October Frugaleers part deux

[CremeEggThief]

HI all, took the liberty of starting a new thread.

Thanks v much all. It's shocking. The funeral is next Friday and we aren't here so I can't attend. I've never ever taken any of the inset days off (seriously, ds is in year 3 and we've always either been around or he's been outsourced to a friend as we will be at work ordinarily). This year we are off to Peppa pig world, typically on inset day which is the Friday of the funeral.

The other friend was someone I used to see once a year, who I invited to give a talk at a symposium I organised and now he's not around. He will be missed at the next conference. Our network is quite small though so even if we don't see each other, we know of each other if that makes sense.

Today I've been working like mad, and v tired to be honest. It's really not worth it is it? Sometimes I wonder, is there anything wrong with being in this position till I retire? The pay is great, place is annoying but then everywhere is I suppose... If I know it, then I won't get too annoyed or bothered by it? Kids happy. House is nice. Starting to get a little bit of savings going so we can start doing it up again... Nothing wrong right?

Sigh. Existential questions tonight.

www.mrsshilts.co.uk/2015/01/slow-cooker-campfire-stew-sw-friendly-recipe/ We had this for dinner with left over roast pork instead of gammon, it was brilliant and cheap! I but frozen garlic and frozen chopped veg (carrot / celery / onion) to use in these dishes, it means I can throw a meal together very quickly, which with a four week old baby it has to be.

I also have bought frozen rice, £1.50 for four oortions and it is very good. Yes we could cook our own, but we wouldn't bother and end up eating rubbish or takeaway instead so it is a saving for us.

evening all
under we have similar here. looks like a decent amount in the account for about 2 hours each month, then all the direct debits come out, then I put aside amount for food and petrol and kids clubs and all of a sudden there is hardly anything left!

nk5 sorry to hear about your losses.

Our boiler is being temperamental again, and appears to be dripping I am thinking really we need to some how replace it. It is 15 years old and has a constant stream of things going wrong with it.We do have monthly cover which is extortionate and rubbish, but need it for peace of mind. That said we went 2 weeks last year right over Christmas with no heating or hot water while they faffed about trying (and failing) to fix it...
I'm really stressed now. I hate trying to sort things like this. I've no clue where to start with even pricing up a new boiler.....sob...

Oh God, NK, that's awful. Very sorry to read about that.

£1.80 on the bus fare back from Pilates (I walked there) and 65p on a bottle of water. It's a horrible night out there. I was so glad of my pasta leftoversthat I just had to microwave for 3 minutes when I got in. Going to wash up, have a shower and chill.

Bobbly, could you trade in your old boiler? theres a lot of metal in them and some companies will give cashback if you go with them.

I hear british gas is expensive for boilers though. PigletJohn in Housekeeping or Property/DIY will know what to do. He's the resident guru on heating stuff.

fluffy I hadn't thought of that, that's a good idea. I have been searching some old boiler threads and pigletjohn's name cropped up! Think I best go browse the property/diy threads!

So sorry to hear your news nk. Seems all the more dreadful and unfair when the person is young.

under You are in good hands here

Been a steady few days spending-wise.

Need to get ahead and menu plan tonight but I am falling asleep.

And I will move deals on the mortgage tomorrow, as I have just realised how much we can save, kicking myself for inertia on my part.

Lord, the saving is £300, I am pissed at myself now.

At least you are doing it need!! Most people don't even realise they should look at mortgage rates.

NK it's such a shake up when someone young does, take care of you.

We're off to the bank tomorrow to extend our loan to consolidate all our debt. Wish us luck! Did it once before (the reason we got the loan) but MOTS, moving house, having babies etc all put more spends on the credit cards and we're paying a stupid amount each month just to meet minimum payments.

just popping in , eye is feeling much better thanks , though still sore , but I can see out of it again..

NK5 . sorry to hear of your friend.. I also lost a very good friend young (a good few years ago now).. its even more shocking when its your contemporaries somehow..

Im just reading and running again.... sorry everyone .. looks like ill be back later in the week..

Yeah but what I think I might have been able to switch a year ago, or at least 10 months and there's no excuse, I have a busy life but I haven't been busy 24/7 for the whole time

Wonders why I make an effort to save the pennies when I could have saved a whole load of £££

Does anyone know if I can return a faulty item of clothing to Next without a receipt? Only bought it two weeks ago, its falling apart and I've lost the effing receipt.

annatha due on Thursday! So 39+ 4 today :)

collie I find Next absolutely brilliant for returns, never ever had an issue and I never take stuff back on time. They MAY give you a gift card possibly. Could you take your credit card statement or bank statement as POP?

Collie I would think so. I was in next on Saturday and a lady was swapping some gifts over and they could tell her the exact date the items were bought for and for how much just from scanning

need That's a brilliant saving regardless. For a laugh see how quickly you would be mortgage free if you carried on paying the £300.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/mortgages/mortgage-overpayment-calculator

Good luck anna.

Oh NK sorry you can't attend the funeral :( please go easy on yourself that day and take a quiet moment if that's at all possible at PPW.

I lied before. Also spent £4.99 on tights in new look.

I have approx £100 left in bank (my ac) and approx £200 in joint account and £14.67 in my purse.

I get paid next Wednesday. In this time I have another riding lesson (£25) and a lunch to pay for. Should be totally do-able.

And spares will go towards paying off credit card and maybe some in savings.

Must get sorted moneywise by Dec 31. Must start new year debt free. Or at least must be debt free on January payday - have £700 left to pay off. Could easily be done in one lump but would leave me no money until Nov payday. So reluctant.

We need to switch mortgage too. I think we'd keep paying our current monthly amount though as we're used to not having that money and we'd pay it off quicker.
In an effort to keep warm I've put a vest top under my dress but the lace itches so I reckon it'll be off by 9!
DD still full of cold and we were up with her in the night. Going to go to Asda then have a quiet day and hopefully a long nap

Spent £5.95 on lunch at wait rose, had free hot drink. £4.50 for school dinners (2 days).

Today should be nsd. Other than cleaner money.

Fluffy we have two open fires, but not in working state. I asked a man yesterday what it would cost to change one to a wood burning stove and he said £3k. The which magazine says it should be more like £1.5k. I'm not sure about just using the open fire in case the house gets all smokey.

That's good that you spotted the immersion heater. That must have been costing a packet.

NK5 Keep working on those existential questions. You may be right, that it's time to just slip into maintenance mode. I knew a lady once who had a great dilemma about whether to push forward towards a professorship, or buy a puppy. She said either option would be about the same amount of work.

I'm off to have my heart checked as a routine thing at the doctor's today. Reassuring to know I'm being checked. They said they're doing everybody my age.

I wonder if 3K is the worse case scenario with a re-lined flue?.

We have one more payment on our current mortgage deal and I have to re-mortgage or pay £50 a month more but I am finding it daunting.

Just made a no sew draught excluder! Very proud. Simple things please me

ipsos it sounds like it would be a good idea to get a smoke test. A specialist flue company should do this for about £30 which they should lnowk off the bill if you need a flue liner. We have quite a tall house - our flue liner was 125 8 years ago but a smoke test will give you the reassurance of whether you can safely use your open fire or not