It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

BigMummaF

esmf73 wrote: »

HI all, I've looked at the title of this thread in the past and thought - no I'm OK it's not that tough. But then over the Easter Hols I've looked at my shopping bill a few times and been totally horrified. We've been out of the UK for a while - and I remember buying Mr T X Value Tinned Toms for 9p. They are now 31p and you can't get any bread (unless its the Xvalue stuff) for under £1.

I'm amazed that I didn't think of this before. So now I am doing all my shopping at Aldi / Lidl and then poping into Mr T to get anything I couldn't. I need to get more savvy with my shopping and with the contents of my cupboards and freezer. So I'm turning over a new leaf - not necessarily to save money - but what is more important I think - not to waste it. Either by throwing away food, not being bothered to cook or not planning ahead enough. My two youngsters eat me out of house and home (and they're both under 6) so I've a long way to go! Will read through this board later on and see what hints and tips I can pick out of it. Thank you X

Hello esmf :wave: If you give us a shout of what you'd like to find out, one of us will be able to point you in the direction of a thread or three to help you out First thoughts are the monthly Grocery Challenge that as a recipe collection to die for, on the first page.This month's is HERE.
Don't forget to give us a shout OK?

Rummer

esmf73 wrote: »

HI all, I've looked at the title of this thread in the past and thought - no I'm OK it's not that tough. But then over the Easter Hols I've looked at my shopping bill a few times and been totally horrified. Will read through this board later on and see what hints and tips I can pick out of it. Thank you X

Hello and welcome, there are many hints and tips to help in difficult times and when the going is good it helps you save extra pennies here and there. We are all very friendly and as BigMammaF said feel free to ask any questions you have and we will help to point you in the right direction.

Elizabunny good to see you back, I hop that you are feeling much better!

I started to get back into my routine today and went to the library, I took out a wee heap of gardening books and ordered one that I want in particular, free advice to help me grow my own food, two for one!

kersplatt

Hi I haven't been around for a reeeeeeeaaaallly long time as far as posting goes but I have been lurking more days than not!!!

We've finally got ourselves sorted out with a DMP via the CCCS but we're now dealing with the aftermath. DH is still absolutely rubbish with money and having set up a new joint account to get both our wages paid into, the bank has closed our account after repeatedly bounced direct debits (DH didn't get his wages paid in in the end so all the bills were coming out of my wages and he was using it as his personal slush fund.) So I'm trying a different tack. All the bills come out of his single current account - everything, mortgage, council tax etc the works. I've opened a savings accont with a passbook which is my name only. He can't get near it so I control all cash funds - clothes, food, petrol etc. I'm hoping this will mean that I can increase our economising since I spend every spare moment baking, cooking from scratch and working on the garden as it is and we literally have no money left now until we get paid in a fortnight. Fortunately, there is plenty in my larder and fridge freezer to *fingers crossed* see us through.

I'm always up for a challenge with living on a small budget but even for me, this is going to be tough, and the 2 kids may need convincing!

Plus we're both public sector workers (front line, not management) and what with the concerns over the economy, we are looking at the prospect of job insecurity too.

So I'll endeavour to join in a bit more!

Hang on in there everyone!

slowandsteady_2

Hi everyone,

catching up and saying hi! Hugs to those who need them x

Have spent the last few days trying to sort out both cars needing repairs. dh needing MOT and mine needed repairs ive been putting off since Xmas, but could no longer! Altogether for both have forked out £185 i believe. I suppose it could have been worse as the garage dh was tested at quoted nearly £200 just for one of his repairs! So we found a good 'backstreet' type garage with a good honest mechanic who doesnt try it on. The same work was done for £20 instead of £180, unbelievable!

The same good mechanic fixed mine today and kindly did a free pre MOT and told us what needs doing to get it through in May, he will do the necessary work for around £70:T which includes significant welding (apparently i have hit something-probably a bad pot hole, and have ripped some metal off the floor of the car) and new brake bits and a repaired handbrake, so that is fantastic of him! I will probably get the work done next Monday or Tues as I am going back to work next week, but am off Mon and training Tues. Have a GP appointment on Saturday-didnt even know they did Saturday appointments, i will have to insist i go back and do feel well enough. My manager has been so fantastic, and she didnt need to be so i feel lucky, and whats more she rang me yesterday to lt me know payroll had been i touch with her and i will get full pay in April but that would have been it:eek: so have to go back regardless.

Am still working on the food budget though as that seems to be where the spare cash goes, even with GC i find it hard to keep to my budget with little buys, but keep trying!

Stay strong!!

Night xx

sammy_kaye18

Esmf - welcome to the boards - we are all in the same predicament lately or at least most of us are so feel free to ask questions and like said before someone will be here to help!

Kersplatt - welcome back to the boards - nice to see you again. Glad to hear your money issues are getting sorted now. Am hoping to get a small salad garden sorted at some point soon - OH is on a healthy eating spree and wants bags of fresh lettuce and onions etc in his sandwiches so I figure even if i can grow some salad leaves and spring onions it will help make a dent - failing that I can give any excess to my mother in law who loves her salad come the summer! Really need to get back into my baking etc as I'm sure a twink style hobnob with some dried fruit through it is much better and healthier than a Nutri grain bar! which reminds me must add oats to my shopping list!

slow and steady - isn't it nice when you find honest little back street mechanics like that? we have a local little one who we always prefer to go to for our MOT and bigger bits of work - boyfriend is a petrol head so knows how to do most bits and pieces on his car which saves us a fair bit but there really is a difference in prices if you look around. Well done - seems like a nice fella doing your work for you!

Finally had my letter back form the coop saying they aren't going to be paying me maternity allowance so can finally give my maternity details sheet in to my employer today with my letter letting them know I'll be starting maternity leave as of June 1st with my last shift being May 30th. Figure I'll get my maternity allowance paid every two weeks from June 2nd then so there is a steady stream and we wont go short for her bits and pieces that she'll need because knowing our luck every 4 weeks would fall in an awkward week for us. Need to go and ask about housing benefit as well too though - you need so much proof just to apply for the bloody stuff though - its ridiculous! plus they ask if your working and are you recieving statuatory maternity pay so ive no idea what to put as i technically still have a job but i wont actually be working and i cant get smp - im hoping to get maternity pay instead but theres no option for that - so figure i had better ask! incase i balls it up.

apart from that im off to tesco today finally provided the grass cutters are being nice - figure i have a fair bit in the freezer - have sausages, loaf of cheap bread, peas, dinosaurs (bens), waffles, chips, 4 small corn on the cob, frozen portion of cod, and a box of FABs (cravings!) but might see if i can fit a bag of frozen rice packets in there. Cupboards are blitzed though so need to fill them up! Plus fridge could use a top up although think it looks worse than it is. Need to get plenty of fresh veg/ fruit in too. May have to make a soup too as there is some carrots and swede in the bottom of the fridge looking sorry for itself!

Have got a whole chicken to cook tonight which has been in the fridge the last two days as had rolls to use last night that were going stale so made sausage rolls for owen's tea but going to cook chicken tonight - make a roast up - he eats dark meat, i eat white. So there will be plenty of breast meat left over and will strip carcas and might use some to make a curry for him and then he can take that to work with him tomorrow and he has a portion for Sunday too if he's hungry whilst im in work.

Well hope you all have a good day x x x x

taplady

morning!

Welcome back kersplatt! glad you're getting sorted!

slowandsteady - good news about the car repairs:T

sammy - we're growing potatoes and salad leaves plus some french beans at the moment - not had much time for anything else this year but DH has made some raised beds up the garden so should be able to grow more soon!plus I'll get some cherry tomato plants from the carboot as these grew really well last year.

puss14

Hi everybody

Taplady- Cherry tomatoes grow brilliantly here in Australia also and they self seed like craxy so i don't have to worry the next year:T Ive just harvested some potatoes that grew from my compost heap:rotfl:and they are very tasty. I also have some lettuce coming thru that has self seeded (as you can see I am a lazy gardener:o) and snow peas- these I actually planted myself.


I am going to have to get more vegies in for autumn but unfortunately a lot of our sun has been blocked by neighbours putting up extensions almost to the back fence and then as they are looking right over us they grew trees to give us and them some privacy. I am glad we have privacy but the lack of sun the vegie beds gets means there is only limited things we can grow, especially in winter.

adouglasmhor

Compost heap potatoes are the tastiest out! I found king edwards and kerrs pinks in out allotment's communal spoil heap years ago, me and my pals had spuds for almost the whole year out of them, there were tons, all sizes from marbles to giant bakers.

Rummer

slowandsteady wrote: »

Hi everyone,
(apparently i have hit something-probably a bad pot hole, and have ripped some metal off the floor of the car) and new brake bits and a repaired handbrake, so that is fantastic of him! I

If you know what pothole caused the problem you can contact the council and send them a bill for the repair as poorly managed roads are there responsibility.

sammy_kaye18

Rummer wrote: »

If you know what pothole caused the problem you can contact the council and send them a bill for the repair as poorly managed roads are there responsibility.

I never knew you could do that!! The road that my boyfriend has to travel down to even start his car journey to work is horrendous and we are forever damaging the underside of our little golf.