It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

kingshir

I miss hearing how everyone is coping/getting on. Hope you are all ok and not too depressed by the dire warnings that are in the media everyday.

Pipkin

We've not long been through a planned (not by us, but you know what I mean) redundancy, and things are very tough out there.

It took my partner 6 months to get another job, and even then really we were just very lucky..there doesn't seem to be much out there.

He was even turned down by a well known DIY chain for not completing one of those personality/psychology quizzes at the back of the application form to their liking (not matching their psychological staff profile closely enough they said!).. funny thing is he used to run a store where he was responsible for hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of stock but he's not good enough to work on the shop floor for them?

Housing is awful too, huge waiting lists with the council (at least 3 years we were told and thats with the council accepting we are homeless with 2 children) and private rental is extortionate for houses that are in a truly shocking state.

My heart goes out to anyone going through it right now, it's the worst of times and it's a truly awful experience.

mardatha

It's not easy is it ? Some people have far too much money and some people have absolutely nothing. I always admired the Victorians but I don't want to live like them !

GreenNinja

Austin_Allegro wrote: »

I've been reading an excellent book called 'A World To Build: Austerity Britain 1945-48' by David Kynaston.

I knew things were bad during that period but this has opened my eyes to just how bad and made me realise just how laughable our current problems are in comparison.

Eg, rationing and shortages were much worse after the war than during it, because the liberated countries of Europe had to be helped as well.

Nearly all food was rationed, including bread and potatoes, and shopping involved long queues. There were rolling powercuts for several hours a day and coal (the main source of heating fuel) was so difficult to get that fights broke out on slag heaps as people foraged for loose coal.

Petrol for private use was totally unobtainable.

Clothes were in short supply, for example a man's suit (in the days when all you had to wear was your one 'good suit') could take up to 9 months to be made because tailors were restricted in how much they could produce.

There were severe housing shortages due to bomb damage, and high unemployment due to demobbed servicemen looking for work.

Now, I know this was a long time ago, but I think it's important to get things in perspective and realise that although things are tough now, this is very much a relative condition. People coped then and they will cope now...

How funny, my Dad lent me this book a few weeks ago, but it is still sitting on the side unread. It sounds really interesting so I will be sure to start reading it this week!

Primrose

Austerity Britain is well worth a read, especially to the younger generation who have grown up in a world of plenty without rationing. It is a thought provoking book and acts as a reminder to us all that it's perfectly possible, although obviously not very pleasant, to go without a lot of material things, including non-seasonal food, that these days most people take for granted. Get it off your bookshelf Green Ninja. I'm sure you will find it a fascinating and thought provoking read.

ginnyknit

Always lived frugally but since OH became disabled and we lost two thirds of our income and none of our debts have applied myself even more. We only use the car when necessary ( cant use buses etc due to wheelchair) and make trips cover all we need from each area - ie Ashton, ikea for bargains, Asian supermarket for cheap spices, etc, garden centre for free coffee ( we joined their club for ten pounds and get a lot of discounts and today got voucher for free gardening gloves). The main thing that has helped tho is joining this website - so much info and support!!!!!!!!!

mama67

I've noticed the last couple of times whilst grocery shopping that either prices have crept up or the pack sizes have got smaller.

I use basic/value wash powder used to be 3.45kg for £1.43, then 3kg for £1.64 nor 2.5kg for £1.64.

Basic/value tuna has gradually crept up to 59/60p per tin now.

It is getting silly we are all buying in the lowest level but when these prices go out of reach where are we supposed to go then?
Hunger Street??

mardatha

We will end up living on tatties ...until the next potato famine. Or Marie Antoinette's cake !

Patchwork_Quilt

Refused to buy a tin of kidney beans in Mr T's today. They were 61p! How can anyone justify that?

Gigervamp

Patchwork_Quilt wrote: »

Refused to buy a tin of kidney beans in Mr T's today. They were 61p! How can anyone justify that?

Their value kidney beans are only 19p. I find they're just as good as the more expensive ones. (Mind you, even the value ones have gone up. They were 14p not long ago.)