It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

oystercatcher

When I was a young adult (in fact even as a child) Christmas and birthday presents were always 'essentials' Saucepans, extension leads, clothes, tea towels. We were grateful for people helping us out by buying things we couldn't afford.
I can remember being absolutely furious with my then DH, one winter we were snowed in and he trudged into town and bought a video player, all I could think was that it wasn't necessary and we should have saved that money.
It actually took a long time for me to realise that it was 'OK' to spend money on non essentials when times weren't quite as hard.

This isn't meant to be criticising you happytails, just a comparison of family traditions and values if you like. My parents were brought up in the war and truly OS , much of it was enforced/rubbed off on me. It's hard to change a way of thinking that you're brought up to. I had to learn to spend money , now I'm having to unlearn that.
We all have our own priorities and ways we like to live. We can't all be wrong just different!

Oystercatcher

bellaquidsin

One notable Christmas pressie I received from my DH in our early married life was a tea towel and a pair of matching oven gloves. Credit where credit is due he did get the colour scheme right.

Might not have been the ultimate 'fun' present but it has provided many a laugh over the years.

Bella.

elizabunny

pagangirl wrote: »

I always assumed that everyone kept a basic first aid kit - I do, probably comes from my mum always having one - used to hate iodine when i came in with cut knees etc - (always was a tomboy)!:o Can't imagine anyone who would be without one - common sense I suppose - some of us have got it, ands some of us ain't :rolleyes:

Happytails - don't think anyone was trying to upset you by saying what they did, although you did suprise me too with what you spent that voucher on. It would have better to have kept it for when the baby arrived and seen what was needed then. We've probably all been there and done what you did at some point in the past. Its easier to look back with hindsight !

Good Afternoon All!

I have to agree with you pagangirl, I also assumed everone kept at least the basics in a first aid kit. You know -the odd roll of bandage, plasters etc., basic pain killers and of course the good old triangular bandage -never had a broken arm YET but just in case. We also have a travel version for when we're on the move.

Sorry Happpytails -but I have to agree with some of the other posts on here, but again, this is definately not a criticism, but is said with the benefit of hindsight. Many of us here have been there, done that etc. and have then gone on to regret it. As a couple, me and my DH plan what to spend on each other for Birthdays, Christmas etc. and yes this does take away the element of surprise to some extent and also, usually the possibility of an extravagant or frivoulous 'pressie'. It's not that we don't want to give each other much, it's just that we have learned the hard way, that there are many more important and necessary things to spend you hard earned cash on in times of difficulties. Also, you are so lucky to have such a caring family to fall back on and although many of us may have very caring families, it is not always possible to fall back on them, then it gets really tough.

Pitlanepiglet

bellaquidsin wrote: »

One notable Christmas pressie I received from my DH in our early married life was a tea towel and a pair of matching oven gloves. Credit where credit is due he did get the colour scheme right.

Might not have been the ultimate 'fun' present but it has provided many a laugh over the years.

Bella.

I dunno what's funny about that..we've been married two years in Feb and for this Christmas I gave my wonderful Husband two silicon oven gloves and two "go flat" colanders :rotfl: More importantly he was really pleased with them :rotfl:

He on the other hand gave me a beautifully wrapped present which turned out to be two bars of Green & Blacks chocolate (my favourite!) stolen out of fridge - they had arrived with the Tesco order that I paid for!

In both of our defence he's been stuck in the country looking after Dad and the new puppy and has been housebound. I on the other hand only had time to shop at Costco and I knew he'd like the kitchen stuff!

Who said romance is dead :j

happytails

I got my OH a toiletry bag and a blokes guide to babies book this year as we had a £20 limit :rolleyes:

Sylvan

oystercatcher wrote: »

a collegue at work who had lived in Canada said that having a tealight in the car could make the difference between life and death if people were stranded overnight out there.

Thanks for that. I'll put some in for DH and DS5. They've been going the looooong way round instead of using the direct route over the fells lately but even the main road can get pretty bad, suddenly. (Not sure about long distances but it's 30 miles to school/work.)
One year my line manager refused to let me go when my Mum phoned. He had to let me go 15 minutes later when word came down from on high but by that time it was, just, too late. We got stuck 2 miles from home (just below the brow of the last hill:mad:). I was 8 months pregnant and the wind was too strong for me to walk through, let alone the children, so we were there for almost 6 hours before the army managed to rescue us (and almost got stuck on the hill themselves into the bargain - in fact I ended up snowed in for 3 days with no electricity and squaddies as guests:rotfl:). I'm sure the biscuits, hot drinks and blankets saved at least the little one's life, if not the rest of us. (Certainly saved my sanity!)

Sylvan

cw18 wrote: »

No!! The closest I come is a 'jump start box' I keep in the car. The breakdown services get annoyed if you keep calling them for a non-start, and I don't want/can't afford to wait around for an hour every time. It's worth it's weight in gold, and is the best spent £20 of 2008 for me :T (Note to self: must charge it back up, as it's been used 3 times since last charge!)

hehe. I bought DH one for Christmas (along with the drill bits he asked for when he saw them in Aldi). Isn't that dreadful?

happytails, when I was young and poor I asked for things like pushchairs and baby slings for Christmas/birthday. They may not seem like fun presents but in the long run you find yourself so grateful for them! Having said that, I can understand you wanting something fun, for yourself. Sometimes it seems as though all we do is make sacrifices and think of others.

Yesterday I made DH buy me a maximum/minimum thermometer and the promise of a TV booster next time Homebase have a 10% day (next weekend, as it happens - he wasn't expecting that!:rotfl:) so I can watch TV in bed:p. Both totally unnecessary, even frivolous, presents (AND I added some flower seeds to my veg order today:eek:) but I'm going to enjoy them SO much:D.
Enjoy your wii happytails, and you can ask for the practical presents and feel virtuous from now on. :grouphug:

Cat_Addict

I just went and read the stockpiling thread and I have to say it left me feeling very uncomfortable. So very end of the world. I am seeing this financial situation as a wake up call to be content with less and be careful with money. I hate reading such depressing stuff ...

Icemaiden

Cat_Addict wrote: »

I just went and read the stockpiling thread and I have to say it left me feeling very uncomfortable. So very end of the world. I am seeing this financial situation as a wake up call to be content with less and be careful with money. I hate reading such depressing stuff ...

It wasn't that particular thread which scared me so much, but all the other threads on the recession board have really given me the shivers. I'm so glad I've no debt, some savings, a very very small mortgage and low overheads.

Ice
x

D&DD

I think most of that thread is 'tongue-in-cheek' I love the posters on there they are so funny at times.I used to lurk a lot on the houseprice board and watch them all and they actually have had many a good discussion over there before they got 'displaced'.
There are lots of reasons why people keep a storecupboard as has been mentioned on here and I think really as with many things it's a case of do what you feel comfortable with.;)

Rosie,I keep a little first aid kit on hand in the car,a few bits in my bag (sting stuff and plasters),and an [STRIKE]enormous[/STRIKE] larger one indoors :silenced: mostly due to DS3 and his escapades as well as OH being accident prone and DS1 being a hypochondriac :rotfl: