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

northwest1965

Did anyone watch that programme on BBC2 - how to beat tough times? There was a mention of a site by the lovely Martin called skillswap. Just wondered if anyone had used it, basically you can swap skills say cut my hair and I'll do your ironing OR I'll paint your windows if you design me a web page. It sounds really good.

http://www.swapaskill.com/categories/8-TIPS

Purpleclutterbuck

Excuse me BigMummaF but are you and I related in some way? :think:because your wonderful post was so uncannily like my household that it is really spooky but in a nice way :rotfl:
I love your comments
"NO-ONE can make you FEEL anything! You are the only one who can inflict emotion upon yourself."
I might just cross stitch that message for a picture along with "there are no problems only opportunities"
At the moment I am desperately trying to move my things around to make the house appear larger and tidy but I'm blowed if I'm going to throw away something that might prove handy at some time and I would also class myself as a
a larger village-dwelling wannabee rather than a fully fledged, banner waving Good Life convert :rotfl:
your post made me really stop and :think: :Dand I am very grateful and feel much better and happier - even if times are tough - I like a good bit of uplifting reading !

mummyslittleboy

kezlou wrote: »

Primrose :rotfl::rotfl: couldn't help but laugh at that!

Gailey i have a slowcooker and i think its great, we use it all year round. they great for cooking jacket potatoes in. Just get a potato !!!!! it, wrap in sillver foil place in slow cooker, put it on low. Six hours later lovely hot jackets hmmmm Some times i do it overnight ready for a picnic the next day.
Ask on freecycle for one, people are always giving them away.

I agreee with Kezlou they are great but try getting one of freecycle that way if you do find you are going to use it a lot then you can justify buying one but if you don't it hasn't cost you a penny so nothing lost. I use mine a lot more in the winter but I am going to try the jacket spuds:D

Lindy_-_Loo wrote: »

Started to buy xmas gifts now and got some at the car boot, I have some friends who frown at me when I mention this, it used to bother me if im honest but now I see that the boys dont care if the toy isnt bought new as its new to them and they love it all the same.

I bought some things from the car boot yesterday for xmas and it has saved me a small fortune I also buy things from the pundshop just dont tell them then they will never know. Bought a lovely clock for my mum last year she has it pride of place on her fireplace (it came from the poundshop) she loves it and it doesn't matter how much something cost it is the thought that counts.

deedee71

This thread has such a lovely Radio 2 feel about it - such a variety of posters and viewpoints but all given with such support.

I'm so glad I've stumbled across this thread.

csarina

Shirley Goode has a blog, I read it every day, she is still alive and well and living in Morecombe!! Her blog is called The Goode Life.

Wee_Jo

Hi everyone! :hello:

Shiny fab new thread, love it! :j

I lurked and occasionally posted on the old thread - going to try and post on this one more regularly! I had my "lightbulb moment" at the beginning of May this year when I realised not only did I need to get a handle on my finances because the way I was spending was not sustainable (or sensible!) but also because the situation here was going to make things pretty tough generally. I feel very proud to have turned things around, in fact now I feel like a different person - I hate spending money on non-essentials now!! My hubby has always been v good with his money - but the other week he told me I was kicking his you-know-what on the finances front recently!! :T

I don't know when things are going to get better here in the UK - ironically I feel that I have noticed much more of a bite on finances since we have "come out of recession" - although that could be down to the fact that for the past few years I have been doing a fantabulous impression of an ostrich.....

One thing I do know - the MSE website and forums have been the single most important factor in motivating me, supprting me and giving me great ideas - thank you

Jo

Frugalista

mummyslittleboy wrote: »

I bought some things from the car boot yesterday for xmas and it has saved me a small fortune I also buy things from the pundshop just dont tell them then they will never know. Bought a lovely clock for my mum last year she has it pride of place on her fireplace (it came from the poundshop) she loves it and it doesn't matter how much something cost it is the thought that counts.

My sisters and I all do this every Christmas. We all have different interests and old books found in charity shops, etc, can make treasured gifts. We also all do a homemade gift - last year I did preserves - Cinnamon Apple Butter, Carribean Chutney and Wild Cherry Plum Chutney. I also made Twinks Hobnobs and a spicy sprinkle to make a crust for chops, etc. All my family raved over them and want them all again this year .

As you say, it's not about the money (thank goodness ATM) but about the thought, care, effort and time put into these things.

Sadly, some people just don't get this - my boss is very sneery about my efforts and thinks it is "cheap" and a bit "old hippy"ish :eek:. She belives that rushing around a department store and throwing expensive gift sets and wrapping paper into a basket somehow makes her look better. She is also up to her eyeballs in debt . Unfortunately, like so many people these days, she likes to "keep up appearances" whilst getting deeper into debt - and she just thinks I am a bit eccentric when I suggest moneysaving ideas.

As so many people have said before - this thread is like coming home, with so many like-minded people sharing hint and ideas on how to get by - it's my calm, safe port in the storm which is my life right now .

the_cat

Ooooh, so many posts!

By the time I have read them all I always forget who I wanted to reply to...... so apologies to all for not replying to individual posts

Mardartha - I totally agree with you. To me being frugal is spending the least I can on the things I need, in order to be able to have the things that are important to me. (like this year a holiday abroad as it will be the last time my teenage DS will be coming on our family holiday:(. I want it to be a special memory for us all) I also feel much safer and happier if I spend less than I have and have a cushion for the bad times

Everyone has their own ideas on the 'wants' and on how much they are willing to stint on their 'needs' but no one's ideas are any less valid because of it and no choice of lifestyle is any more valid than another. So please don't be put off posting anyone.

One thing I did remember. Bras..... I have got my (size DD) M&S brand new bras the last few times from ebay. Tagged and definately new, I have not paid more than £4 any time. Maybe worth a look?

Have spent today digging shallots at allotment and picking french beans,courgettes,marrows etc. Will have to spend some time packing things up in the freezer as I can't get everything in the fridge now!! Currently 3 huge marrows and about 10 massive courgettes! I need to plant less next year but I can't bear to waste them.

kidcat

Today a friend told me that she is selling her home to pay off her debts, I have been trying for over a year to get her to look at spending etc and stop using credit cards as a means to live but she has buried her head in the sand. Now she has to sell - obviously she is devastated, but she still believes that she had no choice but to live that way. With a household income in excess of £50k, she still believes that the income is nowhere near enough to live a decent life. I bit my tongue and cried inside - without a change of attitude, selling the house will pay off todays debts but she will be back in debt before you can blink. It makes me so sad.

ginnyknit

No wonder Shirley Goode retired to Morecambe, the shopping is very cheap there. They have loads of fab charity shops and its a bargain hunters paradise. My dd and I used to escape there when she was younger as a friend would lend me her caravan if I looked after her menagerie during the school hols. And theres loads of wild fruit and a fab fish and chip shop - ooh do I sound envious, well i am - I would live in a caravan there forever - as long as I had a huge storage space for my craft stuff