It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

ceridwen

BigMummaF wrote: »

It's going to be interesting to see what the tangoed blues have in store, but I'm pretty sure we are not going to like it. The rumours are once again hinting at VAT going on food, but I reckon the riots of the Thatcher years will be resurrected if they think they can get away with THAT one :mad: Metinks this government might be in for a rougher ride than anyone could have imagined, as folk are no longer willing OR able to just sit back & take the consequences of the actions coming out of the Ivory Tower...

Well - actually - I don't think some people/most people would like whats likely to happen in some respects - whoever had won the Election. I admit to not being a socialist - so will be pleased to see the back of some of the ideas promulgated by the Labour Party - as I think there has rather been too much emphasis on helping those who WILL not help themselves. (Obviously - I agree with helping those who CANNOT help themselves.)

What I've seen so far of the Coalition has all seemed positive to me. Its early days obviously - and we will have to wait and see what they come out with come the large spending cuts I believe we are in for come the autumn (and would be whoever was in power).

I know I have long since lost all patience with the Labour Party handing out yet more money to the "wont help themselves brigade"/taking us into illegal wars and blowing a stash of our money in the process/damaging so many work pension schemes/generally making a lot like Big Brother (I certainly feel like throwing something at every darn surveillance camera I walk past these days....).

So I'm personally reasonably pleased with the result of the Election and will await developments before making my final judgement on this personally.

(So - no I haven't turned into the arch Tory I recall someone predicting I would do years ago...nor will I...but I think they are entitled to a chance - with the Lib. Dems holding back any "right wing excesses" of the Conservatives on the one hand and the Conservatives stopping the loony side of the ideas the Lib Dems have on the other hand - like the amnesty they would like for 1million illegal immigrants!!!!! on the other hand)

Frugalista

morag1202 wrote: »

I've lurked on and off on this very excellent thread ever since it started but never seen to have anything constructive to say - until now

I've just found this website, a very new one which gives a meal plan, recipes and shopping list to feed a family of 2 adults and 2 teens for a month for only £100.

Yes, that is right, 4 people x 3 meals a day x 31 days = £100

The meal plan contains 5 fruit and veg a day, all the recommended vitamins and minerals and the correct protein/carb/fat levels.

What is more, the food is nice and you may well recognise some of the recipes from MSE

I do hope that this is of interest to some of you, and if it is, please spread the word.

LOL!! That is Weezls new website!! :T:T

taplady

Frugalista wrote: »

LOL!! That is Weezls new website!! :T:T

Lol :rotfl::D thought somebody had nicked her idea!:D

lilac_lady

Had a peep. It's a brilliant website. Well done Weezel!

dom300186

Done my weekly shop only come to £28 instead of £50, because I did a meal plan and checked what i already had in the cupboards, I'm so chuffed with myself.
Made my own gloop last week so that's the washing covered for the next couple of months costing me £1 to make 4 litres, and made my own cleaning products for around the home.
I love this site given me alot to think about so I don't waist my money, thanks money saving expert forum peeps.

ginnyknit

Had a serious blow to my pennypinching - my cooker door exploded!!! very scary so have been 3 weeks without an oven. In the old days - when we had 2 decent incomes that would not have bothered me but I have been so fed up, no Twinks Hobknobs!!! no bread, cakes or filler uppers. Have managed quite well with the slow cooker but still missing 'old faithful' Anyway found out we qualify for a grant, and yes I know I am very lucky to recieve it. Thinks its due to Dh's disabilities so tomorrow I can go cooker shopping after I have checked all possibilities on line of course. Other than that things still plodding on, no cash most of the time but trying my best to keep the troops fed. New grandson keeps me smiling most of the day and he already knows my voice and possibly smiles when he hears me but hey its probably wind:) Dd just been and got a few bargains at Mr T's mainly meat, so we are stocked up for a while.

slowandsteady_2

Just clicked on the link above-Well done Weezl, didnt know about that website, always follow her threads though, they are genius!

Thanks for the link!

sammy_kaye18

:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(

Oh just seem to be getting grief and stress from all sides lately and its getting me down.

Bens poorly - he chipped his tooth a while back in school but the knock killed the nerve in his tooth and despite being told the tooth was fine it has got a small infection in it, so it made his cheek swell up on Wednesday so we took him down hospital because it came on suddenly and he had the dentist yesterday to confirm it. So hes on antibiotics at the minute and his cheek still looks swollen. He's not a fan of ice packs either or cold ice lollies so just how I'm meant to get the swelling to go down is anybody's guess but trying my best.

Then had grief all of yesterday from mother in law because boyfriend didn't text her to let her know we were taking him to hospital, so she had her knickers in a twist and sat complaining about it all day in front of sister in law so made me feel about an inch tall when that wasn't even my fault.

Then sister in law started on Ben - he has his hair in a mohican still but the sides are growing in so I can cut it all one tidy length but it still looks smart when its all gelled up - and she spent most of yesterday telling him how silly his hair looked even though he loves it so he ended up in tears about 2/3 times yesterday which just annoyed me.

Then they started whining about Ben's birthday because his half brother J has been telling Ben to ask for a birthday party so J told his grandma that Ben wanted a birthday and I wouldn't give him one - not true - Ben has never asked for a birthday party because he wanted a day out instead to Folly Farm - so I had grief then for not organising a birthday party for him, - they don't seem to get that that isn't an easy task when you 34 weeks pregnant!

Then boyfriend just seems to be being a pain lately too. He seems to purposely come home and look for something to !!!!! at me about - whether its the fact I haven't posted a letter, made dinner, or the terrapins filter isn't switched on, or I have a dish in the sink, or I haven't applied for a tax return form for HIS tax return! Just being a miserable sod in general and its doing my head in because apparently I have nothing else better to do all day and should still be doing everything I usually do pre pregnancy. He has started working out at his mates home gym too so he thinks he is gods gift at the minute too.

Have finally managed to finish off the last few bits for Holly Bump though - by myself with no help in any form from OH either, not even financially! - so at least she is all prepared for now - literally have the cot and travel system coming from my mum in a few weeks time with a few clothes bits but everything else is sorted so I'm landed and that's one thing less to worry about. Plus I had a letter back form maternity allowance and they are going to pay me more than what I earn at the minute so that's a bonus. I only work 12 hours a week and earn £280 a month and on maternity allowance they will be paying me £360 a month so cant complain.

Also found out I had more charges put on my Halifax account so now its overdrawn by £400 and somehow this month I have to pay my Denplan £143 but I'm going to ring them and see if i should still be paying that because I'm pregnant - if they say yes i should be paying it though i have no idea how I'm going to be able to afford it!! I cant really afford to lose my dentist but I cant really afford the bill either so either way its going to be hard work! Failing that I might have to let my rent go short and make it up with maternity pay as and when I can to try and catch ourselves up again.

have been looking on MSE and Weezl's new food plan website that is meant to feed 4 for a month on £100 so going to try following that I think - she has some good recipes on there so will get that printed off I think and sorted - then it can be followed and hopefully we will all stay full bellied and save a few quid.

Urgh.................am just generally fed up. Hopefully things will start to get easier soon - trying my best to look forward to Ben's birthday next week but feeling a bit of a failure at the minute and I dont think pregnancy hormones are helping!

maryb

So sorry you are feeling down. You were so positive a couple of weeks ago that I joked about the nest building urge you get just before going into labour.

Hope if you get through the next day or so things will start to look up as the preggy hormones ebb and flow and you'll bounce back. Weather is supposed to be good next few days so enjoy it if you can - all that Vitamin D building strong bones

anguk

Sammy you're NOT a failure, you're doing a fantastic job!

You've also got a lot more patience than I've got because I would have told all of them to get stuffed by now, boyfriend included!