If things get tougher?

Rage_in_Eden

kittie wrote:

Some of you will remember the frost on the inside of the windows and the little paraffin lamp in the outside toilet to stop all the pipes freezing.

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Oh I do - and going to bed and not wanting to put your nose out of the covers as it would get instantly cold and not wanting to go to the bathroom in the morning as the walk was too cold!! We had a paraffin lamp in the downstairs loo or else the pipes got frozen.

Cutting back - hmm - not sure. We don't smoke, hardly go out, any needlework mags I have are on D/D and I haven't been to a needlework show for years, walking to work is not an option for me as I work too far away but I am seriously thinking of walking a couple of miles of the bus route home to cut back, I'm wearing clothes that are at least 5 years old (DH was stunned the other day when I said the skirt I was wearing was 9 years old! although I did splash out last year and got a full length coat off e-bay as I couldn't find anything I liked in the local charity shops). To be quite honest I am dreading Christmas as this will be my first one in my new job and when I asked about Christmas they said "oh we all buy each other individual things" - I was stunned - no secret santa, no put a present in the tub - so that's at least 10 people in my department (about 4 of which I have no time for). I asked about monetary limits and there aren't any!!!! Well, everyone is getting something edible from my kitchen such as fudge or coconut ice and I may run to a scented candle from the local discount outlet. DH's recreation is football once a week and a pint after and I have my social outing when I take my avon deliveries 'round..... And then there's the presents for DH's family............... although why we bother buying for some of them when we don't get thanked is beyond me. I will be making my cards again this year and have already found the cheapest place for card blanks and got my supplies earlier in the sales. I'm feeling really fed up now......... looks like it's my turn to get the red nail varnish out!!!

Rage_in_Eden

anniebooklover wrote:

This may be slightly off topic but please forgive me. Have you ever considered how much lower your council tax, electricity, gas, water, etc. bill would be if you weren't funding the employees's pensions???? I have worked in the private sector all my life and it really grates with me that all my siblings (who work in the public sector) are having their FINAL SALARY pensions funded by me and other taxpayers. Public sector workers have the highest sick rates in the country (don't get me started on that because I could tell a tale or two there) and also tend to have the highest holiday allocation, etc. Yes, I grant you they do tend to be paid slightly less than private sector workers but their staff benefits MORE than make up for it.

I wish I had the money to take my council to court to have the cost of public sector pensions deducted from my council tax.

The reason we have such high sick levels - in my 20 years nhs expereince - is because we get so much &*$! thrown at us by the public, we're constantly stresed because we are so stretched (I have just finished covering 4 med sec posts as we could not have any temps and when I go back to work on Monday I'll be covering 3 and typing a clinic for another sec as she's got too much work) and we're expected to be in work unless we're dead (I was once rung up at home the day after an op to be asked where such and such a casenote was and when would I be in as the work was piling up on my desk!). As for the pay - I keep a house and pay all expenses such as transport/leisure and food on less than £15 per week after all bills are paid (and I'm mid-grade). Besides, I'm yet to know somebody who actually made it to their final salary limit as we're all burnt out and knackered by 50.

anniebooklover

Rage in Eden - this is not a personal attack. I know that there are genuinely conscientious people in public service who take their jobs seriously and give everything, and then more, to the people who depend on them.

By the same token, I know of someone who works in the public sector who believes that an 80% attendance record is acceptable and thinks she has done well if she meets that 80%. I have a friend who works up the flexi-time then tops it up with sick leave if she doesn't have enough holidays!

I would say that my siblings are not like that - my parents brought us up with a strong work ethic and none of us take sick days just because we feel like it.

It still galls me though that there are people having their pension funded while they do next to nothing to earn it. If they were in the private sector they would have been sacked long ago.

Dobie

anniebooklover wrote:

This may be slightly off topic but please forgive me. Have you ever considered how much lower your council tax, electricity, gas, water, etc. bill would be if you weren't funding the employees's pensions???? I have worked in the private sector all my life and it really grates with me that all my siblings (who work in the public sector) are having their FINAL SALARY pensions funded by me and other taxpayers. Public sector workers have the highest sick rates in the country (don't get me started on that because I could tell a tale or two there) and also tend to have the highest holiday allocation, etc. Yes, I grant you they do tend to be paid slightly less than private sector workers but their staff benefits MORE than make up for it.

I wish I had the money to take my council to court to have the cost of public sector pensions deducted from my council tax.

Just to add my twopennorth - gas & electricity suppliers are not public sector & haven't been for a very long time . As an employee of one of the biggest I can assure you we don't get final salary pensions.

sammy_kaye18

Some of you will remember the frost on the inside of the windows and the little paraffin lamp in the outside toilet to stop all the pipes freezing.

I still have frost on the inside of my windows. I went to see the council yesterday adn was matter of factly told 'i would have to do the neccessary maintenance myself'. The condensation on the windows sounds like a tap running, theres mould inside my windows no matter how much the flat is aired to the point tha tmy 2 year old was sat on the sofa (mid day) wiht a fleece jumper on cuddled in his blanket and theres still condensation.
i asked about some help then with getting new sealent round the windows and she said no as they dont supply it or install it. Bloody council is !!!!!!, my god they make me swear. So im off to wilkinsons to buy it myself today as i need to do something or we'll all start getting ill soon.


cutting down wise
* me and bf rarely drink (me not at all and him if he goes out wiht mates which isnt very often) so can save there really
*neither of us smoke
*we dont have a working car as my bfs engine blew up so hes trying to get it sorted out and the car in a workable condition
*i save as many food vouchers as i can to help me with food shop.
*bf cycles back and forth to work every day
* i walk as its a matter fo 20 yards form my front door so unbelievably lucky here cos i work in a food coop so get all the discounted bread/fruit and veg at the end of the night for like 10/20p plus discount on top of that!
*would cut down meat and maybe have a roast once every 2 weeks to make that last us.
*have a samll garden (communal flats) mostly grass for Ben and Dog but i have a tiny patch that i could maybe grow things upwards if need be. tomatoes, beans etc or id tear the grass up and have a bigger one.
*will start walkign to town instead fo getting bus that would save £2.45 (return ticket)
*use rucksack and whatever else is available to bring food shoppign home (would use bus for this cso i tend to do £40 shop at a time) instead of spending £5 on a taxi
*am trying not to put my heating on until at least Halloween, fleece blankets, jumpers and extra duvets, got hot water bottle each already and have lined curtains to help keep natural heat in
*listening to the radio more and trying to find a wind up one instead to save money
*draft excluders and lots of them.
*making biscuits/cakes and crumbles myself rather than shop brought using my discounted stuff
*considering buying a bread maker to have HM bread instead of shop broguth cheap stuff

Bambywamby

I would -

* Start using teabags for 2 cups of tea instead of 1.
* Cut my sons lunch money out and exchange for a homemade packed lunch.
* Water down my Moisturiser/Cleanser/Shampoo/Shower Gel/Conditioner when they get down to 1/3 left.
* Weather permitting I would walk everywhere - I already do alot of walking as it keeps me trim, but I still get a bus every day home from work so I would knock that on the head.
* I would use veggie peelings to feed my chickens instead of some much chicken corn.
* I would scrub potatos, and then use the peelings to make skin chips.
* I would bake in batches and freeze leftover meals.
* Cut out snacks totally - Dont have that many but my 3 bags of crisps and odd digestive per week would go.
* More clothes on - less heating in colder weather.
* I would make more Chirstmas & Birthday gifts rather than buy them.
* I would sell more clothing on Ebay and I would peruse the charity shops more frequently for goods to sell on Ebay.
* I would drop SKY - I can't t the moment as its still SuperLeague (I lurve rugby)
* I would stop the Dogs insurance and just hope they kept fit. That costs me £28 per month.
* I would cut my nights out right down and have house parties/Girlie wine nights/movie nights with popcorn/home cooked candle lit meals etc at home.
* I wouldnt buy my ONE monthly magazie - i would read it online.
* i would stop buying books (even from the charity shop) and get back into borrowing at the library.
* I would consider doing an Avon/Betterware round.
* I would do more overtime at work.
* I would really push for my teenage son to turn off all lights and stop leaving stuff on standby.
* I would sell my p.c and borrow my sons laptop.

Can't think of anything else at the moment - but I am sure there is lots more.

alec_eiffel

Bambywamby wrote:

-* I would drop SKY - I can't t the moment as its still SuperLeague (I lurve rugby)
QUOTE]

eeek, I'm hoping that's a choice I don't have to make... my team's not even in superleague anymore!

[Deleted User]

I hope no-one gets depressed by reading this thread. The aim of the thread is for us to be prepared. The economy is cooling down and it is possible that we have a recession at some stage in our lives. It wasn`t that long ago since we had the last one and the ones who survived best were of the `make do and mend` brigade. Power blackouts, job losses as businesses closed, the 3 day week. Then later on the mortgage that rose and rose to 15%

I am one of the older ones and my whole younger life was as part of that brigade, so I feel that I can cope with most things. The younger generation has not been taught that way and debt is rife. We could do a lot worse than sharing our thoughts and tips now that extended families and community is not as it was

My biggest tip is to get off debt and also to think before you buy `do I want it or need it`.

My next tip is to learn to cook one pot meals with veg and pulses

Next tip is to squirrel a little money away every week. It doesn`t matter how little

learn how to use a sewing machine

soak dirty whites overnight and they will come clean in a 40 wash

Just be prepared, then if the worst happens, you will be able to cope

mennie

turn down the thermostat and wear extra layers
Cut down or completely ban alcohol from the shopping list
meal plan better
grow more veg in the garden
walk much more

[Deleted User]

I think that time is coming. I posted the link on the electricity/gas board but it is also relevant here. Forewarned is forearmed

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/utilities/article3050075.ece