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

smileyt_2

To those who are being sneered at - ignore the sneerers. Celebrate your resourcefulness!

Right, I'm off to bed as I have a banging headache. I was laughing with my sister earlier - saying what a catch I am - I have a shaved head because of alopecia, a hearing aid as I'm losing my hearing, and I'm having to wear night splints in bed at the moment to help with my painful feet - I'm only 40!! :rotfl:Just as well I have a sense of humour or I'd be a grumpy old crock instead of a daft old crock!

But every cloud has a silver lining .... the shaved head saves a fortune on shampoo and I haven't been to a hairdresser for years. And it's impossible to have a bad hair day :rotfl:The hearing means I get a good night's sleep as I never hear any kerfuffle on the front street. Not worked out a silver lining for the night splints yet though .....

Ah, enough waffle ..... sweet dreams everyone xx

katholicos

Well i made some kind of washing up/washing gel but it looks like mucus and feels like it too :bleurgh:

Will have to try again. Then again i did use my own handmade soap shavings and i didn't weigh anything and just poured the hot water on the ingredients so maybe it isn't such a surprise that it looks so disgusting?

Having said that, i have just, at nearly midnight, used it to handwash a couple of grubby disclothes and kitchen towels and went to put them on the line so they can dry overnight (unless it rains again). Everything came up clean so maybe it can be used as an addition to the wash when i do the laundry or i could use it as a prewash.

katholicos

honeybun16 wrote: »

Once a month sounds good i like the fact that i was around when this one started this time, felt really good to be able to talk to you guys.

I agree. It can feel a bit overwhelming or maybe even a little intimidating to join in a long running thread in which you haven't previously particiated....even though everyone is welcoming and really nice!

kezlou

alexred sorry to hear that your swimming against unfortunately thats the world today. You should be proud of yourself as doing the best for your child and yourself in every way x
seabright thanks for the link

Gailey, i know this is a personal question so feel free not to reply, whereabouts in bristol are you? I could maybe ask my partners auntie for you if theres anything around there for the kids to do. I could also look into some free activities for you. Feel free to pm with the info if you like. I'm quite good at finding random castle ruins in the middle of nowhere.
Goats milk is quite good for weaning off breastmilk babies, mine refused to take cows milk so i used to buy them a litre of goats milk which would last them all week. I know its more expensive than cows milk, but it worked wonders for both of mine. Strange though both of my boys would eat other cow's milk products fine. It also stopped us form using their milk for tea and coffee .

Spendless wrote: »

Was she joking? If not how rude. :eek:

Unfortunately not, she gave me the box of goodies back and the double box set dvd back. I was gutted and unimpressed as the dvd cost me a fair bit. Luckily i managed to sell the dvd on ebay and some of the contents of the box. She was the same on the mothers day after the boys made her a frame with printed out pictures of them. Needless to say she's ungrateful but i haven't got the funds to spend a lot on her or anyone else.

Just realised i never i actually posted my age on my opening post:o, well i'm 27, my OH is 32 both of my boys are 10 and 6 respectively.
I've been a cheapflint since my second was born as with my first well i was 16, pregnant and daft.
Oh cloth nappies i used to use old towels as i hated disposable nappies but were ideal as i was never in the house with mine. Also used to cut up cheap sanitary towels and place them into handmade cloth cups to use as breast pads.
With both of mine i use use old blankets and large pieces of cloth as slings, just used to tie them around me and off i went with a rucksack on my back. I used to and still get called an earth mother. My family used to think i was especially when i breastfed both of mine.

The_Thrilla

Renting v Buying. Depends on your lifestyle. If you have a lifestyle where your job means moving from one area to another, then you are better renting. I own my own house, and I do not have a mortgage, so I have a low maintenance lifestyle, as my housing costs are at a minimum. That son of mine rents a luxury flat overlooking the Thames, and in the complex are a security car park, a swimming pool, a tanning salon, a sauna, a gymnasium and a Thai restaurant. (I have been in the latter, and the food is fantastic.) All but the restaurant are included in the rent. Of course, he has to work full time in order to pay the rent. But, then again, why should he pay out mortgage repayments to live in a dump, when he can pay less to live in the lap of luxury? In fact, right at this moment, taking out a mortgage would be a trap for the unwary. Interest rates are at rock bottom. There is only one way they can go; and that will be the last straw for people who are struggling to pay their mortgages at the moment.

Sequeena

I'm 21 and privately renting a 3 bedroom detatched house with my OH. We're up on the mountain on a very quiet street and I love it here (apart from the neighbours - one had a boat and the other has a hot tub so they look down on us). We pay £475pcm which I thought was rather expensive but it's not in the grand scheme of things. I live in between Swansea and Cardiff and my town is well known for producing steel but I don't suppose many people would willingly live here... most of it is just full of chavs.

ceridwen

The_Thrilla wrote: »

Renting v Buying. Depends on your lifestyle. If you have a lifestyle where your job means moving from one area to another, then you are better renting. I own my own house, and I do not have a mortgage, so I have a low maintenance lifestyle, as my housing costs are at a minimum. That son of mine rents a luxury flat overlooking the Thames, and in the complex are a security car park, a swimming pool, a tanning salon, a sauna, a gymnasium and a Thai restaurant. (I have been in the latter, and the food is fantastic.) All but the restaurant are included in the rent. Of course, he has to work full time in order to pay the rent. But, then again, why should he pay out mortgage repayments to live in a dump, when he can pay less to live in the lap of luxury? In fact, right at this moment, taking out a mortgage would be a trap for the unwary. Interest rates are at rock bottom. There is only one way they can go; and that will be the last straw for people who are struggling to pay their mortgages at the moment.

Which certainly raises a point - ie the one about there is only one way interest rates CAN go right now....

I read the comment recently about it suiting the Government to have virtually non-existent interest rates at the moment because the National Debt thus only has low interest rates on it.

However - I don't know if this is actually the case - as I would have thought that the interest rate on the National Debt would be in accordance with international standards - and have no idea what interest rate levels are charged elsewhere.

Any links to info. on just what basis the interest is set at on our National Debt that anyone has would be good:D

Souk08

Morning all, Alex I'm 31 and have a slightly Jekyll and Hyde personality I guess. On the one hand I love my OS ways, cleaning my flat and a bit of radio 2 and on the other I loved to get glammed up and love socialising and spend a fair bit on that. I'm also single and fabulous and don't have/want kids. Oh and I would NEVER want to move to the country and live the self sufficient life. Told you I didn't fit in! Have to say that I sometimes read other threads and feel like the OS police are coming for me if I don't manage to get all my fruit and veg in or keep my own chickens but this thread is a supportive and friendly one and if it works for me then that's that!

tru

Hi Alex :hello:

Souk08 wrote: »

Have to say that I sometimes read other threads and feel like the OS police are coming for me if I don't manage to get all my fruit and veg in or keep my own chickens

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

I now have an image of a woman in a flowery apron in a little white van, with an egg-shaped yellow flashing light on top (with accompanying nee-naw nee-naw sound) screeching to a stop and spraying your house with vinegar while dropping off some homegrown veg and a basket of eggs.

It just popped into my head :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

mardatha

This thread is for anybody who wants or needs to cut down spending. It's not for any one age or type .. please never feel intimidated anybody who reads this. We dont want to be a wee clique - we want all different people because that keeps the mix alive & vibrant and the new ideas coming