PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING

Hello Forumites! However well-intentioned, for the safety of other users we ask that you refrain from seeking or offering medical advice. This includes recommendations for medicines, procedures or over-the-counter remedies. Posts or threads found to be in breach of this rule will be removed.
We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

If things get tougher?

Options
13233353738331

Comments

  • Deals_2
    Deals_2 Posts: 2,410 Forumite
    someone who has or will be upgrading their TV.
    Thats a shame! Oh well, if things get really bad I will have to cut the sky out and buy a freeview box then!
  • lindab15
    lindab15 Posts: 144 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    Just found this thread - really good stuff in it, will keep an eye on it as we're about to have some necessary building work done and mortgage has to take a hike to afford it - will be skinter for a quite while as a result !

    Definitely going to sort out my meal planning this week. Did a bit last year and it worked well - didn't do it as well as I could have done, wasn't organised enough, but still made a difference. If I plan a bit better can make sure the kids are involved and that we eat more healthily, too - no more last minute chippy dinners 'cos there's nothing in and I'm tired !

    Keep it up ! Just off to check out the meal planning threads on the index.
  • zarazara
    zarazara Posts: 2,264 Forumite
    if it gets realy tough will have to wear bed socks and hat in bed,go to bed early in winter ,sell the telly,move the bed downstairs so I can shut the bedroom door and not heat that room.
    "The purpose of Life is to spread and create Happiness" :j
  • zarazara
    zarazara Posts: 2,264 Forumite
    also only go to supermarket once a month and bulk buy.
    "The purpose of Life is to spread and create Happiness" :j
  • scuzz
    scuzz Posts: 1,995 Forumite
    Things are certainly getting a lot tougher. I've started doing some freelance work on the side to bring in some extra pennies, and am joining every survey site going that looks half decent.

    We have some veggies growing in the garden, but they didn't do very well last year and don't look to be doing that well this year.

    We're making lots of homecooked foods, but that's not unusual as that's the way we eat anyway. I follow people around switching off lights, and shutting doors to keep the place warmer. Mum's lately developed a nice habit of leaving the oven on after she's finished cooking, so that's another thing I have to watch for.

    No payrise for me this year, and I've been warned I probably won't be getting another one. So the job hunt conitnues, but if the freelance work does well, then I could expand on that.

    The never ending search for coupons continues, and I don't go out much to save on petrol, which is stupidly expensive. I'd love to ditch the car altogether, but with work I have to have one, and it's just broken so need to fix it yet again and probably will have to replace it very soon.
    Comping, Clicking & Saving for Change
  • dizzydolly
    dizzydolly Posts: 206 Forumite
    Im getting rid of my husband whos spending approx £500 a month on fags and booze ,my best move ever.
  • OrkneyStar
    OrkneyStar Posts: 7,025 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    When I lived on my own and was earning I always budgetted, although have got to say I did waste some food and also spent a lot more on myself, going out/clothes etc. Now I am married with a DH and DS, I gave up work to look after DS so we lost that wage and hubby is not on a great wage. We get some tax credits and of course child ben, and I managed to save a little away when I was working. As a family we budget very carefully, I now mealplan all meals (used to do this a while back for easiness more than anything but had stopped for a wee while), we eat homemade and are not afraid to buy reduced stuff that can be frozen, we make our own bread mostly, we are trying to grow tatties, tomatoes etc, DS is still breastfed for his milk feeds although does have cows milk in meals (glad was able to bf as formula is expensive) so not consuming loads of milk yet, I buy some secondhand clothes for me and DS and don't refuse offers of hand-me-downs and knit cardigans/hats etc, I drive a diesel car but try to walk as much as we can and don't drive around all the time (although sometimes we need to drive to places), I often use eco-balls or soap nuts to wash and line or airer dry, DS uses reusable nappies/wipes (sposies at night). Times are hard in some ways but tbh I am glad that something is making people realise just how much we consume and waste as a society!
    I would be interested to hear how this thread develops.
    Ermutigung wirkt immer besser als Verurteilung.
    Encouragement always works better than judgement.

  • jackk_2
    jackk_2 Posts: 288 Forumite
    100 Posts
    scuzz wrote: »
    Things are certainly getting a lot tougher. I've started doing some freelance work on the side to bring in some extra pennies, and am joining every survey site going that looks half decent.

    We have some veggies growing in the garden, but they didn't do very well last year and don't look to be doing that well this year.

    We're making lots of homecooked foods, but that's not unusual as that's the way we eat anyway. I follow people around switching off lights, and shutting doors to keep the place warmer. Mum's lately developed a nice habit of leaving the oven on after she's finished cooking, so that's another thing I have to watch for.

    No payrise for me this year, and I've been warned I probably won't be getting another one. So the job hunt conitnues, but if the freelance work does well, then I could expand on that.

    The never ending search for coupons continues, and I don't go out much to save on petrol, which is stupidly expensive. I'd love to ditch the car altogether, but with work I have to have one, and it's just broken so need to fix it yet again and probably will have to replace it very soon.


    What are the survey sites all about? ive seen it mentioned a few times now.

    Jackie x
  • dorry_2
    dorry_2 Posts: 1,427 Forumite
    dizzydolly wrote: »
    Im getting rid of my husband whos spending approx £500 a month on fags and booze ,my best move ever.

    omg! does he really spend that much:eek: :eek:

    my oh gave up smoking last year, after using patches for 3 years!! my sister died of lung cancer at 46, on the day the somking ban came in and from that day he hasn't smoked or used any patches, but gotta say he has been a pain the bum, grumpy and not being able to sleep a whole night since!!
    'If you judge people, you have no time to love them'
    Mother Teresa :D
  • scuzz
    scuzz Posts: 1,995 Forumite
    jackk wrote: »
    What are the survey sites all about? ive seen it mentioned a few times now.

    Jackie x


    There are lots of websites out there that will pay you for your opinion. Valued Opinions and You Gov are very good (PM me if you'd like referral links). But I'd check out the Up Your Income and Referrals Boards, as they both have lots of these sites listed, along with places such as archerfish, which pay you to click on adverts. Only a small amount of money, but it all ads up
    Comping, Clicking & Saving for Change
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 350.9K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.5K Spending & Discounts
  • 243.9K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.8K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.9K Life & Family
  • 257.2K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.