It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

painted_lady

Just checking in on this thread because I used to really enjoy reading it.

Thats_me

Picked up this thread again, thanks for all the great tips and also all the cameraderie. I'm still hoping that things will not get any worse for me but at the moment not too hopeful. Thankfully, I have a frugal streak a mile wide!

elizabunny

Hello everyone, yes I keep checking back to see if the thread's still going. A bit of a shame everyone seems to have gone, because I'm sure many of us are still finding things hard and having difficulties coping. Of course, the recession may be ending, but the effects are going to continue for years to come and I think that when the interest rates do eventually go up, many of the difficulties may come then for people with mortgages. Not wishing to be too negative here, but many people are still losing their jobs -just today I heard on the news that many jobs are to go from Land Registry. Hopefully things will improve, but in the short term I'm sure many of us are still facing problems. Even the good old 'buy one get one free offers' don't seem so attractive now when you look at the price you have to pay to get the free item. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm wondering if we really are 'out of the woods' yet and just what we're in for over the coming months. Hope everyone is doing ok.

jamanda

I think the last time I posted on this thread DH was redundant. He got a long term temp job (possibly until Spring 2010) and then I was made redundant too. Busy jobseeking.

I also think things will get much, much worse before they get better and that we are being fed "feel good" propaganda, so am stocking up with everything I can think of that we may need and winterproofing the house (and us).

elizabunny

jamanda wrote: »

I also think things will get much, much worse before they get better and that we are being fed "feel good" propaganda, so am stocking up with everything I can think of that we may need and winterproofing the house (and us).

Jamanda I think you have summed up my thoughts too. I think all the tough talking we're hearing at the moment is just the tip of the iceberg and any "feel good" chat , just goes over my head. The rumblings have already started, vat is going back up, all of us under a certain age are going to be asked to work at least year longer, there have been rumours of a 7p tax hike. I wonder where it will all end?

[Deleted User]

The first thread started in 2006 and there have been 3 very hard years to now. It is lovely to see that so many people are surviving somehow. If anything has to be said it is that we have all tried to make something bright from the gloom, we have come through this particular tunnel with so much extra knowledge and a better sense of perspective and of the wider virtual `family`. The sense of people pulling together and helping each other has been amazing, just like in the 50s, when neighbours were neighbours

It hasn`t ended, except on a superficial level, the nation`s debt is very worrying and so is the potential world food and water shortage. We will all end up paying, no doubt about that but for now, we have some sort of respite and time to regroup our personal resources. We start christmas prep soon and we should start as we mean to go on

jamanda

Kittie, I think this thread, and the one you started before it, have been both comforting and inspirational to many.

You are right in that we have a sense of perspective and, when you get down to basics, i.e. food, shelter, warmth, none of the rest of the tat really matters that much.

Although things are much harder personally than they were, I am content with the basics and really appreciate anything over and above that.

AND I'm slowly, slowly starting to get through to DD with a similar mindset.

Once again, thanks for having the wit to start the thread.

kidcat

I agree, for many the bad times are just beginning. For us we have now moved into a temp house and we are hoping to be able to buy a house in six months time. Its difficult now because we are about eight miles away from school and all our friends so travelling time is increased and as such our family time is being reduced. On the bright side I had feared that this move would mean that we would be considerably worse off but by a miracle we will actually be paying slightly less.
I have struggled to settle after ten years at our last house and the youngest kids are struggling two, both asking to go home.
I have spent the last two days sorting their bedrooms to make them feel at home and it does seem to be working for them. Maybe I should sort my bedroom tomorrow to help me settle!!!:)
DH seems to be ok at work for now too, after many months of speculation and job cuts so this has been a relief.
Having been many weeks with no internet it was amazing to see how our spending increased too, largely down to no online shopping or guidance from MSE and others too.

frosty

Hi everyone,my husband works offshore and they have just received letters saying the recession is now filtering through the oil industry:eek::eek:,and they may have to look at making people redundant.My husband says his job is safe but I dont think anyone is safe.:oI have been cutting back since I joined this site and have been putting money away:j(my husband does not know about this)to cushion us if he does lose his job.He wont receive any money if he loses his job because he is agency.

[Deleted User]

kidcat wrote: »

I have struggled to settle after ten years at our last house and the youngest kids are struggling two, both asking to go home.
I have spent the last two days sorting their bedrooms to make them feel at home and it does seem to be working for them. Maybe I should sort my bedroom tomorrow to help me settle!!!:)

kidcat, you need to do some space clearing as the house has been left with other people`s energies. Do a google and see what I mean. Its just a bit of feng shui that is needed