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

Gigervamp

taplady wrote: »

had a bit of good news yesterday - we've over paid our phone bill by quite a lot and they've reduced the payments by £15 a month and given us a 3 month payment holiday so no payments till December:T:j

We got that too. DS2 ran up £300 bill towards the end of last year ringing his gf on her mobile. :mad: BT wanted to increase our monthly payments to £180! :eek: We told them what had happened and that a bill like that wasn't going to happen again, so they agreed to *only* increase the monthly DD to £78. Our phone bill this week said we've dropped down to £42 a month now as we're in credit and we have one months holiday. :T
DS finished paying us back last month.

penelopedee_2

Hello, hope everyone is well. Its been a rather busy start to the summer hols here but I am catching up.

We've finally got someone coming in today to do some emergency mends on the roof and DH has now phoned the insurance to see if they will help pay. I doubt they will but its worth a try. I think they'll just blame the age of the house. At least after today it will be safer but I'm not looking forward to completely clearing the loft for the main repairs - there is 15 years of junk up there :eek:

DS birthday party went well last week - fairly OS - we did make some of the cakes etc and all the decorations were paper so they could be recycled. I'm gradually teaching him.

We've been having meal planning fun this week, shopping from the cupboards and freezer (good job I keep a store cupboard). I don't want to buy any groceries apart from those we take on hols next week. Its been going quite well so I'm going to try to do this once a month when we come back as that will save quite a bit.

Oh - and if we're off to number 10, count me in please We've more sense than all 3 parties put together!

parsonswife8

ceridwen wrote: »

:rotfl:I did think afterwards - "Hang on a mo ceridwen - you forgot one rather useful addition to the Posse". Sorrees Hester....a very obvious addition you are too.

.....errrrr.....would you be going in your inimitable style "full gear" then? - rather than pit helmet or balaclava
(sotto voce - anyone who has read much of Hester's blog will know EXACTLY what I mean.....:rotfl:.:D. Let's just say she won't be going into a convent any time soon.......)

Well - must get myself ready for the day at w**k:(. Feel a lot more like just crawling back into bed and staying there...all this job uncertainty, coupled with the (long list of....) things I don't like about the job anyway...

Note to self: "Ceridwen - BACKBONE - STIFF UPPER LIP - you hear me now gal..."......

<drags feet.....drags feet....>

EDIT: nearly forgot - there may be an introduction necessary here...

"Errr....ParsonsWife8 meet Hester....Hester meet ParsonsWife8....NO Hester...I don't think ParsonsWife would be interested in a new sideline to make some extra income..........."
(runs off chortling.....)

I might be...............:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

lambanana

I don't normally buy this company's products but couldn't resist this morning, Mr Ts have the honey nut and fruity mini Shredded Wheats for 98p per box and I had two vouchers for 40p off so got some cereal for 58p per box! Feeling pretty chuffed with that. I know that porridge is a cheaper breakfast option but I can't face it in the summer and nor can hubby so we get whatever cereal is on offer that we find edible. They have dates until February 2011 as well though they wont last that long...I may check if my mum has any of the vouchers to get another box though as I saw the free samples which had the voucher on at her house as well.

Me and my mum have arranged a trip to the big Home Bargains on a retail park after pay day so we can stock up on bits there (especially toilet rolls) and I don't have to carry them through town after work. I must resist walking up to the nearby mill and buying knitting yarn as part of this expedition as I have enough already!

lauren_1

Prudent wrote: »

Postman aren't actually that poorly paid. My partner is a postie. He doesn't always have to work the full hours if he has finished his round and can have quite a short day. I am a teacher and work really long hours. I leave home at 7.30 and return around 5.50 /6pm. I often bring work home. I have done a lot of work over the holidays. He also has a uniform and either gets collected or has a van home, so no work clothes costs or commuting costs. On an hour by hour basis he clears as much as me for significantly less stress and responsibilty. I have a back problem (I was assaulted by a pupil), but otherwise would seriously consider being a postie.

I know they're not! I'd happily do that job

mardatha

I was reading the latest witterings of DC, re council house tenancies being only fixed term. Thinking over what it means - if you lose your home for any reason, or are just setting up home, then they give you a council house. After the fixed term of say 5 years, they examine your finances. Say you both have jobs and some overtime - they decide you're too well off to have a council house and out you go. You have to buy or private rent. Then after a couple of months one of you gets laid off and the other one loses the overtime... then you lose that house and start all over again ! Round and round the mulberry bush with people's lives. Godsake.

Thats_Me_3

Ceridwen, can I come too please? Anyone at work (oh, and home) will tell you I am a gobby so and so......... I was actually banned from watching the news during the election! I don't mind what we wear as long as we don't look like terrorists, I can't run very fast!

Well, not sure when redundancy will be happening, it seems to have been put back a bit from September due to - wait for it - staff shortages!! You could not make it up! And I also work for council! Still, not doing too bad now, I can't wait to finish as the stress of this place does become intolerable at times (just the sheer stupidity of senior management).

Please keep all the tips etc coming, I will need all the help I can get, even though me and Mr TM are very frugal and OS, you can always do with a bit more info.

gailey_2

crickett1234 wrote: »

I would love to make chutneys... but I remember the smell of cooking vinegar and my stomach revolts! My Mum was/isfab at making them, but I just can't bear the smell. How do you preserving maestros deal with it? (other than opening every window and wafting tea towels up and down to get some kind of air current moving! )

Although hubby and I pay for an allotment, we don't have much time to do it. We have a kind of sub-letting arrangement with our allotment association and hubby's step dad uses it. We get a cut of the fresh food, and Stepdad gets the exercise and his birthday present!! Works out well, and our association is just thrilled that there are people on the site!

I need to start thinking about decluttering the loft. *Gulp*. That is going to be horrible. I hate ladders at the best of times, but the loft is an utter tip as well, so we have been putting it off and putting it off. Got to get it done though, hopefully before we move. If Sunday is rainy, we might do it then.

I must admit hate smell of vingar too but I coped hubby whinged i was stinking out hous emango quite potent as few spices, started making chutney last xmas its dead easy as made delias xmas chutney find white wine or cider vinigar not as nasty smell.
I dont even like chutney its for hubby and xmas presents plus dad likes it.

Sounds like good deal with allotment.
The council websitre says no vacancies but wheneevr I walk past our local theres visably abandoned plots trying to get hold of parish council and discussed with mate getting lareg plot and shareing it sharing the workload and veg if we can get one as they live in a flat so no garden.

Can you keep chickens on an allotment then.

rained here on a off.
Messy play club kids had fun very stressful.found plum tree on our estate so off to pick when rain stops mostly greengages round here so only out for another few weeks, found victoria plums not found damsons yet all these different varieties very confusing as they look very different to shop brought plums.

Want to pick tonnes of blackberries too but wheneevr I take the kids they get bored so never pick many just need a few hours by myself.

Become fixated with stockpiling fruit in freezer.
taken some chicken out to attempt a chicken kebab for hubby and made cornish pasties other day they were lovley.
I think we can last food wise until 15th as tonnes in freezer.

right off to pick plums, secretly bin old broken toys and do lunch.

crickett1234

gailey wrote: »

find white wine or cider vinigar not as nasty smell.

Can you keep chickens on an allotment then.

Excellent tip there gailey... will have a bash at some chutney now then!! :beer:

Unfortunately, can't keep "livestock" on the allotment, which is a real shame. And my garden at home is too teeny to keep them in as well. Plus they be a little nervous being stared at by three puddycats who keep licking their lips a lot! :rotfl:

However, I have got a hen keeping fund for when we move to a big house with a big garden, as well as a dog fund and a greenhouse fund. I put away little bits as and when I can! :T

Lindy_-_Loo

afternoon everyone,

rained most of today - stopped now but very grey. havent been outside but need to pop to shops when DS2 wakes from nap.

Got our contents quote which has gone up again and went on comparrison site, apparently we can get cover for around £199 less than barclays are quoting - too me that seems really cheap or are barclays just really expensive? goona look into it more as it seems 'to good to be true'!

Made some crispy cakes today but need some choc crunch to fill in the treat box gap.