It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

[Deleted User]

oooh good Jilld, I am glad you are on the way to feeling better

I have spent an hour researching energy saving bulbs for my wall lights in the lounge. They have the ordinary energy saving bulbs in them but the light is a horrible yellow. I managed to find some little daylight bulbs and have my fingers crossed

I was just thinking about this energy saving bulb malarky. The ones being sent to people are the ones that give out a horrible depressing light and there must be a lot of people being depressed because of the light quality. A lot of people can`t afford £6-7 a bulb for the daylight ones. I can`t bear the light from the `warm` bulbs, it can`t be good for us and that is another choice being taken away soon

mardatha

I was the same Kittie. Had to buy daylight bulbs from John Lewis because the free ones were hellish.

rosieben

kittie wrote: »

...
I was just thinking about this energy saving bulb malarky. The ones being sent to people are the ones that give out a horrible depressing light and there must be a lot of people being depressed because of the light quality. A lot of people can`t afford £6-7 a bulb for the daylight ones. I can`t bear the light from the `warm` bulbs, it can`t be good for us and that is another choice being taken away soon

I never thought of this! I'm going to investigate them and buy one of the daylight bulbs for my living room. Thanks Kittie

kidcat

Thanks kittie, we have the usual energy saving bulbs everywhere now and I hate them they are nowhere near as bright as a normal bulb and they take so long to actually come on, they start with a faint glow the build over thirty minutes to full light and I find this very difficult to cope with. Especially with young children it is almost dangerous.

furndire

Just to chip in on the energy bulb fiasco. I bought a load of 20 w low energy bulbs the other day - 79p each I think from home bargains. They are ok. The others are absolutley carp.

ceridwen

kittie wrote: »

We all hate the fact that evil seems to triumph and brings its own reward, while those of us who try to do good and be good, are struggling to stay above the parapet. I hang onto the fact that I believe karma will prevail

Kittie - you and I (and many others) KNOW that karma will indeed prevail - it would help a lot if those in positions of power and/or Greedy Guts knew it too - but in a sense that is their loss that they dont. That is one thing I am rocksolid certain on - in an uncertain world.

kidcat

furndire wrote: »

Just to chip in on the energy bulb fiasco. I bought a load of 20 w low energy bulbs the other day - 79p each I think from home bargains. They are ok. The others are absolutley carp.

well looks like I am off to H&B tomoorow then.:D

ceridwen

madame_cholet wrote: »

Hi everyone - I've been a lurker for some time, but what Ceridwen said has encourgaed me to contribute. I'm convinced that the only way out of the mess that we all seem to be in at the moment (credit, environment, political apathy) is through local likeminded groups doing what they think is right. Taking responsibility for themselves and doing their own positive thing. We're well ahead of the politicians on this one!

Hi madame cholet

Well - look at it this way - us "ordinary people in the street" - you/me/whoever dont have the vested interests in the status quo that many of the politicians/Greedy Guts bankers et al have. I must confess that I was walking along today thinking to myself that perhaps I should change my MSE signature to "Blow the theories - just give me the facts". I think the thing is that you/I/other "ordinary people in the street" are much more inclined to rely on commonsense as to how we see things should be organised - rather than some grandiose theories. I personally dont care about "isms" anymore - Marxism, socialism, capitalism......etc. I just think to myself "Blow the theories - what about the practice?". If you and I know we need to balance our budgets and that there is only so much money to go round (never enough:cool: ) - then how come all this "Growth is good/fancy economic theories" etc that seem to prevail. We dont run our own budgets like that - because we know it just doesnt make sense. If we can sit there and think "I've got a limited amount of time/money/other resources - right...now how can I best use them to good effect"...then why the heck can't those who've been setting themselves up as financial experts/politicians/etc.

If there is one thing I've found over the years - its that if one gets together a group of concerned/well-intentioned "people in the street" and brainstorms then "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts" as everyone contributes things from their own viewpoint and throws in a "missing part of the jigsaw" that others probably havent thought of.

kidcat

The problem at the moment though is that people on the street have been running their budgets like the world economies have been run and this is partly how we are in the mess we are in now.

I am one of a very small minority when I talk of living within my means or economising amongst friends on the whole their attitude is " oh I couldnt possibly do that, I have to get into debt its not my fault, no-one can live on such small amounts of income" and these are people earning in excess of £40K.
It really is time for a whole new way of thinking, I have alot less income to manage than many I know, yet I am not continuing to run up vast debts, I have four kids all at what seems to be expensive ages and yet I manage to live within my means, admittedly it is not easy, yet nor is it impossible, and I appreciate that I have much more than many others.
Until people realise that they have what they have and that if they want more they have to earn it somehow, then I fear little will change.

I agreee that joining with others and trying to find a better way can only be for the good, I also believe that education may well be a key factor. Teaching home economics in schools seems to be worthwhile. I am fortunate my eldest understands prudent shopping and budgeting but many do not.
Having just attended parents eve where my daughters options were discussed, she will have to sit exams in PE, and philosophy and ethics, leading to both classes requiring classroom time, whereas she can only choose two out of many more subjects inc languages, humanities etc. She must choose between cookery, textiles or graphics, as a DT subject, surely combining cookery, textiles and basic home economics, ditching the exam study for PE, whilst maintaining an exercise regime, would make more practical sense?

It baffles me how it all currently works and some days I wonder whether we will ever get out of this mess.

ceridwen

I know what you mean Kidcat.

I despair sometimes of how unrealistic a lot of people are about their own personal finances. I've not been a plaster saint - I have gone into debt before now - but it has been carefully considered and down to necessity things like my house needing some urgent work on it - and not for consumer goodies basically.

Also - I have been very aware of just how secure or otherwise my job position was at any given time and - yes, it has to be admitted - that my parents wouldnt have let me fall into THAT bad a financial situation. BUT one does have to maintain a realistic assessment of one's financial situation at all times and constantly re-assess it to see if things have changed.

My most recent re-assessment of my own personal financial situation is that I have lost my job security - ie I still have my job,but its no longer secure. Also that I can't have that little "fallback" position in my mind any more that my parents would let me have an interest-free loan if I really needed it. I have to be totally self-sufficient financially with no fallback position and my job position is now insecure.

Thats just my own scenario. Other people have to weigh up for themselves what their own personal financial scenario is and not go in for "wishful thinking" and tell themselves that things are better than they really are. One has to plan one's own finances on the basis of "what is" - rather than "what one wishes them to be".

Unfortunately it does seem to be the case that it is still a minority position to sit down and take a realistic assessment of one's personal finances and plan accordingly. Most people do seem to go in for a lot of "wishful thinking" in this respect....:cool: