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

hellsbells45

Pig trotters simmering away in pan for kitten (yuk) in hope of making some form of jelly like meaty substance for him to eat. The butcher gave them to me for free and a big bag of bones with quite a bit of meat on (something to consider if things get really tough...:Dnice with a few vegies thrown in yum. Now that's what I call real money saving:money:.

Hello to newbies, I've only just come out of lurkdom as well:cool:.
Went looking for new suite, difficult though as no point going to DFS or like because of DD1 constant rocking. Saw one I liked, very solidly built with 25 YR Guarantee. Will cost about £2000, rang up really nice loving caring generous brother, he said go ahead.....so I will:j:j:j (still can't believe it)

Poorly kitty saw vet today extremely pleased with his progress, wire to come out of his jaw in 3 weeks, will also have him and his brother 'done' at the same time. He hates the vet's as it is, he'll really hate him after that:)

TTFN

bluebag

I love pig trotters. I haven't had them since I was a kid. I didn't know they still did them. I'm off to try and get me some.

hellsbells45

bluebag wrote: »

I love pig trotters. I haven't had them since I was a kid. I didn't know they still did them. I'm off to try and get me some.

Don't you mean 'trotting' of to get some:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
(sorry, could'nt resist.)

Broomstick

Hi MaryB,

I just checked the DofE website re costs:
http://www.dofe.org/go/costs/
It says that you should be told what the extra costs over and above the basic £12 to £18 should be for. Maybe you could query it with the school or with DofE directly?

I enrolled DS1 on DofE Gold as an independent candidate which just cost me £15 (I think) at that time. He was doing all the activities/volunteering type things anyway and would have only had to find money and time for the expedition costs. However, we decided that it was silly to carry on because his involvement in the activities was already so much more than the DofE scheme demanded it seemed a bit pointless. I'm glad we only lost (assuming he doesn't pick it up again) £15. I'm pretty horrified at the £80 charge you've been expected to fork out. :eek:

Broomstick x

coldstreamalways

OH is a DoE instructor (is that right? Supervisor maybe) and I think it is a good scheme, no way should it cost you that much though, that's madness. I think you're right though about the cv's. For some kids it's just another thing for parents to pay for/drop off at etc, for other kids it's the only thing they will have on their cv apart from a few mediocre exam results, those are the ones it can make a difference to.

ceridwen

Personally - if I had children then they would be going on the D. of E scheme if they wanted to.

But - I do wonder whether, as some sort of alternative, whether some areas might have well-organised community volunteering schemes of some description - whether it be "Help the Planet" type schemes (perhaps helping to set up a community farm or forest garden) or helping renovate a rundown building for some sort of community purposes?

I wonder whether WWOOFing might offer some scope - ie the organisation Working Weekends on Organic Farms?

I'm trying to remember the name of a major voluntary organisation - was it Community Service Volunteers? They might have some ideas...

ceridwen

I've googled for the links I mention above:


www.csv.org.uk?display-voluntary

http://www.wwoof.org/

Theres also the Federation of Community Farms and City Gardens:

http://www.farmgarden.org.uk/


In the current climate - I suspect the "door is opening" to some extent to encourage people into doing more voluntary work. Thats a mixed blessing - but there may be more opportunities in groups such as this on from this.

ceridwen

Breaking news just in - the good friend of mine I mentioned as going for promotion for a job that will take them into 40% tax bracket has been told they're shortlisted for interview (even though they've not got the qualifications required yet - as they're still studying for them).:D:D

Smile on face to start day with...

northwest1965

sammy_kaye18 wrote: »

Also been checking the Virgin media sight and we are currently signed up on the XL package - which is £23 a month :eek::eek: for 160 channels, half of which we've never even heard of let alone ever watch. So just spoken to Owen and said about down grading it to the £11 a month deal and he has said as long as it still has extreme sports, eurosport and bravo then he was happy (which it does) and I said as long as it has MTV then Im happy (which it does) so that will save us £12!
so just looking now and I think we are on the talk unlimited phone offer which is almost £20 a month - stupid when we each have £15 contract mobiles with 100 free minutes and unlimited text messages but a lot of family contact us on this as its cheaper to ring a house phone so the cheapest deal is £15.44 for the phone line (£11.99) and an evenings/weekends tariff.
Our broadband however is used constantly but not sure what one we are on for that! might ring them tomorrow and change them and double check.

Have you tried just ringing them to get a better deal? The retentions dept? Tell them you have had a really good offer from sky and can they do anything for you? Worked for us (and many others - see the board on digital tv.
We are with Virgin, was on M TV and were paying £45 month for everything. After my call they sent a new HD box, no installation or box charge, upgraded us to XL TV, unlimited phone and also Broadband, and the new monthly amount is £44. Give it a go, what do you have to lose:)

artybear

Hi all,

Sorry to butt in, I tend to lurk and use all your fabulous hints and tips!:D

I am probably a wee bit younger than some of you, 22:o, and I thought that I would just offer my advice on DoE (hope no one minds me butting in):o

I come from a very rural area, worked part time since I was 13 and still completed the Bronze and Silver sections of the DoE award. Personally I think it is a really significant scheme and one that parents should encourage their teens to do. I was also doing activities which fulfilled the requirements, so I was quite an active person. The expedition element is by far the best bit, it really teaches you about team work, how to navigate a map, how to be independent in the wild and personally, the most important apsect for me, how to behave on agricultural land. Having lived in the country I already knew many of these rules, i.e always close a gate behind you....and maybe your children do too. But many many teens from inner cities would have no idea how to respect land which is farmed and therefore I think this scheme is brilliant. In fact in some ways it is really promoting the O/S ideas of community and having a keen respect for nature.

However I do agree that what you are being asked to pay is far too much and it didnt cost me that much. Some of the equipment was quite pricey, however I saved up and bought them from my own wages and items such as good quality walking boots last a lifetime anyway.

In regards to C.V, yes it is good to have a full C.V but I do hold the belief that a young person should truly be interested in an activity so they can put all of their effort into it rather than feel they are 'ticking a box' to get to uni.

(I also went to Romania to build an orphanage in my teens to so think that is worthwhile but thats for another day.....:o:))

I just thought I'd pop in and give you an opinion from someone who has completed the scheme recently, so I would urge you to seriously consider allowing your teen to complete it if they really want to, look into lower costs and the teen paying the majority of the money.

Hope you dont mind me creeping in....