It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

The_Thrilla

ceridwen wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl: ummmm...errr...you're NOT that penpal I sorta somewhat unceremoniously "dumped" many many years ago now (ie as a teenager) are you - when he sent me a photograph of himself and I didnt fancy him?:o:o Oh...shallow was I....but in my defence...I WAS a teenager at the time......

I shouldn't think so. I have been in UK since I was a very small child.

ceridwen

The_Thrilla wrote: »

I shouldn't think so. I have been in UK since I was a very small child.

Whew.......well thats a relief anyways....:D:rotfl:

BigMummaF

the_cat wrote: »

I sooooo agree with you! The number of people I know who are moaning they are skint/can't afford stuff etc is unreal. Those who bemoan the coming cuts as being unfair on them personally purely based on the fact that they don't want to take a hit in their 'luxury spending' is even bigger

The reality with many of them however is that they have got used to an unrealistic level of spending above and beyond what they can afford. Sadly the country has been like that too and now we have to redress the balance.

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 hope that your luck turns a corner soon. At the very least coming on here helps

Gigervamp wrote: »

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.

A female family member turned 60 last week & promptly stated she couldn't afford to retire--probably because she has spent all her adult life trying to outdo, be seen to do first & absolutely white-wash, the Jones in her clique.
Me? I'm complete contrast I live for a bargain & do fairly well on the grocery side too but, unlike my compadre, I prefer to invest in a well-stocked larder than a new set of towels from deb-nems every six months!

Primrose wrote: »

I find it terribly sad that so many people are now having to put their lives on hold, waiting for an axe to fall on the employment of one or both members of their working household, and other who do not deserve it, are struggling to get by financially when none of this enormous national deficit is their fault.

For many years this situation has been building up and I truly wonder about the competence of some of those we elected to govern us that they did not eventually realise that it would come to this eventually when the money, and the ability to borrow more money would run out. I am glad I'm not a politician in government at the moment. I realise they have no choice but to impose these horrendous cuts but I think it's now up to us as voters to sit up take more interest in politics and those we elected to ensure that they act in a competent and responsible manner going forward. It's mot much of an excuse to say "I'm not interested in politics or what the government does - I elected them to get on with it" but would any of us hand over our personal finances to people who have pushed the economy to such dire straits and feel that our savings were in safe hands?

From now on we should be demanding a lot more personal responsibility and accountability from our politicians, and if they don't deliver, they should walk the plank instead of taking golden handshakes.

I am sat here, nodding & thumping the table in agreement with so many posts that poor Pup has cowered away under the table
The Offspring are all fully-fledged adults so we have some good discussions at times, & even they think we are heading for a revolution It's about time MPs realised the General Public are no longer prepared to have them dictate what they want us to do, & started doing what WE elected them to do! I accept we all have to make sacrifices, but I'll complain less when they take as big a hit to personal finances & begin to lead by example :mad:

The_Thrilla

unixgirluk wrote: »

Thats not good is it? But they can't offset a lack of donations with bumping their prices up. I gave up 6 months of my time to work for a charity and its probably the best experience I've ever had (have always wanted to do it and glad I had the chance). I think I got lucky though as it was a really nice group of people I worked with in a semi-decent area. Only now and again did we get donations that were only fit for the bin (1 bag was full of flies and it was carried into the shop!).

That's nice, isn't it? A bag full of flies. Increased prices may have something to do with increased overheads. Another reason for the cut in donations could be vociferous objections by the charity shops to people stopping their cars, and getting out to dump stuff in the doorways before the shops open. They do it on the way to work, or they feel embarrassed about bringing the donations into the shop and making contact with another human being. I read in the paper that one local authority used anti terrorist legislation to have a charity shop watched to find out who was dumping donations outside the door!

Alec_Eiffel wrote:

I'd agree with this. There was a brief spike in great quality donations after the "Mary Queen of Charity Shops" show last year but since then it has been dire. Donations have been poor due to people hanging onto things or selling at car boots, EBay and even giving it away on Freegle. Of the stuff that is donated I've found lots of very very old stuff (and not in a vintagey good way) and lots of stuff from cheap "fast fashion" shops and it's virtually impossible to sell. It's not good quality and was so inexpensive to buy in the first place people just won't pay even 50p for most of it. Very difficult.

The bad weather had a massive impact on donations early in the year too. Usually we have a mass of stuff after Christmas but this year there was nothing at all.

Yes, the programme did mention Mary Queen of Charity Shops, and they played a clip where this woman - I suspect this will be Mary - was complaining about the goods in one shop being all over the place. The manager of the shop said that the staff were volunteers, and he left them to get on with it. Mary said that this was not good enough. I'm afraid I don't know what the thing was about; but I would tend to agree with the manager: you've got to be nice to volunteers.

jediteacher

ceridwen wrote: »

26 "Thanks" to your post at this moment says "You are very welcome to join our little community - the kettle is on. Do you want tea or coffee?":)

Thank you. Everyone on here seems very nice and very supportive.
Coffee would be great.
I'll bring some cake!

ceridwen

jediteacher wrote: »

Thank you. Everyone on here seems very nice and very supportive.
Coffee would be great.
I'll bring some cake!

Oooy....requests taken? Make mine apple cake - with clotted cream:D

ralloctiger

pagangirl wrote: »

Just seen on Beeb news: -

A single person in the UK needs at least £14,400 to live to an acceptable standard.

A couple with 2 children need £29,200 for a minimum acceptable standard of living.

(from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation)

Well that lets me out out then ! I'd think it was me birthday & Christmas rolled into one if I got that type of money.

Also heard 26 schools in the local area have rebuilds cancelled. Not looking good.:eek:

HAAHAHAHAHAHAHA :rotfl:
We manage on less than that and add one more child!!! What age do they think children still eat children portions cos I am feeding five adults ( almost) and they are still classified as kids. Thats why we dont go out to eat very often cos its 5 adult meals now.
I wonder what the breakdown of that amount is,how much disposable income for going out and treats is, how much is budgeted for food,very interesting. doesnt matter what you earn you could always do with a bit more!!
xx:)

Skint_Lynne

The_Thrilla wrote: »

Sorry, I thought it was obvious that anyone nicknamed The Thrilla would come from the Philippines.

The Thrilla from Manila

I am silly sometimes - I thought that you were a well read Michael Jackson fan, it seems really obvious now that you have told us.:o:rotfl:

babyshoes

We are tightening our belts a lot, but only because of a HUGE spend coming up - OH is training to be a professional helicopter pilot, and it is very very expensive!

Chipps

A single person in the UK needs at least £14,400 to live to an acceptable standard.

A couple with 2 children need £29,200 for a minimum acceptable standard of living.

(from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation)

To be honest, I find the definition of "poverty" in statistics like these a bit disgusting - there are people in this world who have no idea where their next meal is coming from... that's poverty. Not having Sky TV or a holiday every year isn't. According to this, we brought our kids up in abject poverty - I don't think they would feel they missed out in any way. We've only got one left living at home, and our two incomes (now I am working after being a SAHM) still don't come to that minimum - and when we had all 3 & only 1 low income we were nowhere near! But still managed to pay the mortgage, run a car & have some kind of holiday most years...