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

Hippeechiq

EstherH wrote: »

I think that Costco is a nationwide company, but it is a discount warehouse club - American style place. It's a bit like Mackro I think but only went there once years ago so not sure. Anyway, people on the shopping threads seem to reckon it is a lot better. You can join if you have your own business or belong to certain professions, nursing, police - a long list of different types. There is a business price and an individual price to join and as individuals it cost us £30 approx for the year. Try googling it to see if there is one near you if you are interested.

I wouldn't be, if that's the case, but I appreciate the info Esther I'm in one of the big towns in Dorset, and looks like the nearest place to me is Reading anyway.

CupOfChai wrote: »

A few years ago Morrisons bought Safeway, so all the Safeway stores became Morrisons stores. Co-op recently took over Somerfield.

I knew about Co-op taking over Somerfield, and although I never used to shop in Safeway I had wondered what had happened to them....that one obviously passed me by :rotfl:

sammy_kaye18

Morning All

Feeling bit better adn more human today - was taken out by my grandparents in Cardiff yesterday and the kids were spoilt a bit as they had come up to see babe but they said because they give their otehr grandkids (7+9) pocket money - then they would treat Ben, Holly and my sisters little girl Tori.

Ben ended up coming home with 2 dinosaur toys, 2 t shirts from primark, new lunchbox, 2 pairs school trousers and a wrestling magazine
Holly has 2 dresses from primark and 2 little pair of softy shoes to match them.

although hate having money spent on me so whilst my sister excepted £40 boots with open arms I was the opposite and brought them a cup of tea and scone each!

Have decided I officially love primark - my pay day is Thursday - next week and think I will go over and get some bits and pieces for Ben, Me and Owen - failing that I might leave it until Ben is back in school to do it! that way I can chill without 'I'm bored' chorusing every 2 minutes.

My sister has mentioned the all in one rompers for adults when we saw them yesterday and this year she is going to be at my mums house for Christmas as she is moving back in with her on the bank holiday weekend so I think I might make them all (mum, abby and tori) a Christmas eve hamper and put a romper in for my sister and one for tori if they do them in little girl sizes or a nice new set of PJs.

Although my sister has said she is having to downsize wardrobes now for her and her two little girls too - her youngest is 2 but lives with her dad and she has asked if I want any clothes for Holly in the future so they will be gratefully accepted and she is getting rid of her furniture too so I will be having her chests of draws as we have no storage in our bedroom and Ben has the plastic stuff from wilkinsons at the minute.

Lindy_-_Loo

Thats really kind of your sister to give you the furniture - i think families should do that. Mentioned to OH sister that the boys love lego and did she have any nephew didnt use and would like to pass on. In laws are coming to visit today and are bringing the lego and want us to agree a fair price to give to sis in law for it. I've told OH were not apying for it! Wouldnt mind but few years back OH gave tham a large screen TV he didnt want to bring here when he moved up and there was no mention of money!

I love primark too, I visited the Liverpool one yesterday for the first time, it has three floors! Gutted didnt have much cash on me but got the boys a polo shirt and short set in the sale for £2 each so they have been bought in next years size

parsonswife8

Here is a link to an article on foraging...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1304172/Finders-eaters-How-feed-family-free-foraging-Britains-hedgerows.html

jediteacher

Just found an old camera from school so will use that to take pictures of ebay listings. Means that I can look around more for a decent camera at a reasonable price.

Having a bit of a lazy day today. Hubby wanted to go out for lunch but have convinced him that we have enough food in the house to eat here. Now cooking a mixture of bacon, tomatoes, courgette, baked beans and egg all in one frying pan. Will have with some lovely farmhouse bread.

northwest1965

That sounds lovely jediteacher.

You inspired me to list a couple of things on ebay earlier.

Good luck with the camera hunting

kidcat

I listed a couple of items yesterday since it was free listing, may try a few more later, trouble is my washing machine has broken yet again, and I have about 20 loads of washing to do, especially as I stripped all the beds - as the weather was so good today I thought I would get it on the line to dry. Now am transporting it to my mum and dads - 15 miles away. Only doing really urgent stuff this way and will wander to the launderette with rest tomorrow. NOw to find insurance docs for the machine and call engineer first thing. Thank goodness I insured in when we bought it, almost didnt as it was £100 for five years and our old machine hardly had any problems, this one has had at least five call outs so far and we've only had it two years!!

D&DD

Sorry to hear that Kidcat,our last one we bought the same make (servis) as the first one lasted over 10 years and luckily insured it as we had the same thing,5 callouts and in ended up catching fire :eek:
Best 100 quid we ever spent!
Now have a Seimens with extra capacity *touching wood and saying nothing!* :rotfl:

Piddling down here so did a quick rush round the garden to gather in bits that would rot off if too wet and ended up with a ton of beans,strawberries,blackberries,potatoes,MORE courgettes and my first few red cherry toms well pleased with that little lot (daren't check my cucumbers..)

So for dinner we have a whoopsied stuffed pork joint with homegrown spuds,carrots (purple and yellow no less ) peas and beans followed by blackberry and (scrumped from bros) apple pie all for £1.94p chuffed with that

mardatha

You've got a severe weather warning out for the south of England tonight I see. Glorious summer innit? We got a nice enough day, sunny and windy so had a big washing out and its dry.

D&DD

Thanks Mardatha rains stopped atm but really heavy atmosphere looks like somethings brewing :eek:

I saw gales up to 60 mph so will secure everything I can and shut greenhouse window up.We always get hammered with the wind here.
Have had to resort to the airer and tumbledrier as my washing had built up :oglad to see yours is a bit brighter up there you've had a rotten year so far.


Got the slowcooker on with some rhubarb I just found under the apple tree and the strawbs I picked earlier to do a cobbler so will keep the pie for tomorrow