A stitch in time

In my current state of unemployment I had the chance the scour the shops for bargains which in my previous employed state, I couldn't. Further to that instead of paying someone to say, wallpaper my flat, I have embarked on doing myself. It is actually extremely gratifying - although I admit I have somewhat become OCD about the DIY.

Yesterday - which incidently was my birthday - my father gave us a wallpaper lesson. We had chosen to wallpaper along one wall of a very long hall. Now, the hash bash crash in me wanted to just get cutting and get pasting but actually there was a lot more to it. Without boring you of the ins and outs, this wallpapering business was far more involved than I think either of us had appreciated. From the consistancy of the paste, to the cutting round doors and lightswitches, to using a plum ball. The thing that seemed to flumoux the both of us with the "drop" in the wallpaper...low and behold the thing doesn't match immediately when you stop cutting it. You have to find and match the pattern. Who knew! well, my father actually.

Two things that struck me on this. Firstly, actually wallpapering was an achievement in itself. In the old days we would have gladly paid someone to do it and not even tried. But there we were covered in wallpaper paste at half ten last night sweating like pigs in the hot summer air. Loving every minute. Secondly, there is a lesson to be learned from wallpapering. You have to keep checking yourself to the line. Making sure you don't start putting the paper on at an angle. My father, who has been doing it for years, has a eye for the angle. Me on the other hand had to use the plum ball every strip.

Its a bit like finances. My parents know every expense and every nook and crank of their finances. They can judge the angle, if you like, by eye. Me on the other hand - especially at the moment is still having to check every month to ensure I am on track and not going too much one way to stop. I can correct it all within a month of money which is more than can be said for squinty wallpaper.

And so onward - we have the other half of the hall to do tonight...I'm so proud of it, I even put up a photo for you to Coo at!

Thank You...

...for all the people that have contacted me to encourage me to blog again.

I will get off the pity pot now and start blogging again!

Quick update

1) Still don't have a job (dastardly mutter)

2) Debts are at £16,067 (still going in the right direction)

3) I am now ready to blog the rest of my year of frugality - job or not!

Keep on Frugalling!

Many apologies

...I am losing my mind somewhat searching for a job folks, I do hope to be back on form and back on blogging as soon as I have stopped breathing into a paper bag.

Fru xxx

What is the difference between Visa and Mastercard?

Odd as it may seem, I was researching credit cards the other day.

I am getting mighty annoyed at the £100 plus interest I am paying every month for the privilege of my debt on the card and thought it would be prudent to see if I could balance transfer. It is unlikely I would be accepted for a card at this point but that is by the by, a girl can research can’t she?! I don’t believe that I should wholly turn my back on credit as I said last week – if used properly it can be useful.

It clicked with me when doing this research that the difference between Visa and Mastercard is, for the consumer, is fairly minimal. It’s the difference between Coke and Pepsi, or Persil and Ariel. They are brand names. If you consider the Coke and Pepsi analogy...neither Coke or Pepsi have retail outlets, neither Visa or Mastercard directly issue cards, what price you pay for Coke or Pepsi depends on what retailer you buy it from, likewise what you pay for a Visa or Mastercard – in interest – depends on which bank or building society is issuing it. Bottom line then, much as you would do to get the best price for a can of Coke, is shop around for your Visa or Mastercard.

Maybe at one time in the not too distance past one brand would be more accepted than the other but it would be rare to find a place now that does accept both Mastercard and Visa. In fact when I think back to my credit card spanking days I don’t think I would even check if a retailer did or didn’t accept visa/mastercard which is crazy as I would have been stuffed if it hadn’t been.

I suppose having one Visa and one Mastercard would ensure you against something big happening to the credit supplier which would mean that you couldn’t use it, think Bear Sterns/Lehman Bros...but...the bottom line is when it comes to choosing one over another you should go for one you feel has the best benefits for you – APR, rewards, fees etc. Check this link out for examples of popular visa credit cards.

The only other card of big note to mention is American Express – which does have a difference, it can and does issue its own cards, as well as issuing them through banks and building societies as the other two do. It is not accepted in as many retailers or outlets as the other two. In fact check here to see the big names that you can’t use Amex in.

All in all my research concluded that the best thing to do when looking for a new credit card is keeping an eye on the forums, comparison sites and researching yourself for the best – and most suitable – deal for you at that point.

Slow, slow, slow

I am thoroughly fed up today

I have been searching for a job for 6 weeks plus and I am hardly even getting "thanks but no thanks" letters back from employers. It sucks, sucks, sucks...

2/3 years again if I put my CV on a website, or registered with a recruitment consultant, it would have been snapped up within a week, now I feel like I'm one of those glass cages in Amsterdam, with no-one biting.

OK, OK so I'm getting a little frustrated with it all - but seriously, I thought the recession was beginning to lift. The last thing I want to do is go through another month of cutting into my savings - not got.

I will get off the pity pot by tomorrow - I'm sure.