It's STILL tough and not getting better - so how are we coping?

lauren_1

I have flea's!

Yet no pets, they either came from my mums dog via the kids or from a bag of my sisters things that is covered in cat hair.

Not impressed at all.

Oh fuel strikes mardatha, how lovely! Bring it on!!!! possible the only 'up' side to not being able to find a job, i have no real reason to travel anywhere

lambanana

Sequeena - I'm so sorry to hear of your loss please take care of yourself.

Got a bit of good news this morning, our fuel bill came and we've been so good that we're about £70 in credit AND they're putting our monthly payments down by £8 a month so that's fantastic news. We just need to continue to behave with our consumption and resist putting on the heating when it gets colder, our heating is so rubbish anyway there's hardly any point putting it on, much easier to wear an extra jumper! It goes on to help the washing dry more than to actually keep us warm

Back to house buying...we're a way from buying now so I suppose it's all irrelevant! Of course if we could afford one we'd get a detached house so we could make a little more noise if we chose to and not worry so much about the neighbours but even when we've saved a deposit we couldn't afford detached, not for our first home! Maybe a few years down the line when we're buying our second home!! As for the second toilet, I totally see the benefit of having one but so few of the houses in the price range we'll be looking at in our area seem to have them. When I was a kid I think one of my friends had a house with a second toilet and even that wasn't downstairs, I don't know why but they seem to be more of the thing with modern houses. I think if we do buy though we'd be trying to get somewhere with some scope to extend a little at the back and put in a second toilet then but I know that would be very expensive. We'll have to see what happens, right now it feels completely beyond our grasp.

parsonswife8

mardatha wrote: »

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Fuel-Drivers-Could-Strike-If-Job-Losses-Pay-Cuts-And-Reorganisations-Do-Not-Stop-Unite-Union-Warns/Article/201008115674397?lpos=UK_News_First_Home_Article_Teaser_Region_5&lid=ARTICLE_15674397_Fuel_Drivers_Could_Strike_If_Job_Losses%2C_Pay_Cuts_And_Reorganisations_Do_Not_Stop%2C_Unite_Union_Warns

Oh great.....:eek:

365days

Sequeena sorry to hear your news. Take care of yourself.

What can I do with all my green beans?? How do I freeze them? Cook them first?

Thanks in anticipation.

parsonswife8

365days wrote: »

Sequeena sorry to hear your news. Take care of yourself.

What can I do with all my green beans?? How do I freeze them? Cook them first?

Thanks in anticipation.

I think you need to blanch them briefly in boiling water and then let them dry off and get cold.

http://www.pickyourown.org/beansfreezing.htm

smileyt_2

sequeena and jackie, sorry to hear about your miscarriages. Please give yourselves enough time to grieve, and take care.

ginnyknit

So how many people out there in the 'other' world will be filling up their petrol tanks today :rotfl: All we need is enough for hospital visits and emergencies so we will survive. And I can take my snazzy bag on wheels to M T cos you won't be able to get a car in cos they will be queueing at the petrol station.

gailey_2

Blimey we not chatting enough we on 2nd page.

Sorry jackie/sequeena about bad news-big hugz.

Stepson gets maintainance, extra money xmas/birthday and uniform money.
we pay petrol costs to pick im up and drop him off plus odd day out, extra food for him so cant afford to say that will come out of his pocket money.

We tried approaching subject with his mam about education, but she gets defensive and tells hubby to butt out. Hes been in anger management for last few years, seen educational pychologist and has his own social worker. He getting extra help in school and very good school but he needs to behave and make effort to improve .

His mam rang today they on health kick and she lectured us on giving him healthy food, we nearly always healthy homemade here and son hates it.

Anyway enough of stepmonster part 2.

Todays been odd day.

was suppost to do carboot with mate got up at 6 got dressed she forgot.
Kids drove me potty arguing this morning so decided to go carboot on buying spree for things we needed.

Got 1 wicker basket-1hamper- 1quid tgotal bargain
ahh sounds bad but new wellies 70p, 2 new cheapy uggs 70p for both
3new pairs of flats and sandals 2quid as walk so much the cheapy ballet pumps I like to wear have holes within a month.
new winter coat for me 1quid
some new clothes for me 1.50-3items.
new gloves -50p
ah cookbooks got great bread book but brought same jaimie oliver as brought last time as got confused will sell at next carboot.
Slippers for baby and new sleepsuit
1 toy for eldest tucked away for xmas.
2pinafores for school 1pound
Some books for me 5 trashy novels quid for lot as like to read before bed.

Must admit have rather spoilt me today but desperatly needed always feel guilty buying for me and not kids.
Was there for nearly 2hours couldent get all way round and ran out of money.

But love fact you can get so much for money be sad when carboots end, need to step up my xmas so I feel more chilled and in control.

Also on plus side its part of my winter list hubby thinks lost plot.
Might clean out airing cupboard and stash bog rolll be nice and warm on the botty then.

Got home and mate finally came round aplogised say we do one soon, that she has jam pan for me and some free baking dishes.

Took all 3kids to park son in mood all day,hes broken his bike now after breaking scooter other day hoping its easily fixable.
My 4year olds been learning how to ride without stabalisers and saw her mate at park.

Went on family forage mission got

box of apples
box of blackberries
2half icecream tubs of plums, the greengage been spoiling soon but found victoria plums they lovley pretty deep purple.
Cant believe how early blackberries out this year annoying best at back and constantly getting stung.

Kids are overtired now, hubbys enjoyed it.Just about to do kids tea and get them bed early.

re rug doctor its the best as we have cheap beige carpets in rented house only thing that gets it clean we giuven up now due to expense as carpets bubbled and frayed so saving for laminate so im spot cleaning with carpet mouse very tiring.Rug doctor better than vax as considered buying vax but wouldent get same effect.

lambanana

ginnyknit wrote: »

So how many people out there in the 'other' world will be filling up their petrol tanks today :rotfl: All we need is enough for hospital visits and emergencies so we will survive. And I can take my snazzy bag on wheels to M T cos you won't be able to get a car in cos they will be queueing at the petrol station.

We've got less than 1/4 of a tank after driving home from the in-laws today but wont be filling up, simply can't afford to until after pay day. It doesn't matter though, we both get the bus to work and are walking distance from Mr Ts, could walk into work in just under an hour if necessary and can walk to visit my mum, it's not a problem!

mardatha

It says "this year" so might not be imminent but is good to get ready anyway. Maybe buy a petrol can now, handy things.