It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

catznine

Thank you! It certainly is one less worry that she has moved out of her house share and in with us for a while! We half expected it as she works in an arena that always suffer badly in a recession. Maybe the silver lining will be that she will no longer have that stress to live with

She is a hard worker so hopefully will find something else soon.

HariboJunkie

I'm really sorry to hear that Catz. I hope that it will turn out to be a blessing in disguise and she finds something she loves really soon. xxx

itsnever2lateisit?

Don't know if this has been mentioned before anywhere on the boards.

Like most folk I have noticed the cost of the shopping trolley (well its contents) rise and rise.

My familly eat a lot of chicken as some dont/wont eat pork or beef, so chicken dishes appear 2 or 3 times a week.

Using Tesco Value range as a like for like guide

Chicken Breast (2 pieces) £4.00
Legs (x2) £2.00

Thats £6.00 for most of the bird

now the whole chicken costs £2.50 a saving of £3.50 if you cut the bird up yourself, which I now do. On top of that there are the two wings, ideal for lunch boxes and the carcass which makes a nice soup.

So no more paying over the odds for convenience for me

D&DD

Catz I'm so sorry to hear your dd's news I hope she finds something very soon.

This got me thinking you know...I know a lot of us have a little put by for harder times BUT how many of us actually thought to include extras in our provisions for our sons and daughters who were at the time living elsewhere?
Many of the regulars on here have children returning from Uni,losing their jobs/homes..a prospect not considered in many fields not too long ago..

Yategirl

Sorry to hear the news Catz... thank god she is home with you already...

Mummysaver - thanks for the info.. I will investigate the greengrocers today, he did have onions and vinegar in stock last week so I hope he still has some!

and yes.. I fully agree with what you said re: tv presenters, ££ and the tv licence.. it all makes me SO cross...

Yategirl

itsnever2lateisit? wrote: »

Don't know if this has been mentioned before anywhere on the boards.

Like most folk I have noticed the cost of the shopping trolley (well its contents) rise and rise.

My familly eat a lot of chicken as some dont/wont eat pork or beef, so chicken dishes appear 2 or 3 times a week.

Using Tesco Value range as a like for like guide

Chicken Breast (2 pieces) £4.00
Legs (x2) £2.00

Thats £6.00 for most of the bird

now the whole chicken costs £2.50 a saving of £3.50 if you cut the bird up yourself, which I now do. On top of that there are the two wings, ideal for lunch boxes and the carcass which makes a nice soup.

So no more paying over the odds for convenience for me

Yes, I agree.. I only buy chicken portions if I really really have too.. I buy whole chickens and do rubber chicken from a roast (and more rarely cut them up raw to use).. is much much cheaper

D&DD

Rosie ooh you are naughty;) ..sherry?! I'll have to try that now you know..
mummysaver your gifts sound absolutely lovely I would be chuffed to bits with something like that for xmas

catznine

D&DD wrote: »

Catz I'm so sorry to hear your dd's news I hope she finds something very soon.

This got me thinking you know...I know a lot of us have a little put by for harder times BUT how many of us actually thought to include extras in our provisions for our sons and daughters who were at the time living elsewhere?
Many of the regulars on here have children returning from Uni,losing their jobs/homes..a prospect not considered in many fields not too long ago..

This occured to us a while back and it has been a bit of a challenge to manage on the same hk allowance and feed 3 of us instead of 2. Tbh we could do with losing some weight and this could be the answer!;) It isn't really the quantity but the type of food, as living in London she got used to a more interesting, varied (posher?) diet that we cannot afford. Now with us she eats a more seasonal menu. We don't charge her rent/fuel as we would have to pay those bills anyway. She just has to pay down her debt, travel costs and any extras she wants. It is the student debt that is the worrying issue for a lot of the kids.

D&DD

Yes the student loans are a worry Catz I really didn't realise until I read on here how much these poor kids are saddled with before they even start work..
Thats the problem isn't it once they've 'lived out',they often aquire different tastes,not that thats a bad thing but it must mean a lot of brainstorming with the shopping list.
My mum and dad still buy us shopping now and we've been married 20 years they just can't get out of the habit bless 'em,so I'm supplementing them with fruit and veg from the garden :shhh: that way they don't realise I'm trying to look after them for a change

Jasper27_2

What's wrong with homemade presents? Snobby Times writers! Is it better to spend loads of money on something that the recipient doesn't really like or want or spend less but put some thought into it?! If you're visiting over christmas I always find a bit of home baking always goes down a treat, especially as so many people don't do it. They usually express amazement that I can produce rich sticky brownies or fancy muffins just like the ones in Starbucks (only I can do a whole batch for the price of a couple in the coffee shops).

Anyone very well off always gets a charity present from me. So my rich relatives in the stockbroker belt will be buying a bicycle for a UNICEF health worker and counting their blessings.