It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

Primrose

Ceridwen, Unfortunately I can't post a photo at the moment:
a) Because I don't know how to
b) Because the greenhouse in question has been removed/dismantled for the winter. (the plastic covers don't like frost, harden and split) if left in frosty conditions.
When it's put back in early Spring I'll try and get my OH to post a photo on the Green Fingered thread in case others are considering a similar greenhouse..

However, the wall bolts (which we got from a Builders supplier) have an open "U"-like protruding end and were drilled into the wall, about 18 inches apart, about two thirds up the height of the greenhouse. A long nylon car/luggage strap bought from Halfords is threaded through the two open bolt ends and to prevent it vibrating loose in wind, is anchored in place by sticking a small empty Benecol drinks container on each open prong of the bolt.(this looks rather Heath Robinson but worked well, even in high winds). The luggage strap is then pulled round the greenhouse about two thirds up its height and fastened at the front. This makes the front zip-up flap fairly easy to open and close.

Margaret54

Hi just reading through all the posts here, and noticed the ones about the washing powder. I recently read on here of course:) from someone about using the eco balls. I ordered a box and I have been using them since they arrived, and am very happy with them. You get 1,000 washes from them it says, and I would recommend them. I was always very fussy about my washing powders and fabric softeners, and these eco balls are excellent in that they are great for those with sensitive skin as well. I have been using them every day for nearly a week now. Better for the environment skin and of course the purse.:) In my opinion anyway.:)

catznine

mummysaver wrote: »

Actually all this food stretching and using up leftovers had me thinking earlier, I can't remember the last time I grabbed a trolley and did a full shop in a supermarket, sure I pick up bits and bobs and bargains when I see them, but an entire week's shopping in one go, nope can't remember the last time! Now shopping the way I do and keeping my cupboards full suits me and the way I cook and budget and the amount of time I have to shop, but I actually quite like having a big trolley with a week's worth of food and bringing it home, I think I must be a bit sad to miss that! Having a trolley full of flour or beans isn't quite the same lol!

Good point! I too shop in an entirely different way now. I find myself puzzling about how others can still manage to shop weekly. Yes I may need to pop out for milk or eggs on a regular basis and while I am out I try to pick up any bargains for the store cupboard/freezer, but to fill a trolley? no way! I use mail order/on line more now too - Goodness Direct for big bags of lentils/soya mince/chickpeas etc and approved foods for tinned sardines, kidney beans etc., I haven't been to Costco for many months, though I might have to soon for dh's fav coffee.

As for being sad I did find myself looking wistfully at the pasta in Asda recently and remembering the good old days when the huge bags cost £1(now nearly £4) and the value bags were 19p (now about 40p):eek: how long ago was that?

mummysaver

Catznine - LOL the answer is not very long ago! I bought brand pasta in Mr M the other day, at half price it worked out cheaper per kg than the normal pasta! Value stuff is great in pasta bakes as it is thicker, but just for a quick pasta dish the normal stuff is more to our taste. Of course, the kids would prefer that I always made their pasta, but time doesn't always allow for that!

I have a few friends who still do a big weekly shop, one in particular was moaning that it now costs 50% more per week! I did suggest she stop buying the same stuff and look for bargains, cheaper brands, but she just told me that people will think she's poor if she does that! Anyway it works in my favour, as we usually meet on Fridays, and as the new stuff goes into her fridge she bins the previous weeks stuff, madness in my opinion, I have no shame and don't care if anyone thinks I'm poor, rich or anything in between, so I grab a bag and hold it whilst she fills it! I've offered money, but nope, she says its rubbish!

I'm going to have a look at Goodness Direct now, lentils stocks are very low here! lol!

Margaret - how much do the balls work out per wash? I've heard lots of good things about them, do they get out heavy stains or do you have to pretreat these? Thanks!

cw18

The last 'big' shop I did was at the end of October.... the fuel tank in my car was practically dry, and Mr T were running one of their '5p off a litre if you spend £50+ in store' -- so I decided to go for it as I had to fill up anyway (and 50 litres x 5p = £2.50, so effectively 5% off my in store shopping).

Boy did I struggle! Ended up stocking up on several tinned items, plus toilet rolls and tea bags for starters. Had to tot up as I went around to be sure of getting to the £50, and ended up picking up some 'spare' washing up liquid to reach the £50.

What was really scarey was the thought that only three years earlier (when I was feeding 4 rather than 3) I would have 'nipped in for bits' and spent £50 without thinking -- and then gone out for 'top-up' shopping during the week :eek:


Nowadays I'm another who pops out on an almost daily basis. If we need something (like bread, milk, veg) I take a short list. But primarily our meals are based around what I find in the local Whoopsie sections (especially meat).

kidcat

I rarely do a "big" shop any more, where I used to do a huge monthly shop, then top up on a weekly basis, but now I nip into Asda after tea and pick up milk and the other bits I need and stock up on Whoopsies, my friend has started coming along for the "whoopsie" run as my kids call it.

wendybird

Hello all!

I haven't posted in a long time as I've been out of the country visiting my parents over the holiday and then generally feeling under the weather with the pregnancy. I'm now 12 weeks and our first scan is next week - very exciting!

After x-mas I came back to bad news at work, one of the grants that funds my post is being pulled at the end of March (ironically it's government funding for the unemployment project we run). This has implications for the whole organisation during a time when we're on the edge financially anyway. Very scared that I'm going to either lose my job or have my hours cut just as I'll start to show and be unemployable. I've already had to turn down an interview for a very good local job due to the baby. I will try to get temp work if I can - but it will very badly affect my maternity leave pay. Still, we are a lot better off than many and I'm grateful for that. This, along with all the worsening news on the economy, has spurned me on to make further cuts to our regular bills where we can. I'm also increasing our stocks as a hedge against redundancy and the possibility of hyperinflation. This requires a clear out though as I'm out of storage space! Charity shop here I come!

I'm very sorry to hear about those who are really struggling. My heart goes out to you and I hope things improve soon!

[Deleted User]

OK, I have to ask, what are Whoopsies - ("clean" replies only please!). :rotfl:

I can work out most of the MSE abbreviation/speak but not this one!

mummysaver

Whoopsies are reduced items! Asda (Mr A's) put a yellow sticker (YS) on their's and it says "whoops" on it!

Wendybird - congratulations on your pregnancy! Sorry to hear you've been feeling rough though, hopefully you'll be blooming before long! Pulling the grant seems very shortsighted, hope that your job is okay hun xx

Sarah Happytails - where are you? How are you? How is bump?

competitionscafe

I am puzzled by media reports of companies who are doing well in the recession.

For example: Dominos Pizza are suppossed to be doing really well at the moment -
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/a-slice-of-good-fortune-amid-the-economic-gloom-1232084.html
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4fa180fc-dd25-11dd-a2a9-000077b07658.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7815604.stm

hmmm, money is a bit tight so why not order a takeaway from somewhere that charges between £10 and £14 for one large pizza of poor quality when for that money you could feast on good quality steak (which takes a lot less time to cook than it will take for your pizza to arrive) and still have plenty of money left over for a bottle of decent wine to go with it. Or for the £14 they are charging for a greasy pizza you could buy a really good organic free-range chicken and spuds for roasties which will serve 4 people and provide the carcass for stock. Or just make homemade pizza - for £14 you could make enough pizza to feed lots of people!

I know they are saying that people are 'trading down' from going out for a meal but if I wanted a takeaway as a treat I would use a local takeaway who do decent pizzas for half the price of Dominos (which also means the money goes to a local small business rather than to a masssive multinational chain) or a decent local Chinese or Indian. However my first choice would be to buy some decent ingredients for a quick and easy meal and cook at home for a fraction of the cost of those overpriced pizzas.