Well, an almost two week business trip, right after my mother’s hospitalization was tough, oh so tough. She is home now, I am home now and her health improves daily.
Well, I’ll share a bit of a secret. I feel like my finances are out of control. Of course they are not, of course they are not, but it feels like they are! Why? Well the rental deposit refund that should have been in my nice growing emergency fund, has not yet arrived. Why, you ask? Well I ask the same question. The answer is my landlord, the landlord who did not have the place cleaned or painted when I moved in, the landlord who couldn’t be bothered to pay the money for mail redirection, the landlord who knew there was a mouse infestation and did nothing, the landlord who I left a nice bottle of wine to thank for allowing me to let his flat. Yes, the landlord. I’m owed £1050, he has told me I won’t get it all back. But I’m hoping for £900. I’m now hoping it is in my account by Christmas, yes hoping.
NPower – they have over charged me for my gas and electric. Imagine the shock and horror on my face when I got a bill saying I owed £685 for 3 months gas and electric. Impossible said I, everyone says that said they, no truly impossible said I, I’m frugal, I eat a lot of raw food, I work 12 hour days, I travel for work so was not there much, I have low energy light bulbs and that are rarely used, haven’t you read my blog I wanted to ask the NPower lady??!! I’ve finally convinced them there is some sort of a mistake – I should get a new bill by the end of the month. God, Universe, Friends and Pixie Dust look kindly upon me please!
Business Travel Expenses – There must be £600 on my credit card filled with them. Due to a slight error @ work and timing (you can only submit 1x a month) I’ll have to pay it off this month but won’t have the pay until next.
My Pension – I did it, I took the big plunge and backdated 7 months worth of contributions – buying while stocks were low. This is my very first frolic with the stock market, my very first frolic. I am scared but proud. I’m putting in 6% of my income, work is putting in 8%. Here’s to happy carousing for a long time to come!
Other silly little things – About three weeks ago I was robbed, I didn’t post about it on here, I did tell Jade who sent me some nice little comforting emails, thank you Jade. I didn’t share because I was trying to make this a nice, happy, upbeat place that day, but there you have it. At first I was angry at him but now I wonder if maybe he needed the money, cheques & oyster card. Maybe for him it meant his family could eat, so I’m no longer angry you see! But it has meant for a difficult two weeks, I’ve had to purchase a few new pieces I need, I’ve had to move money around, cancel accounts etc. I also missed my train (£52), bought things for my mum and grace, had a friend’s birthday and had to purchase a new pair of shoes.
The great news is that while things are exceptionally tight and will be until the end of January, I have not taken one penny from my emergency fund or ISA, continued with my commitment to put 7 months worth of pension contribution into my pension and well, those are very very good things indeed!
So, as promised here are some pictures from my trip around the UK. I’ll start with the first one, yes it does feel like I have a mountain to climb in the next three months to get back on track, but I will do it!
My view from the B&B!
The beautiful sun shining on Fort William
The path I walked along to Glen Nevis
Dreams of chimneys, log fires, snuggling under eiderdowns and walking among the leaves. And now I’m off to figure out how on earth I’m going to make my Christmas swap partner her homemade Christmas gift. I tell you, I am oh so far from the domestic goddess I want to be! Oh so far….!
And finally, I think I’ve got everyone’s dates in…..can all the UK Simplicity or Personal Finance bloggers make June 6th 2009? We have people coming from Scotland all the way down to south Devon. We need somewhere good for cars and trains. Right now I’m researching Reading, Bristol and London. Any other ideas?
Am so pleased your Mom is doing better, as for your landlord, well, he is just an ass hole, I have had many of them over the years here and they are all the same, you go into a house that is dirty, makes you want to throw up!! and they want you to leave it perfect (usually so they can sell after you have improved it) or, you don’t get your money back. I’m going to sound horrible here, but sorry, stop been so bloody nice, he robbed you, no excuse, be angry!!! You are a Goddess, I believe all women are, perfect, wonderful, beautiful and well we just rule. Cracks up at self, LOL ok back to working out the new MSN, why do they need to change things?
How wonderful that your Mum is feeling better. I hope Grace is on the mend as well. The universe has certainly been giving you more than your share of problems, hasn’t it. I admire your forgiveness to who ever robbed you, it isn’t just the financial loss, but the paperwork and inconvienience they create. As regards to your late landlord, (and thank goodness he is late) I have a feeling that there is some official body set up to deal with this or you may have to go to the small claims court to resolve it. Have a look as this http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/campaigns/policy_campaign_publications/parliamentary_briefings/pb_housing/cr_tenancy_deposit_scheme.htm
it may help or at least lead you to an answer. All I can wish for him is that all the camel fleas in Eygpt reside in his armpits. Try to put this behind you emotionally if you can. Don’t give him the power to affect your present.
What absolutely beautiful photos, Frugal. They certainly enhance your lovely, informative blog.
I am very angry to hear that you have been robbed and that your landlord is withholding your deposit. Did you manage to take photos, I wonder, when you left? There is now a deposit protection scheme, I understand, which is to the advantage of both landlord and tenant to avoid this problem in the future. We let out a small house and the agent puts the deposit into this protected scheme. Loads of photos are taken too before and after rental.
The upside of course is that your Mum is feeling better (and Grace hopefully), you’ve been able to get out into the country and of course your frugality has put you into a very good position to be able to be positive about your current temporary financial depletion.
I’m with Margaret on the Egyptian camel fleas wish.
xx
This might be helpful to you re deposit
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TenancyDeposit/index.htm
Stand your ground with Npower.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog/consumer_advice/
Glad to hear that your mum is better now. The pictures are beautiful!! I would ask the landlord for the breakdown of what he deducted from your bond if he refunded you less than your $1,050. It’s always good to know what they are for even if the ball is in his court to pay whatever he wants back.
Wow, what beautiful photos!! I honestly think you have a great eye for it
I hope things start looking up again… always look on the bright side remember?
I am sorry to hear that you were robbed, but I am glad you are okay.
And that your mum is doing better, too.
As for the landlord, I learned the hardway that faith in him didn’t stand. Problems in the beginning always lead to problems in getting the deposit back. I even took him to small claims court. Danced a little dance, was able to come to an agreement, and I got back everything due to me. But, it was such a pain! So, I hope it is much easier for you.
ps – thanxs for the lovely pics
FT – firstly great to have you back! I’m so sorry to hear that you got robbed, how absolutely horrible, I hope you weren’t hurt.
6th June 2009 – it’s a date with me! I don’t mind where we meet…
Keep fighting NPower (gits) and keep on the back on that blimming landlord!
I’m glad to hear your Mum is doing well as well.
Hi there-Phew, you’ve been through a lot in a short space of time! So sorry to hear about the robbery, you are dealing with it extremely well. I really hope the gas and electricity bill is properly sorted out, this is extortionate what they tried to get out of you!! Very well done for staying financially on track through a very demanding and hectic time. Thanks for sharing the lovely piccys too and hope you get to have a relaxing weekend, you deserve it!
Glad you’re back safe and well, I’ve really missed your inspiring posts. Also, very pleased to hear your Mum is getting better.
How horrible to be robbed – what a pain in the proverbials too. Your ex-landlord sounds unpleasant but typical – they always expect the place to be left immaculate irrespective of the state it was in when you take on the lease. Let’s hope he coughs up your deposit quickly. I’d certainly give NPower a mouthful – what a ludicrous bill for 3 summer months!!
Re: the bloggers meet on 06.06.09 – the date sounds excellent. On a purely selfish note could I choose Bristol (could combine the meet with a stay with my Mum – who’d probably also like to meet everyone). No, seriously, anywhere in the south is fine by me.
Gorgeous, gorgeous photos BTW.
Hello – have been reading your blog for the last few days. You are doing really really well – despite these setbacks. keep at em and dont let it get you down! good to hear your ma is better. looking forward to reading more!
I didn’t know you were in Scotland! You should have popped over to Aberdeen to say hello!
6th June is great for me and anywhere easily accessible from London works for me because I’ll probably combine it with a visit to a friends and a MEGA shopping spree!
Gladd you’re well and back online!
Wow, Scotland is somewhere we have considered moving to. Your photos are truly stunning – filled with autumnal colours and loveliness. We are currently roasting chestnuts on the fire as I type this!!!! Hoping you get all your money worries sorted out and thanks for stopping by my blog
sorry to hear that you’ve had a rough time and are feeling out of control. Good to hear about your mum being on the mend though. And also good to hear you still sound so positive through it all.
Welcome back, lovely!!! Soooo glad (and relieved) to hear that your mum is doing better. It must be such a load off your mind.
On the finance stuff, you know, don’t sweat it. Everyone has blips and the annoying stuff will get sorted (if you need help w/ the deposit let me know, I have experience shall we say!). Health and happiness are the things that are most important, everything else can wait. And I admire your perspective on the theft! Not everyone is such a big person.
Big hugs!!!
June should be good for me, happy to travel!
x
Hello! I’ve been reading your blog for a while but never commented before. You might find the website below useful. Your landlord should have your money in a separate account under the deposit protection scheme. So, you might want to bring that up next time you talk to him, and just say that you will be seeking legal advice soon. Usually landlords are required to return the deposit within 10-20 days after you vacate the property.
I’m glad your mum is feeling better and your pics are lovely!
http://www.depositprotection.com/default.aspx?bhjs=1&fla=1
Sometimes it seems that no matter how hard you try, the universe just keeps thwarting your efforts. I want to believe that light at the end of the tunnel isn’t just another train coming but the odds don’t look good.
It’s great that you can find the positive in such a negative situation but even if that person needed your stuff, he still violated your privacy. And the cynical in me believes he did it for nefarious reasons and not to feed his family.
It’s good to have you back and I’m glad your mom is better. Thanks so much for the lovely pictures. I may be American but my heart is in Britain. Thanks for a taste of it.
Welcome back! It’s good to hear that your mom is on the mend, that’s a blessing in and of itself.
Definitely stand your ground with NPower, I just had to deal with my electric company telling me I used twice as much power as I really did, and while it took some effort, they did finally adjust the billing to accurately reflect usage.
Sorry to hear you were robbed
An old friend was just robbed as well, and it’s so frustrating that something like that could happen to people we know.
I love reading your blog. I’m sorry to hear you were robbed. I had an idea for your homemade Christmas gift. I tried this and love my new mittens!
http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.3a0656639de62ad593598e10d373a0a0/?vgnextoid=e88f5b6da5b92110VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default
Glad you are back! I have only been reading your blog for a few weeks but have already come to look forward to it. You have a good head on your shoulders; things wil work out.
landlords are the *devil.* we had the same thing this summer: left a flat *immaculate,* had a greedy coot try and keep the whole thing! we had some leverage, though, knew of some illegal properties he was letting (when it gets ugly, i get uglier, and we were really broke !
) in any case, (sighs with relief) thrilled you are back! I would love to come to your conference. maybe we can make it coincide with our travels to india; Heathrow is the layover . xx
*Welcome back!*
I’m sorry to hear of the recent challenges you have been facing. I’m happy to hear your mom & Grace are doing better.
Sending you *BIG HUGS* and positive energy.
Lovely photos! Thanks for sharing.
glad to hear that your mum is doing well. never mind about the finances, you will get back on track soon, and as you say you have managed to put in the pension contribution and not touch the emergency fund.
I would be very assertive with this landlord, he does not sound at all honest. If he is keeping some of the money ask for a copy of the final inspection, a detailed list of the reasons he has deducted money and a prompt settlement. Get some advice from a tenants service ASAP.
the photos are just breathtaking!! absolutely beautiful, thanks for sharing them
Hi ft
I’m glad that your mum is getting better and I’m very, very sorry that you got robbed.
As for the money stuff, it’s just money stuff! You are doing so well.
June is great for me
June is good for me, looking forward to it!
I’ve heard too many horror stories regarding landlords and deposit so when we move I simply sign over the deposit in lue of rent. Solves the issue, he gets the rent and you get your deposit.
understand the business expense thingy, people who don’t travel don’t realize how much your out of pocket when you travel, you expected to front the cash while the company takes forever to pay out.
I was a little freaked this month as there was an 5000 euro Amex bill coming due and I didn’t know if they were going to pay out the expenses in time. Thankfully they did!!
I’m really glad to hear your mom is doing better!!
Sorry about the robbery
That would have totally freaked me out 
I’m so glad your mom is better. That is wonderful that you have not had to use any of your savings to pay for all of the weird things that have happened to you financially. I’m also sorry that you got robbed. I’m thankful that you were not hurt. Lastly, the pictures are beautiful. Thanks for sharing them.
Nichole
Lovely pics! Sounds like you’ve been on a rollercoaster. Hope life is back on track for you very soon. Most of all, I’m glad your Mum is doing well and making progress. Our Mums are very special.
D x