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

purpleheather2810

Yes AnnieG that is my target market and where most of my business comes from. However times are hard for all of us and even one mummy of the type you mention, who has been one of my best customers, has pulled out due to lack of funds :O

ETA: Annie I think you're right not to remove yourself from the job market, however if you were to find a part-time job, it could be a nice top-up to your regular wage...

CupOfChai

lambanana wrote: »

0845 is a local rate number

The thing with that one is if you've got the sort of free calls plan that I have, someone (I think it might have been ceridwen?) said they have that too. On those, you get "local and national" numbers, i.e. the ones beginning with 01/02/03, for free, but you would have to pay for the 0845 call unless you found an 01/02/03 equivalent to ring. With the potential to be on hold or talking for ages it can be worth the extra bit of effort.

I like saynoto0870, if I hit upon an out of date number, and am told to call the 0845 number, I just say "Oh, ok, I'll try calling that one" then try the next 01/02xxx number on the list :rotfl:.

D&DD

Sorry not been about the boys are keeping me busy!
DS3 has tried twice to get out of school today so far :eek: and yesterday only just managed to get him in the schoolbus

He's rather stressed atm and in the middle of all this I'm trying to coordinate DS2's GCSE's so what did I decide to do today?? I'm making a shed load of bread so I can knead the living daylights out if it :rotfl:

Made pizza swirls and sausage rolls yesterday though gawd only knows how everytime my hands get near something sticky the flamin' phone goes!

Right beepers gone on the dough going now before the phone rings again!

lambanana

CupOfChai wrote: »

The thing with that one is if you've got the sort of free calls plan that I have, someone (I think it might have been ceridwen?) said they have that too. On those, you get "local and national" numbers, i.e. the ones beginning with 01/02/03, for free, but you would have to pay for the 0845 call unless you found an 01/02/03 equivalent to ring. With the potential to be on hold or talking for ages it can be worth the extra bit of effort.

I like saynoto0870, if I hit upon an out of date number, and am told to call the 0845 number, I just say "Oh, ok, I'll try calling that one" then try the next 01/02xxx number on the list :rotfl:.

Oh yes, I just meant generally if calling from a landline it SHOULD be local rate I wouldn't call one from my mobile phone as I know I'd be charged over the odds where am 01/02 number would be included in my free minutes.

DH is treating me tonight. I bought him tickets for a gig tonight ages ago when it was his birthday but before the concert he's taking us for dinner, we've got a voucher so it wont cost too much but it's nice not to have to cook or wash up for once!

My mum and I are on a moneysaving mission tomorrow, stocking up on items with VAT before it goes up! We're going toilet roll shopping at Home Bargains :rotfl: there's one in the city centre but that means lugging things home on the bus so we're going to one on a retail park nearby where we can park for free and carry everything in the car. My mum also went to Netto for my yesterday to get some other bits and pieces on offer including a massive box of washing powder for £10. The last one we got lasted months and months but has just run out so she's got me another. I do keep thinking about getting the industrial concentrated stuff from costco but haven't yet, has anyone used that? Apparently it does at least 400 washes from a tub for about £16 I think and my mum's friend said she uses even less than it recommends to and has had her tub of it for a couple of years!

mardatha

I'd be interested in that Costco powder - whats it called ?

lambanana

I don't know but it comes in a big white tub with a blue lid and is a concentrated laundry detergent powder. Sorry I can't be more useful than that! I just look at it every time I go but still haven't bought any.

littleowl

mardatha wrote: »

Sorry, meant to ask - is 0845 quite dear to call ? I thought that was a local call number ?

From the Net:
0845 prefix
0845 numbers replaced the previous range of 0345 numbers operated by BT and 0645 numbers provided by Cable and Wireless. The older 0345 and 0645 numbers were converted to 0845 numbers as part of the Big Number Change. Until 2004, 0845 numbers were changed at the same rate as a call within the caller's local call area, and were accordingly described as local rate numbers, or using the BT brand name "Lo-call". With few companies now charging domestic customers different rates for local and long-distance calls, 0845 numbers can no longer reliably be assumed to cost the same as a 'local' phone call and can in some cases cost more. Some fixed line telephone companies have started to include 0845 numbers in bundled call allowances.

CupOfChai

lambanana wrote: »

Oh yes, I just meant generally if calling from a landline it SHOULD be local rate I wouldn't call one from my mobile phone as I know I'd be charged over the odds where am 01/02 number would be included in my free minutes.

I was talking about a landline phone and the call packages you can get for them, where all calls to an 01/02 number are free but you'd have to pay for an 0845. Sorry, I should have been more clear!

Dinner out sounds lovely, I like going out for dinner occasionally. In fact Boyfriend owes me 20 quid and I haven't decided when and in what form I want repaying yet. He keeps offering just to give me it, but I told him I'm saving it for when I decide how I want it! Might get him to take me out for dinner sometime as repayment.

mardatha

Oh they are SO sneaky!! God you canny take your eye off them for a minute ...

northwest1965

lambanana wrote: »

0845 is a local rate number

This is quite helpful on the subject of call costs

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/0870-say-no

0845 'Lo-Call'. Can cost up to 7p/min