It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

floss2

Lauren, don't forget that with a few more babygros you won't need to wash so often and babies can have nasty leakage issues from both ends at times!

When DS1 was tiny I was lucky enough to be given a bin-bag of boys clothes for 0-12 months which was a real boon to a skint SAHM

Larumbelle

I usually only lurk this thread, but with all the talk of tomatoes and shortages, I thought I'd join in. I just wanted to remind those who grow their own tomatoes that any prunings they remove from their plants (lower stems, side shoots etc) can be rooted to get another free plant. I just root mine in water, if you prefer to root in compost honey makes a great hormone dip. You can turn a few plants into loads in this way!

Anyway, thanks for the tip-off! I am allergic to tomatoes but OH loves them. So glad now that I grow too much of everything!

Gigervamp

silvercharming wrote: »

I just root mine in water, if you prefer to root in compost honey makes a great hormone dip. You can turn a few plants into loads in this way!

I didn't know about honey being good for cuttings, thanks for that.

Quasar

I've been missing from this thread for yonks and have just given up trying to catch up - it's nearly 5000 posts!! :eek: :rotfl:

Anyway, I did read the last page and wanted to say I envy those of you who have an allotment to grow their own vegs.

I do prefer to eat organic stuff, and although I have no debt and am in a fairly secure job, I still want to offset the inevitablle hikes on all prices, so I have decided to compromise a bit and resorted to buying some non-organic fruit and vegs as well. Yesterday in my local Morrisons I found a large pack of greens for 50p. They will last me for many meals. I keep them wrapped in the fridge and eat some every day.

Also, in Morrison I found some excellent fish I have never heard of before: Basa. I bought two good-sized fillets for £2. They can be frozen so I cut each in two and made four reasonable portions of tasty white fish.

Oh, and Quorn mince is a lot cheaper in Lidl - even cheaper than Iceland. I found out the other day when I was passing one and popped in.

I really must read this whole thread for ideas, now that I've really got going!

spike7451

Called into the Co earlier...Got a pack of Cumberland Sausages for £1.10...Big pack of oven ready mini jacket spuds with herb butter for 65p....two packs of baps for 35p each..all reduced so I saved nearly £2!!!!!PLUS the spuds are already in a sturdy tin tray,ripe for re-use!!!

F***in Brucy Bargain!!!

sammy_kaye18

Well

is it just me or is anyone else feeling screwed by the new budget??

will definitely be looking into what has VAT on it in supermarkets though too being that its going up from 17.5 >> 20%!!! :eek::eek::eek:


well and truly back on the OS wagon me thinks

spike7451

sammy_kaye18 wrote: »

Well

is it just me or is anyone else feeling screwed by the new budget??

will definitely be looking into what has VAT on it in supermarkets though too being that its going up from 17.5 >> 20%!!! :eek::eek::eek:


well and truly back on the OS wagon me thinks

Unfortunatly,it's the price of having a Labour Government &,in particular,Gordon Brown,I'm afraid.

ginnyknit

I didnt understand what each bit of the budget would mean to me personally and I am sure someone on here will be able to decipher it for me but I did have a terrible sense of foreboding as it was read out. Think the bit about protecting the poorer people was a bit of a whitewash as usual. The VAT element was obvious even to me though so time to build on my stock cupboard and plant extra veg!

Primrose

The VAT hike to 20% is obviously a blow, but we've been given six months notice, so I guess the prudent on here will do some crystal ball gazing into the immediate future to decide what capital items they need replacing such as new fridges or domestic equipment and try to buy them before January 4th. Also those household purchases in the supermarket which do bear VAT such as cleaning materials, toiletries, etc. can be stockpiled to save a little money and thankfully basic food items will still remain free of VAT. . I'm afraid it's inevitable though that VAT will now remain at 20% for the duration of this parliament.

lauren_1

From January 2011 all health in pregnancy grants will be axed and the Surestart grant will be restricted to first children only, i am not sure if they will keep it at £500 though.

So all women currently pregnant should be ok, I had a feeling they both will get axed.