It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

ceridwen

Hi BigMumma:hello:

Sorry for your spate of "bad stuff" thats going on in your lives at the moment - hope things improve for you soon. That pow-wow sounds like a good idea. I'm all in favour of households sitting down - with the bills in front of them - and perhaps a few weeks worth of grocery receipts and having a good planning session.

While I think about it - a couple of links of interest:

http://www.simpleliving.net/discussionforums/

Hmmm...cant get the "aussieslivingsimply" forum up on a link from this site - but google it for another one of interest.

sandy2_2

BigMummaF wrote: »

One glimmer tho, is an idea I've had to make fire-lighters out of shredded documents. We don't have a fire or stove to burn them, but I wondered about using loo roll innerds as a casing, then burn them on the barbie

I use loo roll and kitchen roll innards to make firelighters rammed with any paper/cardboard...they're fine for my woodburner, but think they might be a bit smoky for BBQ
Sandy

mama67

mummysaver wrote: »

Just back from a trip to the garden centre - girls wanted to watch the crafting demos they were doing. Anyway I had a browse around the cheap book section and found a fab book, School Dinners by Becky Thorn, reduced to £2.99. It basically does what it says, the recipes are simple and probably mostly what I feed my lot anyway, but the little intros to each of the recipes are so funny. She grew up in the 70s, and so many of the comments sound like the ones made on here. If you see it or your local library has it in then it's well worth a browse, simply for the comments, they've really made me smile! Don't yet know what the recipes will be like, but they look pretty straightforward, and I shall be trying out several of the old school puds - butterscotch tart anyone?!

I have thie butterscotch tart recipe and the chocolate crunch/concrete. Got them from a dinner lady when I was at Primary school.

At the cooking club I run at DS2's primary school the kids ask if we are making the choc concrete.

Charis

BigMummaF wrote: »

One glimmer tho, is an idea I've had to make fire-lighters out of shredded documents. We don't have a fire or stove to burn them, but I wondered about using loo roll innerds as a casing, then burn them on the barbie...

If you are just wanting to dispose of the shredded documents, they compost down beautifully and help stop the heap becoming slimy when there are lots of lawn clippings. Just layer paper and other 'brown' compost (woody twigs, corrugated cardboard, egg boxes) with the cut grass and other green clippings.

For a really good guide to composting see Compostwoman's guide to composting here.

furndire

I would love the butterscotch tart recipe please mama67. A real nostalgia hit for the family when they visit, I think.

mama67

Gigervamp wrote: »

Exactly! We're told not to throw them in the normal waste, yet there isn't anywhere else to put them, unless you go to ikea and remember to take them with you, or maybe the council tips. (I know that our council tip has a skip for flourescent (sp) tubes, so I presume the bulbs could go in that.)

That is where I take mine, I showed it to the bloke that was sorting and he said to put it with the flouescents.

However fi I ring the council and ask them what to do with it they tell me to put it into my landfill bin, even when i quoted the "mercury" thing at them.

ceridwen

mama67 wrote: »

That is where I take mine, I showed it to the bloke that was sorting and he said to put it with the flouescents.

However fi I ring the council and ask them what to do with it they tell me to put it into my landfill bin, even when i quoted the "mercury" thing at them.

There will always be people who dont know/care how to do their job properly - and I guess that the particular Council employee you spoke to fell into this category. There IS mercury in these bulbs and they DO need to be disposed of properly. So - I would ignore what that particular employee said myself - as if you rang back later and talked to another one you might well find that you got someone more knowledgeable this time - who would tell you that you do indeed need to dispose of them more carefully.

Personally - I was one of the first to use these lightbulbs - but I have now swopped from them - and I have a positive stockpile of "traditional" type bulbs that should last me long enough (ie quite some years ) until something more suitable is on the market than either option.

I do find it odd that these "energy-saving" lightbulbs are still being given away free at Eco events - but I guess everyone will "catch up" eventually with the fact that they have mercury in them/one even gets official advice to vacate the room for a while if they break (errr.....not sure what happens about cleaning them up then??)/and they are not a good idea for those with skin problems (as I gather a lot of doctors are now reporting that they exacerbate these).

....goes slinking off guiltily...thinking of how I threw away ones that wore out previously with the ordinary rubbish before I swopped away from them (how was I supposed to know I shouldnt?????).

The_Economist

ceridwen wrote: »

go on then Mr Brown - get that tax in place - the bankers cant sue the Government for that

It will never happen. Dont forget there is a General Election coming up that costs lots of money. Mind you if he did impose the tax maybe we as a tax payer could get more appropriate help in these lean times rather than just spin.

elona

Having finally talked DH into retiring early in October this year (unless it looks like his pension is getting dodgy then he willl go earlier), I have told him that we will just have to adopt the attitude that "We will manage!"

Whether the stock market goes up or down, interest rates go up or down, house prices """""", etc.

He would love to get our house sold and be moved before he leaves work but I doubt this will happen in the next six months so have decided to just leave the house on the market and try to forget about wanting to sell and move.

Not looking forward to the Budget but then we never do!

kidcat

Is it nearly budget time already? I thought it was always Oct some time, just shows how much attention I am paying:eek:.

My DS5 has ripped his coat beyond repair yet again (four since Sept), and I cannot find a replacement in the shops, its absolutely freezing yet I can buy as many shorts and sleeveless tops as I fancy, yet not one warm coat

Elona I think you are right to be planning your DH retirement, sometimes its best to just set a date and do something rather than waiting for the proverbial right time, I find that there is never the right time and you inevitably end up not doing what you really wanted. Good luck.:D