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

tiddles

Hi Kezlou,

Re cooking baked potatoes: presumably you still leave the ceramic dish in the slow cooker? Maybe that's a silly question....?

Tiddles

northwest1965

I love my slow cooker too! Did you girls know there is a thread 'whats in my slow cooker today'. I lack inspiration sometimes on what to cook in it so its really good for that.

mardatha

I don't think you should ever take the ceramic inner out of the SC.

brighthair

csarina wrote: »

Can I join in please.......

Kezlou,

My scaffolding costs £20 each!! and have to be hand washed. I bought 2 in the first place and then a third, so one on, one off and one in the wash. I am heavy busted and need the support, cannot get cheap bras, they just do not make them in my size. 34 GG!!!

......

Have you tried ebay? I am a 32J and got one brand new with tags (Panache one) for £15 inc postage. I just searched my size and Panache bra

determined_new_ms

AlexRed wrote: »

I cook most meals from scratch, bake bread, my little one wears cloth nappies, we shop mostly at Aldi, Lidl and HomeBargains as well as local butcher and greengrocer when I can get there.

Have been made to feel a bit small over the last few days, one of my close relatives was very sniffy and critical about shopping in Aldis saying that the quality of the food is bad. Also some friends were pretty condescending about putting my little boy in cloth nappies. Another relative also implied it was a bit cruel to have him in cloth as it means he is sitting around in 'soaking nappies' rather than disposables apparently which keep baby 'dry'. My son has never had nappy rash and is changed fequently but all of these criticisms this week have made me feel a bit small and that some people think I am moneysaving in a way which is affecting my son, which I would never do.

was lurking and saw ur post and had to reply!

Firstly don't take heart by what other ppl say (My oh let me into a secret a couple of months ago which I'll share with you. He said "I'll let you into a little secret, not many ppl know this but YOU decide what rules are right or wrong in your life" - I founbd it extremely linberating!)

Secondly when someone says something judgemental about shopping in Aldi tell them about a study that was done and published in the gaurdian a few months ago comparing the quality of food in supermarkets. Aldi came highest above the big 3.

Thirdly - omg who is this person erroding ur confidence around ur parenting? Terry's nappies are fine for your baby (maybe you should remind her this is what her mum used on her, is she suggesting her own mother was cruel?) and much kinder to the environment (it takes 100 years for a disposible nappy to biodegrade).

And lastly maybe limit the time you are around these ppl who are so negative towards your lifestyle choices - life's too short xxx

Ellidee

Interesting blog post re Slow Food on a budget http://unhub.com/emzc

Nargleblast

Life is certainly too short to bother with people who are negative about our own ways of living. Both of my children wore disposable nappies because I was and still am a working mother and I looked at the pros and cons of both types of nappy before making my decision. That does not mean that I would look down on anyone who chose to put their child in cloth nappies, it's horse for courses, as they say. For a kind of compromise I have heard that for the same or similar price as disposable nappies you can put your child in the modern version of cloth nappies which are delivered to your house regularly. The dirty ones are collected and taken away for laundering, so it's like the best of both worlds. Each person has to decide what suits them and their family the best, and stuff the rest of the world if it doesn't approve. You cannot control what people say or do to you, but you can control how you respond to it and how you let it affect your life.

greengoblin

kezlou wrote: »

. See my problem is not the DD its the 38, all i could see today was 40gg or 36 DD.

Despite being only an A I also have a massive problem getting 38's. Unless you are at shops on the first few days of a new season there are never any in my size. I'm sure more people are this size than the retailers think . . . . .

Spendless

Hello everyone, just got to share this, I went to work today and there was a bloke waiting so asked him who he was and he said the works physio and asked how long I'd been there so told him and explained I actually work for an agency. Anyway, he said he'd look into it and then said yes he was to see me as well, so he assessed me and I fetched up some arm pain I have which I was convinced was related to the carpal tunnel syndrome I developed in pregnancy even though I had an op for it and he asked me if I'd ever had whiplash which I had and he suspected my problems stemmed from then, so he gave me some exercises to do and then manipulated my neck and asked me to repeat the exercise and wow the difference. So I now get free physio thru work every few months. :money:

thriftyscotslass

Another lurker coming out of the woodwork who'd love to join in. Love this thread and the support that is so evident here.

I'm 45, married to Mr TSL, ds (18) and dd (15). 18 months ago both dh and I were in full-time work; May last year(after many years of issues) ds was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome - he dropped out of 6th form to go on DLA and I became his full-time carer.

After a year of getting used to our new lifestyle we were starting to re-adjust when in May this year dh's company started making people redundant. Dh job is under threat :eek: but he is managing to hang on in there at the moment.

So after a year of cutting back, I am really starting to batten down the hatches. I love OS and making savings and get really excited when I can make further savings. This is me against the supermarkets and the gas & elec companies - it is my money and they're not getting it without a fight :rotfl:.

I noticed a few of you who have troubled relationships with your Mums - enormous hugs flying your way. I can empathise - at a time in my life when I could have done with some motherly love and support, I got anything but . She is quite a worry at the moment as she is racking up a lot of debt in order to keep up appearances and her lifestyle. I predict the doodoo's going to hit the fan in the very near future and I don't think she is going to cope.

Ah well, look forward to chatting to you all, Thriftyxxx