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

mama67

Thanks Ceridwen for doing this

ceridwen

Soubrette wrote: »

Why not put links to the old threads in your op, ceridwen. Then the old threads won't be lost forever and for new readers it will put this thread into context.

I hope this thread isn't merged though (j/k)

Sou

Duly done:)....I've put a link on the first post of this thread.

Spendless

well, things WERE getting better, as I have a p-time job now and hubby pay cut from last year was re-instated from his last pay packed which will give us an extra £90 a month, at least till April when he will lose it in tax and also |I sent off my award for tax credits which are likely to go up - because hubby earned less last year, so I decided that all the things that we need to replace in the house we would whilst I am working and then on Tuesday Mr S rings me and tells me he has broken the bridge on his teeth, so that will be just short of £200 to replace.

However, I am working extra hours next week. There is still a lot more organisation till we are at a 'starting point' for my job and the office manager asked me if I needed to increase my hours. I don't want to do this in the school hols as it will all go on childcare so I asked if I could work extra next week instead to get up-to-date and she agreed. :j Once this is acheived I can see during the next few weeks if what I'm doing is the right amount of hours or if I need to do less/more and at least it'll pay for the new teeth!

downshifter

Goodness, I'm glad I found this. I would have started panicking if I thought you were all chatting away without me! Hopefully this post will ensure I'm subscribed to this nice new thread.

One down side of being a downshifter, and basically not even being able to cope with that very well either, is social stuff. How do you all deal with invitations? I'm not the most sociable person anyway but in the next couple of weeks have been invited to a reunion of some really nice people I used to work with, they've even chosen a restaurant in my area to make it easier for me. But the petrol to get there as well as the price of the meal scares me. I'll be scouring the menu for the cheapest thing, then when they're all choosing lovely puds, I'll be saying, god no, that pasta really filled me up, I'll just have another glass of water...

The other is a charity day someone else is holding at her house, and I really don't want to go but she looked so disappointed when someone else we were with said they couldn't go so really I'll go to support my friend. But I will take a present, there will be a raffle and other things that will demand money, and the petrol there will be a massive amount. (You can tell I live in the country by how obsessed I am with petrol prices!!!)

Anyway, I'd rather be in debt a million times over than upset such kindly people, so will go and worry about the bills later. But how would you have dealt twith these sorts of situations?

DS

Spendless

By the way we've had 'what if things get tougher' (around 2006)

It's tough now (2008)

and 'it's still tough' (2010)

Do you think we'll eventually get 'it's no longer tough' or 'it's not as tough' here's hoping. :beer:

floss2

Spendless wrote: »

....However, I am working extra hours next week. There is still a lot more organisation till we are at a 'starting point' for my job and the office manager asked me if I needed to increase my hours. I don't want to do this in the school hols as it will all go on childcare so I asked if I could work extra next week instead to get up-to-date and she agreed. :j Once this is acheived I can see during the next few weeks if what I'm doing is the right amount of hours or if I need to do less/more and at least it'll pay for the new teeth!

Could you do a couple of longer days, or maybe consider doing some stuff at home (so no childcare for the offspring) to get your role organised?

BB1984

Ooh I love a lovely shiny new thread!

Sorry Kidcat to hear about your hubby - I have suffered from a bad back in the past (prob nowhere near as bad as him though!) and I know how debilitating it can be It is a worry to be off sick at times like these, but from my experience of having colleagues off sick long-term (hasn't happened to be, thank goodness, touch wood), employers don't mind so much if the employee keeps in regular touch and keeps making it clear that they WANT to come back to work. I don't know what type of work he does, but is there anything he could do, perhaps for a couple of hours a day from home? Shows willing and that he's not "slacking". Edited to add: Just re-read and it sounds a bit like I'M accusing him off slacking - not the case at all, honest! xx

Re the washing up liquid, does it really work out that much cheaper? No offence intended, just wondering if it's worth the time and effort....! (and the flack I'll inevitably get from OH for having gallons of gloopy stuff hanging around the house!)

BB

kidcat

Spendless wrote: »

By the way we've had 'what if things get tougher' (around 2006)

It's tough now (2008)

and 'it's still tough' (2010)

Do you think we'll eventually get 'it's no longer tough' or 'it's not as tough' here's hoping. :beer:

We all only pray for such a day soon.

kidcat

BB1984 wrote: »

Ooh I love a lovely shiny new thread!

Sorry Kidcat to hear about your hubby - I have suffered from a bad back in the past (prob nowhere near as bad as him though!) and I know how debilitating it can be It is a worry to be off sick at times like these, but from my experience of having colleagues off sick long-term (hasn't happened to be, thank goodness, touch wood), employers don't mind so much if the employee keeps in regular touch and keeps making it clear that they WANT to come back to work. I don't know what type of work he does, but is there anything he could do, perhaps for a couple of hours a day from home? Shows willing and that he's not "slacking".

Re the washing up liquid, does it really work out that much cheaper? No offence intended, just wondering if it's worth the time and effort....! (and the flack I'll inevitably get from OH for having gallons of gloopy stuff hanging around the house!)

BB

The problem is that (this sounds awful I know) the bad back ist so bad, its just he had a week off and then in his mind decided he really doesnt want to bother. Its obvious from his range of movement, that it cleared up almost immediately and was probably only bad for a day or two. BUt he insists its bad, and wont hear if going back to work - I have explained that no wages coming in is killing us - but he has found out that I have managed to save towards the house deposit and says that we can always use that. Its driving me insane. :mad::mad:

penelopedee_2

Hello, do you mind if I join in, I've been lurking on the other thread for a while now.

We are having a fairly tough year as DH has been made redundant and the money hasn't come through and he can't get another job. We are managing though as I do a couple of jobs and we are used to living frugally. Bills are paid at the moment so I'm smiling

We've always been pretty skint, but I have noticed now that some of my better off friends have begun taking heed and cutting back. I'm so glad now we stayed in our little house a few years ago when everyone was encouraging us to move on up the ladder.