It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

kidcat

Good o hear from everybody, our 16 yo car passed its MOT yesterday which was a major relief, not just from the financial sense but also because OH cant get to work without it so its a major hassle. Feel awful today as full of cold which is hitting my chest (got asthma) - have been holding it at bay because yesterday was DD4 birthday but have woke today to find I feel terrible so not toughing it out today.
Got DS 6th birthday on Saturday so got to get back on my feet and get organised by then.

Primrose

Whatever our respective circumstances, I feel we all need to pause for a moment and congratulate ourselves on getting through a horrible winter, both in terms of the financial recession and the terrible weather. Somehow we all seem to find the will to keep going somehow, even when the going is tough. Know what several of you mean about keeping elderly cars going. Mine is ten years old now but I've just had to spend £500 on it at MOT time, which is probably more than it's actually worth. However it's been a very reliable economical little car and I'm reluctant to consider replacing it, so in this respect I'm caught between a rock and a hard place. I just can't bring myself to consider getting a newer model which depreciates rapidly every year when all the depreciation on my current one has already taken place.

kidcat

Primrose wrote: »

Whatever our respective circumstances, I feel we all need to pause for a moment and congratulate ourselves on getting through a horrible winter, both in terms of the financial recession and the terrible weather. Somehow we all seem to find the will to keep going somehow, even when the going is tough. Know what several of you mean about keeping elderly cars going. Mine is ten years old now but I've just had to spend £500 on it at MOT time, which is probably more than it's actually worth. However it's been a very reliable economical little car and I'm reluctant to consider replacing it, so in this respect I'm caught between a rock and a hard place. I just can't bring myself to consider getting a newer model which depreciates rapidly every year when all the depreciation on my current one has already taken place.

I alays add on the value of knowing the car you have and any problems its got, not to mention that I know every part that has ever been replaced on my little old car and can tell you when it was bought and where from. If I bought another little car it would only be worth £1000 tops and I would not have a clue of its history etc. This means it worth spending a bit here and there keeping mine on the road.

elizabunny

Hello everyone,

To everyone feeling poorly at the moment, hope you all feel much better soon, we need some warm sunshine!

Nothing much showing in the greenhouse yet, just a few tiny Leeks popping up -it really has been so cold.

kidcat have to agree with you re: older cars. Ours is around 6 years old now and has just cost us a major bill of £1460 followed by another bill of £68:( However, we love the car, we know its history and its faults and we can't afford to replace it. I think it's worth paying out for, (no matter how painful). Just hope we can avoid anymore major bills for awhile, but the MOT is due next month, keeping our fingers crossed.

Primrose Totally agree, we should all be congratulating ourselves for coming through a horrible winter and for thinking of all the OS money saving ideas to help get us through.

Have a lovely day everyone!

lilac_lady

Watching the pennies sometimes seems futile but it helps when a big ( eg - car) bill comes in. If we didn't watch the pennies life would be more stressful in the long run.

kidcat

True lilac_lady, I know when I put the car in yesterday I wasnt sitting dreading the call anywhere near as much as last year because I knew that I had some money saved to pay for repairs if needed.
Am also thankful that with the sun out and shining my OH is less inclined to put heating on in the daytime at least, hasnt stopped evenings - I didnt see him switch it on a few nights back and it was 12.30 am before I noticed - 4 hours wasted:(

Primrose

Reverting back to old cars, over my lifetime I've always kept my cars for several years and have learnt the value of setting up a special "Car Savings Fund" and disciplining myself to pay money into it every month for tax, insurance and eventual replacement. Sometimes it would have been so easy to miss a month or two to provide myself with treats, but my first car many years ago was a "rogue car" which continually let me down. After that heart sinking feeling of being stranded many times in difficult situations, I quickly learned that it's not worth the stress of not putting money aside for maintenance & repairs, especially if you rely 100% on your car to get you to work. Knowing that the money is there (or mostly there) provides some peace of mind.

UnluckyT

hello everyone.
must admit though im usually quite good at putting money by but lately ive been terrible with my food money and the money i put away for myself generally (prescriptions, glasses and so on).
been fortunate till now touch wood.
mainly it get spent on junk food and utter rubbish i dont need so heres hoping i can break the bad habit once and for all.

Charis

Primrose wrote: »

schumie - If you want to save money it's worth germinating your bigger seeds (tomatos, climing beans) in pots indoors on a window sill to get them off to a good start. Buying them from garden centres is very expensive.

I second this. Found this today online http://www.ledburyreporter.co.uk/uk_national_news/5033592.Home_grown_carrots__cost___1_each_/

declutterqueen

Hi Guys, I recently went to my local garden centre and they sell plugs,(Small plants) I got some and are growing them on my window.. the sun we have had is really boosting them, not as cheap as seeds tho! anyone found any cheap seeds anywhere??