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

Fruball

Welcome ellanutella Love the name Hope your pumpkin creations are a huge success. I love pumpkin seeds - there is a great knack to getting the shells out with your teeth and tongue that I learned when I was in the Middle East Felt like a parrot I ate so many

mardatha

We were talking today (we do sometimes, when we run out of other stuff to do !) and the OH was saying he has never, ever been as skint as he is now. Even when we were young and very poor, he says he always had some money , but not any more. We cannot understand WHY though, why things seem to have got so tough when we still have the same money... Does anybody find they are in the same boat?

jackieglasgow

We have more money coming in the house now than we have for several years but we are still cash poor.Part of it is repaying a loan from when one of OH's client bu66ered off with thousands of pounds which was meant to pay for the job OH had done for him, and feed us, but that still doesn't account for it. Despite watching all DDebs and the grocery budget we still struggle. I am flummoxed, and really am starting to worry that I am missing something obvious. The cost of living has increased dramatically for us.

bluebag

mardatha wrote: »

We were talking today (we do sometimes, when we run out of other stuff to do !) and the OH was saying he has never, ever been as skint as he is now. Even when we were young and very poor, he says he always had some money , but not any more. We cannot understand WHY though, why things seem to have got so tough when we still have the same money... Does anybody find they are in the same boat?

Oh yes, that's why I'm on here.:rotfl: The pound has been devalued almost 30% to help the economy, quite how that works I'm not sure?? Seriously though, I think it's quite hard for a lot of folk, it's just that not everyone talks about it.

One of the most telling signs for me was the queue for reduced stuff in the supermarket and how large a shelf the value brands occupy now.
Many who are not too badly off have a tremble of fear too as no-ones job seems to be safe these days.
Keep chatting on here, it helps, as the thread says ..... it's tough, not half!

kidcat

mardatha wrote: »

We were talking today (we do sometimes, when we run out of other stuff to do !) and the OH was saying he has never, ever been as skint as he is now. Even when we were young and very poor, he says he always had some money , but not any more. We cannot understand WHY though, why things seem to have got so tough when we still have the same money... Does anybody find they are in the same boat?

Oh yes, I do so agree, even when we were deep in debt I didn't feel as badly off as we are now. I feel like we are haemoraging money at the moment. I am much better at cooking from scratch, meal planning and not using heating etc, yet still most weeks I find that money goes in on thursday and am broke by Saturday.

parsonswife8

The cost of living seems to have shot up right under our noses. I'm so glad that I have squirrelled away quite a lot of loo rolls, tissues, paper towels, cans of food etc.

The train fares are going to go through the roof as well.

:mad:

bluebag

parsonswife8 wrote: »

The cost of living seems to have shot up right under our noses. I'm so glad that I have squirrelled away quite a lot of loo rolls, tissues, paper towels, cans of food etc.

The train fares are going to go through the roof as well.

:mad:

Aye, it's more than money stretching now, there seems to be a constant and enlarging drip of expenses and a shrinkage of income.
I haven't had to bust down a brand for a while, that's changed lately.

I don't know what will happen if stuff keeps going up, we are eating into the few luxuries we have, once the money for them is eaten up, we will be going without ...not a pleasant thought.

greent

We're skinter now, too. Partly because OH is now self employed and earns less (and no longer has a company car) and also because things like insurances, food, gas/ electricity (£ouch!) and diesel are so much more expensive We've gone from a company car to a personal one and a halved income. In 2007 we went to Disneyland Paris for 5 days, Centre Parcs for 5 days, London for 4 days and Orlando for a fortnight... :o (we financed it all through income/ savings/ tesco vouchers, though - no credit cards or loans) This year we've been to Cornwall in a £100 caravan and 3 nights in Edinburgh - I'm grateful that we've been away - don't get me wrong!! And I know that's more than a lot of people can afford. OH wanted a fortnight abroad (preferably the US again!!) - he's so far out of touch....

OH has had (mental) health problems in the last few years - and was made redundant twice last year (hence why is now s/e) and a result of the 2 combined has left him with an inability to deal with/ talk about finances (although, sadly, not an inability to spend) - which means it's all down to me - which is fine 98% of the time - but just occasionally I'd like to talk about things with him....

I'm not saying that we're not ok - compared to lots of others we're well off. I do think about reducing the bills every day though - turning lights/ appliances etc off, not wasting food, ebaying stuff that I'd have previously freecycled/ charity shopped, shopping for cheaper things. We have no spare cash (although would do if OH visited the cashpoint less....)

But this site is great - and the vast majority of people on here are great

mardatha - I waved as I went past on my way to Edinburgh!! (booked train tickets in advance with railcard = cost £43.60. Left an hour before train was due to get to stn/ park - 20 min journey) Big accident and all routes closed or gridlocked - got to stn 5 mins after (delayed) train left. Had to buy more tickets at an additional cost of £105!!:eek::mad::mad::mad: Still - at least we weren't in the accident and our journey was only delayed, not stopped.

gailey_2

ahh love this place breath of fresh air compared to come people on mums forums who spend over 1000 on xmas!

I keep thinking im more skint now than when I was at uni how can this be.

Part of reasons is debts.
but debts only been built up not through luxuries but having no savings when car breaks down as frequently does or washing machine/drier dies it goes on credit card, can never seem to get out of overdraft.

Interest rates on debts and extortionate bankcharges havent helped.

we cut back I think as much as we can do think we have takeaway once amonth, go out maybe once every 3months, rarly go shopping to mall as have no disposable income as such everythings accounted for and often rely on ebay , nearly new sales and carboot to kit family out in clothes they need.
shopped around as much as we can for food, eating less meat, mostly cooking from scratch so yes definatly tricky.

Cost of living has risen. I think inflations running at about 3% and hubbys annual pay rise was 1%.

petrol costs more but essential to get to work!
Feel sorry for people who take trains as they truly are pricey hardly encuorages less people to take their cars.
first bus here is very expensive compared to some council run services used to use in wales.

food costs have gone up for sure.
Those lucky enough to have savings earn pitiful interest.
interest rates are low which may benefit morgage holders but unsecured debts most people have ie credit cards, od ,loans not determined by base rates.
Some morage providers take no notice either.

Dont know if any of you remember that programme couple of months ago called tough times parter bbc martin was on it! They highlighted that during the recession when morgage rates were slashed people on tracker morgages benfited enormously and felt they had more money in their pocket the since we came out.
Hubbys got mate who had tracker he earns good money, single and pays stupidly low morgage maybe less than 200a month on 3 bed detached house, couldent get rent that low.

Theres the housing conundrum really that those who brought at right time pay much less in morgage than private rents thats how I account for most people not pleading poverty round where I live as most seem to own.
However on other side of coin know people who brought at boom and remoraged on strength of housing will go up and then the crash happened, they in negative equity struggling and cant sell.

The 1st time buyer who wants to buy cant as need immaculate credit history.
20-25percent deposit on average priced house round here would need to save 50grand.
There are a couple of 10percent deals but high interest rates would mean least 20grand put down and higher morage payments then what we currently pay in rent.

My point is some people been cushioned by property if morgage is affordable.
If someones overstetched their salary x6 say and put down no deposit/consolidated debts then they more vunerable to intrest rate rise.
I fear what will happen when interest rates go up what will happen.
Not sure they can stay low forever and if they really benfit the many or the few.
Apparently its good for the pound to be weak as helps exports.

But all what I said above is econonomics doesnt highlight how it can affect real people and familes.

we out of recession but dont feel any less gloomy still struggling.
Most of us not dancing in streets over 0.9percent growth figures as we dont feel benefits of growth.
Unemployent slowed down but will rise due to cuts.
Hopefully private sector will take slack who knows but have had family made redundant last few years and know few people worried about their job security now.

wish I knew what would happen but dont think anyone does.
All we can do is try live within our limited means ensure food on table, bills paid, roof over heads and accruing no more debts then I will consider myself fortunate.
As my nana said plenty people worse off than you true but still feels hard.
I hate the stress and worry we seem to have due to lack of money.
Hate the juggling finances to pay for basics.

I guess when anyone works hard and they feel they have nothing to show for it can be disheartening.
Especially when they compare to others.
Think some people probably are stuggling but not being open about it.
definatly noticed supermarkets become more competative, more value stuff.
More people hovering round reduced .
delas like dine in for 10quid at marks replacing the night out or takeaway we used to have.
Only going pictures on wed and smuggling in snacks and drinks.

Trying to keep everyone upbeat by having little treats and cheaper substitutes.

Looking back think this xmas be slightly better than last 2xmas dec 2008 was particuarly hard.
We managed to pay quite a lot of debt this year.
cars cost us slightly less than last year.
definatly reduced grocery bills.
need to shop around again for ultilities ect.

Noticed with 2small kids they cost more the bigger they get!
so thats been increasing cost for us I guess.

Wonder how much next rent increase be as cant afford to move right now as when you rent they want huge deposit, one months rent in advance and moving costs/admin fees.

Im going to try and be positive im sure we in best place to survive whats thrown at us with all advice and support here.
Im trying not to stress and think what will be will be .

Welcome ella nuttella-everyones lovley here.
Did put butternut squash in lasagne a few times as its in jaimies dinner book one layer of roasted squash.

never got round to doing casserole or pizzas will definatly do tommorow.
have done a lot of cleaning .
made mini quiches half gone now as kids love them.

Finally got round to sewing hubbys patch on jeans been wanting to do for weeks.

going to watch kirsty then early night for me.
Hubbys just taken 4year old to bed hes asleep shes still awake!
Babys alsleep.

ahh had nitemare earlier with lego /mirror vouchers been collecting realised I will be short , not got todays and miscounted how many I got.
however online mate brought sunday/sat mirror so shes posting them to me, last one tommorow so will have 8to send off at end of week hope its worth it as hate the mirror.

Lindy_-_Loo

Gailey - it is nice to see what Aaron gets up to at school, Im in his class monday morning and if I wasnt I wouldnt know much! Its like MI5 - if he told me, he would have to kill me!

Shopping is costing us the most at the minute - need to shop around more as this month we have overspent already. Saw some bits in B&M grocery section today but didnt have time to look at them properly. Have had to tell OH to stop using the cash point, drawing cash out willy nilly again, think he forgets sometimes that we have a budget. He didnt get a payrise at work this year again, even had to but his own lunch on a training session in stockport yesterday, told they were being provided lunch so he didnt take any.

Think we be okay in terms of having bought lots of the christmas gifts, so shouldnt have a debt with that.

Know what you mean as kids getting more expensive as they get older, the boys are outgrowing everything at the moment