It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

Chipps

kidcat wrote: »

If you have an Ikea nearby they sell individual bowls and plates for 19p each, they are plain and basic - ideal with kids.

Last time I went they had put the price up.... to 24p each. And not only that, but the dinner plates have now become either very small dinner plates, or perhaps large side plates. Anyway, it suits me, as I use one of the newer small ones for my dinner. I have joined weightwatchers, and lost 4 stone:j and it means I can have smaller portions of dinner, but as the plate is smaller I still get a full plate's worth of food, so don't feel hard done by!!!
The plates etc are beige, by the way, but as our other crockery is plain white they team up well.

ginnyknit

I know what you mean about brown envelope phobia, my Dh also got to the stage where he couldn't answer the phone as we were either being houned for money we hadn't got or the Dhss were ringing
to say we couldn't have any money cos .....

Even now he quakes in his boots when the post arrives, we always seem to be waiting for something crucial that never comes! I think he rests best on a Sunday - no post.

The_Thrilla

I am very sceptical about the 40%. If they are really serious, they would cut bureacracy by about 90%.

In my own situation, I have a serious addiction: I am a compulsive investor. I overdid it a bit while I was in Northern Rock, and I find I have only £18.67 to last me until the 15th, and £10 of that goes on evening classes. Luckily I have a load of potatoes. I can chop up and boil some nettles, mix it in with mashed potatoes and that should keep body and soul together.

ceridwen

Spendless wrote: »

Also on Fri night we found my dd's bike at the park across the road, damaged beyone repair. How it got there I'm not sure, whether she played with it at the park when I was at work and DH working from home and forgot and left it, whether she left it on our drive and it was taken from there I have no idea - all I know is it's fit for scrap and that's it. My sis has rang me and offerred me neice's for £40 bt I can get brand new fr £50-£55. Not sure what to do.:cool:

OOH....:( to Sis planning to charge you for one of her childrens bikes.......(speechless).

Personally - I wouldnt expect to have to pay family for anything - I would expect that a family would give things to each other free. So - i wouldnt be buying it - even if it was reduced to a fair price (eg £15/£20). £40 is too much to pay a stranger even for a secondhand bike.

Can you ask on Freecycle? Also - I have a feeling that policestations "take custody" of lost/stolen items sometimes and then sell on ones that havent been retrieved by their owner subsequently. So - maybe you might be able to buy a bike from them that hadnt been retrieved after a while by its owner?

ceridwen

mardatha wrote: »

I never understood why people got so uptight about post...but then I went on to Incapacity Benefit and learned fast :eek:

To this day - I have to take a deep breath before opening an official looking letter and sometimes postpone doing so for a day or two.

In my case - it was all the job rejections that I received in periods of unemployment/the benefit cheques/the Tax Returns from periods of self-employment....

I still don't like receiving letters...

ceridwen

The_Thrilla wrote: »

In my own situation, I have a serious addiction: I am a compulsive investor. I overdid it a bit while I was in Northern Rock, and I find I have only £18.67 to last me until the 15th, and £10 of that goes on evening classes. Luckily I have a load of potatoes. I can chop up and boil some nettles, mix it in with mashed potatoes and that should keep body and soul together.

.....well...in best Old Style fashion...tell us what you've got (ie in the larder/freezer/etc) and we'll tell you what to do with it....

northwest1965

beingfrugal - Have you ever tried jointing a chicken? It is so easy if you have a good knife. Take a look on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcVx1vMo10w

Dont worry if the 1st couple end up looking like roadkill!! It'll save you £'s

boyang

northwest1965 wrote: »

beingfrugal - Have you ever tried jointing a chicken? It is so easy if you have a good knife. Take a look on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcVx1vMo10w

Dont worry if the 1st couple end up looking like roadkill!! It'll save you £'s

Fantastic link, thank you! I've always thought that I should learn how to do this. I pay way too much for chicken portions and now I've seen how easy that looks I'm kicking myself for it!!

Nargleblast

Rubber chicken --- I usually have some for the Sunday roast, the rest in a curry and the carcase boiled up to make stock which I chuck in the freezer for sauces and gravies at a later date. I would love to stretch it further but OH and DS would complain if I reduced their Sunday lunch portions as they both love roast chicken! Anyway, I currently have a huge whole in my finances as my daughter got married the other day, my father came to stay for a few days, and my car needed taxing, so it's a case of do an inventory of the fridge, cupboards and freezer and try and come up with a meal plan or two. At least I have a fine crop of salad leaves outside to form the basis of salad meals!

taplady

ginnyknit wrote: »

I know what you mean about brown envelope phobia, my Dh also got to the stage where he couldn't answer the phone as we were either being houned for money we hadn't got or the Dhss were ringing
to say we couldn't have any money cos .....

Even now he quakes in his boots when the post arrives, we always seem to be waiting for something crucial that never comes! I think he rests best on a Sunday - no post.

I'm another who hates the post coming - its never good news is it! I also have a bit of a phobia about making phone-calls and put then off as long as possible. I also hate answering the phone - makes my heart beat fast and I feel panicky.