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

pink_numbers

my laptop has died a death today I work in computing so I need a laptop going all the time. Thankfully, I kind of saw this coming and so managed to get a second hand mac cheaply a while back. It's still stressful moving from one laptop to a new one, the day has been eaten up by this, rather than doing some real work *sigh* I will have to start putting some money aside (what money??) for buying a new one (ready for when this one dies...)

katholicos

Hippeechiq wrote: »

When/if you manage to understand this, perhaps you'd explain it to me, as I don't know what this means for my daughter who is on ESA & DLA because of her mental illness. She sees a psychologist twice a week, a psychiatrist once a month and is under the local Mental Health Team Care fortnightly and she's on 9 tablets a day, 4 anti psychotics, 2 anti depressants, 2 anti anxiety and 1 sleeping tablet.......does that sound like someone who is capable of work?

She's already always on the edge, she already self harms, she's permanently in the depths of despair, if her money is stopped, it will push her over the edge, and many others who are in the same boat I'm sure......

I'd like to punch Camerons lights out for lumping everyone who is on benefits in the "scrounger/shirker/waste of space" category, promising to teach people it's more beneficial to work than claim........and if you are mentally or physically unable????

There isn't a word in the english language insulting enough to describe the man, so one that starts with T has osse in the middle and ends with an R will have to suffice.

I wish i could be more help but i haven't a clue at this point. This is terrible news and i fear there will be far reaching implications for many who legitimately claim benefits. Hopefully those of us who are genuine claiments will be safe (though i doubt we will be). I truly hope that your daughter's benefits are not cut :-(

bluebag

Vampiric_Addiction wrote: »

We're not in a happy place today... both the mr and I are at uni... he's final yr with a job, im first yr without... I study media - a dept that's so squarely in the firing line that all i hear each day is my lecturers growing ever more worried that the department and therefore, their jobs, will not even exist in a year or possibly two...

And the mr's line of work is community and youth work - something the tories notoriously underfund.

I feel sick that I voted LD. I really do.

ETA more that I meant to add!

As for us more generally... dislike the fact we use only leccy here and have storage heaters we haven't a clue how to get the best from... still have no loan/grant through and SLC are giving no dates when this will happen so skint as... yeah.

This flat is baltic. Always.

The draught excluders need to go down (today!) and the gas heater needs to come out soon. Having 2 duvets seems to make sod all difference. I need to try to get to grips with the damned slow cooker. I suck at it.

My friend has storage heaters, I've never had them.

The way she uses them is to close the vent at night time and put the heater on full charge overnight, she says iit's important to charge them fully on the cheap rate at night or they run out of heat too early and you end up having to use other dearer heaters.

The next most important thing is to keep the vent (for letting the heat out) closed as long as possible and open it gradually throughout the evening. IT IS VITAL TO CLOSE THE VENTS AT BEDTIME.

She did tell me they were not cheap to run, but they rarely break down and don't need regular servicing.

flowertotmum

Hi all..still trying to work out exactly how the cuts are going to effect us...thankfully the child benefit has been left alone..he never mentioned EMA or did he and i missed it...let me know if he did...
On the home front..was my dd's first parents evening tonight..went very well..got told she is a star in the making..and that she is lovely and smart girl...feels good to have someone else tell you that..did chuckle to myself though..i can't wait for the look on her face when fern has a "diva do"...mean while iris is getting better and fern seems to be getting worse...both tired and miserable..
Went to allotment and got the rest of my pumpkins this morning...did some swapsies with a very nice man..he wanted 2 pumpkins in exchange for 3 bottles of HM wine..good swap i think...swapped 6 leeks for 2 jars of HM marmalade...i did very well i think...

Back to topics..pink numbers..if my laptop goes i'll be in the !!!!!..haven't got a spare..good thinking though on getting a back up..
Mummyof two..how you going to dry your clothes...can you manage without a tumble drier...good for you if you can..
Annie56..manners are severly lacking in lots of folks today...good on you for not losing it with the rudies...
I made another £1 today selling my eggs..straight into chicken fund it went....so they don't starve...
have almost finished my scarf..its wonky but who cares...
My in laws turned up earlier and asked us what we wanted for cmas..i couldn't think of anything i "wanted"..so they have given us a cheque for £100 pounds to get what we like...so we are a bit bedazzled with it at the mo...not sure what to do with it...think i might stockup on food..and leave the rest in the bank for emergencies...
Going to go and have a glass of that HM wine..before bedtime...
take care all

Hippeechiq

katholicos wrote: »

I wish i could be more help but i haven't a clue at this point. This is terrible news and i fear there will be far reaching implications for many who legitimately claim benefits. Hopefully those of us who are genuine claiments will be safe (though i doubt we will be). I truly hope that your daughter's benefits are not cut :-(

Thank you - but I think you're right, I don't think anyone claiming will be safe. All Cameron is interested in, is getting people off benefits, regardless......quite where he thinks the thousands upon thousands of people whose jobs he is cutting with gay abandon are going to end up, is anyone's guess.

How is your Dad hun?

flowertotmum

Hippeechiq wrote: »

Thank you - but I think you're right, I don't think anyone claiming will be safe. All Cameron is interested in, is getting people off benefits, regardless......quite where he thinks the thousands upon thousands of people whose jobs he is cutting with gay abandon are going to end up, is anyone's guess.

How is your Dad hun?

Quite agree where and what are they supposed to do,live,survive...surely the benefit claims will grow...
Yes how is your dad and how you holding up?
frugal is your dad doing ok too hun?

Lucky83

Never posted before but was reading through and felt I had to post! 2010 has been a rubbish year for so many people and although it feels bleak at the moment, things will get better - I'm in my 20's so this is the first time I've ever known a recession, frightening but it's been a good (much needed for my generation) learning process in how to get by on less (see I can turn anything into a positive?!)

The spending review is frightening but I understand that it's necessary - no one (even Clegg and Cameron - it is political suicide) want to make cuts but we're in such a bad state. I hope that the review is managed well enough, so that those who need get what they need - there's so much waste in the public sector, I think they should ask you lot how to be more thrifty!

I know it's a few weeks off but I really hope that 2011 will be a far better year. I was made redundant this year and start my new job in a few weeks, so hope things start to look up for you all too.

NualaBuala

valentina wrote: »

Woke up in a bad mood, and to top it all I had to go to Mr T's to do a "big" shop. (I hate it)

They didn't have some of the stuff I wanted, so I was in a stinking mood when I got back, and I actually told the freezer to "eff off" when it wouldn't let me put everything in it!

Have to make some jam and get rid of all those frozen gooseberries...or a crumble...hmmmmm

:rotfl: That made me chuckle, thanks for the laugh Valentina and I hope whatever gooseberry treat you made cheers you up.

pink_numbers wrote: »

Thank you NualaBuala, you're always so encouraging I royally fell off the frugal living challenge this year, I was set up to do 6k for the year, and then boom! I hit a high with my bipolar, so all that went out the window. Still, I'm on target to spend 10K this year, which is less than half of what I used to spend, so the challenge has been a positive influence on me. I'm hoping that I can try the challenge again next year. I admire you and the other ladies for being able to stick to it for the entire year, it's a looooooong time!

Aw, you are such a pet to say that! Well I make no claims to be properly frugal but I am tagging along for the ride! My goal was to spend less than I did last year and hopefully I will do the same next year. And of course health issues affect our spending - yours might make you spend more and that must be really tough. For me, I'm mostly at home cos of ME, fibro and sometimes depression - so that definitely makes it easier not to spend! I wouldn't recommend it as a way of sticking to a budget though! That is such a pain about your laptop - you were very well prepared. I really need to do the same and set money aside for when appliances/equipment needs replacing. I do have some savings now but I hadn't really thought of that.

Hippeechiq I feel for you and your daughter, hope the cuts don't affect you or the other folks here.

Hugs to everyone. xxx

katholicos

Hippeechiq wrote: »

Thank you - but I think you're right, I don't think anyone claiming will be safe. All Cameron is interested in, is getting people off benefits, regardless......quite where he thinks the thousands upon thousands of people whose jobs he is cutting with gay abandon are going to end up, is anyone's guess.

How is your Dad hun?

Aw, bless you for asking...alas he is doing pretty badly. The specialist says he should have oxygen for at least 15 hours a day but the people within the NHS deal with the oxygen doses etc are making Dad wait for about a month from now until they 'asess' his oxygen needs....even though the specialist told him last week that he definately needs 15 hours minimum oxygen per day. We, his family, are just heartbroken to see him like this and feel so helpless.

I imagine you feel the same way about your daughter (the feelings of helplessness we feel when our loved ones suffer, eh?). It's going to get so much tougher for us all with these new financial difficulties we all face. As if life isn't tough enough!

NualaBuala

I'm so sorry to hear this katholicos, it must be heartbreaking. One thing he does have is you - having people who care is something that can't be taxed, cut or done away with. Sending love and good thoughts your way. x