It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

Primrose

For anybody who is worried about their car tyres being damaged as a result of local potholes, I really recommend you report them on www.Fixmystreet.com. Can't remember if I've mentioned this site before, but you just go into it, enter the Street or post code where the problem exists, a street map appears and you can put an arrow on the exact location where the pothole (or other problem is). The site will automatically send it to the appropriate local authority for the area so you don't have to go searching for phone numbers etc to find out who is the right authority to notify.
However, the insurance companies for most councils won't pay out if your tyres are damaged. It's worth trying but they will probably claim that the roads were regularly inspected for maintenance so no claim is therefore valid.

Winged_one

It's definitely a good time to be coping better with all green things bursting through. Literally too - I had planted a pot of cress, and the compost over the seeds was literally lifted as a sheet they all burst through so fast together!

But we have the leeks finally ready to harvest (still baby sized, but now at least an edible size), the PSB is still going (probably only 2-3 more meals left though), and the rocket and lettuce are starting to grow enough to get a few leaves for eating from them. And all my seeds in the plastic house (titchy thing for starting seeds, no good for growing plants in) are sprouting. I had a massive sowing session last weekend, so i have my tomatoes, beans (french and borlotti), corn, brassicas of all sorts, lettuces and some flowers going now. I must pot on some peppers in the kitchen windowsill this weekend, and plant some more corn (I have a few more takeaway coffee cups gathered this week, and they make great pots for long rooted things) too. And get some cabbage plants into the ground on the plot.

And DH has a final round interview next week, so fingers crossed for him. As his current job, while still a job, is getting really dire at this stage in so many ways (and the uncertainty of a paycheque being paid is only one of many!).

oystercatcher

Fingers crossed for Mr Winged one.
Must get some more seeds in myself...... tomatoes and chillis planted so far.

Rummer

That is promising news winged one!

We were in the same position as you oystercatcher until this week as we have finally got our first proper load of seeds in so you are not too late to catch up!

Primrose thanks for that link it will come in very useful especially around here! I know councils are unlikely to compensate for tyres but they may be more open to damage to the chaise of the car.

slowandsteady_2

Thanks for the advice on the pot hole issue, i didnt know that!

I wish i did know where exactly but cant narrow it down. In all honesty i only drive to work but 20 odd miles on the motorway with good roads after that, and ive been off sick for 5 weeks, then i only ever go to my dads and into town, i think it was done on my dads estate if thats what i have done, as they are having tons of work done and speed bumps built and the roads are shocking, in fact i wont drive to my sisters who lives a mile or so from my dads as the main roads are so bad, i park at my dads.

I only got the car in December and while its just a cheap run around on a P reg, its perfect for me-a small peugoet 106, with 4 doors and a diesel-both uncommon attributes in a peugoet 106, so im loathe to part with it. Due to it being a diesel and a four door i paid more than what i would for a petrol car on that reg, so really want it to last and need a diesel for the motorway commute to work. My hubby got my old car-also a Peugoet 106 but a two door on an R reg i had for three years (i do love my peugoets!) I looked after it like a baby, with 100% relieability back in return, he had it 5 minutes and the brakes went! Men eh. He too is fantastic with cars and repairs thank goodness hence why we stick to older uncomplicated cars that he can fix easily!

Hoping for a ns weekend, off to text my friend now who is having boyfriend trouble and is texting me his faults all night! Poor guy he isnt that bad!

Nighty x

lauren_1

I have pennies for food this week, so its going pretty hard, but did a weeks shop for £7!

4 toilet rolls at wilko's down to 88p (30p off)
8 pints of cravendale (i think they're 4 pints and 2for£3 -75p off voucher at morrisons)
8 baking potatoes (2x4 @70p)
value butter 92p
4 loaves of bread, cant remember the brand but they were half price in morrisons £2.

Im making some rather strange dinners as theres a fair bit in my cupboards but they dont really go together....hotdogs and risotto anyone?

sammy_kaye18

lauren_1 wrote: »

I have pennies for food this week, so its going pretty hard, but did a weeks shop for £7!

4 toilet rolls at wilko's down to 88p (30p off)
8 pints of cravendale (i think they're 4 pints and 2for£3 -75p off voucher at morrisons)
8 baking potatoes (2x4 @70p)
value butter 92p
4 loaves of bread, cant remember the brand but they were half price in morrisons £2.

Im making some rather strange dinners as theres a fair bit in my cupboards but they dont really go together....hotdogs and risotto anyone?

Oh one of our favourite meals here is hot dog sandwiches when we are in the horrible last week of the month with no pay coming in at all. Plus if you cut them up and stir them through pasta with tomato ketchup and cheese - that's another cheap favourite in our house too.

WINGED ONE - Fingers crossed for hubby. Hoping that it all goes well - I was worried about taking my maternity leave and they have told me i can have until May 2011 off if I want to but I'm only taking 6 months or so to get me past Xmas and then I'll be going back - I know my job is ok at the minute but that could change very quickly and it worries me!

OYSTERCATCHER + RUMMER - I haven't even started seed planting yet. :eek: must get a move on with it but hoping to be in a house soon and if that happens then I'll leave growing this year and just do prep work i think on that garden so keep your fingers crossed one comes through soon!

SLOWANDSTEADY - I have a friend like that - every man is in the wrong that she has ever met - couldn't possibly be her fault and I get texted at 2am saying im never going to go out, pull and take a man home again :eek::eek::eek::eek: its like hello! there's your problem! My sister is exactly the same though too - two kids by two different dads and only 23 - she changes men faster than I change bedding I swear to god and I'm a complete neat freak with my bedding!

Well was hoping for a NS weekend too but get a funny feeling its to going to work like that as I still have to get to Tesco. Did look on the market briefly on Tuesday and see big bags of spuds for £3 - £5 each (depending on variety) so thinking once its a bit closer to little one arriving I might coerce boyfriend into coming down with me and picking up a bag, they have good deals on veg down there. Only problem is i need him and the car to get it home - also going to see if there's any travel systems for sale cheaper - I did see one i liked but I've gone off it now so figure I'll look around a bit.

Made my roast chicken yesterday and then couldn't eat it as the smell of raw chicken turned my stomach - so have all the breast meat left over so am thinking I might tuck into a nice chicken sandwich at lunch time today, possibly make Owen's curry later if i can find frozen rice pouches and then might make a chicken and mushroom pie for dinner next week and freeze it.

Need to get my spending back in line - think I've been spending and lending Owen a bit too much money so I have better get it back come pay day although everything is paid bar the few pieces that come out of my wages so I cant complain too much. Just need to stick to my food spending budget now is the only thing - hoping ben will be good though and not ask for anything when we are out!

Right hope we are all having a good morning, looks like its set to be another nice weekend and i have to work it all again - marvellous!

charlies-aunt

Oh dear - had an a expensive shopping weekend which has upskittled the budget.

Very busy week at work as lots of staff off work because of school holidays and a sickness bug... didn't get a proper lunchtime any day and couldn't get away until 5.30-ish on friday so ended up trying to do a late night shop in Aldi but they had just about sold out of fresh stuff - a lot of the shelves were bare so ended up doing most of the shopping at Sainsburys. . . big mistake :eek: as the bill at the checkout made me wonder if I'd bought the shop as well :mad: Its back to the market / Lidl /Aldi shopping experience next week come hell or highwater ......

To add insult to injury, the free range chicken was more like a free range sparrow once I'd got it out of the packaging -I don't mind paying extra for a free range bird but £ for lb it was really expensive!

savvyshe

:)Goodmorning everyone,

Love to read all your friendly hints and tips on here not posted before but thought I could help with the bread slicing problem. I too struggled to slice bread but earlier last year my sons GF bought me an electric slicer (hand held)
for my birthday and its been great, I think she paid around £10 for it and its saved me a load of money. When I bake a loaf I slice it all and then wrap and freeze It. I use it to slice joints of meat and it means you can get more portions out of a joint. Its great for gammon and pork and beef.

We are at the moment trying to reduce our cc debt as at the moment our mortgage will rise in November when term runs out. So have decided to live off OH wage and pay my wage off cc's. and hopefully will have debts paid in October, So have joined GC and £100 clothes challange (for me DH DS3) DS2 is moving back in with us at weekend so I am pleased about that.:) I think it has done him good to see how hard it is to manage to live these days and am proud of him to accept he is struggling before getting himself deeper in debt.

Anyway hope the tip helps and bye for now Savvyshe

Winged_one

Thanks all for the good wishes. OH did the interview this morning and was happy enough with it. Some tricky questions, but he felt he held his end up well. So fingers crossed.

If not, well, my paycheque will cover the roof over our heads and food on the table at least, and we'll find ways around if need be.

At least the sunshine is helping with a slight "feelgood" factor.....