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

Annie56

Hi everyone...

Been to a clothes swapping do at a friends house, came away with some jamas and a pair of heavy type trainers and a nice hat glove and scarf set and a black leather jacket I swapped for my brown leather jacket...there were lots of talk about the state of everyones finances.. and the general opinion is ooooh yes its getting tough, some of there hubbies are genuinely feeling for there jobs (public sector) two have had there work hours reduced and one made redundant.

Also noticed that Ive lots of competition at the reduced counters in the evening, some folk have cottoned on to the times they reduce the items ( have they been on here for advice lol) so looks like Im going to have to be more adventurous in my cooking and start bulking things out.

Ive been helping out a friend the last couple of weeks to move into her flat she suffers from bi polar and is moving into a supported housing place, she had virtually nothing furniture wise just over 2 weeks ago and thanks to a request for some items on Freecycle and thanks to some lovley kind and generous folk she has now a nicely furnished flat, sureit doesnt all match but its clean paid for and thats all that matters. Thank goodness I can sew well enough to shorten curtains etc, must say it was lovley to sit in her flat the other evening with everything done and see the lovley safe look she had on her face..folks generosity and kindness and love for there fellow man never fails to amaze me.

And tonight my world suddenly had a wowee moment happen (see signature) and all the carp and nastiness of the last 3 months have just disapeared.....

Hugs and warm wishes to everyone, wherever you are....

Annie56

Patchwork_Quilt

Happy Birthday for tomorrow Parsonswife!

We were just saying that we feel really skint at the moment, which is ridiculous, as DH has a good job. However, we used to go out for a meal once a week - unbelievable now! The cost of living has definitely escalated and I resent having to make myself hang the clothes on the airer instead of putting the dryer on etc. All the job loss forecasts are making me worried it will get worse before it gets better.

v8monkeyboy

StarsandMoon,

I know exactly how you feel. I'm constantly astonished as how much money people waste, and how, in these times they are still using all their money, right up to the overdraft, then fretting until they get paid!

I know some people have no choice, but when you see them sit down to eat a ready meal, and they're talking about the 3 week holiday they're going to have, you do wonder which world they're living in. Because we scrimp and save, watch the pennies and fret over what goes in (v little) to what goes out, we still have some savings left over for when we will have a lean month. Everyone at work always asks what I've got for dinner or lunch becuase it's usually so much nicer than theirs!

I can't remember the lat time I bought new clothes - the £15 pair of work trousers I bought in my first year of uni are still doing a grand job of making me look smart at work, and I'll probably wear them until they fall off!

I'm so hoping I'll get the job I'm going for on Friday. Not only because it's exactly what I want to do, but also because it's really well paid. It's private sector mental health nursing, so there's not as many benefits as in the NHS, but at the moment, I'm willing to take my chances, just to have that first paypacket!

T xx

Annie56

helloo again

further on the subject of folk are coping, at the garage where I work folk are still coming in and filling up there cars to the brim with petrol/diesel, swearing at me at the price and yes I do mean swearing and paying for it all withthere credit cards, twice weve had some well heeled types cards declined and they suddenly find the cash to pay in there purse. Then you have the other extreme, the person that needs the petrol to get the kids to school or for them to go to there part time work and they hand over there £5 for there petrol/diesel and they have to eek out every mile.
Ive got a wee box of lollies and sweeties under the counter for the kids that come in for there mum and dad and they have a freebie couple on me.

My dad has let a few well trusted folk he knows and trusts have there petrol on tick till they get paid at the end of the month,and they have never failed to pay him each time, same when they have an emergency repair we have let them pay a bit each week till its cleared, the mechanics have done work and overtime on there own time for a couple of single parents and not charged for labour, in the belief that there but for the grace of god go I.
I know these folk pass the favour on in some small way and as long as society helps one another its not a lost cause..

If nothing else comes out of this credit crunch/scared for my job/watching the pennies time I hope its the rediscovery of friendliness based on the ethic were all in this together type attitude,whilst its not a very secure time for most folks i have high hopes that the goodness and humanity that is still in us will persevere for the better of all.....

Maybe Im living in cloud cuckoo land as my friend often says, but whats that old song say oh yes "When the going gets tough, the tough get going" and boy has this forum in particular made me toughen up my finances and attitude to money and waste and recycling and mostimportantley of all keeping a watchful eye over my friends family and neighbours, Im no angel just someone that had it all once, lost it through lifes circumstances and realised that it wasnt the end of the world but the beginng of a phase in my life that is ful of warmth and kindness and love ad that didnt cost me a penny, its freely given and boy thats one bargain I wont be turning down.

scuse my soppy ramblings this evening...

Annie56

bluebag

Annie56, so pleased that the sun is shining in your world at last, you have had a rough time lately. :happyhear

Happy Birthday Parsonswife._party_

Gailey, stop beating yourself up for what you can't do, good god woman! it takes my breath away what you achieve in a day.:A

ceridwen

Annie56 wrote: »

And tonight my world suddenly had a wowee moment happen (see signature) and all the carp and nastiness of the last 3 months have just disapeared.....



Annie56

....and I wonder who that might be?;):think::whistle:;):D

Who'd a thunk it? only a few months ago that life would be so much on the up for you...

************************

PARSONS WIFE

:bdaycake: HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Do we give you the virtual "bumps" now?:D

Pitlanepiglet

Happy Birthday Parsonswife :bdaycake:

ceridwen

Patchwork_Quilt wrote: »

All the job loss forecasts are making me worried it will get worse before it gets better.

The people I feel sorriest for are those under 35 actually. I'm old enough to remember when unemployed people got full benefit (if need be) on reaching adulthood (believe that meant 18 - not 21 - from memory??). I was shocked when the cuts came in many years back now whereby full benefit wouldnt be payable until 25 years old (?unless the person had child/ren.....?). So was horrified that people werent going to be treated as adults for benefit purposes if they were childless until they got to 25.

Now I'm hearing that people won't be given enough benefit (if necessary) to cover the rent on a 1 bedroom flat until they are 35. Errrr...so what happens if they already HAVE a 1 bedroom flat then AND its unfurnished (ie they'd have a lot of furniture to put in store if they were kicked out back into bedsits or shared houses until they get to 35 years old)? I suppose they are expected to turn the bedroom into one bedsit and the sitting room into another and take in a lodger??? :eek: What happens if they cant do that - because the layout of the flat is that the kitchen and sitting room are one big room? I DO hope that the definition of a 1 bedroom flat is clarified - ie it only includes flats where there are quite distinct separate bedroom, sitting room and kitchen (no going through one room to use another).....:cool:.

They were referring to not letting 25-34 year olds have a flat to themselves - errrr...what happens to people up to 24 years old then? I havent heard owt...so does that mean they have to live in squats? I have parents who would have accepted me staying with them until 25 if they had had to - my old room is still there empty now all these years later. But - I know a lot of people arent in that position and have no choice but to move out as soon as they can because their parents arent ones that one would wish on anyone...
(There ya' go me muvva and moy daddee - I knows yer loves me really....)

seraphina

ceridwen - I don't think the changes will affect anyone already in a one-bed flat, rather people who are new to the claiming process. Instead of being able to claim for a 1-bed flat, they'll be able to claim a room in a shared house. And TBH, the majority of my single friends (we're in all in the 24-35) all live in flat shares, and are all employed. Don't have a problem with benefits being limited accordingly. The only people I know not in shared houses are those in relationships or one person who came into some money through an inheritance.

ceridwen

seraphina wrote: »

ceridwen - I don't think the changes will affect anyone already in a one-bed flat, rather people who are new to the claiming process. Instead of being able to claim for a 1-bed flat, they'll be able to claim a room in a shared house. And TBH, the majority of my single friends (we're in all in the 24-35) all live in flat shares, and are all employed. Don't have a problem with benefits being limited accordingly. The only people I know not in shared houses are those in relationships or one person who came into some money through an inheritance.

Lets hope you're right - ie that it wont affect anyone who has already achieved a one bedroom flat. I remember being horrified before when single people were to be restricted to a one bedroom flat and thinking "What about the guest bedroom/study then?" So - after all that - I wonder whether the next generation doesnt expect as much as my own does then?? I remember it really "hurting" and being very upset/unaccepting about my accommodation until I was able to get a proper flat at last (too dear an area here for that to be easy....:(). My first reaction on stepping through the door of that flat was "ABOUT TIME - now I can start getting on with my adult life properly....". I then went into the fight/save mode of "How do I get a house of my own?" next .....

...But I do remember quite clearly not being able to "make a proper start" on my adult life till I managed to get that flat..it delayed a lot of things..

It depends on the person to some extent - some people like housesharing and some don't. I'm from the "An English persons home is their castle" school of thought and don't react at all well to noise when I want quiet or someone else leaving THEIR housework for me to do/or try to ignore. So people with "home as castle" viewpoint really ARE going to suffer - a LOT - with not being allowed to get a "drawbridge to pull up" under 35 (unless they have child/ren.......:think: - in other words the Government hasnt thought THAT through then......).