So I still haven't properly caught up on the thread enough to reply or comment much but I will make a start with the latest page!
Happier Great cashback bonus.
Need have you switched to a fixed energy deal? I've stuck with standard tariff but not at all keen on BG so wondering whether it's worth switching
Rainbows that's great to get your professional subs reduced, every saving helps.
Em I'm still going to and fro with travel insurance claim after ds was "stranded" (using "" as it was Barbados so stranded is a bit of a stretch imho!). BA took about 6 weeks to repay his expenses. Glad chemo is underway for you and thinking of you.
Very strange here as ds & dd have both moved out in less than 2 weeks of each other. Dd will be back for uni hols but then away for 12 months abroad so in all honesty I don't expect either of them to come back for good. They are at opposite ends of the country but both good areas to visit so dh & I are plotting trips this side of Christmas. The house is very quiet & feels empty, but the food stocks are stable, energy and water usage down dramatically and we seem to have more time to do stuff like the big declutter we've started. So overall focussing on the positives.
Because of all the upheaval we knew about, we booked a sunny week away from this Saturday. In reality that is what's tipped our finances over the edge slightly but we are soooo looking forward to it. Have ordered a gousto box for when we get back as they had sent me a 50% code. It works out at £35 and will give us lunches & main meals for nearly a whole week. Our food spending, energy and water bills should be much lower and we both have pay rises (with back pay) to come so I'm hoping to build up a bit of a war chest in our offset mortgage savings account. Ds owes us some money we lent to tide him over the move and until first payday, but from then on he will be earning decent money so I expect him to pay us back & don't expect him to be asking for any more.
Dh & I are going to sit down & make some plans for the house over the winter. Jobs that we can do for minimal expense. My ideas so far:
- Declutter
- Prep & paint conservatory
- Prep & paint kitchen
- Paint pine bedroom furniture in our room
- Source second hand curtains for our room & new bedding
- Work on unfinished quilting projects (there are several!)
- Update photographs that are on display (just had a discount code for 40% off at snapfish)
I've been listening to Frugal Queen in France a lot lately and finds it really grounds me re money, spending, food etc. I have already spoken to dh about doing a budget every month as well as for the whole year. Things have run away with us this year and I don't want that to happen again.
Sorry for the very long post!