It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

Rummer

That recipe sounds delicious! The weather here is absolutely freezing and we are due to have a lot of snow tomorrow. We have had the heating on 24h a day over the winter on a low setting and it has been lovely and warm. Last year we kept it off and our DD came down with every cold going so we decided that we would keep the house at a steady temperature and it has made a huge difference this year.

sammy_kaye18

Hi All

We have had nothing but rain and wind here all week - typical welsh weather but it was cold this morning so heating has been on for a bit again. Really am dreading the next electric and gas bill we have as haven't really been able to make many payments on them at all lately with other things being tight thankfully they are every 6 months now and not every 3 though. Not looking forward to it though at all.

Think today my sweet tooth is getting the better of me so might cook some shortbread biscuits later on. Or failing that I might make some twinks hobnobs if i dare to face the weather to get to the shop!

Rummer

Good morning, we had an estimated bill in and it was quite steep and a bit off what we have used but we just wanted a healthy DD.

shandyclover

Hello All - I'm rather new here. I've spent the last few evenings reading this thread and marvelling at everyone's tenacity and humor. When I joined I mostly lingered in the health and beauty threads but to be honest feel more at home here, since life has actually come down to me realising I cannot have beauty products and buy quality nutricious food for the family and pay for the children's extra classes. I know what most of us would give up so I think I'm just a regular Mum in that respect.

I've 4 daughters aged 13 - 19 all still studying and hubby and I have done volunteer youth projects most of our lives living alot in Asia and more recently back in Europe. Very recently we lost our savings in a project gone wrong in Spain (long story!), and we're now trying to claw our way out of the mess. Good news is that we have a loving family, roof over our heads and are not going hungry. I've not been on this forum long but have already learnt so much from you all.

charlies-aunt

shandyclover wrote: »

Good news is that we have a loving family, roof over our heads and are not going hungry. I've not been on this forum long but have already learnt so much from you all.

A very warm welcome to you Shandyclover! You sound like you're singing from the same hymm sheet as the rest of us .... although you have probably got some very good frugal ideas yourself from living in Asia

I am holding my head above the water even though I'm standing on tiptoe on a couple of bricks :rotfl:. . . and praying for the tide to go out! Its payday today and even though theres only a tiny bit left when I've paid my bills, I'm in the black and not the red this month.

The secret for living well on less is all in the mindest IMO and so many excellent ideas on every thread here - I use the MSE site as a reference book for just about everything

I've decided to go for a DIY make-over and try and be a more feminine me with the help of the Health & Beauty threads - I've put off doing stuff for years because I thought that it was wrong to spend/waste money on my vanity but - thanks to the great posts on there - I'm beginning to see that attractive and well groomed doesn't have to be expensive.

charlies-aunt

westcoastscot wrote: »

yes it's snowing heavily here - we're cosy inside as the stove stays in 24/7. I'm in shock - paid £1.81 in the co-op for a loaf of brown bread - eek!! back to home-made I think

:rotfl: £1.81 ! Double e-e-e-ek-k-kk-k!! :rotfl:

Pitlanepiglet

*big sigh* do you ever wonder what you did wrong in a previous life?

On top of the car problems and the looming £300 bill for the excess, the puppy is back at the veterinary hospital again with the same problems as she had before. She's had to go to our vets on Sunday as her temperature spiked and was transferred to the Uni Vet Hospital on Monday, she's still there and they still don't know what it is. She's got to have a GA tomorrow so they can carry out xrays and some more tests. The pet insurance money has run out so we're into funding her treatment.

Still, as I've said before because of MSE and you lovely folks we have little debt and no credit card debt so at least we can bung her treatment on the credit card and worry about paying it over the next six months or so.

Big healing thoughts for the Lola puppy tomorrow please from the dog lovers amongst you xxx

Rummer

Oh poor Lola, my thoughts are with you.

oystercatcher

Sending comforting hugs to Lola Puppy and her family. Hope they find the problem soon and it's sorted easily.

Butterfly_Brain

westcoast scot........ :eek::eek::eek:£1.80 for a loaf that is extortion !!!!!!!!!!