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

Kitcaboodle

I think it's a good idea to make children aware of the reality of finances. At least, if things aren't too bad. If they are pretty hand to mouth then maybe that might scare a younger child but certainly one of secondary school age ought to be able to handle the concept that there isn't a never-ending supply of cash for whatever is required.

I can't help but feel slightly resentful about interest rates staying so low. Both DH and I and our respective parents are being hit by this. I don't see why those who were sensible have to bear the worst brunt of economic measures but I'm sure that if it were all explained to me in detail I would understand & that we're doing this so banks don't go under and we don't wind up much worse off.

We all made sacrifices to get the savings we had and they are savings we need to live in the future, not just excess cash. Now we're being penalised and though it may be necessary, I don't think it's right and I don't think enough is being done to make sure banks (and people who just blow a fortune they don't own out of a sense of entitlement) don't do this to us again.

Sorry - but I'd rather see tougher banking legislation & someone's wide screen TV and X-box repossessed than see my mother or my lovely in-laws struggle to pay the bills because the savings that supplement their inadequate pensions (due to low-income jobs during their working years) are being hit because of the thoughtless actions of others.

I try not to judge and I am supportive of those who realise they need to tackle their debts, it's a brave move. It's those who went into it knowing they could never pay for it and not caring who had to foot the bills that make me angry.

Rowan9

I'm turning down the storage heaters as it is really warm at the moment - due to get colder again so will keep an eye on forecast. Tea planned and have also menu planned for next week. Just had a boiled egg and toast for my lunch. Was out in a shopping centre, all ready to have a latte as a nice treat, but it was too busy. So, the money is back in my purse and i've got a big mug of tea at home.

There is a free play on at our library this evening, followed by discussion and refreshments. Hope to go along.
W

ellanutella

Primrose wrote: »

Financial budgeting and learning about managing money ought to start appearing on the agenda in primary schools, and carry on into secondary education. It would be a tragedy, after the state this country's finances are in now, for any future generation to grow up and perpetuate the problem because they don't understand that nobody, whether individuals or countries, can spend more than they earn without it eventually ending in tears.

Such a good idea but in my cynicism I can't see it happening. At the moment as soon as you get to secondary school you get told how £3K (now £9k! :eek:) a year for uni is a great idea and "don't worry, you don't have to pay it back until you're earning over x amount" but neglect to tell you that you might be better off getting a decent job without going to uni first. If we had more financial literacy in schools students would start to see earlier that uni is a massive rip-off and the schools wouldn't want that reflected in the league tables!

katholicos

Minihauk, welcome!

All this talk of field trips reminds me of when my kids went on theirs....not only did they always come back completely covered in mud but also with rosy cheeks and bruises and scratches and torn clothing from all the outdoorsy stuff they did. They both had a brill time on their various trips and had to make do wearing the same old clothes that had hung in their wardrobes for the previous few years. When the kids are all covered in muck they all look the same no matter what they wear anyway.

grandma247

Sea salt You could get her a virgin pre paid card for online shopping. It works like a telephone top up card you can only spend what is on it.

Charlies aunt I'm old enough to remember the big, flat coppers and ha'pennies and the chunky threepenny bits! so am I !

Val I wish I had even a quarter of that to spend on clothes. I tentativley put some fabric in my online basket to make a suit, dress and skirt to the value of £28.48 and promptly deleted it because of unexpected expense on my car. I have not had new clothes for a long time. Now my machine is playing up and Needs professional help Grr:mad:.

wheretheresawill

BB1984 wrote: »

Morning all,
Someone recommended Berrocca as a way to lift me and my mood a bit - apparently it makes you feel much more "vital". However, I looked in Boots for it yesterday and it was something like £4 for 15 days' worth! Anyone have any MS versions of it? BB

Asda sell a brand that has the high dose vit B in it called energise by principle healthcare, it cost me under £2 for 30 days, exactly the same as berocca, very high doses of vit B (much higher than normal brands), makes your pee turn yellow but defo gives me a boost in energy - helps my bipolar and ME like symptoms

wheretheresawill

In fact i never buy branded meds
I buy 45p aspirin/paracetamol often called extra power instead of anadin extra (same ingredients)
ibuprofen instead of nurofen
ranitidine instead of zantac
supermarket own brand anti-histamines rather than big brands
Also watch out some drugs such as those for migraine or tension headache are often priced differently even though they both contain ibuprofen lysine - better still just buy the supermarket ibuprofen lysine

seasalt_2

Kitcaboodle wrote: »

I think it's a good idea to make children aware of the reality of finances. At least, if things aren't too bad. If they are pretty hand to mouth then maybe that might scare a younger child but certainly one of secondary school age ought to be able to handle the concept that there isn't a never-ending supply of cash for whatever is required.

I agree with you except that I think my now secondary school age children worry far more than they did when they were little when they didn't know any different - they are more aware now and, being teenagers, are also more aware of the joneses and occasionally (to be fair, only very occasionally - that I get to hear about anyway) envious of seemingly better off friends and must wonder sometimes why their parents can't manage to provide better.

Also, neither OH nor I are very good at reading the runes and staying a step ahead. Like all small farmers, we are told to diversify and have explored/tried several things but it always seems to involve more money going out than coming in and, in the end, more debt. Just can't see a light at the end of the tunnel.

We should have had a cattle inspection today but the DeptAg man forgot!!! So this is still hanging over our heads and another working day (getting them all in etc yesterday) lost for nothing.

NualaBuala

Same here, would never pay the price for branded meds. I stocked up a little last time I was in UK, prices were better than over here.

But then I've never been much interested in branded anything ... clothes, food, toiletries. I just realised there is one brand I like ... HP Sauce, haven't found a cheapy brand as nice.

Mardy, haven't see you around these parts today, hope you and our favourite RV are ok.

Fruball

wheretheresawill wrote: »

In fact i never buy branded meds
I buy 45p aspirin/paracetamol often called extra power instead of anadin extra (same ingredients)
ibuprofen instead of nurofen
ranitidine instead of zantac
supermarket own brand anti-histamines rather than big brands
Also watch out some drugs such as those for migraine or tension headache are often priced differently even though they both contain ibuprofen lysine - better still just buy the supermarket ibuprofen lysine

I cottoned on to this years ago too. I cannot for the life of me fathom why anyone would buy a branded product for 3 or more times the price of the same stuff in different packaging :cool: