It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

Hawthorn

Not mega problems considering some of the folks on here - just struggling a little. We're still able to pay off bills etc, and the CC is coming down nicely, but it is getting hard to maintain.
I have four kids - two of those are teenage boys, and I swear they sprout up overnight. Shoes are replaced around every month (either from being kicked off feet or grown out of) Trousers are a nightmare for DS2 - he's so skinny, and has to have adjustable waist trousers or they just don't stay up. A belt is no good, as the jeans bunch up too much and are uncomfortable. He eats like a horse, but you could still play xylophone on his ribs LOL.
The two youngest....DD and DS3. They have lost all of their school jumpers. Bear in mind, that only a month ago I purchased three each (at £8 a pop) They are labelled, but they go missing never to be seen again.
To top that, I went to primark the other day and bought them a lot of clothes for the summer - t-shirts etc (on sale), only to leave it somewhere in the centre, and nobody handed it in *sobs* £30 worth.
I've blown my clothing budget for the month already, and DS1 now needs new shoes, DS2 needs new trainers, and the two youngest need school jumpers, again.
Hub is going to need new boots soon (he's a PO, so needs good quality comfy hard wearing - not cheap)
I'm washing the same two jumpers and jeans over and over again so I have clean clothes, and all the while food prices seem to be rising just a little more each time I shop.
Oh, and my boobs have grown again, meaning new bras needed. My old ones are uncomfy, and worn out.

Like I say, nothing mega or really serious - we have roof over our heads, we're clean and well fed, and we're able to pay stuff off. Just grumbles (which I suspect are nothing to do with the economy, just the usual growing kids expenses)

[Deleted User]

Elizabunny - sorry to hear about your dog, I am a dog owner too, it's awful when they are sick. x

rosieben

Almo, I was talking a while ago to my dd who lives in Sydney, there are such heartbreaking stories coming from there, my heart goes out to everyone affected by the fires and the floods.

Hawthorn, I can sympathise with you on the cost of children's clothing, although my kids are grown up now, shoes were always a particular nightmare.

Elizabunny, I hope your dog comes through this ok, let us know how she does.

I agree with ixwood, there is a shift in the balance of things going on at the moment; its obvious to anyone with half an eye that things need to change, a need to approach things from a new angle, maybe now's the time.

angelavdavis

Well, its happened, the prices at our local Lidl have shot up!

Bread flour - gone from £49p to £75p!
Chorizo sausage - gone from £1.89 to £2.49
Passata - gone from £28p to £55p

Just some prices from memory.

There are still plenty of prices that are cheaper than Mr T and these costs are still competitive, but the savings don't seem to be there any more

Anyone else noticed the prices in Lidl shooting up?

adouglasmhor

Do the price rises have something to do with the Pound/Euro exchange rate, they are a German originated firm and the pound is weak at the moment?

Queen_of_NO_MATTER_WHAT

A year ago I used to do the bulk of my shopping in Lidl, but I've noticed in that time things have crept up and I'm finding myself relying on asda and other stores more. I tend to find now that if i want to keep making savings and more importantly at the moment to stay within budget I have to shop around - which for me usually means going to a combination of tesco, lidl, asda, butchers, greengrocers and morrisons to do my weekly shop.

OrkneyStar

adouglasmhor wrote: »

Do the price rises have something to do with the Pound/Euro exchange rate, they are a German originated firm and the pound is weak at the moment?

Possible, or, perhaps they are doing what Tesco did (putting the prices up and hoping we don't notice!). I go through phases with Lidl, right now not liking them as I often shop in the morning and due to our location the deliveries come in the afternoon (it's not really their fault but Tesco/Coop tend to have more stuff in at those times). I go between local butchers, grocers, Tesco and Coop.

mudgekin

For me they are still woprking out cheaper as the only local supermarket I have is a small sommerfield who is very expensive (and also has the rudest staff I have come across in a supermarker)

My other option is to drive 5 miles to either Mr T or Mr A so with the petrol and the associated time costs plus the fact that there is more to tempt me, Lidle still works out cheaper for me.

I do think that the Pound/ Euro exchange may have something to do with it though

LJM

im on the iow we have lidls ive not been in for a couple weeks but will go and check out the prices,thanks for heads up though

sb44

The tins of sausage and beans were 28p then they suddenly shot up to 45p!

I think they have brought the price back down to around the original price again now, perhaps because they weren't selling many at that price.

:rolleyes: