their student cert confirmation to get the discounts, but would still be liable for a massive bill. :eek: It has metered gas and electric, which is SO expensive. :eek: Going to the kitchen means walking down 4 flights of stairs, so making dinner is a hassle. :mad: And its bloody tiny too, make a pot noodle and the place is trashed. :mad: Noisy students living with me next year is not a good idea, but we are being forced into this option. :mad: I cant go home as I have my kitty, and boyf, and I simply dont want to go back anyway - I moved away from it as it drove me crazy.

I dont know what to do now so im going back to bed and watch a movie, in a mood.

Jo xx

r.mac_2

Hello :wave:

had quite an OS day today. Had the morning off work so spent it doing washing (using vinegar as softener and my watered down detergent). Managed three loads, so pleased with myself. Also organised dinner for a friend tonight. Was going to dask to shop in the way home, but found some dolcelatte in teh freezer which has inspired me to use up the withering yellow pepper in the fridge to make a big risotto (all store cupboard ingredients). And my friend can be impressed as we are having strawberries for pudding (yellow stickered). All in all not too bad.

Oh, nearly forgot - also did the bicarb and vinegar drain thing. works a treat.

Nikki - have you tried a last rinse using luke warm water and a couple tbspns of vinegar? - it makes hair shiny and reduces itching. Works for me, although I only use it occassionally.

Re: the question on victoria sponge cakes - these freeze really well. Either freeze and make up with icing/filling when yout ake out of the freezer, or make up with a cream style filling and just ice before serving. Yum.

Right - off to do some scouring on ebay - I ahve started to become addicted. Must keep repeating the mantra - 'Do I need it, or do I just want it?' :rotfl:

:wave:

pozalina

Hello All,

I've not posted my OS money saving activities before, but love hearing about all your great ways of stretching cash. I aspire to be as good as you lot, but as a newbie I'm still learning!

Here goes...

Did a 10 week cooking course a few months ago (£27) to learn how to cook 'proper' food. Now plan meals before shopping (NEVER did this before) and cook mostly from scratch (except tesco own oven chips!). I never knew pastry was so easy to make, and it freezes well. Have banned OH from buying cakes and biscuits and bake all my own (far cheaper and healthier without those nasty additives).

Don't go out for meals anymore cos (OH says) my food is as good as restaurant Takeaways ditto.

Have started selling my old teaching books and others on amazon. Managed to sell a few DVDs before OH clocked and banned me (who needs to keep 'Big Daddy', pleeease?)

Got a water meter installed and discovered a leak in the shower. I collect this in a bucket and water plants/rinse dishes with it (any more suggestions?). I turn off hot water during the week (electric shower) as I only need it to wash up once a day, so boil a kettle (Is this OS or not?)

I scour local papers for BOGOFs and, as someone on this site suggested, I only buy BOGOFs if I would buy the item normally.

Have tried many 'own brand' makes (sometimes needing to deceive OH...'of course it's heinz'...) and *sometimes* been pleasantly surprised.

I no longer go into town on my lunch break because I would always find something I *had* to buy, usually very expensive clothes. Packed lunches, of course. Drink water.

I run in the local vicinity to avoid gym prices. I don't smoke or drink (the latter was not easy at first, let me tell you).

I earn a reasonable salary but OHs is erratic and we have a biggish mortgage. I'm 31 and want a baby very soon but am a bit overwhelmed by the effect it will have on finances (part-time working, stuff to buy...).

Gosh, this has been really long, sorry for going on, I just wanted to introduce myself properly cos you guys seem so great I'm sure I'll be reading lots more about what you're all up to!

P xx

Rage_in_Eden

Jo: oh.

well, first off it took me and OH 12 years to get married and i still don't know why we did - i digress......... hasn't made us into different people so i think all those landlords are being a tad ....... i'm a landlord and i don't care if your green and come from mars as long as the rent gets paid, you are considerate to the other neighbours and don't trash the place or get the police coming 'round........

your tum sounds like the bug that's going 'round - we're seeing lots of people at the surgery with it - just keep hydrated and if you can get anything down that's great but liquid is the main thing.

and what is boyf doing about the hunt for accommodation? are there any housing associations out there? i'm sure I'm preaching to the converted here and you've already tried........... I know that accommodation in bath is very quick to go so my sympathies. move to the north - it's nice up here!!!!

Rage_in_Eden

:hello: welcome pozaline.

good grief I think you're doing quite well as it is.....................................

have a :beer:

r.mac_2

:hello: Hello pozalina

sounds like you are doing great - welcome to the boards. Hope you stay and share your tips with us (sounds like I could learn a lot!)

r.mac

elona

JW1096

Could you say that you were married and you were still using your own name or do they actually ask to see the wedding certificate?

Forgot to mention that Tesco are doing a bogof of Fitnesse with a free dvd of "Joey" on each pack.

DD is delighted as it is her favourite cereal and series!:j :j :j

THIRZAH

We've got a Bosch freezer and a larder fridge on Monday. I'm still not too sure about the fridge- it has slide out drawers instead of shelves but DH and DD think it's a good idea. They are both smaller than our old fridge and freezer . There's only two of us most of the time now that DD's at uni and we have a chest freezer in the garage. Also it means I can have a worktop over them which would be useful.Not sure if the meat shelf will hold a large size turkey at Christmas but if it doesn't it will be a good excuse not to invite all the in-laws over!

Went to Tesco this morning to get ice cream etc to replace all the stuff I had to throw away last saturday when the old freezer broke down. Is it my imagination or are they doing less plain meat these days. I haven't seen stewing beef in my branch for about a month now. They seem to have enlarged the ready meal section and are selling more of those roasts in foil trays etc. Perhaps it's what people want.

Tonight we are having home made pizza- the dough is in the bread maker followed by melon

greenlogo

afternoon again all

hi pozalina - sounds like you're doing very well on the O/S front - not sure about the water for the dishes thing... perhaps you could do the water in the kettle one day and see how many units you use and with the boiler the next and compare? If it's a gas boiler it'll be a bit more complicated maths but I'm sure one of the maths wizzes here would be able to help.

Thanks for all the advice on the cakes - Once I've got my new f/f I'll get baking and fill it with nummy cakes... which will cement my place as the person who's most rewarding to visit with my friends

got some good news today too - I heard back about the interview I had last week and they REALLY liked me and are pursuing my application - they're putting me through the various levels of security clearance I'll need (which will apparently take a long time) and hopefully I'll end up with a spangly new job with more to do that I really like to do, better hours, more convienent location and better pay. Thanks for all the good wishes last week - and if you could keep your fingers crossed for the next stage that'd be BRILLIANT

Rage_in_Eden

:j :T :dance: _party_ :beer: