It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

Naseby

My OH is pretty hopeless when it comes to matters financial as well and I have got a Household Management Ring Binder that has everything I can think of in it although it does need updating! (Guess what I will be doing this weekend!! LOL) I try to put all financial things in as mentioned above but also things like details of warranties for things like washing machines, television etc and include things like Serial Numbers etc. Even things like phone numbers of tradesmen that I use.

I don't know what sort of information is kept on the Age Concern Lifebook but I would be a bit wary about putting all this stuff online. I know Age Concern say that even they can't get at it but I would still be a bit wary. In addition if OH's are not very computer literate how are they going to deal with this if we are not there? I know we are told not to write things down but unless the house gets broken into I can't see the harm in it and at least it would make life easier for the one left behind.

Just a quick mention about SIPPS, Kittie. Make sure you check things like dividends etc because I have known companies to be lax to say the least about this. It depends on the product and who is looking after it how much information you get but these types of products are notorious for not giving you much information. Some, in fact, only tell you whether your investment has gone up or down in the period they are reporting for. It then becomes almost impossible to check things but I would find out dividend dates and how much you are expecting and even whether they are paying the correct interest. HTH

2boysmum

cw18 wrote: »

I'm starting to compile a list of these things - but for my kids as I'm now on my own.

Struck me last Nove,ber - as I was dealing with everything after I lost DH - that no-one else in the family would probably even know which companies I use for the basic supplies (gas/electric/mobile) - though DD is on the same phone & b/band package as me at the moment, so would know that one. And as most of these only communicate via email as I have on-line accounts for as much as possible, it wouldn't even be a case of waiting for the next monthly/quarterly bill to drop through the letter box !!!

DH wouldn't have even had a clue how to claim the widowers part of my company pensions, despite one of the schemes being one he also had a preserved pension with...... whereas I was on the phone to them within a couple of days

Reading what I've just typed, it comes over rather 'cold and calculating', but I lost my job at the same time so money was a major issue - and I had to sort it ASAP so that younger DS (the only one still at home) didn't have an extra-bumpy ride through it all.

But my "issue" is that with it all being on-line, someone needs my account names/numbers and passwords..... and I don't want the kids to have those. So I think I'm going to have to give them to my parents for now - and consider asking my brother to hold them at a later date

My dad did this after my mum passed away, everything we need to know is in a ring binder in his cupboard, life insurance, etc.
Thought it was a bit morbid at the time as they were both only 58 when she died and couldn't face the possibility of losing him so soon after my mum. Now I can see its a great idea, especially after MIL passed away and DH and myself spent hours and hours searching through drawers, cupboards and wardrobes for insurance policies

dubgirl

Hi, i'm a bit of lurker on this thread, but always try to keep up with it, but felt i had to post. We went shopping last night to morrisons, it is our usual supermarket to visit and i dont know if it is me, but are the prices going up again. We spent £55 which is about £15 more than we usually spend a week and i had written a list, always do and menu plan. We didnt buy a load of luxury items, granted we bought a new tin opener as ours had decided to die!, but that didnt break the bank and I also bought my babysitter a bar of dairy milk - she is babysitting for us tonight, as we have a 2 for one cinema voucher. I know i am going to have to go back to my budget and tweak it again. I do all the usual things of cooking from scratch etc. Are we going to reach the stage of some folks not being able to afford even the basics!

Charis

marybishop wrote: »

Best quote I've heard recently (on the radio the other morning) - 'due to the current recession the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off!' Says it all really.

Not to worry. With folk like us and all our candles we will have no trouble seeing the way forward. We've relied on someone else to lead us for too long. The light at the end of the tunnel was probably only the tail lights of yet another 'leader' who was off to pastures new, having given up on the job. Looks like self help is the way forward. Share what you know, learn what you don't know.

ceridwen

Charis - methinks you've been and joined your local Transition Town group....that there language sounds very familiar to me....:D

...and the phrase for the week/month/year/forever now seems to be "From the bottom up - NOT from the top down" - ie we the people decide how our lives are going to be/take control of our lives/etc - as the ones at the "top" sure dont know or care about us.

Patchwork_Quilt

Naseby wrote: »

My OH is pretty hopeless when it comes to matters financial as well and I have got a Household Management Ring Binder that has everything I can think of in it although it does need updating! (Guess what I will be doing this weekend!! LOL) I try to put all financial things in as mentioned above but also things like details of warranties for things like washing machines, television etc and include things like Serial Numbers etc. Even things like phone numbers of tradesmen that I use.

I don't know what sort of information is kept on the Age Concern Lifebook but I would be a bit wary about putting all this stuff online. I know Age Concern say that even they can't get at it but I would still be a bit wary. In addition if OH's are not very computer literate how are they going to deal with this if we are not there? I know we are told not to write things down but unless the house gets broken into I can't see the harm in it and at least it would make life easier for the one left behind.

HTH

This is a brilliant idea. We have something similar in that all the birth certificates, passports, backups for the computer etc are in plastic pockets in one folder. If there was a fire, that would be the only thing, apart from ourselves, that we would need to save

mardatha

I think Austin Allegro is right. We are in dire need of some warm sun.

kidcat

mardatha wrote: »

I think Austin Allegro is right. We are in dire need of some warm sun.

I dont know about that, this wind is getting my washing dry great! Have got three loads dry already and another two on the line now, hoping that I may get one more out later leaving only two more for tomorrow.

calleyw

kidcat wrote: »

I dont know about that, this wind is getting my washing dry great! Have got three loads dry already and another two on the line now, hoping that I may get one more out later leaving only two more for tomorrow.

I have had two loads on dry on the line today :j

We have had sun and it has been a little bit windy as well. I think it smells so much better when line dried.

Also going to order a solar shower for the summer to help with washing up. I believe that a couple of MSE'ers use them. So thought I would get a cheap one and try it out.

Yours


Calley

Rummer

Although it has been windy here it has also been raining so no hope of getting laundry dry here! Just had a look at solar showers and I think I might try one too, thanks for that tip!