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

charlies-aunt

What great, inspiring posts Kittie and Catznine!

I am trying to find a new pathway for myself at the moment...my contract finishes in a few weeks and I haven't got another job to go to, having worked continously since leaving school 37 years ago - I find the prospect of life without regular job/income really daunting. I've survived my last 3 jobs being made redundant and managed to get work again very quickly but nowadays I'm not sure I will be able to find another job again so quickly ...and question myself if this is what I want anyway.

I'm craving an opportunity to take time out as all my summers have been spent at work with the odd week or fortnight holiday off during school holidays to be with the children. I am being acutely aware that at 53, I have more summers behind me than there are summers in front of me .... how many more summers do I really want to spend sweltering behind a desk?

I'm reconciled to the likelihood that I won't get my contracted extended and in a strange way, I'd welcome the chance to get out of the rat race for a while (even if the decision is forced upon me by circumstances) - while I'm still young enough to have a go at something else!

I am considering trying self employment or temping but it would be a big leap from the security of a monthly paypacket to entirely self reliant . . .but the quality of life would be better but financially things would be tough.

Sorry to witter on but I feel like I'm at a pivotal point of my life right now and I'm having a huge crisis of confidence trying to work out what to do for the best.

The WW2 books are a revelation and quite unsettling- I thought I was quite frugal but by their standards, I'm living a life of luxury

Cediwen - please return to posting soon - life is too short to do anything but agree to disagree.

Margaret54

Hi ladies Thank you all for such wonderful posts, have just finished reading them all. i have learned so much from so many and even if I don't always post I do read and I love it here. I have never met anyone else like minded until I came on here and it is so good to have the company of others as well. I used to say to my dh that I felt I was born in the wrong era, but not now I have found M.S.E xx Margaret

Hippeechiq

Well, I'm 51 and was made redundant in January, since which time I kind of feel I've lost my way.

My daughter suffers from Borderline Personality Disorder (a little known illness a bit like Bi-Polar, but without any highs) accompanied by severe depression, anger and self worth issues. It's heartbreaking to witness, and I feel totally useless because I can't "make it better". I've had to fight tooth and nail for the last 18 months to get her the proper help she needs.

Since being made redundant, her condition worsened considerably and I have been caring for her. I'm her regd Carer, but I don't get Carers Allowance because she is on low band DLA and I can't claim JSA as I'm not looking for full time employment.

I feel totally and utterly exahausted most of the time because of her illness, but also because of my lost earnings and trying to learn how to become more frugal - not that I've ever been extravagent.

I - like Mardatha - have a kind of love hate relationship with cooking. I love to try new things but I'm not a natural and get very downhearted when things turn out wrong, but it's the one area that I can save money, so I try my damndest, and have discovered some lovely recipes over the last few months, although I could still do with cheap(er) recipes.

My problem is, I can't, and intensely dislike sewing and knitting, so I can't make savings there. My first husband would never eat a complete chicken (as in, he would eat chicken breasts, but not if it "looked" like chicken, and came off a whole one) so I've no idea how to cook one, and even if I did, no-one in my house will eat legs and wings, so there's no point.....so I can't do the rubber chicken idea of making a chicken stretch for 3 meals or whatever.

None of us are soup lovers, so I can't stretch meals by starting them with soup. I've bought some bread flour, but have yet to summon up the courage to try and make my first loaf, but I've just gotta bite the bullet and try, as that would be a help.

I have, however, started introducing some lentils and pulses to our meals (but only when I've got a recipe to follow) as I'm no good at trying to add a bit of this or that to see how it works, and I really need to find out things like how to pad out say 250g mince to feed 4, like a lot of people are able to do on here when making spag bol or chilli.

Shame there isn't and Idiots Guide To Padding Out Meals really, cos that's what I need!

We do eat less meat now though, and oddly enough, OH says he feels we are eating better now than we used to. But I still need to improve on how much we spend if there is ever to be any spare money for basic needs like new underwear and such - and yes, money really is that tight

What I'd like to do now though, is try my hand at growing bell peppers, tomatoes and onions, to start with, but it all has to be in containers, as, like kezlou, my back garden is all paving slabs.

I accept that for the first year the yield (if I manage to grow anything) wont cover the initial outlay. But if I find I have a talent for it, I'd like to grow cucumbers, lettuce and potatoes too.

Thanks for the info kezlou and for pointing out you meant bud and not bed :rotfl: I thought perhaps it was some technical gardening term I had yet to learn! lol

Love the sound of the Tumbling Tomatoes that can grown in containers. although forking out for the containers might be a problem. If you try to grow from seed, does it have to be seed and potting compost like house plant cuttings?

Ultimately, I want to be in catznine's position, where "I am no longer afraid of what the next year brings!" because, at the moment, I'm afraid of how we are going to manage the outlay of Christmas, let alone the new year.

Thank you for everyone's inspiring posts today - and sorry mine is so long.

NualaBuala

I am overwhelmed with all the wonderful posts here ... my heart goes out to those of you having tough times. The ME seems to be fogging my brain a bit more than usual today otherwise I would want to say more to individuals. It does make me feel like I am not alone in my struggles though - there is a great sense of camaraderie here.

I too am sad that Ceridwen hasn't posted lately but I do understand why. I hope she sees how she is missed and comes back.

rosieben

Hippeechiq wrote: »

... Love the sound of the Tumbling Tomatoes that can grown in containers. although forking out for the containers might be a problem. ...

MrT and other places used to give away or sell off the black buckets they sell flowers from? its worth asking in any shop that sells flowers like this. I bought a whole load for 10p each from a local florist a couple of years ago, they're big enough for the smaller tomatoes etc

hellsbells45

Re cheap nutrious low meat meals

Have you thought about doing a large pan of pea and ham soup with dumplings. really filling. Cheap if you use a gammmon shank (usually about £1.50 from mr m's) plus you can use the meat on the shank for sandwiches etc later.

HariboJunkie

I agree that it's lovely to see such friendly, inspirational posts on here. :T I am sorry that so many people are struggling.

My OH is self employed and work is never secure. On the plus side, his workload hasn't fallen during this recession but the time it takes customers to pay us has. I spend a great deal of my time chasing overdue invoices. This plays havoc with the family cashflow and causes me no end of worry.
This year, in addition to managing OH's office, I have taken on a 30 hour per week job to ensure a regular income. Luckily I love my job so it's no hardship but I previously had much more time to be OS and moneysaving at home. It's been a steep learning curve working full time hours and still maintaining thrifty ways when they are needed more than ever. Luckily there is always something new to learn on MSE and I remain grateful that even as prices rise and times are uncertain I have a lovely family and a lovely home to come to and MSE to find tips on stretching our budget further.:)

ps...it's not freezing here either. It's gloriously sunny and warm here and has been all week.

Hippeechiq

rosieben wrote: »

MrT and other places used to give away or sell off the black buckets they sell flowers from? its worth asking in any shop that sells flowers like this. I bought a whole load for 10p each from a local florist a couple of years ago, they're big enough for the smaller tomatoes etc

oooooooh! - thanks for that rosieben

hellsbells45 wrote: »

Re cheap nutrious low meat meals

Have you thought about doing a large pan of pea and ham soup with dumplings. really filling. Cheap if you use a gammmon shank (usually about £1.50 from mr m's) plus you can use the meat on the shank for sandwiches etc later.

Not soup fans I'm afraid - well, I am, but no-one else in the house is. But thanks for the suggestion

jamanda

charlies-aunt - a word of warning on the temping bit. I don't know what line you are in but around here admin type temp jobs are scarce as hens teeth. The agencies themselves are cutthroat with each other and there is nothing around.

Sorry to interfere, but can't just let you go without looking at it properly.

My temp contract finished last week and the agency themselves admitted they needed more work (mainly due to public sector not employing temps due to cutbacks). Another temp was finishing before me and rung every agency in the area, but no-one had anything.

It might be different where you are, but please look before you leap.

J

mardatha

It's horrible and grey and dull and cold and miserable here and has been all week !!!! :mad::mad::mad: