It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

Peartree

kidcat wrote: »

Reading this mornings posts, it occurs that none of these problems with work and collections are new nor are they confined to employment, I used to attend a church, that regularly organised events that were costly and I was made to feel awful if I didnt attend, I was regularly harangued (sp) when I missed one.

My Mum has been a member of the fundraising committee for Cancer Research in her little town for donkeys' years. With charities like this getting much more proactive in national fundraising, with more and more shops, etc, it is getting difficult for volunteers to raise money locally. The committee members seem to be asked to come up with more and more contributions themselves for various events.

She isn't hard up and by and large doesn't mind. Recently, though, she got home and found the Secretary had put forty books of raffle tickets through the door for her to sell. Five tickets per book, £1 per ticket, rubbish prizes (in Mum's opinion). Mum is 75, and obviously doesn't go to work anymore. Most of her friends are involved in fundraising anyway. Where the flip is she expected to sell the tickets? Go door to door?

Anyway, at the next meeting she made a stand and gave the tickets back. She was made to feel most awkward but I bet most of the rest of the committee were secretly cheering her! And when you're 75, you can be awkward if you like, its in the job description, you've earned it!

charlies-aunt

purpleivy wrote: »

Ahhhhh, Xmas dos! it was £35 there was no deciding to do. All that for a bit of a starter, a lukewarm main course and a factory made pud. No way! I could take the kids out for a nice lunch for that. Or pay for several Christmas presents. Or pay most of a week's groceries.

This is so empowering - I've felt like the odd-one-out for years because I boycott the staff do.. Apart from the cost and as pleasant as my current colleagues are, I see enough of them at work and life is to short to waste an evening talking shop over the turkey'n'trimmings :rolleyes:

One of my New Years resolutions is to opt out of all collections, nights out and similar do's. :rolleyes:

Rummer

Yay, we have created quite a group of money saving and brave people!

purpleivy

Rummer wrote: »

Yay, we have created quite a group of money saving and brave people!

Nah! I'm just a miserable cow! At least in the winter I can be. I prefer my own company and I have a strong sense of self preservation.

So much so that I have just been out and bought some Christmas cards. I have made quite a few and used 40 purchased one. My plan is to try and make some more, but if I don't get round to it, I'm not going to beat myself up about it, will use the box. If I get them done, then the cards will be a start for next year.

dreaming

I also boycott our firm's "do's" - mainly because they always take the same format. Very expensive meal, lots of drink, and then the evening always gets "hijacked" by the same crowd who manage to prevent everyone else from holding a conversation. When I suggested something different (i.e. going to the theatre - would love to go to the panto but will have to wait for my grandchildren to grow up a bit) the "in crowd" turned their noses up. Anyway, it is quite easy to get out of them at this time of year - I just say that I have another engagement that evening (although I have also been known just to say that it isn't my sort of thing, thanks).

mardatha

I'm hopeless at links, I hope that works! It's a look at the other side of the coin, we seem to focus too much onbanks and business - here are ordinary people struggling with the effects of the recession - as well as with their own mistakes.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/2009/11/25/making-money-out-of-misery-banks-blamed-for-the-1000-scots-drowning-in-debt-every-day-86908-21848442/

maryb

I find it's relatively easy to get out of a Christmas do if it's in the evening - there's always something you can say it clashes with - other half's Christmas do, school carol service etc. Smile and say you'll have to let them know when you've checked whether that date works. I agree it's harder if it's at lunchtime.

Beccatje

I think it's terrible if you are made to feel bad for not attending do's or giving to collections. It is a form of bullying for sure.

I'm really glad I don't have that anymore. I quit my job last feb. to stay home with my children and turned to childminding so as to still have an income. There have been days when I thought: "What have I done!!?" but most of the time I'm happy with my turnaround.

I'm trying to cut costs left right and centre. We have racked up a small debt with the mortgage because it took 6 months before I got my childminding up and running to generate enough income and fortunately the bank has been very understanding and willing to work with me on paying it off. But it does mean that for the next five months I'll be paying an extra 200 euro's into the mortgage. That means that I'm paying 90% of my earnings towards the mortgage :eek: and we have to live off of DH's income.

I find myself knowing a lot of tricks to save money, but still falling back into old habits thinking: "oh just this once..." It's high time I started to practice what I preach.
So this morning I started with hanging the washing on the airer inside instead of using the dryer. (HOlland is being rained out by the november storms) The coal fire is on in the living room anyway so the washing should dry quickly. I don't have a lot of space but one load can fit on the airer, so if i do one load a day instead of all the laundry at once on the weekend, I should still manage okay.

The twin babies are sleeping now so high time to get some cleaning done. Especially with a sick 11 year old.. in the house. Don't want to be spreading germs around now do we?

ginnyknit

Staff do's are the worst events aren't they. I used to work for a company where the staff all became great friends but sadly most of them were quite rich and only doing the job because it was interesting, so the staff do one year cost me 50 quid in taxi's and a meal! After that I worked for a charity where I was boss so we had friendly homemade parties at the shop where we could relax and drag the customers into it - very popular, stress free and low cost! Now I help run a large social group and we have a Christmas party where we all bring food and throw pressies in a box ( no more than 2 pounds) and have a penny pot for our favourite charity. No one is left feeling like a poor relation because I remember how awful that feels.

Bargain_Rzl

Our work Christmas "do" tends to be reasonably generous in basic terms - meal paid for by the company, couple of drinks paid for by the company (with extra drinks paid for by the individual). And it's always based in Central London, as our offices are, which means that people can use their season tickets to get home rather than having to pay out for taxis.

The part I do object to is when the party ends up being in some soulless nightclub with really overpriced drinks and a fee for leaving things in the cloakroom :rolleyes: This year the party is being organised by somebody new, the venue looks a lot more "pubby" and maybe for once in my life I won't end up rounding up a group of colleagues and leaving as soon as dinner is over cos the pub down the road is cheaper and quieter...