It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

The_Thrilla

I know that prices are going through the roof as a symptom of inflation. Also look out for smaller packages. I have noticed this especially with big bars of chocolate and ground coffee: the price is the same, but the amount you buy is smaller. This is to disguise the true nature of the price rise of both these items - 25%. That's right folks. If they have reduced the size of the items by a quarter, it means that the price has risen by a quarter - or the pound coin in your pocket has reduced in value by a quarter, depending on which way you want to look at it.

mardatha

Jamanda.... I like pandrops, I like sherbet fruits, I like jelly beans, I like dolly mixtures, I like liquorice, I like tablet, I like toffee, I like rock, em.... well TBH there isn't much I don't like !
Just send me a large parcel as a bribe and we take it from there. The hall cupboard is vacant ..

elizabunny

Evening everyone, I'm still around but have so little time at the moment. Have been trying to catch up with all your posts and I have to agree the prices are rocketing. I'm not sure whether through necessity, or greed by shops cashing in on the crisis this country faces. We all know now it's going to be tough, we're told us much nearly every day, what better excuse. The price of cereal is horrendous, very clever, as it's most unlikely that those of us trying to grow our own, can grow a field of wheat, etc. Milk and dairy produce, well how many of us are likely to have a cow in the back garden.........mmmmm. Sorry to be so cynical but I feel that prices are being inflated that do not need to be inflated and we're being hit where it's most likely to hurt. Hence my lack of much spare time. I sometimes think I'm growing for England, my previously mainly decorative garden, has now been turned into something reminicent of the war days. DH has built so many raised beds for extra veggie growing -I think he should go into production. I have literally turned the back garden into something approaching an allotment. DH won't let me have Chickens though, otherwise I'd be into those as well. I refuse to be beaten easily and I won't pay £4 plus for a scrappy little cake or £1.50 plus for a decent loaf so when I'm not growing, I'm cooking. I don't have a big back garden but I'm going to use every space I can and will freeze or give away any excess to the family. I suppose I'm in panic mode but I think we're in for a very rough ride. However, I'm sure those of us who chat here are up for it.

Hippeechiq

elizabunny wrote: »

I sometimes think I'm growing for England, my previously mainly decorative garden, has now been turned into something reminicent of the war days. DH has built so many raised beds for extra veggie growing -I think he should go into production. I have literally turned the back garden into something approaching an allotment.

Good for you :T

elizabunny wrote: »

I refuse to be beaten easily and I won't pay £4 plus for a scappy little cake or £1.50 plus for a decent loaf so when I'm not growing, I'm cooking.

Me either! I'm a bit late in the year to start growing, and don't really have an ideal garden as the previous owner laid it ALL down to paving slabs, but I'm thinking of at least having a shot at growing peppers next year, and possibly tomatoes as we use so many. I have started baking a lot more, but could do more still....I'm trying to psyche myself up to trying bread but haven't been brave enough yet

fendibop

The_Thrilla wrote: »

If they have reduced the size of the items by a quarter, it means that the price has risen by a quarter - or the pound coin in your pocket has reduced in value by a quarter, depending on which way you want to look at it.

It's even worse than that...the price is rising by a third, not a quarter; so definitely worth looking out for this one! Thanks for highlighting

ginnyknit

I have just had a vision of tomorrows newspapers

' supermarket staff have noticed across the Uk a large number of people in wigs and false moustaches wandering round their stores. One person was fiddling with something down her bra and all were writing copious notes while exclaiming '' Ah ha! gotcha".

Seriously folks at least we are all wise and caught onto this 'trend' early. No its not to late to plant some salad leaves, carrots and broad beans at least in tubs. Some of us have already become backyard farmers so we are a bit better off, but you have to do it as cheaply as possible too. A couple of growbags, a pack or two of seeds is a good start, and then plan to extend it next year. If we all keep each other informed and try and find alternative shops we will get through it.

I wonder if Martins got a minute ( I know he is extremely busy on our behalf) if he could post us some encouraging words.

Im off to a carers day at Manchester town hall tomorrow and am going to get involved in telling the other carers about MSE and OS

The_Thrilla

elizabunny wrote: »

Evening everyone, I'm still around but have so little time at the moment. Have been trying to catch up with all your posts and I have to agree the prices are rocketing. I'm not sure whether through necessity, or greed by shops cashing in on the crisis this country faces. We all know now it's going to be tough, we're told us much nearly every day, what better excuse. The price of cereal is horrendous, very clever, as it's most unlikely that those of us trying to grow our own, can grow a field of wheat, etc. Milk and dairy produce, well how many of us are likely to have a cow in the back garden.........mmmmm. Sorry to be so cynical but I feel that prices are being inflated that do not need to be inflated and we're being hit where it's most likely to hurt. Hence my lack of much spare time. I sometimes think I'm growing for England, my previously mainly decorative garden, has now been turned into something reminicent of the war days. DH has built so many raised beds for extra veggie growing -I think he should go into production. I have literally turned the back garden into something approaching an allotment. DH won't let me have Chickens though, otherwise I'd be into those as well. I refuse to be beaten easily and I won't pay £4 plus for a scappy little cake or £1.50 plus for a decent loaf so when I'm not growing, I'm cooking. I don't have a big back garden but I'm going to use every space I can and will freeze or give away any excess to the family. I suppose I'm in panic mode but I think we're in for a very rough ride. However, I'm sure those of us who chat here are up for it.

Good for you, Elizabunny. :T

You know, a lot of people still do not know what is in store for them, including members of my family. There is hardly anything in the media about the true state of the western world. I have been getting most of my news from America. I had heard that the true size of the UK deficit is over 1 trillion US dollars. I found it difficult to believe; but last week Cameron, to his credit, admitted to 776 billion pounds. I did a quick conversion, and it is indeed over 1.1 trillion dollars, which was a good indication of the reliabilty of my news sources. So saving 6 billion pounds is nothing. Most people have no inkling about how bad things are going to get here.

We will have to wait until the 22nd to find out what strategy Gideon Osborne is going to adopt. If it is going to be more inflation (aka quantitative easing), then you would be looking to getting your kids, if not yourself, out of Dodge. When they can't inflate the economy out of its difficulties, they will do what governments have done to kickstart an economy throughout history: they'll take us to war.

You might find the following American website of use:

http://www.survive2day.com

AnnieG

Scary stuff, isn't it? I shall be planting some carrots and beans tomorrow, to add to the few bits I already have growing. I'm newly unemployed and although I'm ready for the challenge of living on income support, I'm actually scared stiff that we're going to be really, really poor and will have to go and move in with my mum or something. So, Im going to start stockpiling what I can... oats, pasta, pulses etc. I'm currently running the freezer down so that I can defrost it and then have a mega batch cooking day. I think the worst thing for me is knowing that I might have to restrict DS's extra curricular stuff, he currently does football, cricket, cubs and drum lessons, and there's no way I'll be able to afford all those as well as feeding and clothing us both.
Still..... if I'm not going to work it'll mean I don't need to buy any more work clothes!!

Hippeechiq

ginnyknit wrote: »

I have just had a vision of tomorrows newspapers

' supermarket staff have noticed across the Uk a large number of people in wigs and false moustaches wandering round their stores. One person was fiddling with something down her bra and all were writing copious notes while exclaiming '' Ah ha! gotcha".

:rotfl:

ginnyknit wrote: »

No its not to late to plant some salad leaves, carrots and broad beans at least in tubs. Some of us have already become backyard farmers so we are a bit better off, but you have to do it as cheaply as possible too. A couple of growbags, a pack or two of seeds is a good start, and then plan to extend it next year.

Thanks for that ginny but I don't have a car at the moment.....failed it's MOT in April and as I was made redundant in Jan, I can't afford to get it sorted or buy another one, so it'd be a bit difficult getting the grow bags. I did see some pepper plants for sale in Wilkin$ons for 99p the other day, about a 9" tall and wondered about giving those a bash, but again, I'm assuming they'd need potting on, so getting compost would be an issue.

ginnyknit wrote: »

If we all keep each other informed and try and find alternative shops we will get through it.

That's the 'key' sentence I think, and what I hope this thread will be all about

Wee_Jo

ginnyknit wrote: »

I have just had a vision of tomorrows newspapers

' supermarket staff have noticed across the Uk a large number of people in wigs and false moustaches wandering round their stores. One person was fiddling with something down her bra and all were writing copious notes while exclaiming '' Ah ha! gotcha".

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
I can't wait to go to Sain$burys this Friday, I'm going to play the James Bond theme tune on my Ipod and go dressed completely in black....hmmm, or, seeing as it's Sain$burys, completely in Orange! Probably just get mistaken for an £asyjet flight attendant......