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

gailey_2

Hi everyone, hope you all ok.

Can empathise with car trouble hubbys beloved bmw as accrued nearly 5grand of debt in repairs last 3years i swear its jinxed thing is looking bit worse for wear, 10years old and high milage only worth 2-2half grand now wish he would change it.
Hes holding out for company car with new job, even with 2kids we need something bigger plus as its saloon limits buggies, was nightmare going to cornwall last couple of years as have luggage on floor and not ideal with 3kids.

It bugs me cant pick up large furniture as can fit in car.

Silvercharming thanks for quote very good.
Also nappy link tried those was one of first brands I brought when pregant with 1st but dident get on with them find plain terry squares much better than prefolds with good wrap.

I cant wait to start saving but need to clear debts first.
want to get organised and start saving/buying for xmas now.
Got so much to sell ebay and hopefully carboot next weekend.
been busy weekend hubbys been working kids been bored.
Batchcooked tonnes as needed to use fresh meat veg.


I write hugly long to do lists each day and never get round to doing it all.

yesterday I made tomato ketchup from scratch and did a roast.
Today did huge lasagne and froze 6portions plus chili con carne 3portions.Also made huge carrot cake hubby hates carrots but liked it and im still hiding cabbage in every meal as cant waste it just because hubbys like fussy 10year old.

So including sausage casserole and shepards pie I now have 16 home made readymeals in freezer.

Tommorow planning to do

quiches
frittata
pasties
fish pie
crumbles
stewed fruit

most of it be frozen aiming for 30meals in freezer so I can put my feet up when hubbys on hols for 2weeks.

Going to try large veg curry and freeze that too.

want to do more biscuits and cakes.

really enjoy cooking just finding the time sometimes in in kitchen cooking when kids in bed find it very relaxing.

Tiff welcome you done great on paying debt .good luck on job hunting.
new york how exiting cant wait to go abroad again in future so many places i want to see.
I think I would rather travel than own a house.

Prudent

gailey - you made me laugh at the idea of you hiding cabbage in meals from hubby :rotfl:

Morning everyone. I have got an exciting (but probably expensive ) few days coming up. I have got one my sisters visiting which is a big thing as we rarely seen each other as our holidays don't tend to coincide too much. We are going through to Glasgow to see Rod Stewart tonight. I won the tix and she is a huge fan, so a treat for her. Tomorrow we are off to Edinburgh for a spa afternoon. Using some spa vouchers I won earlier in the year for this treat. Lots of petrol train faires and two meals out, but trying not to think about that and just enjoy it anyway.

Up early as DD has work this week (thankfully). She is at college but does odd bits of supply for a local nursery in the hols. Then having a man to look at my boiler at 9am. Its very elderly. I bought the house eight years ago and neighbours were all replacing dying boilers. Have kept mine chugging along until last winter when the house didn't often get above 15 c (brrr) despite heating being on for ages and a big bill. I am really hoping he can do magic and get me another year out of it as I replaced the car in April and can't afford another big bill. My worst nightmare is that he condems it.

ceridwen

Prudent

Can you find a bit of money for a couple of halogen heaters for supplementary heating on the house? Just thinking of that bad boiler syndrome you have...

They range from about £10 upwards and I find them very effective for heating just that bit of space next to me and they are just pennies per hour to use.

Jolaaled

Prudent wrote: »

Its always a bit of a gamble with cars. I replaced mine this spring. Not really because I wanted to, but because I do a long communte twice a day with some of it on a busy stretch of motorway.

Prudent..My work is going to involve a long commute in future...around 1.5 hrs to get to my working 'patch' and then driving around my patch during my working day...followed by another 1.5 hrs home again!!

Do you have any tips on making good use of this time stuck in the car??..obviously, I listen to the radio/Ipod..and someone suggested audio books (they're expensive tho!).

Any other ideas would be great, if you have them, as an experienced long commuter!

thanks

babyboysmommy

Jolaaled wrote: »

Prudent..My work is going to involve a long commute in future...around 1.5 hrs to get to my working 'patch' and then driving around my patch during my working day...followed by another 1.5 hrs home again!!

Do you have any tips on making good use of this time stuck in the car??..obviously, I listen to the radio/Ipod..and someone suggested audio books (they're expensive tho!).

Any other ideas would be great, if you have them, as an experienced long commuter!

thanks

The Open University has a lot of free audio things (interviews/book extracts etc) on iTunes U if there is a subject you are interested in learning more about. Some a just a few minutes each but together make quite a collection, others are quite a bit longer.

Jolaaled

babyboysmommy wrote: »

The Open University has a lot of free audio things (interviews/book extracts etc) on iTunes U if there is a subject you are interested in learning more about. Some a just a few minutes each but together make quite a collection, others are quite a bit longer.

Wow, babyboysmommy...I've not heard of Itunes U..but it sounds ideal for me, as am also studying at the moment....I'll have a look at the website and see if I can use it on my ipod...thanks so much!

boultdj

You can get audio book's in the libary,my Gran use to use them a lot and I know 2-3 at work that get them out when they do trip's to the coast. Another idea is there a language you want to learn/brush up on. hope you don't mind I know you asked Prudent.

Prudent

ceridwen wrote: »

Prudent

Can you find a bit of money for a couple of halogen heaters for supplementary heating on the house? Just thinking of that bad boiler syndrome you have...

They range from about £10 upwards and I find them very effective for heating just that bit of space next to me and they are just pennies per hour to use.

That is a great idea . I am just hoping the man won't condemn the boiler. If needs be I could survive another year with it as it is just now. I spent most of last winter huddled under the duvet, so that would make it bearable. I have a long working day and am often out at the weekend shopping or catching up with friends. I just need a boost of heat really.I do have a gas fire, but have been told they are expnsive to run. I had to make a fair bit of use of this last year, whereas I have rarely used it in other years. Although the house would get too cold and I will have no hot water if the boiler stops working completely.

I think part of last year's prob was that it was just so cold in Scotalnd for so long. If it was a milder winter that would make things easier.

Prudent

Jolaaled wrote: »

Prudent..My work is going to involve a long commute in future...around 1.5 hrs to get to my working 'patch' and then driving around my patch during my working day...followed by another 1.5 hrs home again!!

Do you have any tips on making good use of this time stuck in the car??..obviously, I listen to the radio/Ipod..and someone suggested audio books (they're expensive tho!).

Any other ideas would be great, if you have them, as an experienced long commuter!

thanks

Mainly its my 'head time'. I am a single mum at home and teach full time so work is really full on. I always catch up with the news on the radio. I love radio four because it keeps me abreast of things and I listen to all kinds of interesting stuff. On a Friday I get away a bit earlier and listen to Gardener's question time. I feel really inspired and vow to do wonderful things in the garden that eve...and then end up out there with a glass of wne :rotfl:

I usually listen to classic fm after school as I need to destress and unwind.

I am looking at changing from a PAYG to a contact phone to catch up on calls to family and friends. I often am just too tired after the jobs in the eve. My car has a fancy blue tooth feature which means I can answer and make calls even if the phone is in the boot. Of course I haven't actually used it yet ..... Before anyone shakes their head in dusgust at such extravagant faetures (I know I did ) it wasn't a selling point. I wanted the car because it is a Nissan which has a good reputation for reliablity and hoped would save me money in the long run.

Prudent

Jolaaled wrote: »

Wow, babyboysmommy...I've not heard of Itunes U..but it sounds ideal for me, as am also studying at the moment....I'll have a look at the website and see if I can use it on my ipod...thanks so much!

Thank you, that is really helpful. I shall investigate. Among teh other feature I haven't tried on my car is a place to plug my MP3 into the audio system. Maybe this thread will give me a push to try things.