It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

Primrose

ceridwen - I think we all understand what you mean. There's an old phrase some which goes along the lines of "To each according to his needs, from each according to his talents". The country is in such a difficult financial situation that I don't suppose there would ever be a 100% completely fair way of spreading the pain; I guess we all just have to take responsibility for managing our own circumstances as best we can. I do think though, that those who do take responsibility for themselves as much as they are able to come out of these difficult situations phsychologically better than those who just sit back and expect somebody else to do it. Being in control of the boat is always a better feeling than just being adrift on the currents and being washed wherever the tide will send you.

lilac_lady

Everyone has their own priorities and when there's children involved it's usually them.

Living on one's own means it's easier to cut back, do without and make do and mend.

We have different degrees of wants and need too. What is essential for one person may seem ridiculous to another.

Lots of different views to consider but one thing is certain - we're all on the right track here.

lauren_1

I have just got my maternity pack from the midwife (and the 500 leaflets that go with them) got a free pack of tesco new baby nappies, pampers change box when i sign up to tesco babyclub, the boots changing bag to be collected, a million toiletry samples and various other gift packs when i sign up to more clubs.

The thing that got me all excited was a leaflet for a baby craft club near me ' make do and mend, not spend spend spend' i think its run by a church group and it teaches all area's of sewing, knitting, repairing etc etc for babies and mums to be.

BitterAndTwisted

lauren_1 that baby-craft-club sounds really fab. The thing is, I suspect there will a fair bit that you could teach them rather than the other way round. I do hope you join up and will let us know how you get on.

lauren_1

I most certainly will be joining up! I cant wait , I have forgotten how to crochet properly (I have seen a lavender crochet blankey that I want to try and make) I think I will leave matinee coats and cardigans to my mum and grandma's.

I am slowly falling in love with the babyK range at mothercare though, gorgeous stuff.

BigMummaF

Primrose wrote: »

ceridwen - I think we all understand what you mean. There's an old phrase some which goes along the lines of "To each according to his needs, from each according to his talents". The country is in such a difficult financial situation that I don't suppose there would ever be a 100% completely fair way of spreading the pain; I guess we all just have to take responsibility for managing our own circumstances as best we can. I do think though, that those who do take responsibility for themselves as much as they are able to come out of these difficult situations phsychologically better than those who just sit back and expect somebody else to do it. Being in control of the boat is always a better feeling than just being adrift on the currents and being washed wherever the tide will send you.

Why does it always have to be the people who have tried their damnedest to keep going, worked hard to get a few coppers 'just in case' & have already done everything they have thought, who pay the biggest price for others incompetence? My parents struggled on Dad's wage to keep the four of us AND pay into a pension but now, Mum pays tax & can't get a lot of the benefits because she is maybe less than a pound over the cut-off. Her friend meanwhile, is boasting how she has never been so well off in her life & her husband didn't save a penny! That cannot be right can it?

I know there has to be a limit & where-ever it is set someone will fall just outside the boundary, but when you see MPs telling US we have to cut back & all the while they have a partner in a really good job plus directorships & 'second jobs'--something is very unfair with this democracy we proclaim to have. I take particular issue with the stonking expense accounts! If I have to shop around & get things from £land & value stuff, why can't they :mad: They should be leading by example regardless of what colour ribbon they wear; like that place in Kent that two of them now have to share....aahhhh. What a shame! My heart bleeds...but it is costing tens of thousands of pounds for security, grounds-keepers & household staff when it was used less than four times in the last year!

ginnyknit

Just been to Mr M's and am shocked at the prices. I wanted cheese, the cheapest was organic, which is good but why?? And it was a pound a kilo cheaper than the regular. Really couldn't afford much meat but got a big tiger loaf for 65p. Is the entire country in party mode or is it just what we led to believe because snack food is everywhere.

I saw on tv the other day in the USA its cheaper to buy take away food than try and shop for healthy stuff. To get the maximum calories for your money apparently you can do it cheapest in the snack and sugary stuff aisle - is this how Britain is going to end up?

Think I need to squeeze a cow into the back garden ... and a couple of pigs.....

Larumbelle

lauren_1 wrote: »

I most certainly will be joining up! I cant wait , I have forgotten how to crochet properly (I have seen a lavender crochet blankey that I want to try and make) I think I will leave matinee coats and cardigans to my mum and grandma's.

I am slowly falling in love with the babyK range at mothercare though, gorgeous stuff.

Ooooh Lauren I still have my crochet baby blankey! When my mum came to stay with me she started to cry when she saw it in my linen closet. When I finally give her a grandbaby it will be handed down. I never learned to crochet or knit from her, we tried dozens of times but I could never get the knack. I can knit now though, it all just fell in to place one day, so maybe crocheting will too by the time I have a family.

That babyK stuff is lovely, but HOW much :eek: Babies neither know or care if they are trendy!

lauren_1

Ginney knit, go for a jersey cow, their milk is meant to be more calorific than average dairy cows.

I find it far cheaper to get a meal deal from boots if eating out, only due to the fact that OH's beloved red bull is included, even the large cans (£2 normally) so 99p for the sandwich or wrap and a nice bag of walkers sensations. Thats the monthly treat, £6 lunch, chill in the park and a mooch around the charity shops.

Mr M has lettuces on offer this week, 50p an iceberg, we are starting to have salad with everything, the lettuce will keep sliced in a lidded bucket of cold water (ideally in the fridge) or if no room change the water daily and add ice for up to 3 days.

slice some olives, small cubes of feta (or value salad cheese) very thin slices of chorizo, any tomato either sliced or halved, pepper strips.

As for dressings, i like to use balsamic glaze (not very MSE at £3 a bottle) but mines lasted me months as you only need a tiny bit.

Charis

Another reason Old Style is best:

The research on more than 200,000 women from nine European countries found doing household chores was far more cancer protective than playing sport.
Dusting, mopping and vacuuming was also better than having a physical job.
The women in the Cancer Research UK-funded study spent an average of 16 to 17 hours a week cooking, cleaning and doing the washing.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/6214655.stm


It's a big study group too, 200,000. Let's hope they were honest about how much housework they did.