My Mortgage Reduction and Savings Diary

SuiDreams

Think I've saved myself a bit of money today, went out shopping for a hooded dog bed to make a den for the three year old dog ready for when the fireworks start (he's absolutely petrfied, we got him just over a year ago and he was so bad last year we were worried he'd have a heart attack). Anyway couldn't see anything big enough for him and only things on the net were about £80. Then bright idea, found a large box (from pet food delivery), put dog bed in it and covered with a throw, free dog den, fingers crossed it will help. Going to try one of those Desensitisation CD's once eerything calms down a bit, in the hope we can get rid of his fears before next years onslaught.

Anyway going to try and stick to buying essentils only over the next few weeks, fingers crossed.

Still no heating here we've had quite a mild week this week (luckily).

StuartGMC

SuiDreams
I hope the dog can get through it; I'm afraid I one of the "evil" ones who runs an annual display, but at least that is just once a year and the noise is thirty minutes and gone. It is also a lot safer - we seem to have many people now buying fireworks which need 15 or 20m clearance and yet set them off in a tiny garden! Worries me the way people risk life and limb of themselves and others.

Good to hear you haven't had the heating on; we have, but the thermostat is done at 16°C and duration is quite short (but I do find the 30mins it is on before I get up at 0500 makes a big difference!).

SuiDreams

StuartGMC wrote: »

SuiDreams
I hope the dog can get through it; I'm afraid I one of the "evil" ones who runs an annual display, but at least that is just once a year and the noise is thirty minutes and gone. It is also a lot safer - we seem to have many people now buying fireworks which need 15 or 20m clearance and yet set them off in a tiny garden! Worries me the way people risk life and limb of themselves and others.

Good to hear you haven't had the heating on; we have, but the thermostat is done at 16°C and duration is quite short (but I do find the 30mins it is on before I get up at 0500 makes a big difference!).

I would be quite happy if peole stuck to 30 min displays, but they are usually constant from about 4pm to 11 or 12 on bonfire night and usually last for at least 2-4 weeks either side and then we get them again on new years eve. Its the evil kids I have a problem with. The poor thing was going 14 hours without a wee last year as he was too scared to even go in his own garden even when there was a lull. He won't go outside when its dark during firework season.

SuiDreams

Well we had fireworks last night and one frightened dog (the other one just went to sleep), climbing all over us for protection. Its going to be a very very long month.

SuiDreams

Electricity Quandry. Right switched to Scottish Power who set DD at £19 (not yet been taken), I calculated that this was a bit low so asked them to change it to my recalculated figure (based on actual useage, plus a small buffer). They have set the DD at a much higher figure and won't reduce it for three months. Now looking at the comparison sites I should save around £10 a year with BG Click 6, plus hopefully get some cashback as well for switching. Do i switch to BG and save a little money and try and get an accurate DD with them or wait three months and try and get Scottish Power to correct my DD then. Just thinking about constant switching and earnign extra cashback that way.

StuartGMC

Not sure there are any major issues provided there are no tie-in periods etc?

Odd about Scottish Power as we never had an issue with the DD level when discussing it with them. Moved to the BG Fixed to 2011 (not available now) and they also had the DD for gas and electricity low, a quick call, with kWh and hey presto set DD to £50 each which is what I had calculated they should be. (Maybe I've been lucky?)

Not sure I would bother to switch for the sake of £10 per year though!

(Sorry to hear about fire works, I know these days some of the mortars people bring home are so loud you can't blanket with loud music. I would love for these to be banned. ONe thought, wasn't a law introduced about domestic fireworks and when they can be used?)

SuiDreams

In a happier mood today virgin media have aplied my £40 credit for getting the Virgin Credit card to my account so no Phone, Broadband or TV to pay for this month as its all paid for by the credit and next months bill will be low as the remaining amount of credit will pay for art of that. Have been having a think about finances and as long as I stay withing budget over the next few months. I have decided that in Feb and Mar I will may extra over payments on the mortgage with the money that would normally on the council Tax

StuartGMC

SuiDreams
That's good to see and some positive savings too.
Have a good weekend.

SuiDreams

Well, had a dreadful night last night one dog was completely petrified (was very worried about him wasn't sure he'd actually make it through the night), and the other (normally calm one) was a bit nervous. So had a rather late night luckily I booked today off work, wouldn't really be able to manage to do anything today anyway. well here's hoping for a quiet night tonight.

SmlSave

Hope you get a good rest tonight after yesterdays.

Have you decided what to do on the utilty front?