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

Lindy_-_Loo

gailey wrote: »

I sold my last 2 on ebay and had 23quid of listing fees for selling each pram plus 8quid of paypal fees.

I advertised on netmums as free and put ad in paper 4quid each.

Didnt realise it so expensive, the 12 items I sold this week only had listings fees of 10 or 15p each.

The money off those is currently being used to bid on xmas presents for the boys.

I dont know how half the people afford the stuff they buy - I can only assume they have so much credit and debt. One of my closet friends has just put £2300 on their credit card for a holiday to spain next year. In the same conversation to talks about how they need to cut down on shopping bill etc. I think she thinks im jealous when I talk to her about it but I'm not, I just think thats alot to spend especially when its on a card.

We would have more money if I went back to work, but we would probably need childcare which we havent got access to without paying and it could only be term time only.

ceridwen

Slinky wrote: »

If you do get a scooter of your own, could you make it a talking point - decorate it with go-faster stripes, show some of your own personality in the design, try and make it a positive thing rather than a negative thing, that it's giving you back some freedom, but showing that you're still young and with-it?

Hmmm...:think: - I'd be inclined personally to bright red with a tiger crawling across it and a BIG notice on the back saying "WARNING - My owner bites":D. I would think "Right - that should put paid in advance to any 'does she take sugar?' comments from any bright spark:rotfl:

ceridwen

ubamother wrote: »

I like it - you are quite right - my family and friends (who are such a tremendous support) have a great time planning it - giving it a Tardis theme apparently! My husband is threatening to make me a wooden bogie (apparently a Geordie name for a kid's go cart to pull me around on) My (and their) determination to maintain my usual energetic silliness is still there - just have to dig deeper at the moment to find it. What complete strangers think of me was never ever something that has concerned me before but does at the moment which I know in my head is silly and I WILL get over it! No longer being able to canoe, sail, climb, dance etc. is a challenge, but I know I can find other ways to be me - eventually! Sorry to unload - self-pity is not my usual indulgence - that would be red wine!

Good on ya':T

Another thought for contemplation - a big notice saying "I may look quiet - but I'm married to a Hell's Angel:eek::D"

Souk08

My mum was eventually persuaded into a chair recently just before her hip op when her pain was really bad and she would only use it in a shopping centre out of town where no one would know her! She said she just couldn't cope with all the comments from 'well wishers' otherwise. just goes to show X

ceridwen

Souk08 wrote: »

My mum was eventually persuaded into a chair recently just before her hip op when her pain was really bad and she would only use it in a shopping centre out of town where no one would know her! She said she just couldn't cope with all the comments from 'well wishers' otherwise. just goes to show X

I think a lot of why we would or do feel bad is pride. Many of us have been brought up to take pride in living our lives right - we're proud that we make an effort to do our jobs right, proud at being honest and law-abiding, proud that we try and look after our homes and proud that we take care of our appearance. So - its only to be expected that when one of the things we have taken pride in (ie being fit, healthy, presentable) takes a knock that we don't want to do anything about it/do feel sorry for ourselves.

I guess life means a lot of adapting and making it up as we go along and swopping from "I'll take pride in this and such about my life" to "I'll take pride in something else instead - now what else CAN I take pride in?".

Most of us want to feel good about ourselves and know that there's something we are particularly good at etc....

mardatha

I think pride can be a good thing, but there's a thin divide bweteen it and vanity. I wouldn't hesitate to use a wheelchair if there was something really wrong with me or with my legs. But I feel that tiredness/exhaustion is not enough of a reason. Plenty of people live every day with conditions that make walking hard - if I'm having a bad day then I can always stay at home until I get a better day. But me being in a wheelchair would still be ME. And I think I would bite. often. So, ubermother, PREPARE TO KICK A$$ !

lambanana

Got a couple more bags of pasta in Mr M's this morning, DH laughs at me but I know he appreciates my bargain hunting really, he's just amused by all the bags of pasta stashed away everywhere! Saw one man pick up a 1kg bag of Mr M's own pasta when they had the other bags on offer right next to it, my mum was baffled but I said maybe he just didn't have anywhere to keep the extra...or maybe he doesn't care.

I really need to get DH liking HM bread, he doesn't like it at all (isn't really a bread fan and just wants something to hold his sandwich filling so actually prefers it tasteless as supermarket owns is!) but I'm not sure I can continue to afford the stuff he eats, it just keeps going up and up it's the only thing he's fussy on though so perhaps I just let that one slide...

Attempted to pick the blackberries in the garden this morning but just couldn't reach most of them which was a bit disappointing and couldn't see a way to reach them

annie123

lambanana wrote: »

Attempted to pick the blackberries in the garden this morning but just couldn't reach most of them which was a bit disappointing and couldn't see a way to reach them

Long handled shears, snip and bring whole stem nearer or a rake and pull towards you.

wigglebeena

lambanana wrote: »

Got a couple more bags of pasta in Mr M's this morning, DH laughs at me but I know he appreciates my bargain hunting really, he's just amused by all the bags of pasta stashed away everywhere! Saw one man pick up a 1kg bag of Mr M's own pasta when they had the other bags on offer right next to it, my mum was baffled but I said maybe he just didn't have anywhere to keep the extra...or maybe he doesn't care.

I really need to get DH liking HM bread, he doesn't like it at all (isn't really a bread fan and just wants something to hold his sandwich filling so actually prefers it tasteless as supermarket owns is!) but I'm not sure I can continue to afford the stuff he eats, it just keeps going up and up it's the only thing he's fussy on though so perhaps I just let that one slide...

Attempted to pick the blackberries in the garden this morning but just couldn't reach most of them which was a bit disappointing and couldn't see a way to reach them

Do you check Asda's on a Sunday? My local has loads of bread at ten or fifteen pence a loaf, you could freeze lots. Mostly it is the unsliced but I believe you can get electric slicers.

wigglebeena

The_Thrilla wrote: »

As well as looking out for Number One (And that's me!), I have been looking at the buying habits of other people. And frankly I am a little worried.

Yesterday and today, I have been in the co-op, Lidl and Asda. In Asda I was the only one at the reduced counter. People were stacking their trolleys as they had always done, and running up bills running into three figures.

As well as noting how much they are buying, I was also noting what they were buying. There does not seem to be any difference. The Brits were buying chocolate biscuits (The staple diet in this town.), lager, potato crisps, that ghastly Chorleywood method bread, sweetmeats and Nurofen. The Russians, whenever I am behind them in the checkout queue, always seem to buy nothing but a whole salami and a couple of cartons of vitamin pills. I don't know what the Poles buy, because they all seem to be working at the checkout these days. So no changes there.

I have seen no evidence of panic buying at the bread or the flour sections in any of the supermarkets. So there is still plenty of opportunity to get stocked up for the forthcoming famine.

There is supposed to be the mother of all recessions imminent, and no one seems to be getting ready for it.

Thrilla, who is the guy in your avatar? There's something about his face, your username and the knowledge that you're a laydee that is just hilarious every time I see it.