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

charlies-aunt

jamanda wrote: »

Start Monday - sec/pa.

(or general do it all/dogsbody type thing) I'm still absolutely stunned. I was convinced I had no chance of permanent employment at my age, especially considering the numbers applying for admin type jobs.

I understand why you feel like you do but a lot of over 50's have got a lot of advantage of the whizz-kids leaving college .... (generally speaking) we are mature, have a good work ethic - and having been round the block a few times - we tend to take things in our stride and just get stuck in and get on with it. I'm sure that you'll be great in the job! Are you celebrating your success? :T

NualaBuala

Crikey this thread moves fast!

Big hugs pagangirl, that sounds really rough. I hope it all gets sorted out soon.

Great news Bitter and Jamanda - delighted for you both!

Hope everyone else is ok - I just skimmed through cos there were LOADS of pages to catch up on and I'm trying to multitask.

Hippeechiq

Frugal wrote: »

Hippeechiq Baby wipes are amazing for all sorts of things... They really do work wonders in the home - I use them for dusting and wiping skirting boards, the bathroom sink, my headboard on the bed, marks on painted doors - You can use just 1 for loads of jobs no good for mirrors tho

Oh and I use them as face wipes too as they take makeup off and are cheaper than expensive 'facewipes'

Really? - That's interesting I've always got some in the house these days for my "hormonal" hot flushes, as they're nice to freshen up with until you're able to have a shower. Only SM own brand though, so I hope it doesn't have to be a posh wipe

I can appreciate they don't work well on mirrors :rotfl:

Thanks also for the info on the Flash Wipes CRANKY40 I've got a couple of marks on my carpet I'd like to get rid of, so if my own brand baby wipes don't do it, I may give the flash ones a go

Sorry you've been having such an awful time pagangirl :grouphug: the advice about asking for help on the benefits board was a good idea if no-one knows how to offer practical help on here. Good Luck with it hun

Kitcaboodle

Just got back from Tesco. Another scary shop! We're entertaining again this weekend, this time DH's best man & his wife but to be honest, I think that only added a tenner on top of the costs. It's scary how much stuff has gone up. I switched products in a few cases as the prices have gone up so much!

I also found a stupid pricing on Laughing cow cheese. 50p for a one layer box and £1.89 for a two layer box. Meaning I got the same amount for £1 by buying two of the single layer ones instead of the larger 'value' pack!

I need to go through our last few receipts at some point and work out where our main expenditure is going. Our shops used to be £45-£50 and now they are £65-£75 & only around £8 a week of it is baby related.

Hippeechiq

rosieben wrote: »

because of the price hikes we're expecting in the new year I'm making my own OS cleaning solutions from now on; I've got a few spray bottles and will be making up these mixes

- equal parts Stardrops/white vinegar/water for a general cleaner

- a stronger solution of vinegar/water + a few drops of tee tree oil as an anti bacterial spray

I'll also be experimenting with tea tree oil mixed with a little water as tto is supposed to be a good insect repellent; I might try adding other oils to the spray mix

I've used some of these ideas before but I lapsed back into buying the chemical mixes. Twice after using Cillit Bang I had a really bad asthma attack (had to do it a second time to make sure that's what caused it!)

I found these ideas on the Save Zillions on cleaning costs thread, worth a look if you haven't seen it yet

Thanks for that rosieben, and for the link

Can I ask - have you been using Stardrops for long? I bought a bottle in May and have tried using it a couple of times and have found it to be pretty useless.

I've mixed it with white vinegar and water - but I can't remember in what quantities now - but I've been rather disappointed in it after all it's good press.

I've still got it, and the white vinegar, and I'm thinking maybe the mix I previously tried wasn't strong enough, so I might have a go with our quantities.

rosieben

Hippeechiq wrote: »

Thanks for that rosieben, and for the link

Can I ask - have you been using Stardrops for long? I bought a bottle in May and have tried using it a couple of times and have found it to be pretty useless. ...

I've been using Stardrops for several years, it isn't a miracle cleaner, its just that it does pretty much everything expensive cleaners do for less money and less chemicals; I think its a case of experimenting till you get a good result, but I like quite a strong mix. I'm sure a decent washing up liquid would do the same and will be considering using that if Stardrops gets much more expensive

My sis helped me clean my old place when I moved out last year and she was so impressed with stardrops she bought her own; I was amazed as she is usually a Waitrose shopper and very 'label' obsessed, just about the last person I would have thought of as a Stardrops user!

Incidentally I buy white vinegar by the gallon from Summer Naturals, also bicarb in bulk (not food quality), they're worth a look if you're buying OS supplies - I'm not connected with them in any way except as an infrequent customer.

katholicos

Jamanda that is brilliant news indeed! Well done you!

katholicos

rosieben wrote: »

because of the price hikes we're expecting in the new year I'm making my own OS cleaning solutions from now on; I've got a few spray bottles and will be making up these mixes

- equal parts Stardrops/white vinegar/water for a general cleaner

- a stronger solution of vinegar/water + a few drops of tee tree oil as an anti bacterial spray

I'll also be experimenting with tea tree oil mixed with a little water as tto is supposed to be a good insect repellent; I might try adding other oils to the spray mix

I've used some of these ideas before but I lapsed back into buying the chemical mixes. Twice after using Cillit Bang I had a really bad asthma attack (had to do it a second time to make sure that's what caused it!)

I found these ideas on the Save Zillions on cleaning costs thread, worth a look if you haven't seen it yet

Cillit Bang is a KILLER! I bought a bottle of the spray stuff and my asthma was really bad too. It smells disgusting and it can't be good for anyone to use it regulalry. It should carry a health warning in my opinion.

jamanda

charlies-aunt wrote: »

I understand why you feel like you do but a lot of over 50's have got a lot of advantage of the whizz-kids leaving college .... (generally speaking) we are mature, have a good work ethic - and having been round the block a few times - we tend to take things in our stride and just get stuck in and get on with it. I'm sure that you'll be great in the job! Are you celebrating your success? :T

We know we work hard, it is the CV scanners that think we turn up with zimmerframe and continence issues.

Yes - bought a pack of reduced Mr. K cakes from co-op for 69p :rotfl:

Still in serious battening hatches mode/getting ready for winter etc. Might try for some more flour today. There's optimism for you.:)

Red_Doe

Incidentally I buy white vinegar by the gallon from Summer Naturals, also bicarb in bulk (not food quality), they're worth a look if you're buying OS supplies - I'm not connected with them in any way except as an infrequent customer.

Rosieben, never heard of Summer Naturals...do they sell online? I could use a bulk source of bicarb and vinegar for my work!
Katholicos, agree totally re the Cillit Bang! And I don`t have asthma! But when I did use it I got breathless and dizzy, and that was in a well aired bathroom. Mind you, Toilet Duck does that to me too. Ordinary bleach though, no problem, so I stick to that.