Its tough, it will get better and guess what its freezing brrrrr!

anguk

katholicos wrote: »

On another note.....i'm going to jack in my TV if the BBC raise the already extortionate TV License.

Apparently it's going to be frozen at £145.50 for the next 6 years:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11572171

katholicos

anguk wrote: »

Apparently it's going to be frozen at £145.50 for the next 6 years:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11572171

Thanks for the link and the news. That's good to know!

taurusgb

jaxx46 wrote: »

Annie56 Congratulations, onwards and upwards.

Re the cuts to CB etc, I too have a 15yr old looking to go to college next year and if they take away CB and EMA we will be a tad screwed. We've already lost our home, business and my health due to the recession, and at the moment rely on benefits. One of our biggest expenses is son's bus fare for school. If we lived between 3 & 6m from school he could have a free bus pass, but because we live 12m he can't :mad: So we pay £19 :eek: a week for a 7day bus ticket and the buses only run 6 days a week from our village I'm just hoping that if these cuts are going to happen they will be phased in over a couple of years, giving us more time to make cuts of our own. I've already told my lot that we're cutting down on the amount of meat we buy so will be searching for tasty veg dishes in the near future, DP has made himself a catapult :rotfl::rotfl: to go rabbiting he says. Personally I can't see him going out in the cold & dark but we shall see

jaxx

As of this September (2010) our LEA has stopped ALL subsidised bus passes for post 16 pupils, so anyone going to 6th form or college (nearest of which is 11 miles as our high school doesn't have a 6th form) has to pay £540 for a bus pass - even if they are on benefits.

anguk

taurusgb wrote: »

As of this September (2010) our LEA has stopped ALL subsidised bus passes for post 16 pupils, so anyone going to 6th form or college (nearest of which is 11 miles as our high school doesn't have a 6th form) has to pay £540 for a bus pass - even if they are on benefits.

We're lucky that our local council do help towards bus fares for 16-18 year olds depending on how far away they live from 6th form/college, we get a grant for about 2/3 of the cost.

But they still haven't paid out! We applied in August, got a letter saying DD was entitled to the grant but due to a "computer error" none of the payments have been made. And it'll still be a few more weeks before she receives it because they're having to do all payments manually. In the meantime I'm paying £15 a week for her bus fare.

Churchmouse

HariboJunkie wrote: »

Mine was one month's salary but it had beggar all to do with that. He loved me, wanted to spend the rest of his life with me and it happened to be the most beautiful ring I had ever seen.:happyhear Knowing him, if I'd been the kind of person who judged him on how much he was prepared to spend and seen that as how much I was "worth" to him, I doubt if he would have wanted to marry me at all.

My take on tommorrow is that we simply have to get on with it. We're all good at belt tightening and I will be happy to do what I can to see the country in a better financial position.
My heart goes out to the people of Moray affected by today's news though.

Off to make a coffee for said lovely husband who is prepared to paint a ceiling while I rest my bum after working all day.

Aaaaw that's lovely

For mine DH took me to Hatton Garden to choose a ring. So many jewelers, paradise. In the first shop window I saw THE ring, but there was no price on it, and the shop hadn't yet opened. ( Hatton Garden keeps "posh" hours :rotfl:) Anyway, I looked in every other shop window, must have been at least 20 or so, but couldn't see anything to compare with that first ring. I knew what DH could afford, and when we went back to the first shop it was open, so we went in and asked. It was dearer. Without a word DH took the bundle of notes from his wallet and then started dragging money from his pockets, trying to find the extra. Luckily the shop said he was entitled to a discount for cash, so I think he had about 50p left at the end. That was true love to me. I can't remember what it equated to in terms of salary, don't care.

We have to accept what tomorrow brings. We need to be together, and belts will have to tighten, but hopefully the end result will mean a secure country able to do its best for its people. If we don't try, there's only disaster facing us.

NualaBuala

pagangirl wrote: »

Jumping ahead 10 pages here just to thank you all for advice, friendship and hugs when needed.

Advice centre are going to sort out appeal for me. Will also have a representative come to tribunal with me (said probably not til next april/may). Have been told I can apply for crisis loan as all money stopped, but have small food stockpile, so will try & manage without.

Hugs to you all - if it wasn't for advice on this & other threads, I would be totally up the creek wivout a paddle :eek:
xx

Glad things are getting sorted for you Pagangirl. The mind boggles at how people without your OS skills would manage. Good luck! x

greent wrote: »

Evening all - have finally caught up

Congratulations o those where it's applicable and hugs to those needing them (and Annie56, your new life is a whirlwind - love it!)

OH has finally agreed to get some anger management counselling - he's needed it for years and years and also suffers from depression (to teh point of suicide attempts) Excuse any typos, but my laptop is missing some keys from his latest angry incident - but at least this time he's taking some real action. We can't continue like this - it's not good for any of s.

Ona more positive note, I sold some children's items at the weekend - £90 Yeay! Also (even better) DS1 passed his grammar school entrance exam :D

I just want tomorrow's announcements over and done with now - then at least we'll know where we are..

Anyway, it's cold here tonight - but at least the heating being on means some clothes are getting dry... Talking of which, I must go and do some ironing

x

Hugs Greent, that sounds terrible. It is good that he is seeking help though. I really hope you're both ok.

pink_numbers wrote: »

I'm feeling lost

We've been trying so hard to knuckle down, and to an extent, we have managed to do that. We've done all the big cutting backs, and also as much of the smaller cut backs as we can manage. We've cut back a lot.

But now what?

I'm starting to feel lost. I count the days until the wages come in, staring at finance tables and charts that don't move. I've ran out of different types of charts and tables I could construct! Time goes so slowly when you are trying not to spend money. I'm afraid to go out to the shops in case I buy something unplanned.

How does everyone else keep themselves motivate?

Oh that's tough. I try to motivate myself by doing a very detailed budget spreadsheet and projecting into the future - e.g how long before loans paid off and I've saved a certain amount. And coming on here really helps, this and Frugaldom's Frugal Living Challenge help keep me on track. Sometimes I spend money despite my best efforts ... but I'm improving all the time. I think if you can afford even a very tiny amount of spending money every month it might help cope in the long run - the way you're allowed a small treat now and then when you're on diet. Good luck!

Jojo, sorry about your OH's job - fingers crossed you'll be ok.

Congrats Annie, and here's wishing you lots more :j:rotfl::j

Hugs to everyone who's finding things hard right now. xxxx

Edit: sorry I forgot to say to Sammy that you sound like a great Mum (and a great person too) so I don't think you should worry at all about the HV. I agree with the others about the mould, hope you can move somewhere better. x

Pitlanepiglet

Morning all. Big hugs to all that need them and congrats to those for whom things are going well.

I'm hoping my work situation will finally be resolved either this week or next, still can't say much but it's likely to "go legal" and leave me unemployed in a market where there are no jobs and probably won't be for the next 12 months so that'll leave us with no income. TBH it's been such a dreadful time at work that I'm just pleased that there is light at the end of the tunnel and I can just get away from it all and hopefully I've made enough of an issue that those involved won't treat anyone else like this again (although I suspect they'll just keep going).

On the engagement ring front, mine was around £900, hubby was made redundant shortly after we got engaged and we always refer to it as our last month's rent - so if things get really bad it'll be the last thing to be sold! My wedding wing was bought (2004) when we had no money as OH wasn't working - we had a "Wedding by ebay" on a budget - my 18 ct gold ring which is inset with diamond chips was £34! I absolutely love it!

jackieglasgow

Morning Everyone,

Hugs for Greent, PLP, pink numbers and JojoB, and anyone else srtruggling with hard times just now. I don't have anything to add to the good advice you've already been given, but hope things improve soon.

Congratulations on your freedom Annie56 :beer:

I am watching and waiting for what today will bring. My two are too young to be worrying yet about EMA etc., but I have friends and relatives in that position and am concerned for them.

sammy_kaye18

Morning all

Managed to chill somewhat last night after having a row with boyfriend - it was both party's instigating it though - me from a foul mood HV visit had put me in and him being sarcastic that turned nasty. So spent the evening being fairly quiet and not saying much to each other. although he did give me a peck on the cheek before he went to bed so I guess we're fine.

His hearing at work for him to be told the outcome of the investigation and if he can restart work has been postponed now - it was meant to be thursday but apparently the other gentlemen involved has had a loss in his family and wont be able to attend so its Monday now instead.

LAMBANA --- I had the council out to investigate the mould and told it was humidity mould so they couldn't do anything about it. All the windows are opened in each room for air flow (easier said than done with a newborn and in this weather!) and the guy said he had never seen the level so high. All the flats (every one that the council has built) has mould conditions in them due to shoddy work) and a friend of mine who suffers with ME had black mould in her bathroom, applied to council to sort it and had a letter back saying she was now on the waiting list and it would be rectified some time before 2013.

HOUSING UPGRADES ETC --- we will be one of the top ones on the priority list now to receive a new bathroom/kitchen and ??????? something else...........WINDOWS - double glazing to be precise. will help massively if they can get it started asap!

Holly decided every hour was suitable last night! :eek: I miss my newborn who was practically sleeping through with one feed!

Well today I will be heat proofing flat for sure - found my safety pins so will get on with that asap - although really fancy a shower so will wait until after the school run to enjoy that in peace becasue Owen can watch holly for me once hes up!
Holly has her jabs between 2 - 3.30 today but will go over earlier as there was no clinic last week apparently so its going to be busy! :eek: then Ben is off to his friends after school to play and for dinner so will have a bit of peace later too for a few hours.
Might go through his room and sort through toys to see what I can get rid of before Xmas. Anything I find I will pop in local playgroup or send to charity shop.

Nice peaceful day for me --- hopefully.

Dreading the spending review today -- no doubt I'll be back on later to catch up. Don't know how I can budget any more than I already am - although have decided I will be buying a load of toilet roll in December ready so I should be ok for toilet roll for a while. Just need to find a storage place suitable but Im thinking under bed will be good once Xmas stuff is all gone.

ceridwen

anguk wrote: »

Apparently it's going to be frozen at £145.50 for the next 6 years:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11572171

Then how do they propose to square that circle?:cool:

- no inflation rise for 6 years
- extra costs anyway to the BBC
- and now the Government has told the BBC that they will be the ones funding the free TV licence for the over-75s (instead of taxpayers doing it).

:idea:

Now - I agree with OAPs getting a free tv licence - in a pretty isolated type of Society and with many people in that age group not able to get out and about much for one reason or another - then I accept that that is fair. So I certainly think that should continue.

The Government has told the BBC that the cost of them covering this free TV Licence must come from the "surplus" salary paid to their highly-paid employees (ie those earning well into 6 figures). Agree with that - but that alone wont be sufficient to cover the cost of those free TV licences. I was wondering where the rest would come from anyway.....

More cutting on actual production of tv programmes coming up (so more "cheapie" tv programmes - rather than the quality stuff the BBC used to know how to produce so well) and repeats..endless repeats..and more people deciding they might as well not bother to buy a TV Licence as there is so little worth watching..

Guess the logic of no TV Licence fee rises for the next 6 years is "beer and circuses" - ie keep all the unemployed and those about to join them "occupied" - watching tv.