T1/20/2014 08:34:00 pm
I wrote about my fabulous January finds, and one of which was a set of picture frames from my local charity shop warehouse for £1.
I took one of these picture frames and covered it with Blue Duck Tape.
I then took out the middle and sprayed it with my ever faithful chalkboard paint.
Once this was complete I felt the board looked a little bare and remembered that the little Toy Story book we bought from the charity shop was starting to fall apart so I cut out a couple of images and pasted them on the cover.
The remaining images from the book are now in my decoupage drawer. Waste not, want not!
When all was done I left this on Max's toy box for him :
I'm guessing he liked it as whilst I was out (and maybe will a little help from daddy) I received this message.
Craft: Quick and Easy Handheld Chalkboard
I wrote about my fabulous January finds, and one of which was a set of picture frames from my local charity shop warehouse for £1.
I took one of these picture frames and covered it with Blue Duck Tape.
I then took out the middle and sprayed it with my ever faithful chalkboard paint.
Once this was complete I felt the board looked a little bare and remembered that the little Toy Story book we bought from the charity shop was starting to fall apart so I cut out a couple of images and pasted them on the cover.
The remaining images from the book are now in my decoupage drawer. Waste not, want not!
When all was done I left this on Max's toy box for him :
I'm guessing he liked it as whilst I was out (and maybe will a little help from daddy) I received this message.
T1/12/2014 11:00:00 am
My January Bargains
I know it's only the beginning of January but what can I say! I've been busy hunting down them bargains!
Our local charity has a warehouse and Facebook - excellent combination in my book as whenever goods are dropped off at their warehouse the team photograph them and post their spoils on Facebook and within days (sometimes hours) the goods are gone.
I must admit it's a bit like the final seconds on eBay sometimes with so many people trying to grab a bargain! So I managed to get two storage units for £20. My craft 'room' and Max's bedroom now is soo much better for them
Whilst at the warehouse picking up my bargain I came across these picture frames for 50p each! With my duck tape win just before Christmas, I've already decorated one of them with the second one in progress.
Also on facebook is a local free up and recycle page and again I managed to bag myself 2 tables which are part of a nest of tables. I feel chalkboard paint and some form of movie theme top may play a part in their redecoration.
And finally and the one I'm probably most excited about is on UK hot deals (please tell me you all know about that website!!!!) there was a post stating Maplin's were selling their 40w Soldering Kit for £5 - £20 saving. I was only looking at these just before Christmas.
So haven't I done well for January all of the above for £26! Bargain.
Our local charity has a warehouse and Facebook - excellent combination in my book as whenever goods are dropped off at their warehouse the team photograph them and post their spoils on Facebook and within days (sometimes hours) the goods are gone.
I must admit it's a bit like the final seconds on eBay sometimes with so many people trying to grab a bargain! So I managed to get two storage units for £20. My craft 'room' and Max's bedroom now is soo much better for them
Whilst at the warehouse picking up my bargain I came across these picture frames for 50p each! With my duck tape win just before Christmas, I've already decorated one of them with the second one in progress.
Also on facebook is a local free up and recycle page and again I managed to bag myself 2 tables which are part of a nest of tables. I feel chalkboard paint and some form of movie theme top may play a part in their redecoration.
And finally and the one I'm probably most excited about is on UK hot deals (please tell me you all know about that website!!!!) there was a post stating Maplin's were selling their 40w Soldering Kit for £5 - £20 saving. I was only looking at these just before Christmas.
So haven't I done well for January all of the above for £26! Bargain.
T1/10/2014 09:32:00 pm
Is Pet Insurance really worth it??
I have had pet insurance for my two Staffies since they were 2 months old!
When Mally passed away last year he was 3 weeks shy of 11 years old and due to his illness, his vet bill was in the region of £750!
Obviously, this is a huge amount of money but any dog owner will tell you this is the reason why you get insurance - peace of mind!
YEAH RIGHT.
When I claimed on Mally's insurance I nearly fainted when I saw the letter stating £330 had been paid back to me for my claim - What?? How??
After having a tantrum which closely resembled something my son might have the minute we walk into Tesco I called the insurance company and asked/demanded/screamed - can't quite remember which - 'How on earth have they justified not paying out more than £330 for a £750 bill'???
Here's how:
1. 25% is deducted due to the fact my boy was over 10 years old!!!!!!!!!!!!
2. £150 excess was taken off
3. Some random Vet contribution of 15% was taken off
Oh, and the 'extra' that if your pet dies they will pay out £300 - gets wavered....when your pet is over 10 years old!!
So, for 10 years I've been paying in approximately £25 a month to the insurance company in the safe knowledge that if anything goes wrong and I have a huge vet bill to pay - I'm covered - NOT!!
Needless to say in my complete tantrum mode I cancelled Athena's insurance ON THE SPOT. I got asked "May I ask why you are cancelling" I shit you not I got asked that!!!
That was October.
Today Athena's vet bill came at £170.
If I use the insurance 'get out of paying' calculations above - I'd have ended up owing them money!
What I have been doing is putting Athena AND Mally's monthly insurance payments into a separate cash plus prepayment MasterCard since October 2013. Safe in the knowledge that when I took Athena to the vets I had money on the card to cover the bill.
So ask yourself, is your pet insurance really working for you? I highly recommend looking into a prepayment card.
We used one when we went on holiday and I now have one for Athena's bills. I find them a great way to save.
YEAH RIGHT.
When I claimed on Mally's insurance I nearly fainted when I saw the letter stating £330 had been paid back to me for my claim - What?? How??
After having a tantrum which closely resembled something my son might have the minute we walk into Tesco I called the insurance company and asked/demanded/screamed - can't quite remember which - 'How on earth have they justified not paying out more than £330 for a £750 bill'???
Here's how:
1. 25% is deducted due to the fact my boy was over 10 years old!!!!!!!!!!!!
2. £150 excess was taken off
3. Some random Vet contribution of 15% was taken off
Oh, and the 'extra' that if your pet dies they will pay out £300 - gets wavered....when your pet is over 10 years old!!
So, for 10 years I've been paying in approximately £25 a month to the insurance company in the safe knowledge that if anything goes wrong and I have a huge vet bill to pay - I'm covered - NOT!!
Needless to say in my complete tantrum mode I cancelled Athena's insurance ON THE SPOT. I got asked "May I ask why you are cancelling" I shit you not I got asked that!!!That was October.
Today Athena's vet bill came at £170.
If I use the insurance 'get out of paying' calculations above - I'd have ended up owing them money!
What I have been doing is putting Athena AND Mally's monthly insurance payments into a separate cash plus prepayment MasterCard since October 2013. Safe in the knowledge that when I took Athena to the vets I had money on the card to cover the bill.
So ask yourself, is your pet insurance really working for you? I highly recommend looking into a prepayment card.
We used one when we went on holiday and I now have one for Athena's bills. I find them a great way to save.
