It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

annscullamus

I have read this thread for 'ever', and have been inspired by the stories and strategies for coping. I don't know what anyone else thinks but regardless that we are told GB that we are coming out of recession I think things are, if anything getting harder by the month. I have noticed more folk having difficulties paying for things, and cutting down further. This seems to have crept up on us, but now seems very real.

When I talk to friends, everyone - including people who did not seem very concerned this time last year, cutting back on food and electricity, and as a self employed private teacher, I notice small drops in pupils, and lots of adults worrying about their grown up children who seem more badly off than ever.

Maybe the cold snap has caused much angst over vastly increased bills, I know my log and coal use has doubled in the last 2 months, and that puts a strain on the purse.

What does anyone think?

kidcat

Definitely. Prices are rocketing everywhere, my gas and electricity usage is massive and food prices are staggering. Am now using Aldi and Lidl specials each week to keep costs down, but was staggered to find that prices for a cauliflower start at £1.19:eek::eek::eek:.

Wages will not be increasing this year and there is no-one going to argue because at least they still have a job.
The housing market is very bizzarre too, with vendors not being realistic with pricing. I looked at two houses last week, in adjacent roads, both similar sizes, same number bed etc, drive and gardens. One needed much work inc new kitchen, bathroom, flat roof needing work, full redecoration etc (it actually didnt have any kitchen at all) basically it needed over £10000 just to be able to live in it. Yet it is priced at only £10000 cheaper than a beautiful house nothing needed much better state of repair.

I am just so grateful that i have learnt to cut back and watch my expenditure because I think that at this point it would be so easy to slip into debt.

Tough times are very much here and I can see no evidence that they are going away any time soon.

westcoastscot

I agree, I think times are getting tougher - income will at best stay the same but prices will continue to rise dramatically - it used to be that you could cut back on luxuries to economise but now prices are rising more quickly for necessary items imo. I am getting worried for my future - pensions are looking set to be worthless and savings are getting harder to come by. Since my children are grown up I went back to university two years ago to re-train, but at my age I have serious doubts about finding a new career, especially since where I live there isnt a lot of employment opportunity but to move away to work would mean quite a lot of extra expense <sigh> it's getting more and more difficult to make the big decisions I find as I get older.
Sorry for the negative post, it's something i've been thinking a lot about as I get older - starting a new life as a singleton after a lifetime of being a couple is hard!
WCS

charlies-aunt

I totally agree Kidcat - this year is shaping up to be even tougher although OH getting a job has been a major bonus for us so I don't want to be too negative. I have noticed that the supermarkets are really cutting back on their specials - even Lidl and Aldi...while I am very grateful for their Super 6 - the prices have crept up from 49p per pack to 69p/89p per pack for stuff like apples. Very few offers on meat/fish expect on the super expensive stuff which is still out of budget when its half price...I think I could write a book on '101 ways with a pound of mince' as I have had a lot of experience in this department and I regularly stretch it to give two of us substantial meals over four days and tins of corned beef ditto! :rotfl:

BigMummaF

I can sympathsise Charlie as I have the prospect of replacing my gas cooker before too long All the annual bills are due between end of Jan & end of March too, with No2's birthday towards the end just for good measure :cool:
Thankfully Victoria only needed two new tyres & the tracking done to get her thru the MOT last week, but higher-than-expected gas & lekkie bills have thrown a mahoosiff spanner into the works too I do try to budget throughout the year but rather like your shed roof, the theory springs a leak & all that careful accounting drips thru the cracks
I've seen a couple of cookers that are appealing, but it's the cost of installing that is It looks to be around £100 dependent of whether the bayonet is facing up or down & if the fitter includes a chain & new hose in that price. Why--if the LAW demands a chain & obviously you don't buy a new cooker every year so connections will need replacing--are the damned things NOT included in the cost you pay in the shop :mad:

kidcat

BigMummaF - we recently had a registered Gas fitter fit a cooker for £30 so its worth calling around for prices from smaller independants. It only a few minutes work so £30 is an appropriate price to pay I feel. I know that our freecycle group regularly swap numbers for good tradesmen so it may be a way for you to find someone good.

mardatha

BMF ask around. I got one quote of £140 and then after a lot of phoning around, found a man who did it for £70, inc hose.

charlies-aunt

I guess we'll just have to go up a gear on being frugal, bargain hunting etc. I now buy only own brand products and am trying to stretch these by diluting them down, using less etc.....at the moment, no-one has noticed any difference. Sainsburys Basic Fabric Condition at 50p a litre works as well as the expensive stuff even at half strength - quite an eyeopener as I've spent a fortune over the years on Comfort, Lenor etc...all own the plughole now!

Managed to trip out the fuse box with my slow cooker this week --rushing round one morning, I didn't realise that I'd trapped the flex between the pot and the metal casing and it melted with the heat, shorted the plug and tripped all the fuses in the fusebox ....so we arrived home at 6pm to a stone cold, dark house and a stonecold slow cooker. OH managed to chop the melted bit of the flex out and reattach the plug to get the slow cooker up and running again. I was not popular ...

Does anyone know how to carmelise roast veggies? - I have a vague idea that you roast them as normal and sprinkle them with sugar but not sure at what stage the sugar is added / oven temp etc. I have a 29p Lidl swede, cheapo potatoes and onions that I'd like to carmelise for Sunday Lunch to go with rubber chicken

taplady

charlies-aunt - we are also on a major economy drive as DH is ill and only getting SSP. Luckily we had quite good supplies to start the month with but they are dwindling a bit now. I've only bought absolute essentials and am trying to make our food as interesting but cheap as possible.
I've stopped using fabric conditioner and havent really noticed much difference apart from with woollens. The aldi washing up liquid seems to be ok so will swap from Fairy.
I'm using my BM(it was getting dusty in the cupboard:o) and making everything from scratch again after slipping a lot. We've just had a slice of the most delicious HM victoria sponge for pud:)
I dip in and out of this thread occasionally so hope all dont mind me popping up now and again:)

mardatha

I'm also looking for tasty ways to cook veg, we need to cut down on meat. My mum just boiled everything for hours until it was tasteless and it put me off veg for life. I find Sainsburys Basics great for all stuff, -I am allergic to Lenor but not to the SB stuff.