It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

lilac_lady

Next year will be a harder year than this one economy wise as inflation takes hold and workers' wages either stay on hold or decrease. Strikes will probably follow so we'll all be battening down the hatches.

This forum is great as it has so many like minded people on it. We can help each other with practical hints, giving information, keep us all from worrying too much and making us feel that we're not alone in facing what might become a very bad time for us all.

PS - remain positive - what a cheek after reading what I've written!!!...:-)

ginnyknit

Thats so true, we need to keep positive and I like the 'battening down the hatches'. Dh and I have always had a saying which has kept us going - at night when we have had a tough day and I look out of the window he says ' is it still there? ( the horrible world) well pull up the drawbridge then!" But now I have you guys to keep me laughing and stretching the pennies.

And yes Smileyt growing stuff is addictive, just witness the 30 tomato plants I have stuck in every pot, dish and plastic tub thats been lying around the garden - nothing is safe from me and my trowel :rotfl:

mardatha

It's always down to the women in hard times isnt it ? We seem to have a reserve of cheerfulness that men lack. Well mine bloody well lacks it thats for sure :rotfl:
Off to dig another trench and throw another hedgehog in the stew !

charlies-aunt

mardatha wrote: »

:rotfl:
Off to dig another trench and throw another hedgehog in the stew !

:T :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :T

Got 6 beautiful strong tomato plants yesterday from chap in next village - 65p each and 3 grow bags for £4 at the local shop so just waiting for the sun to come out to play.

Wee_Jo

lilac_lady wrote: »

Next year will be a harder year than this one economy wise as inflation takes hold and workers' wages either stay on hold or decrease. Strikes will probably follow so we'll all be battening down the hatches.

This forum is great as it has so many like minded people on it. We can help each other with practical hints, giving information, keep us all from worrying too much and making us feel that we're not alone in facing what might become a very bad time for us all.

PS - remain positive - what a cheek after reading what I've written!!!...:-)

Wow, it is a bit scary, isn't it? But you are so right, lilac-lady, the forums provide so much support, advice and much-needed laughter!

smileyt wrote: »

Some varieties of salad leaves can be sown pretty much all year round, I think. I'll fish some of mine out and have a look at the packets if I can remember. Or you could go to a local garden centre and have a look at their seeds.

Be warned though - once you get started it's very addictive!!

Thanks SmileyT - I really like the idea of growing my own salad leaves that I can have at my leisure. I always find buying lettuce / rocket / other salad leaves at the supermarket a bit of a waste of money, because it is a big packet that I don't always use up.

AnnieG wrote: »

Sprouting seeds is great - you can do it in a jam jar, and use pretty much anything pea-like that you've got in your cupboard. Mung beans are a particular favourite of mine, aduki beans and lentil also work well. Just soak them for 12 hours, drain them and leave to sprout. I rinse mine once a day, they take 3-4 days to be ready, and are really nice added to salads.

Wow! I didn't know it was that quick! Thanks AnnieG

Also GinnyKnit - I love the "pull up the drawbridge" idea. I agree with you, that battening down the hatches does a hold a certain appeal, sort of a "let's all pitch in together" idea. Obviously as long as you have enough to feed, clothe and house you and your family and pay all your necessary bills, then thriftiness can be fun.

PS I am very proud of myself for just figuring out how to multi-quote!! :rotfl:

elizabunny

I think I have overdone the broad beans this year in my attempt not too let us starve. It all seemed agood idea when I popped in all those little plants and then some seeds as well. Now I'm looking out and wondering if the freezer will be big enough! Not complaining though, just wish I 'd left a bit more room for the other stuff. Funnily enough, I didn't even like broad beans before I started growing them and would even go as far to say as I hated them....strange. Tomatoes are looking ok so far but I'm very worried about them getting blight as we have had it the previous two years. Fingers crossed the spuds will be ok too. Just about to head out to my little patch now, wishing my plot was 4 times as big. Did any of you watch 'The Edible Garden' when it was shown earlier this year? Fantastic programme, so inspirational for those of us without acres of land. Hence the reason I now have Peas and Artichokes growing amongst the Rose Bushes and potatoes growing in my borders. There is a link here to the page http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00s1lc8 but unfortunatley I don't think it's still available on BBC iplayer.

maryb

I commented on another thread that I am always a bit wary about saying this because I am not belittling the hardship that a lot of people are going through, but in many ways I prefer times when I have to watch the pennies to the boom years (which were always unbelievably stressful at work). I feel more focused when I am watching the pennies and I have a greater sense of purpose. Looking back, the times of recession (and we've lived through several of those) had moments of sheer terror when we thought we might not be able to pay the mortgage if we both lost our jobs but overall they were actually not unhappy times. As I said in my other post it could be because my children were small and those are the years that give you happy memories.

So all in all, while I'm not crazy enough to say 'Bring it on' I feel that using my skills, a lot of which I have honed through being on this forum will make it a challenge but not a disaster if there is a period of austerity coming. I really hope and believe MSE and OS in particular can help a lot of people get through what's coming down the line - I really wish it had been around in 1991

Wee_Jo

maryb wrote: »

I commented on another thread that I am always a bit wary about saying this because I am not belittling the hardship that a lot of people are going through, but in many ways I prefer times when I have to watch the pennies to the boom years (which were always unbelievably stressful at work). I feel more focused when I am watching the pennies and I have a greater sense of purpose. Looking back, the times of recession (and we've lived through several of those) had moments of sheer terror when we thought we might not be able to pay the mortgage if we both lost our jobs but overall they were actually not unhappy times. As I said in my other post it could be because my children were small and those are the years that give you happy memories.

So all in all, while I'm not crazy enough to say 'Bring it on' I feel that using my skills, a lot of which I have honed through being on this forum will make it a challenge but not a disaster if there is a period of austerity coming. I really hope and believe MSE and OS in particular can help a lot of people get through what's coming down the line - I really wish it had been around in 1991

What is the worst recession that you have experienced, MaryB? How does this one compare?

taplady

mardatha wrote: »

It's always down to the women in hard times isnt it ? We seem to have a reserve of cheerfulness that men lack. Well mine bloody well lacks it thats for sure :rotfl:
Off to dig another trench and throw another hedgehog in the stew !

thanks Mardatha - that post really made me smile!:T:D

sb44

I think everyone should try and cut down massively on their spending if only for one week, just to see how you would cope.

God forbid and there but for the Grace of God and all of that but if your main wage earner is made redundant then it is going to be a hell of a shock to the system.

Regarding the forcoming months, do many people on here actually think we are going to see lots of problems ahead re sky high prices and redundancies?

I remember buying my first house in 1985 when the mortgage rate was just under 12%, we could manage that at the time but I wouldn't want to see those rates again in a hurry.

1 in 5 people are using debt to pay for everyday essentials which I take as using the old plastic to buy a loaf and some milk http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertips/household-bills/7826819/One-in-five-getting-into-debt-to-fund-living-costs.html .