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

babyboysmommy

Hi everyone, thought I'd come out of lurking as well

There is me, DH & DS (age 4). We had a difficult year in 2009, DH was made redundant & spent most of the year unemployed. Thankfully we had savings but they are now almost gone & we don't have the disposable income to increase them again. He got work in December but the pay is a lot less than he used to get but our mortgage is the same. Thankfully we have no other debts but even so money is extremely tight & getting worse as costs go up. His work is also further from home so fuel costs are higher, I'm shocked by how much we pay on petrol a month! I worry about money & am often trying to think of new ways to cut back/making savings although it's hard as we have made so many changes already.

DS starts school in September so I'm being hit by school uniform costs, just 1 jumper (has to be official school one) was £16.50! He has to wear shirt & tie which instantly makes life more expensive let alone all the things he has to have.

We have 8 weeks summer holiday to fill. Thankfully we live in an area where there is plenty of things to do for free within walking distance. Walks down the river with the fishing net, down the lanes to see the farm animals or look for bugs, 3 really good playgrounds so plenty of places to take a picnic, a good library etc. By the time I add in play dates, a weekly trip to the swimming pool (it's next to the supermarket so if we do both the same day it's petrol friendly), playing at home, walking the dog, baking/cooking, crafts, gardening etc hopefully we can easily fill the time whilst having fun on a tight budget.

gailey_2

babyboysmommy wrote: »

Hi everyone, thought I'd come out of lurking as well

There is me, DH & DS (age 4). We had a difficult year in 2009, DH was made redundant & spent most of the year unemployed. Thankfully we had savings but they are now almost gone & we don't have the disposable income to increase them again. He got work in December but the pay is a lot less than he used to get but our mortgage is the same. Thankfully we have no other debts but even so money is extremely tight & getting worse as costs go up. His work is also further from home so fuel costs are higher, I'm shocked by how much we pay on petrol a month! I worry about money & am often trying to think of new ways to cut back/making savings although it's hard as we have made so many changes already.

DS starts school in September so I'm being hit by school uniform costs, just 1 jumper (has to be official school one) was £16.50! He has to wear shirt & tie which instantly makes life more expensive let alone all the things he has to have.

We have 8 weeks summer holiday to fill. Thankfully we live in an area where there is plenty of things to do for free within walking distance. Walks down the river with the fishing net, down the lanes to see the farm animals or look for bugs, 3 really good playgrounds so plenty of places to take a picnic, a good library etc. By the time I add in play dates, a weekly trip to the swimming pool (it's next to the supermarket so if we do both the same day it's petrol friendly), playing at home, walking the dog, baking/cooking, crafts, gardening etc hopefully we can easily fill the time whilst having fun on a tight budget.

Blimey even more pricey than daughters hers are 10.50 I brought 2cardies, bookbag, pe bag and sungat with emblem.rest will eb from supermarket might get one spare plain knitted cardie in school colours as asada have one for 3quid, sainsburys 5.

getting pinafore sainsburys. got 2asda skirts and 10shirts for 10quid plus summer dress 3.50.

its shoes and coat which are pricey.
mum said she get tights and socks which is a help.

Forgot to say on berry pick yesterday found nice bag on cyclepoath been there for few days o thourght wlel no diffrenet to carboot so washed it twice on hot wash hubby despairs with me.Its just satchal had nothing in it and could be handy for foraging.

met new people picking plums yesterday and donated them a plastic bag good deed for day guess im lucky in affluent area everyone else seems rich so more for me to pick.

Snuck into a empty feild yesterday with eldest she loved it some blackberries gone black shes so impatiant and loves them.

Right best go do phycho cleaning as got 2hours before eldest back from preschool plus wnat to make bread this morning, cake this afternoon and one othe:Dr meal to freeze.


off to pick up 3wheeler buggy from ebay later hope its ok.will give me so much more freedom to go off road.

Welcome all newbies think collective ideas we could save ourselves a fortune.

When I look back few years ago feel ashamed how much we wasted and how much we spent.
Os is a mindset that needs fine tuning im nearly there even if hubby is not .

lauren_1

I am going to stop whining about my money issues for a change.

I have rhubarb growing! oooh takes me back to when i was a kid, rhubarb, paper cone of sugar, sitting on the coal shed munching away.

No wonder I have so many fillings.

floss2

TudorRose wrote: »

...Was reading earlier peoples comments on making baskets etc for Christmas. I do this for my two little grandsons (usually pjs & other useful items as they have so much given them by other people) & each year I try to pack the goodies into something useful. Last year I bought fold down storage boxes from HABS & another year I made extra large draw string bags which they use to store lego & cars etc in. Must try & think of something for this year. All suggestions welcome...

Why not a set of small bags for all their bits & pieces? Maybe colour coded or marked with their initials or names so they don't fight?

Fighting_Back wrote: »

.... Warrington market excellent and right next to B&M Bargains ....

Have you tried Sweeney's meat stall yet? And isn't the choice of fish & game fab! I lived in Warrington for 30 years, left 4 years ago to move in with OH in that famous Lancashire coastal resort

Frugalista, I'm really pleased to hear your news - you must be feeling as happy as a very happy thing, to misquote BlackAdder!

floss2

Can I just say to all those who have to buy school uniforms, my DS's both had to wear a blazer, white shirt & tie through high school, and I would buy the shirts from ASDA - 3 packs of 2, they would do elder son for a year and then younger son for a year, clean one every day + a spare, washed & ironed at weekends. However, I'm not sure if the quality is still the same, as DS2 left school in 2004

kidcat

Not had chance to read thru and catch up but heres the recipe for those that asked:

Play Dough Recipe

2 Cups of Plain Flour

1 Cup of Salt

2 Teaspoon Cream of Tartar

2 Cup Water

2 Tablespoon Oil

Food Colouring

Add all ingredients to pan, stir with strong spoon till fully mixed.

Cook on a medium heat, keep stirring until the mixture has a bread consistency and a matt appearance (all gloss has gone).

Remove from pan and knead for a few minutes.

Store in sealed container. (Preferably in fridge)

Good luck.

mardatha

My daughter gets a grant from the council, in cash. Her OH works full time but they get tax credits. Maybe check to see if you can claim ? Although it might be different up here. She has had a grant every year and has 5 kids - only 3 still at school.
Re being in this forum but not hard up .... if we all learn how to cope on next to nothing, then there is nothing to fear, because when the day comes that things go to custard you know you can and will cope!

katiegizmo

Thanks for all the well wishes! I'm having a huge difficulty concentrating on my work today... why do jobs always take so long to give you an answer!?!?!?

I think we have always been frugal and OS but it was always a choice, which we were very lucky to have. When it becomes a need you realise how much more you can actually do to save money. I'm determined that even when times get better we'll have the motivation to continue as we are now and really get our mortgage OP up so we can eventually be mortgage free

kezlou

Frugalista fantastic news :T:T:T:T, its great to when something like that happens:D
Annie g good luck for thursday!
sammykaye congrats on the birth of holly!

Before i did my leg in i was teaching my youngest how to play kerbie, all the kids thought it was brilliant. so i've started a new trend here;).
Well the children have left for a week to stay on a farm with they gran. So nows its just me and OH, dear god were going to be so bored .

The cars is in the garage today for its MOT so god knows how much that is going to cost . But it has to be done as OH needs it for work and if his wages stop well he'll need it go self employed.
Looked at the bank balance this morning and its not a pretty sight, totally in the black about to go zilch. Were already in the overdrafts, but as the kids are away we can eat out of the freezer as theys no excuse to buy more salad lol

AlexRed

Lovely and sunny here today! Am so surprised to hear that blackberries are ripening already, will have to put little one in my sling and get hunting out there as we love blackberry crumble and its full of vitamin c so goes towards the five a day!

We are out today visiting some relatives we haven't seen for a while have just had a ham sandwich made with hm bread, very tasty and won't need to eat when out now. Will take a bottle of water with me also. Am glad its dry today as have been having trouble drying clothes over the last few days and had to give a few of them a quick blast in the tumble dryer which I try and avoid doing.

mardatha - totally agree, things are very tight for us at the moment but we are managing but am building up my stockcupboard just in case as my little job is only temporary, contract up next April, if it isn't renewed at least we will have a stash of food. Its a good habit to get into, living on less than you are used to.

AnnieG - glad you loved Big Pit, I live not far from there am a proper Valleys Girl I am!! I'm friends with some of the staff, it is a great museum, very thought provoking. Valleys families lived through some tough times and more often than not it was the Welsh Mam who held it all together, often going without to give her husband and children enough food. My dear grandmother who passed away two years ago was such a lady, she taught me a lot.

Have a good day all. xxxx