More flowers for the garden

More flowers for the garden

crafty stuff utilities

Hello. I didn't make it to Crafty Club this morning, I was busy with a man in my house. A very nice man actually, someone I have known for about 20 years. That's got your attention hasn't it, oooh, I am a tease. The man in question is our local plumber in the village. There are other plumbers but I prefer to stick with Michael as I know he does a good job.

He used to be a lorry driver working in Rugby Cement at the same time as I was. He didn't like it very much so he paid a lot of money to retrain as a plumber/gas fitter. He is fully qualified with the certificates, and has been self employed for a long time now. He gets all his work from recommendations and never needs to advertise. He doesn't even have his name on the side of his van. He is so busy I had to wait a while until he could find a slot for me.

So, my boiler is serviced, water tank and radiators checked, two hot taps upstairs removed cleaned and put back, gas fire in the living room completely stripped, checked and serviced, and an overflow leak in the upstairs toilet rectified. He has done a good job at a reasonable cost. Michael the plumber is brilliant.

Someone mentioned that the flowers I made from drinks cans could be made with plastic. Yes, they certainly can, and here is the proof.

If you are going to do this you need plastic that is flexible and not too thick to be able to cut it with scissors. Some plastics are brittle and will break when you try and cut out the shapes. Look out for plastic containers, boxes, and anything with a flat surface. Large square bottles are ok, but round ones wouldn't work so good. Some large cardboard containers have plastic lids.

Here is a little video.



Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
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My new campervan

My new campervan

budgeting shopping utilities

Hello. I gave my car a good going over today, it was rather mucky. I don't like car cleaning as much as I don't like housework, it's something I do when I have to. You wash a car and drive around dusty and/or muddy country roads and it gets mucky again. I can't remember the last time I did it, it looks nice now. I got the dyson out and cleaned the inside, so it's had a bit of a pamper. 

You may be wondering what I have got in the back. The back seats are down flat, and I have a piece of foam in there. I was testing to see if it is the right size, and yes it fits. I found it last week when I was looking for a small lampshade at the second hand furniture store. The foam was folded in quarters so I couldn't see how big it was. I thought I could make some pet beds with it. I asked the man how much he wanted for it. He said £2. I thought that was a fair price. 

It doesn't look as though I will be making any pet beds, because now it is the bed in my new campervan. This will come in very handy when I am out and about and don't have anywhere to stay. I'll have a duvet, bottom sheet, and some pillows in there, it will be dead cosy. Home from home in my car. Good idea eh!

I collected Heidi's tablets from the vet today, and on the way back I called at the small Tesco to see if there were any reductions. They sometimes have a few things, worth popping in if passing. Four avocado's for 80p. Mushrooms 67p. Four apples 47p. Iceberg lettuce 46p. Not massive savings but worth having.

It's bills time again. Severn Trent Water, £27.94, this is for surface water drainage for six months. The Anglian Water bill will arrive soon for supply of clean water. The gas and electric bills came today, they have over estimated the readings, that's because I haven't sent any in. I am changing supplier and have sent the new readings today to the new supplier. I rang the Meterline and told my present supplier the same readings so they can send me revised bills. The changeover is a lot easier because I don't do direct debits.

Although I am staying with Ebico their previous partner was SSE so the bills came from there. They have a new partner now, Robin Hood Energy, so I presume my next bills will come from them. It's all been a bit confusing for people, especially those on direct debit, there's been a big discussion about it on Money Saving Expert. We had a choice whether to stay with SSE, or move to Ebico/RHE. As I have have had no problems at all in the last three years I decided to stick with Ebico.

Time for a drink and bed. It's the weekend and the forecast is fine weather, so get out there and enjoy yourselves. Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
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Direct debits, friend or foe?

Direct debits, friend or foe?

money personal finance utilities

Hello. I like to time my lunch with a listen to the BBC Radio 4 consumer programme, You and Yours at 12.15pm. In the introduction today it said there would be a topic on how to save money on your utility bills. I need to know about this I thought. 

It started with an interview where someone was talking about how they pay their quarterly paper bills into the bank with cash. It makes them more careful about how they use their gas and electric because it makes them mentally connect their usage to the actual cost of it. 

They said what I have been saying for years. They like a paper bill, and they feel more in control rather than having direct debits taken from their bank account. 

The advice given that to pay by a monthly direct debit will be cheaper, is true in one sense, but it doesn't give any incentive to cut down on usage to save money. The mindset is they are going to take the money straight out of the bank anyway, so we might as well use it. Because you are paying upfront and the money is moved from your account automatically, you tend to forget about it. Paying cash over the counter, (a cheque in my case), makes you more mindful of how much it is costing you.

By paying for what you use after you have used it makes sense to me. I don't want the hassle of them taking too much money from me, and me trying to get it back. My supplier does not impose penalties on anyone paying quarterly. They charge the same flat rate for everyone, and there is no standing charge.

I shall continue to stick to my guns and not sign up for any more direct debits, I will not do internet banking or phone banking, I will keep on withdrawing the cash I need from the machine inside the bank and use that to pay for most of what I buy. I use my credit card for petrol and food shopping, and any larger amounts which might crop up from time to time. I clear that every month.

Have a listen to the paying for utilities item on Radio 4 today. Move the slider across to 25 minutes. See what you think.

Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
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Bills Bills Bills

Bills Bills Bills

cats utilities

Hello. And the bills are piling in this month. Vet, car MOT, petrol, and Tesco food, all on the credit card. Been on the phone today paying for car insurance. Meters have been read and the gas and electric bill have arrived. The water bill came last week and that has been paid. Next month will be the car road tax. A lot to go out all around the same time. Never mind, there is money in the bank to pay for it all.

Big hike in the gas bill for the last three months. Piddling small amount for the previous quarter, and £99 for this quarter. I've been treating us to some heat, although I have known previous winters far colder than this one. My excuse for spending a bit more? Bugsy needs to be warm. The electricity bill is slightly higher due to longer dark nights, need the lights on more. My supplier also sent out an annual summary which is quite useful. Based on the actual annual cost last year, the estimated costs for 2017 are £197 for gas, and £179 for electric. If I was on a monthly direct debit, which I'm not, it would be £31.50 a month. I can live with that.

I went to Crafty Club this morning, it was a good turn out, a new lady joined. I took Bugsy to see Marian the vet this afternoon. It's a drop in centre so no appointment required. I was a bit concerned that he had stopped eating again. She found a sore spot in his mouth so he has had an antibiotic shot, and something to stimulate his appetite. I have some tablets to give him over the next three days. Hope fully there will be some improvement soon.

Jade dog walk when I came back from the vet. No sign of the regular walker yet, we don't know when he is coming back off his holidays.

Got to cut this short, need to go upstairs and spend some time with Heidi. She seems to be forever in the spare room, can't get her to come down and stay with us in the living room. She is a little bit subdued, I don't think she is feeling too good. I've had a word with Marian and we both think I should up her medication dose slightly, and go back to the original dose of one tablet per night. Her gums are not as pink as they should be, she is becoming a little bit anaemic again.

Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon.
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