Thank you for the EDS ! I completely forgot to go back to the previous thread and add the link to my HPUD post... d'oh !
Here's this week's update; https://inleo.io/@alonicus/saturday-savers-2024-progress-report-week-5
For no-buy February, it's an expensive month anyway - somehow I've got to get the car through an MOT, which could be an interesting and expensive event. So I'm automatically left with very little cash for luxuries.
We've also got a holiday planned, but I count that as part of watching our costs; it's the cheapest time of year to go, and it's our annual treat to cheer ourselves up for having got through Christmas and January periods when the weather is gloomy and we're mega-busy and stressed. We don't allow ourselves internet while we're away (even if the hotel connection is usable) so there will be one week where I skip a few days and catch up as soon as we get back 😀
What's an MOT?
It stands for Ministry of Transport test. Any car in the UK over three years old has to be tested annually, and it's a pretty comprehensive test to check that everything meets the legal requirements (lights, suspension, tyres, brakes, exhaust emissions, windows and windscreen wipers, and a whole host of other things).
The test itself isn't too expensive, but there are often things that are found during the test that need to be repaired to meet the requirements. That's the bit that can get expensive !
In a strange quirk of the rules, vehicles over 40 years old can apply for exemption from the MOT test as an historic vehicle. The logic is that if you've got a vehicle that old, it probably isn't used on a daily basis and you're probably an enthusiast who will keep it well maintained anyway.
Back in the 90s a friend of mine was driving a '67 Ford pickup. One day we broke down and a cop car pulled over and offered to push us with his car so that we could get off the main road and park on the side road.
He said, "OK, put your seatbelts on."
Friend: "Truck was made before seatbelts."
Cop: "Oh right okay then put your hazard lights on."
Friend: "Made before hazards."
Cop: "Huh. Well I guess that happens." 🤣
A holiday sounds fabulous 😍
You can link your HPUD post here (that's much easier for me to find).