It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

Pitlanepiglet

Thanks Kidkat, the garage are happy to use second hand parts and they have a fairly large second hand parts section. The problem I think is that the insurers won't authorise it on this basis so they may want to write it off regardless in which case I'll try to buy it back and then get the repairs done with second hand bits. They haven't seen the car yet, it won't be with them until tomorrow but their "finger in the air" estimate is probably £1800 with new parts and £800 with second hand bits. It'll have to be a claim as with the recovery/storage and moving of the car as it sounds like it's going to be over £1000 even done on the cheap...

Our freecycle isn't very active down here and there is very rarely anything decent on it...We can continue with the freezers we've got, a chest freezer is very much a "nice to have" rather that a must have although it would reduce our running costs a little.

charlies-aunt

[QUOTE=Pitlanepiglet;31061897
Still at least I wasn't hurt and I didn't hit anyone else, I just kinda slid in having locked up on the loose road surface. Feel very cross though :mad:[/QUOTE]

Really sorry to hear about your accident but pleased to know that you are safe and sound - its not nice when your hard saved money gets swallowed up but cars are a lot easier to repair/replace than human beings so the most important thing is that you walked away from it unhurt.

Hope your garage can get it done for you on the cheap, I can fully understand why you prefer to keep it. Our car is an old 'un but a good 'un ...it rattles and has its own funny little quirks but it starts first time and is cheap to run/repair etc - if we were unlucky enough to have an acccident, it would be worth next to nothing and we would struggle to afford to replace it.

I haven't done much posting recently - I'm re-reading old posts to try and see what other tips I can find and put into use to s-t-r-e-t-c-h the finances a bit more. Already have the heating off but really need to get up to the next level as my job contract ends in a few months and I will be back job hunting .... so I am trying to get stocked up with food/toiletries/fuel etc to tide us over until I can get something else

pagangirl

Glad you are ok pitlanepiglet - it must have been really scary.:eek:

Thanks for all good wishes - I felt about ninety crawling round on thursday, everything ached - thats when you realise how much of a jolt you give yourself, just tripping over. Hand has been re-dressed on friday, needs another dressing on tuesday, but really lucky I didn't break anything.

This drug thing is scary, apparently m-cat/miaow-miaow is PLANT FOOD - don't understand anyone even thinking about trying plant food :eek: Feel so sorry for the families of those 2 lads.

On the upside, no heat on here last night - 1st time this year. The clocks go forward next saturday, so light nights will be here soon.

Hugs to all who need 'em

kidcat

Hadnt realised clocks move next weekend, that will be a relief. Here my OH decided he was too unwell to work for the first two days of his shift, so didnt go in. This will mean next weeks wages will be half what they should be and its big bill week too! Added to school holidays when the older two will want to be out with their friends cinema, shopping etc its going to be a rough few weeks! At least I will save on diesel as currently I am averaging 40 miles a day on school run which is almost two gallons of fuel! Thankfully I have got all the Easter eggs etc sorted weeks ago so will only need to buy food for Easter depending on numbers.

lizzyshep

I haven't managed to read all this thread but will go through it bit by bit next week. I'm going to join because I'm having to tighten my belt quite drastically. I've decided to take a break from teaching, possibly even give it up for good, and pursue a new career. This means things are quite uncertain for the next year, and I'm saving every penny possible so that I don't end up not being able to pay the mortgage. I'm also planning to sell my flat and move in with my partner, but until then, I'm really watching my money. Seeing how little I've been able to manage on for the past month makes me wish I'd started saving earlier, instead of frittering it away on things I don't need. This site is helping me save though

ginnyknit

Welcome lizzysheep, you have come to the right place, moneysaving and support all in one place. Hope all the aches and pains have gone pagan girl and that your cars on the mend pitlanepiglet, that must have been scary, but glad you are ok. We had a good week last week, lots of freebies and bargains but as per usual tainted by a demand for money. Am hoping if the family pulls together we can keep going and fight ourselves out of the red. One more payment and we have paid off another debt - 16 pounds a week better off. Small victories again but really feel as if in a couple of years we will be doing well!

Primrose

lizzyshep - obviously you know your own circumstances better than any of us on here do, but have you properly weighed up the all the "what ifs" of selling your flat. It takes such a long time to get onto the property ladder for the first time and if anything ever goes wrong for you and your partner, you could be left with no security to fall back on, as you would presumably be the one who had to move out again. Would renting it out not be a better option for your longer term financial security? At least the rental should cover the mortgage and somebody else will be contributing to your longer term financial security. Not my business of course, but we read so many tales of woe on here, on other threads of people losing everything because perhaps they hadn't stopped long enough to think about possible nasty consequences,before taking a course of action. If you're planning a new career too perhaps it's not wise to throw all your current commitments out with the bathwater?

ginnyknit

Sorry its Lizzyshep - my fingers have been dyslexic all day

Rummer

Welcome Lizzyshep great to have a new person on the thread. I think that is sound advice ginnyknit even to keep hold of the flat for a set period of time say a year?

Things here are managable at the moment however they will get a lot tougher over the next few months as my OH is losing his job at the start of the summer. I am working tirelessly to pay off our debt so that we can start afresh. Buying a weekly veg box and only going to the supermarket once a month has greatly reduced our outgoings. Plus our diet is healthier. Still got a long way to go though.

mummysaver

Morning all!

Been MIA for a while, just been having a read through for inspiration! Been making several changes in my personal life recently, and think the mental strain has finally started to ease, so now I hope that I can get back to some kind of normality and the things that I enjoy - okay I don't enjoy budgeting that much really, but it's necessary and I do feel better when it's done! Shopping around for food and making sure that we have the things we need for the best prices does make me happy though, so it is nice to be getting back to it!

Did my menu plan and an enormous Asda shop yesterday, grand total was pennies over £30, felt very cheery, it's funny what can make you smile! Visited a charity shop on Friday, local hospice one that still has reasonable prices, and got 6 books (3 current best sellers too) for £5, a treat for me and they will be passed onto a friend or go back to the charity shop - I know I could've visited the library, but it was a treat for me and much cheaper than Waterstones!

My lovely dd1 is drawing up garden plans, and the kids helped tidy and clear it the other weekend, so we are getting there and are almost ready to start planting veg and cuttings in the borders when the weather picks up a bit more.

My oh's car needed some work, and whilst not cheap, the mechanic did the job almost at cost as oh has put so much work from other people his way, which made me rather pleased that there are people who do appreciate it when you try to help them, and that they are happy to do the same in return.

My favourite recent find has been all the Sherlock Holmes free podcasts I've found, which have kept me going on wet and windy dog walks! Though all the funny little adverts for wine and clothing (American sponsers of the programmes) have made me giggle, not sure if they're current ads, or originals from the broadcasts which were made during the 40s and 50s!

Anyhoo, tough as things are, I am feeling positive and things are slowly getting back to normal here after several upheavals! Oh and another huge positive, heating is still not working, so at least we have saved a fortune on gas!

Hugs to all who need them and thank you all for the inspiration to make the most of everything that we have and appreciate the small things that make us smile xx