It isn`t tough for us. We are OS and we COPE

GreyQueen

kitschy wrote: »

For me personally, it makes sense for me to stock up a little week by week. Firstly because of the ever-rocketing prices, whether that's due to economics or the bad harvests (for example, I bought extra sugar when it was half price in Morrisons last week because the bad sugar beet harvest will inevitably hit the consumer). Also, my current contract ends in April, with the replacement contract (on which I may or may not be offered a job) not starting until June. The more I can make my pennies stretch now, by honing my frugal skills, hopefully the less painful I can make things if the worst happens in a few months.

If by chance none of these horrid things happen, I will have more pennies in the bank and my dream home will be that little bit closer!

I'm of the same mindset as Kitschy. I don't want to rob anyone else and I don't think the end of the world is nigh. However, I haven't had a pay increase this financial year at all and what I got last financial year was a poxy £5.62 a month on my net income. Everything I have to pay for has gone up (council tax, rent, service charge) and I have no control over them. I rarely do anything other than buy the basics anyway and my utility bills are already pared to the bone. I've got a few bob in the bank but thanks to low interest rates and inflation it's not even holding it's value. I can't do extra hours due to health problems so I'm really working my OS skills from my upbringing and from what I learn here (thank you, one and all ). Plus, I work in the public sector for a local authority whose settlement from the Govt is one of the worst in the country, despite my city (and particularly the ward I'm living in) having among the worst poverty in Europe. Who knows how long I'll have a job for?! Right now, every store but one will sell me 3 tins of tomatoes for £1 or 99p. The one which will sell me 4 for £1 (FarmFoods) has 36p on the label. Isn't that many years ago that I was buying bog-standard tommies at 7p a can. Lots of canned goods have doubled in price, sometimes between one week and another, and some have trebled in a short time. I'm socking some of my staples away, with the purchase date and price written on the top, as a hedge against rapid price inflation. I won't waste them, and I won't be eating more than I otherwise would, but I'm re-arranging the purchase date to suit my budget. I'll be stockpiling in the region of a few dozen not a few hundred, due to lack of storage space at the Shoebox, but I figure the current deal with FF is effectively "Buy 3 get 1 free". I'm not going to get rich doing this but I reckon I'll be slightly less poor.

lickylonglips

GreyQueen wrote: »

I'm of the same mindset as Kitschy. I don't want to rob anyone else and I don't think the end of the word is nigh. However, I haven't had a pay increase this financial year at all and what I got last financial year was a poxy £5.62 a month on my net income. Everything I have to pay for has gone up (council tax, rent, service charge) and I have no control over them. I rarely do anything other than buy the basics anyway and my utility bills are already pared to the bone. I've got a few bob in the bank but thanks to low interest rates and inflation it's not even holding it's value. I can't do extra hours due to health problems so I'm really working my OS skills from my upbringing and from what I learn here (thank you, one and all ). Plus, I work in the public sector for a local authority whose settlement from the Govt is one of the worst in the country, despite my city (and particularly the ward I'm living in) having among the worst poverty in Europe. Who knows how long I'll have a job for?! Right now, every store but one will sell me 3 tins of tomatoes for £1 or 99p. The one which will sell me 4 for £1 (FarmFoods) has 36p on the label. Isn't that many years ago that I was buying bog-standard tommies at 7p a can. Lots of canned goods have doubled in price, sometimes between one week and another, and some have trebled in a short time. I'm socking some of my staples away, with the purchase date and price written on the top, as a hedge against rapid price inflation. I won't waste them, and I won't be eating more than I otherwise would, but I'm re-arranging the purchase date to suit my budget. I'll be stockpiling in the region of a few dozen not a few hundred, due to lack of storage space at the Shoebox, but I figure the current deal with FF is effectively "Buy 3 get 1 free". I'm not going to get rich doing this but I reckon I'll be slightly less poor.

You sound to be in a very similar position to me.... You're not a teacher or council worker in Blackpool, are you? No pay increase, amongst the most deprived council wards in Europe, massive cuts from government this year? It certainly sounds like my life!!

GreyQueen

lickylonglips wrote: »

You sound to be in a very similar position to me.... You're not a teacher or council worker in Blackpool, are you? No pay increase, amongst the most deprived council wards in Europe, massive cuts from government this year? It certainly sounds like my life!!

Frontline council staffer in another part of England. Hope I'm too front line and too low paid to be axed, but who can tell?!

Hardup_Hester

I got a payrise, woohoo, well 3 of us did because we've worked at school for 5 years, it was due in September but got 'forgotten' so I got a lump sum, about £80. By the time I've bought DGD1 a birthday present & DGD2 a welcome to the world present, there will be about £60 left that will go straight into my savings.
As my DD is fairly broke most of the time I buy useful stuff for presents, DGD1 is getting 2 pairs of pyjamas & some sweets (leftover from ones I was given at Christmas) DGD2 is getting a pack of very small babygros as she is so much smaller than DD previous babies. For Christmas I gave DD & her hubby some B & Q vouchers, another useful present.

kitschy

GreyQueen wrote: »

Frontline council staffer in another part of England. Hope I'm too front line and too low paid to be axed, but who can tell?!

And I'm a DWP worker from the apparently affluent South East - so if I don't get a new job, I'll be sitting the other side of my desk :eek:

fedupfreda

*Maya* wrote: »

Seriously?????? It's a recession, not a revolution. I think a bit of perspective is needed here. :cool:

Dont think anyone is seriously suggesting that :eek: but I agree with grey queen, piglet and choc claire, among others - keeping a reasonable store cupboard is a hedge against sudden price rises - especially when many of us are on fixed or reducing incomes.

I look at my weekly costs and they seem to go up week on week. I prepare for things with one eye on the worst - but hoping for the best. Sad experience has told me that things do go pear shaped occasionally - despite the best laid plans. Im interested to hear how people coped in earlier times - we have survived much worse and lived to tell the tale:)

babyblooz

Well having read through this while I munched on my 'using up all the bits from the fridge eked out with left over christmas things' lunch (which was surprisingly yummy by the way) I am now off to Netto to pack away a few extra bags of flour and sugar. Then I can at least bake myself a home made cake or scones to cheery myself up if /when things get any worse. Redundancy is looming!
Think I might try and get a few bags of dried fruit as well, then I can make cakes or teabread or scones. May also get some dried yeast, although in the past I have had free yeast from asda, but that was a long time ago.

mummy2mygirls

Hello all I have spent the last few days having a read of the whole thread - finally at the end So many helpful tips so thank you all so much.
Im not great at being all OS but I do try and am going to need to be even more so - We are really trying to hit our debts and make as big a dent in as possible - But as DH hasnt had a payrise of anykind since 2006 :eek: money just gets tighter and tighter (But we are very greatful that he still has a job ) Also no5 is due in April The main thing I do which is OS and saves us LOADS each mth is use reusable nappies - I managed to get good bargains from the internet and after the first cost of them all they are saving us around £80 a mth :eek: after taking into account the cost of washing them!! Will use them with the next baby aswell and hope I dont have to get to many more (Will have 3 in nappies for a while so might need a few more)

We Grew some tomatoes in the garden last year for the first time so this year I hope we might be able to grow some more bits - DD1 really liked it last year

Looking forward to reading more of your tips

mardatha

There is nothing remotely silly about stocking up on food...our grannies & before them all did it because they lived in uncertain times.
We are living in uncertain times !
At the very least, it stops you having to run out in bad weather snow and ice. You just eat from the front of the cupboard and put new stuff at the back. A shop in the comfort of your own hoose

kittiej

Whilst we're on the subject of stocking up, I went to my local Poundstretcher Extra yesterday and they're selling 36 toilet rolls for a fiver. I don't know how good they are but I might call in one day this week and get some.