It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

mama67

ginnyknit wrote: »

Been to Mr T as I have a cricket buffet to produce for Sunday. Lots of empty shelves where the basics should be! And the prices are way higher than they were!

Dd has just put together the little mans cot - all gifted, cot, bumpers and bedding, even a hanging pocket thingy, it looks so good. All they had to buy was the mattress! He looks so comfy in his O/S cot.

I've been this morning didn't notice any basics missing that i needed and also noted that Mr T bread flour has gone down!! to 60p/bag only a penny but better than nothing.

It was ridiculous though the shop was heaving and they not only put out the amber then normal red checkaout calls they then put out the extra red one asking for all managers and team leaders as well.

Spendless

mama67 wrote: »

Dh has just nipped home (works 5 mins walk away) his boss has said he will have to cut hours and pay across the board to help keep the business afloat. We don't know what exactly as yet, but he wanted to let them know what is going on.

He is putting together a package for the accountant & bank to see what needs to be done including re-mortgaging his own house as well. (very small company boss plus 5 workers).

Will know more next week hopefully.

Oh I'm sorry. When my hubby went thru this last year I looked at all the things I could cut out to make up the shortfall. The first thing to go was an asc for my kids. They were in so I could be flexible with my college hours, but the wrap-around care was changing hands anyway and I wasn't far off leaving college so it seemed a good time to stop them going. I also cancelled the sunday paper being delivered (just a little thing but I could read most of the paper on-line for free anyway). I also stopped my monthly relexology appointments. I know for some people it's 'hocus pocus' stuff but I feel it works for me and is the only thing from my list that we re-instated.

What we did struggle with and what I gave no thought to at the time, was the big 'one off' jobs/items. The front of the house needing painting, dining room chairs being replaced. My underwear resembling the Greek economy never mind the U.ks :eek::o. If I'd thought on I'd have looked round the house for these things coming up and kept an eye out for freecycle (maybe not for my new knickers:p) etc

smileyt_2

mama67 wrote: »

Dh has just nipped home (works 5 mins walk away) his boss has said he will have to cut hours and pay across the board to help keep the business afloat. We don't know what exactly as yet, but he wanted to let them know what is going on.

He is putting together a package for the accountant & bank to see what needs to be done including re-mortgaging his own house as well. (very small company boss plus 5 workers).

Will know more next week hopefully.

Oh, that's hard. But the boss sounds good, if he is re-mortgaging his own house to keep things afloat. He must think there's a chance the business will survive in the long-term if he's risking that?

mama67

smileyt wrote: »

Oh, that's hard. But the boss sounds good, if he is re-mortgaging his own house to keep things afloat. He must think there's a chance the business will survive in the long-term if he's risking that?

The boss is a really great guy. Very flexible on time off etc.

The business is secondhand food processing machinery and because of the global recession the food manufactureers in eastern europe (big purchasers in the past) can not sell their products so can not buy the processing machinery.

It has also hit DS1 as his parttime job was also working for the company as a grass cutter ( 1 acre site)

We just have to wait and see and then as soon as we know what is happening I will be on to Tax credits etc.

We were in the process of changing our mortgage with higher repayments but shorter term, so thank goodness that hadn't gone thru.

mardatha

I don't think the hard times are over yet. Everybody stay strong and stay in HERE !

ceridwen

mardatha wrote: »

I don't think the hard times are over yet. Everybody stay strong and stay in HERE !

You are so right Mardatha.

They've barely started - I do feel fearful for people who didnt see this coming and those who havent yet realised that there is rather more going on here than "just another Recession".

I cannot urge strongly enough that anyone who has any mortgage or debts pay these off if they possibly can.

I also cannot urge strongly enough to "Grow Baby Grow" - ie grow all the food you can possibly squeeze in space for in your gardens/balconies/etc.

I have been watching the way many people have been "carrying on as normal" and not doing things like this for some years now in steadily increasing disbelief that they couldnt see the stormclouds on the horizon.

I am now fearful that I will be watching "the fruits of that harvest" (ie of non-preparation) in many peoples lives with horror ...because they left that preparation too late and just carried on "living life as normal" for far too long..

The Party is Over...please people do what you can to "batten down the hatches" now.

mardatha

And here is a fabulous book to read while you're tightening your belt -
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0099100118/ref=oss_product
Absolute magic !

Larumbelle

Ooooh I saw a TV programme with her in it once mardatha! It was brilliant!

Sorry, didn't mean to submit then. My PC went mad lol. The programme I saw was about her years on from another programme if that makes sense? She used to have a farm but she wasn't on it any more. Oh dear, I might have to get that book now (local library is less than useless - not their fault, they have to run the whole operation on about 15p a decade).

mardatha

I didnt see the TV series, it says it was in the late 70s, when by oure chance a producer was out hill walking in the dales and met her. But this book is great, it tells of her relations, her childhood, people who lived nearby, how they farmed, etc etc. Its got a lot of old photos in as well. I havent read it yet, just the blurb on the cover. I bet she would cope with less money than all of us ! She is still living .

mardatha

I didnt see the TV series, it says it was in the late 70s, when by oure chance a producer was out hill walking in the dales and met her. But this book is great, it tells of her relations, her childhood, people who lived nearby, how they farmed, etc etc. Its got a lot of old photos in as well. I havent read it yet, just the blurb on the cover. I bet she would cope with less money than all of us ! She is still living .