It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

downshifter

the_cat wrote: »

That's why I like it on here! People understand what 'being skint' actually means and don't look at me like I'm barking when I mention buying clothes from a boot sale or suchlike:eek:

I so agree. I was speaking to someone who told me they had bought some shampoo or bubble bath that they didn't like, so they chucked it out. They must've heard the gasps of horror from my end of the phone so asked what else they could've done with it. I suddenly heard my words as they would've heard them 'Why clean the toilet of course' - met with roars of laughter from their end!

Now people on here, within 10 minutes of me saying this, would've come up with a million and one other uses for unloved shampoo and no-one at all would have laughed!

I might add that this thread is one of the most supportive, I only joined a day or so ago, and intended to come back and respond to the people who answered my post, but things have moved on so quickly with interesting discussions and helpful information.

Back to chopping veg for the freezer - i'ts cold here and windy. My broad beans are all falling over and the chicks are peeping out of their little house daring each other to go out and get ruffled in the wind!

DS

bikerqueen

Spendless wrote: »

But I see your point I don't need a whole new dinner service I can go and pick up 2-3 new plates, somewhere like wilkos that sells them seperately. Mine are white anyway so will be easier enough to blend in with any others.

I have a whole host of fabulous plates from charity shops. No matching in this house!

ginnyknit

My Sil has been complaining lately about the price of food - she shops at M&S- then goes out every week and buys clothes and shoes. If she goes away (6 or 7 times a year) even over night she has to have all new clothes, even nightie and underwear. Her 2nd grandchild is due and it had to have all new stuff even though her grandson is only 2 years old. She cannot understand why my Mum won't spend 70 quid on a handbag they saw - how much is a single persons pension nowadays???? My Mum could happily throttle her as she finds it all insulting. The only good point is we have trained Sil to give all her 'old' stuff to Mum to take to charity shop so we do well out of it, especially when she empties the bathroom cupboards - yummy handcream and lotions for me!

Gigervamp

This reminds me of a discussion hubby had with his boss. Boss asked how much we pay for milk as we get it from a milkman. When hubby told him, he said "Oh, we can't afford that!"
Both boss and his wife are on VERY good incomes and earning much, much more than hubby. Of course they could afford what we pay for milk, but it's a matter of priorities.
We try to buy ethically and support local businesses. Our milkman used to work for Dairy Crest and when they went under, he started his own business and carried on the milk round.

Boss however, likes his big tv's and holidays etc. Our priorities are different and I think that we may fare better.

pagangirl

de-lurking to say another brown envelope phobic here - thought it was just me. Going for ESA medical thursday pm, have been told by lady at CAB not to get upset if I fail, as they fail about 92% of people :eek::eek::eek:
Have worked 40 years, know people who should be getting help and refused, and others who are laughing all the way having lied through their teeth. Its so unfair.
Wish I had enough saved to tell benefits people to shove it as don't need all the stress. Now age 56 - unfortunately they keep raising the retirement age, so its now 63 1/2 instead of 60. Arrrrrrrgh :mad::mad::mad:
Must remember to tie cushion to top of head next time before banging it against the wall :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:Ouch !

taplady

bikerqueen wrote: »

I have a whole host of fabulous plates from charity shops. No matching in this house!

nor here!:D we have a nice colourful collection of assorted plates and dishes form various sho[s and carboots. Food tastes the same no matter if your plates match or not!;)

smileyt_2

maccanut wrote: »

Hi we are also trying to be very frugal at the moo, as no1 son due to start big school in august, friend gave me her sons school blazer which is selling here for 90 pounds and i dont think our money could stretch to that,i had to give up work to care for dh and money is now getting a little to tight and it dosent help when mil comes in and cant understand why we arent going on holiday like her other son is, which !!!!es my dh off.
I went on the site some of the girls from here are doing feeding a family for 100 pounds a month im going to give it a try as my lovely son at the mo is raiding the fridge because he feels hungry aahh.
blessings
abigail

£90 for a blazer?!:shocked: I am shocked! Blimey, that's what I spend on clothes in a year! It's a good job your friend could help out. Otherwise, could you do what my friend did - bought a plain blazer from Marks or Debenhams and sewed the school badge onto it?

ceridwen

The_Thrilla wrote: »

Thanks for your concern for me, Ceridwen. I don't think I'll starve. I have rice, flour, honey, potatoes - all the staples. I have jars crammed with pulses of various types. In the freezer a packet of 8 drumsticks turned up, and I still have some fish that predates the Gulf of Mexico blow-up.



I would agree with you to an extent. But are some people really up to it today? Let me give you an example from only yesterday (Sunday) What is the most precious resource? Water. What is the resource you would not want to waste? Of course, water. A few years back, in front of a lane of six houses (three either side) a water pipe burst, and there was water all over the pavement, all over the road. It was impossible for a person who lived in any of those six houses to enter or leave that lane without paddling through the puddle. It was like that for over a week, and, living in the same street, I walked through the puddle, and said to myself: "Haven't those deadbeats from I]name of water company[/I done anything yet?" Then I said to myself: "Hey, I'll bet no one's reported it." As soon as I got home, I rang the water company, and I was right. Well, last Thursday, another leak sprang in the same position, different lane. I paddled through it yesterday, and again I wondered if anyone had reported it and said: "If not you, who else?" I got home, rang the water company, and waited, and waited, and waited...until I said: "Oh, well, **** the lot of 'em. I'll stockpile some water, and get some earplugs so I don't have to listen to the neighbours moaning at the standpipe." And that is reality. That is the result of decades of self-indulgence. Someone lying dead on the pavement. Oh, THEY'll mop him up. Flytipping? THEY'll clean it up. Water spilling like oil in the Gulf of Mexico? THEY'll come and fix it.

I originally come from a part of the world where there is no THEY. And you have to do things for yourself. I would have thought that anyone could lift a phone and ring the water company, and, after hanging on for an hour or two, report the leak. You can have faith in your fellow man if you want to, beingfrugal, and good luck to you. But don't be disappointed.

I know what you mean about THEY will deal with whatever-it-is - so many people do indeed seem to think there is some all-knowing all-wise THEY - and it drives me bananas frequently......:mad:.

Outa interest Thrilla - what part of the world do you hail from then?:) - if I may be so bold as to ask ...

maman

Pee wrote: »

He isn't registered for VAT, and most of the self employed builders around us aren't either, but it may be something clients have considered.

I am glad to hear that P, felt I was a bit insensitive to have said it. Perhaps people are having things done now BEFORE the VAT rises come in and also weather might have a bearing.

ceridwen

mardatha wrote: »

Maybe it's cause & effect. Maybe when things are tough then people change. Maybe it's because we had it too easy that we got selfish... don't despair. Human beings are awful and yet they are amazing.:D
When they want to be !
I am more worried today than I was before though. With the Times front page hinting at secret talks to change the law on strikes, this might erupt into a class war and might be nasty.

I'm beginning to feel like I shoulda accepted the pearl necklace my mother offered to pass onto me (duly refused on the grounds of past cruelty to oysters:)) - though I aint got the twinset.....:rotfl:(but nope - the fact I believe in self-responsibility doesnt make me a card-carrying Conservative......) - but the bit I noticed about the strikes seemed to boil down to they want a certain percentage of all members (not just of members voting) to be voting in favour of a strike before it happens. Errr....and I would tend to think thats fair actually......

The thing that DID concern me was noticing that employers are putting pressure on to be allowed to just have 1 month consultation period in advance of redundancies - rather than the current 3 months (assuming a certain size of firm). That would mean people having only a few weeks awareness that they were going to be made redundant - rather than a few months if that went through.

I have mixed feelings all round on comments about possible "class war". Certainly it concerns me to notice that there have been a few comments from people wondering about differential State Pension ages according to type of work done whilst working age - ie manual workers going sooner and professionals later. Now - I can certainly see the point being made re professionals going later - but do worry in case those in "middling" type jobs (ie neither manual nor professional) got caught up in the "politics of envy" and expected to retire a bit later - just because of a work decision made some decades previously by themselves and/or other people. It does have to remain ONE undivided State Pension age regardless of what type of work anyone has done - far too high a chance of huge clashes otherwise. I didnt go to University myself - but don't begrudge those who were able to delay starting work for a few more years than I could personally - I just wish I'd had the same myself...ie not having to start work till 22:(