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

Lindy_-_Loo

seasalt wrote: »

I have been listening to the radio while sewing and trying to make head or tail of what might or might not happen - one thing I heard that I didn't know is that if you are a SAHM (or SAHD) your pension credits (is that what I mean - national insurance payments towards your state pension) are only protected until your youngest child is 12 - came in in April apparently- and as mine are now 15 and my self employed income is so low that I'm exempt from paying NI contributions and can't really afford voluntary ones I think I can say good bye to my pension. Not that I was expecting much of one in any case. Just thought other people might like to know about it too though.

I never realised that, I always thought your NI was paid while your children were in education or receiving child benefit. Even getting a part time job may not mean you need to pay NI and like you say making the voluntary payments may not be visable

ceridwen

sammy_kaye18 wrote: »

Morning all

Just saw this article pop up whilst I was checking my email and thought I'd share it with you all.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39542375/ns/business-us_business

It does make you wonder though just how well some of us OSers would be if ever we were found in that situation - I mean the woman who gets $435 of food stamps for her and her 6 kids - that equates to roughly £270 for the month (give or take a few quid) for 7 people. I can imagine that's a BIG push to keep them all fed etc.

I think a system like that would be far better for those claiming all these benefits - giving them food stamps to ensure the children are fed, possibly housing benefit to ensure they keep a roof over their head but all other forms of providing are then on the parents shoulders.

Sammy

I dont agree with handing over money in the form of foodstamps myself - I think it should all be handed over AS money. That helps keep peoples independence in a way and their freedom of choice to budget their "money" as they see fit.

For someone who thinks very "logically" though - that article brought tears to my eyes actually reading it - for people to be so desperate.

Sammy...sammy....I think you just generate so much respect amongst many OS'ers though...and that includes me...because you just try so b****y hard and work so hard to do the best you can in your circumstances... Sorrees...dont mean that to come over the wrong way - but you gotta lotta respect here gal...:)

ceridwen

rachbc wrote: »

The single persons rate of IS for a 16-24 year old is currently £51.05 a week so yes I rekcon there are plenty of people managing on less than £500 a month for bills and living...

Yes - I know full well and its not much better at 25 - with a pathetic £65 odd per week and I think its awful that people are expected to manage on so little and wonder how the heck they do it...:eek:

ceridwen

Frugalista wrote: »

Exactly what I was thinking - this thread seems to be morphing into "The Crazy, Imaginary World of Ceridwen" - and less about how we are all coping in these tough times :(:(.

...and in which we dont make personal comments against someone just because we disagree with them....:(:(:(

ceridwen

kezlou wrote: »

I wasn't meaning to have a go at Ceridwen, in fact i quite enjoy debating / agreeing with her.Its funs, and if i have offended her in anyway then i sincerely apologise.
I was just protesting about plumbers earning loads, when in reality most of them don't.

!

'Tis okay...I know you werent "having a go" - just commenting that some plumbers dont earn those high sums we've seen quoted as some plumbers' earnings - and I'm certainly well aware that there are health hazards to plumbers' jobs as well:(. I CAN tell the difference by now between someone disagreeing with me on one issue and someone disliking me so I know by now what names I expect to see thanking a post that IS having a go at me......:).

Even INTJ's have feelings........though fortunately today is a Good Day for me...so not "thrown into despair" by other comment as I might be on a worse day..:)

flowertotmum

sammy_kaye18 wrote: »

OH MY GOD FLOWERTOTMUM --- DONT DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Your waist lien will hate you forever!!!

A few reasons NEVER to make Twinks Hobnobs

1. You will not simply have 1 at any time fo day with any beverage
2. You will memorise the ingredients easily
3. The first thing you think of when you see Oats is HOBNOBS!
4. The idea of one giant hobnob is very tempting.
5. You will debate - single biscuits or tray bake every time you make them
6. You will try the mix raw
7. You will need to remake the mix after 6 takes effect
8. You will discover just how much self control you really have.
9. Your waistline will hate you.
10. They will become a stable part of your diet.

If all of these reasons deter you enough to not want them once they are made then I will happily dispose of them for you.
:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

and for the record no I have no self control, eat the mix raw and a tray bake lasts about a day in my house once the mob has sniffed them out!

HI..omg..they sound gorgeous..i'll have to make them now..my mouth is watering at the thought of them...trouble is if they are that good i'll end up adding them to my ever growing list of baking to do every wk...my hubby and son are the worst for pinching baking while they are hot..i always try to sneak a few away to try and save them but they have this awful knack of finding them...if my waistline expands at least its because i'm eating good stuff and not junk:rotfl:..if for some reason i can't stand them then i'll happily send them to you:D...
I love baking its my passion besides my children,allotment,books,sewing,knitting...i should in all honesty be a 50stone woman the amount of cakes i eat...:eek:...
My little ones party went well...everyone said my cake was good and so was the food and not one moaned when i said i made it myself...so i'm really pleased with that..my hubby almost made me cry when he said he was proud of me for coping with all the s**t we have had to deal with this yr and that he couldn't have done it with out me:o..
Well my cc will be paid off in 6 and a half months:j..thank god for that..then its hubby's in 8 more months and then we are almost debt free...i am so proud to say that this last yr i have got rid of catalogues and next account..got a real good handle on our finances..we know where every penny goes and what we can and can't do..i also have lots of those tins that you have to open with a tin opener,xmas,birthdays,bonfire night,easter,food for xmas...allotment fund.....as for shopping i keep a running list on my chalkboard in the kitchen..at the mo its got tixylix,baby bath,sponges,gravy granules,ham,haslet,corn beef..thats it for my shop tomorrow..not too bad eh?..i can tell you its thanks to this place and the advice i get thats helped tremendously and you ladies too...its really tough for us but i know lots of folk are worse off than us so i count my blessings...
SEASALT..are you growing cauliflowers..when do you know if your calabrese is ready..we have some but never grown it before so not sure what its supposed to look like when ready...i have a monster pumpkin thats looking at me when i go into the shed:eek:..its enormous..and we still have 4 more to come and they are big too...if you were nearer me you could have them..hubby only grew them for halloween..seems a waste to me but i never tried pumpkin before what does it taste like...
Juliethemuse..hun don't fret you will be ill...my daughters hair did this too when her chap got made redundant last yr and she was 5 months pregnant at the time...the doctor said it was stress and to stop..easier said than done i know..have you tried to talk to you hubby about it..do what i do i wait til he goes for a bath then i go in and he can't go anywhere:D..and he has to listen to me...hope you get it sorted ....well done to your son too
right thats me done...going to have one last slice of birthday cake and a cuppa while i read my book...
take care all of you...

Frugalista

ceridwen wrote: »

...and in which we dont make personal comments against someone just because we disagree with them....:(:(:(

Please could you provide a link to the post where I have disagreed with you :huh:

hellsbells45

Hi, I've been reading though not typing. The Darn B##### CFS is having a wonderful time with me. Having to constantly use my stick (I hate it, boy do I hate it, I'm only 47 not 87 ) Hurting everywhere:(.Thrown all my budgeting to pot, an addition £10 + to food budget as have had to buy ready meal type things in. Cats back on tinned stuff, sorry need to let of steam.

As for A+L well they have managed to take £145 off me this month. They're not having any more. HAve cancelled all the DD's that I can, so that I pay them when the money is there or they wait, that way I only get one set of charges not 2 (1 from A+L and another from whomever it may concern.) Have printed out a month calender so that I can write in what is coming in and when and what is going out and what is due to be paid and also keep a very close eye on the few withdrawals I make. This way I should have an up to date balance at all times and give myself far more control over what is paid and when. and over the next few months hopefully seriously reduce the OD and then move banks.

On an up note, my xmas club will be paid off next week, so no food shopping for xmas, plus £200 there for kids presents. this is such a relief, last xmas I got myself into such a state about it all, this year I feel far more in control. One provie loan nearly paid (3 weeks left) the rest reducing nicely. phew. getting there.

When I get really panicked about It all, i just remind myself that the money does'nt exist and never actually has, its just the FIAT money system (thats why we're really in this mess, its got very little to do with anything else, watch MONEY AS DEBT 2 for a full explanation and probably a sharp rise in blood pressure once you realise what mugs the powers that be are taking us all for.

ceridwen

fRUGALISTA

Frugalista wrote: »

Exactly what I was thinking - this thread seems to be morphing into "The Crazy, Imaginary World of Ceridwen" - and less about how we are all coping in these tough times :(:(.

Well - you DID ask. Duly taken as personal criticism - and not disagreement.

Right - now if we can get back on topic please....thank you..

ceridwen

hellsbells45 wrote: »

When I get really panicked about It all, i just remind myself that the money does'nt exist and never actually has, its just the FIAT money system (thats why we're really in this mess, its got very little to do with anything else, watch MONEY AS DEBT 2 for a full explanation and probably a sharp rise in blood pressure once you realise what mugs the powers that be are taking us all for.

Yep - I've seen that and think its a good idea to watch it (there on YouTube as I recollect where I watched it from).

If my memory serves me aright - then it was referring to the banks lending a lot more money than they actually have "sitting there in the vaults" and telling us what multiple they lend of what they ACTUALLY have:eek:.

On from that - I was reading - and half taking in - an article earlier this week about some British and Swiss bankers meeting up and discussing the fact that some of the Swiss banks at least are planning on ramping up the amount of capital they actually do have "in the vaults" to back up what they lend and wondering whether this (very sensible) idea will start being putting into practice in Britain. I then went on to thinking about where this extra "capital" could come from and which nation has a great reputation for saving money - China. Thence to which nation has the worlds worst reputation for starting in on landgrabbing in other countries - China.

I drew one or two connections and went :eek:.

But hopefully thats just me being a pessimist....:cool: