THE Prepping thread - a new beginning :)

[Deleted User] · 8 August 2016 at 8:01PM

Karmacat wrote: »

Mary, thanks for posting about France - it's good to get some first hand knowledge.

While we're on the subject of the nearer parts of Europe, anyone been to Schwäbisch Hall?

ivyleaf · 9 August 2016 at 9:03AM

Bob, I haven't been there but it looks lovely

Have you already booked, or just considering it?

Living_proof · 9 August 2016 at 10:47AM

maryb wrote: »

If you use Microsoft Money and download your statements into that, you can add a category to each item and also an explanatory note (useful if your categories are fairly broad). There's a sunset version of Microsoft Money available for free on the Microsoft website and I have no problems running it with Windows 10.

Lots of people swear by You Need A Budget (YNAB). I haven't tried that - it seems to be more forward looking than Money which is more of a record which you can analyse in lots of ways. (Money does have a budgeting feature but even if you tell it something is an annual expense, the month the payment goes out it still tells you you've overspent so I don't use it) But presumably in order to check how you are doing in comparison to your budget you would need to have actual spends so I am assuming YNAB must let you download online bank statements?

I have just activated my card and spent quite a long time quizzing them about this. They don't think Microsoft Money would be supported but Microsoft Excel is so I would be surprised if Money wasn't. I won't be making the switch until another couple of weeks time but will look at it again for you when I am into their internet banking. The regular saver at 6% a month looks very attractive at the moment!

VJsmum · 9 August 2016 at 4:26PM

Hi all

back from me olidis!

We visited south Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho - the last two being amongst the poorest places in the world and the first not much better in parts.

In Swaziland, we stayed at a camp with no electricity and the huts had no doors or windows (or walls to speak of)

See here

http://www.thekingdomofswaziland.com/pages/lodges/lodge.asp?LodgeID=51

the rooms were lit with paraffin lamps, and the water heated by gas. I am not sure how they cooked, I am guessing gas

Paraffin lamps do not give off a lot of light

In many areas we went people still live in mud huts with thatched roofs - many were round but some were square. None bigger than my (single) garage. In some places, even in S. Africa, people were pumping their water from a single village pump

The pumps didn't have a lever but something like a bicycle pedal

the women carried 25 litre water containers on their heads :eek: i.e. 25kg. I saw one woman carry 10kg each of flour and maize on her head (in sacks); a baby on her back and four laden shopping bags....

The men do not do this - and yet they say that women are the weaker sex....:cool:

My 17 year old DS has had his eyes opened for sure.

In Lesotho I saw herd boys (cows and / or goats) with no coats (in the snow, it was winter there and we were in the mountains) but with a mobile phone.

The average salary in my favourite local to us village in SA earned £100 month - not much more than my weekly food bill.

There are frequent power cuts in SA - on Friday or Saturday the whole of Johannesburg was out, can you imagine the uproar if that were London??? People are well prepared with generators, battery packs and ensuring they have gas stoves as well as lamps, torches and candles.

We were frequently without internet - and we didn't die :rotfl:

maryb · 9 August 2016 at 5:01PM

Living_proof wrote: »

I have just activated my card and spent quite a long time quizzing them about this. They don't think Microsoft Money would be supported but Microsoft Excel is so I would be surprised if Money wasn't. I won't be making the switch until another couple of weeks time but will look at it again for you when I am into their internet banking. The regular saver at 6% a month looks very attractive at the moment!

Thank you so much for this, it's really good of you

ivyleaf · 9 August 2016 at 6:19PM

VJsmum Glad you're safely back. What memories you've brought home with you!

[Deleted User] · 9 August 2016 at 7:39PM

ivyleaf wrote: »

Have you already booked, or just considering it?

I haven't booked yet, but I'm looking to go there in December, during the Winter fair.

maryb · 9 August 2016 at 11:25PM

I read a piece in the paper someone left on the train this morning which said that Russian tanks were 'massing on the border between Crimea and Ukraine sparking fears of an invasion' I tried to google it when I got home but only came up with a piece in the Daily Rant and Rail. One of the comments said he had looked at several Ukrainian news sources and they only said that Russian military movements were taking place inside Crimea and said nothing about concentration on the border.

I thought it was interesting as an exercise in stoking fear - but for what purpose? There is no doubt that there are several flashpoints in the world - not just in Europe. But it don't look like WW3 is breaking out this week

milasavesmoney · 10 August 2016 at 12:02AM

maryb wrote: »

I read a piece in the paper someone left on the train this morning which said that Russian tanks were 'massing on the border between Crimea and Ukraine sparking fears of an invasion' I tried to google it when I got home but only came up with a piece in the Daily Rant and Rail. One of the comments said he had looked at several Ukrainian news sources and they only said that Russian military movements were taking place inside Crimea and said nothing about concentration on the border.

I thought it was interesting as an exercise in stoking fear - but for what purpose? There is no doubt that there are several flashpoints in the world - not just in Europe. But it don't look like WW3 is breaking out this week

http://www.rferl.mobi/a/ukraine-russia-crimea-military-buildup/27909236.html

milasavesmoney · 10 August 2016 at 12:16AM

ivyleaf wrote: »

Yes, it is. Thank you maryb. Not much news here atm is there, the Olympics has been allowed to push everything else out!

All we get is Trump/Clinton which is sickening no matter which way you look at it!
America has lost her mind nominating those two for president!!

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THE Prepping thread - a new beginning :)

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