Statement of intent

financialbliss

StuartGMC wrote: »

It is just the £20 eye test cost for this.

Having needed glasses for more years than I can remember now, I'd recommend getting eyes checked too.

Think the last few times I got mine checked, I got the examination free - think it was due to child tax credits, but regardless of if it's free or £20, go and get 'em checked.

I never skimp on my health. I know people who stopped going to the dentists due to the increased dental charges. Don't skimp - false economy.

FB.

setmefree2

OK I consider myself told off TBH I've always really good eye sight- particulary my distance vision - So it's it's more that my vision is becoming the same as others - but I will make it a NYs resolution to have an eye test:D and I'll let you know how I get on;).

However, I have to tell you that the SMF2s have been seriously stitched up by a local optician in the past. It turned out that our local opticians were a bunch of rogues and sold Mr SMF2 a pair of glasses he didn't need - cost £250+. Sold us overpriced frames AND told us son's lenses needed to be compressed (and charged us) when none of it was true. They ripped us off for years. They sold their business to an unsuspecting optometrist and he discovered the truth. Obviously, the business he bought wasn't worth what he thought.

When we went to another optician I couldn't believe how dumb I'd been.I had been taken in for years. The reason we were scamed like this was because we were too trusting of someone we considered to be a "professional". Sad, you can't trust anyone. Not a nice lesson for our kids to learn.

And as for dentists don't get me goin on them.....LOL

StuartGMC

SMF2, I can understand your concerns based upon the experience with the optician previously, but obviously the incoming one was honest and perhaps therefore is trustworthy?

We've had the electricity meter replaced; it was the mechanical timeclock which had failed so that the meter wasn't switching to the offpeak rate. Now have a new digital 2-rate meter which means the offpeak will be set remotely to 0000hrs to 0700hrs, a bit of a disappointment as our old system had been switching at about 0230hrs and running to a more convenient 0930hrs.

Gas meter is coincidently being replaced this week..... so I'll need to read it just before hand.

British Gas seem to take a very long time to get the online readings into the account; sent in readings on 15 Nov and still not shown online, which also is a bit annoying as both sets will change with the new meters. I think I will now have to set up replacement spreadsheet for new readings and estimate of cost.

I've not heard of any big changes in gas and electricity domestic pricing so will be sticking with the fixed deal for now. It is really difficult trying to look ahead on pricing; news these week was that natural gas future delivery prices were up on the US market even though oil was down, due to the cold weather. Then chatting with people in the oil business there seems to be an expectation that the present low price per barrel won't last too long...

On other matters, new curtains just purchased for lounge from Next and OH is now modifying them. She had done a quick check for made-to-measure and thankfully I was sat down when advised it would be over £750 :eek:

Looked locally too, but realised the cheapest option was to buy ready-made from Next and then modify them at home (cashback on TopCashBack - although I have Quidco too and where the % is the same am using the former due to latter's £5 charge. If % or retailers are different then I'll go with the best offer). Even so, these curtains will cost £280. They're on the Next account, so that will defer payment to about 10 Jan when it will be on the credit card bill.

Still waiting to hear about pay rise for January. At the moment we are ok and have accommodated inflation to some degree, but I would like to increase the savings we're making because the present situation is as follows, based on net household income:

• Savings Target for holidays, cars etc 20.90%
• ISA (S&S) 5.66% (reduced when we boosted OP on mortgage)
• Mortgage required as minimum 7.51%
• Actual mortgage payment 16.72% (OP of 122.60%)
• Water 0.93%
• Gas & electricity 2.57%
• Petrol 6.39%
• Groceries etc 10.23%
• Clothing and shoes 6.14%

So we only save about 26.56% of our household income, and I would like this to be at least 35% Once mortgage is cleared then that will of course be exceeded, but need to improve on the present position. Cash ISAs once we have some extra cash, and, will look to see if we can start these in Apr 09 in addition to the above.

Not likely to save quite as much as planned this month with the cost of glasses etc and Christmas is looming large now too. Need to get some ideas noted on things I'd like and try to get OH to give at least a hint or two of hers!!

setmefree2

StuartGMC wrote: »

SMF2, I can understand your concerns based upon the experience with the optician previously, but obviously the incoming one was honest and perhaps therefore is trustworthy?

Sadly, when they took out all the fraudulent income the business wasn't a going concern - poor bloke. I was thinking of going to Boots. Any good, do you know?

frazzmunch

i have used boots previously....had no problems at all and they were reasonably priced.....now i get contact lenses from the internet...it may be worth you getting your script from boots and then having a mooch for the most reasonable price on your glasses.....

StuartGMC

setmefree2 wrote: »

Sadly, when they took out all the fraudulent income the business wasn't a going concern - poor bloke. I was thinking of going to Boots. Any good, do you know?

That sort of fraud never seems to stop the perpetrators just like businesses going bankrupt and the owner starting up again; we had this problem when our kitchen was being replaced, so I have sympathy for the victim who no doubt lost a very significant sum.

Regarding the eye test at Boots; my father uses them now and they were the ones who picked up on his glaucoma so I would assume you can relax in terms of the eye sight test and examination, although like all such medical issues it is down to the skill, experience and competence of the individual. I use SpecSavers and personally haven't had any problems with them, the eye test this time was extra thorough too for the glaucoma check.

Don't prevaricate about the test though, just get it booked then consider sourcing specs if required later.

StuartGMC

Our family Christmas is "sorted". Daughter was hankering for Nintendo Wii although she was aware they are not cheap. As an only child we naturally will be "expected" (:D) to use it and play with her ("Dad this is something I can show YOU how to do!") so we decided it is the family present for Christmas. Also she plays with her friends on it, plus the usual trampolining when dry, drawing, painting, "adult" board games with us like Shadows Over Camelot, Carcasonne etc so this will be an extra activity and not one to replace all others.

It took some while in consideration of the best "offer" out there vs. what we were looking for due to the many different bundled combinations, but we settled on one eventually so hope it'll here on Thurs/Fri.

Now just need to sort other relatives out...

trudypretty

hi stuart....you will love your wii.....they are great fun for all the family :j we have one and is great for when the kids have lots of friends over at the same time....normally 5+ boys would be charging round the house causing headaches!! but now they are all in the lounge together playing on the wii NICELY!!!! hope you enjoy yours :T

setmefree2

trudypretty wrote: »

hi stuart....you will love your wii.....they are great fun for all the family :j we have one and is great for when the kids have lots of friends over at the same time....normally 5+ boys would be charging round the house causing headaches!! but now they are all in the lounge together playing on the wii NICELY!!!! hope you enjoy yours :T

Wii is great...you'll all love it:D

gallygirl

I agree with others, I got a wiifit a few months ago & haven't even ventured onto wii yet as I find the wiifit fun enough at present.

Just off to skijump & catch some fish