It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

pagangirl

I found a book in the library the other day - really good one, thought it might interest someone - not sure if mentioned before.

Pre-cycle by Paul Peacock :-
"How to make everything you used to buy in the supermarket, from sauce to sausages, bleach to beer, detergents to disinfectants".

It covers alot of things MSE's already know, but am interested in the home cleaners/hair & beauty section - specially how to make me own shampoo. Anything that can save money right now has to worth a read !

ginnyknit

Jo I already dress in black as I am ' the only Goth in the village' :rotfl:So may opt for the tracksuit or even pyjama bottoms look, Oh has a deerstalker so could do the Sherlock thing too. I think the EasyJet outfit may get you verbal abuse from ex passengers.

Hope no one minds me adding a bit of fun its just a reaction to the scariness of it all. Maybe I will buy a van and fill it with growing gear and drive round the Uk setting people up with veggie plots - hey thats a good business idea :T I see a gap in the market.

mardatha

I am knitting us all black balaclavas complete with pink noses & whiskers as I type. We are all undercover MOLES
With regard to the coming hard times, maybe we should think of other ways to get by. I have a book "London 1945" and in it one poor woman tells how "ONE hard boiled egg can be used for FOUR salad sandwiches by careful use of a razor blade " !! LOL!!

5dogs

I just had a thought...

Maybe the supermarkets know something we don't, ie. if the government were about to put VAT on food.

Then, having already put their prices up, they would all be claiming to 'pay' the VAT on our behalf

I know I sound paranoid, but I wouldn't put it past them

Wee_Jo

mardatha wrote: »

I have a book "London 1945" and in it one poor woman tells how "ONE hard boiled egg can be used for FOUR salad sandwiches by careful use of a razor blade " !! LOL!!

Careful use of a razor blade....does she murder one of her lunch guests???? That's one way to make your sandwiches go further....:p

The_Thrilla

fendibop wrote: »

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

I have no doubt you are right. The area where I live is an unemployment blackspot. That probably has a dampening effect on price rises here.

5dogs wrote:

I just had a thought...

Maybe the supermarkets know something we don't, ie. if the government were about to put VAT on food.

Then, having already put their prices up, they would all be claiming to 'pay' the VAT on our behalf

I know I sound paranoid, but I wouldn't put it past them

I don't think you sound paranoid. It is just the sort of thing they would do. It is possible they will put VAT on food "to bring us into line with the rest of Europe." But I don't think they will, and will probably raise the basic rate instead.

Here is a video to inspire you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I0QN-FYkpw

If you think people are laughing at you, look at Mike Norman who appears at 3:28. He is now known as "the man who laughed at Peter Schiff," and his reputation is shot to ribbons.

AnnieG

ginnyknit wrote: »

So may opt for the tracksuit or even pyjama bottoms look, .

There was an item on the news here recently about a Mr T banning people from going there in their pyjamas. It was hilarious, they interviewed the shoppers, one woman said it was fine to wear pj's if you're just getting a loaf of bread an cigarettes, but you should get dressed properly to do a full shop!!!

kidcat

Hi all, been ages since I posted but been keeping up as best i can, prices here rise daily, for instance I buy the very small packets of ham for my DS packed lunch, one small pack will do three lunches and a sandwich, These packets have always hovered around the 50p mark and have been 58p for a few weeks, bought a packet on Monday at 58p and another on Thursday when I noticed Asda had the price tag as being 68p, more annoying as the rollback sign next to the price. I find I am spending more time shopping - just finding best price/value. Tesco value products have all but disappeared here, Asda stuff is hit and miss.
have really planted any veg as we are hoping to move but have bought a few veg planting bags that I will plant soem carrots and lettuce in tomorrow. Have decided to start stocking up on value basics too - we use loads of Value shower gel 8p, so will try to stockpile stuff like that.

Having real problems with school atm too, if its not one of my kids its another and I seem to be permanently battling.

Loving the supermarket snitches idea.

ceridwen

jamanda wrote: »

That is when you carefully lock your doors. I think when people get desperate and can't afford stuff they will start to steal. (not all people obviously). Some will quietly starve.

:eek: Well - I fear you are right and hope you are wrong. One has to do all sorts of ensuring everything is safely locked away/possessions are kept close at hand as it is - the thought of having to redouble efforts to keep things safe would be worrying.

I suppose it's one way to find out who your friends are - ie the ones who wouldn't dream of stealing from anyone no matter how hard-up they were (but you would, of course, help them out if you could).

ceridwen

The_Thrilla wrote: »

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.

So - which country/countries do you think they might take Britain to war WITH? - and what would be the ostensible "reason" for it this time?