How to Get Through The Tough Times The Old Style Way.

GreyQueen

Loving that new word. Consider it stolen and added into the GQ vocabulary:rotfl:

I've "kept my numbers" for 13 years now (I know, I know, should get a life but it is addictive.....) and just add my figure from the grocery receipts to a wee notebook - am only on my 2nd notebook -and make a running total every Saturday and a monthly total which gets added onto an Excel spreadsheet. I like to fiddle around with Excel because I'm a sad git with a pie-chart addiction. And the Autosum function is soooo easy. It interests me to see where my money is going, to see if I'm happy with the direction and if I can tweak my habits to make a little more money appear in the Trips and Hols section, f'instance. We all have our funny little ways.......:rotfl:

jediteacher

jackieglasgow wrote: »

Jediteacher its your local council, they tend to service and MOT their own vehicles and so if they have their own MOT station, they tend to be cheaper as they are not looking for "extras" Martin has written an article about it I am sure, try looking on the tabs up the top on motoring.

EDIT here it is Jedi

Many thanks Jackie. :beer: I'll head over to have a read now.

Pitlanepiglet

Morning all, we're in the process of moving nearly 91 year old MiL into supported housing (kind of halfway house between living on her own as she does now) and a home. It's lovely, all meals provided, only 8 residents and right in the middle of a town which is great for her as she loves to potter around but can't get too far.

I want to get some name tags for her clothes - I've been looking at Cash tags £8.15 for 36 tags. I think I'd rather have sew on rather than iron on but that's probably because that's what I've always used. Can anyone suggest other suppliers and give me their views of iron on tags?

The washing is blowing on the line and the bread is cooking in the bread maker so it's a very OS day so far...

jackieglasgow

PLP I use the M&S iron-on ones, and iron them on to the labels. They stick like sh*t on a stick :rotfl: DS2 is wearing some school tshirts which were big brothers and are six years old now, and the labels are still like new.

ceridwen

MaLarkin wrote: »

Re a few comments on worrying what life holds for our children, and in my case grandchildren. I do wonder if in the future with less jobs and high house prices we will revert to generations of families sharing the family home. It's something our family have talked about and before you all tell me I'm MAD to even consider it i assure you I'm well aware of all the pitfalls. Don't know if I'll ever have the courage to do it but I can see advantages as well as disadvantages. Guess it would need lots of love, total honesty about what you could and couldn't tolerate and a damn good legal agreement in place.

I am sure you are right actually. This has been anticipated for some years by Sharon Astyk (the American equivalent of Britain's Rob Hopkins of the Transition Town Movement). She quite specifically has frequently wondered aloud how this could best be done/stated she thinks it will be necessary for a lot of people just in order that they can BE housed/etc.

We have seen some bad examples of how things have been when this has happened on MSE on the one hand. I've read some good examples in the Press of how well this has worked out for some people on the other hand.

It would be interesting to hear the views of anyone who has done this (whether for good or ill) - so that we have some examples from experience on this.

The thought occasionally crosses my mind (and goes straight out again...:rotfl:) of keeping my house (obviously) and just leaving it sitting here empty (simply couldnt face all the hassle of tenants:eek:) and moving back into my parents' home as a joint thing (ie they are getting very frail now - but HUGELY insistent understandably on keeping their independence and that would be one fit person in their household anyway keeping an eye out on them). On the other hand - I really dont like my house - so wouldnt miss the blimmin' place of itself one bit on the other hand. But 'spect it wouldnt work - as we're all of us a VERY privacy-loving family and I would miss my Internet connection:(. So - back to trying to make the best of the Blimmin' House...(tells self "Shut UP ceridwen...lots of people are having to rent...at least B.H. is your own...").

rachbc

I've just done my meal plan for the month - now just need to work out ing to buy and price it up at mysupermarket/ aldi

I really really must start planning the garden too - my mum got my Geoff Hamiltons Ornamental Kitchen Garden last year. My only garden is at the front - and open plan to the neighbours so it needs to look nice (or at least not to Klampit like) as well!

gailey_2

kidcat wrote: »

Chepaer MOTs are at council run places, the idea is that they are independant as they do not do repairs so have nothing to gain by a car failing.

Rainning again here today and its making me very down, have got whole house to sort as next week the LL is visiting with the person who will be living here when we leave Still not told the youngest three that we are having to move no matter what - they know we are trying to buy. As last time the whole idea of being forced to move built up such resentment in both boys that it wasnt healthly so no matter what, I am sticking to the idea that if we dont buy we have decided its time to go home.

Havent been in much this week with so many house viewings etc yet our electricity consumption has risen dramatically?? No idea why. Worse our fixed rate energy deal ends this week and the rates have risen alot since we fixed meaning that even if we only use what we currently use our bills we be £300 more than before!!

Havent managed to plant anything yet as OH has still not got the compost from its hiding place in the garage and I cannot get to it.

Our little car is due an MOT next week and will doubtless require work - at the very least I am expecting to have to buy a CAT for it as it usually requires one every other year. Have two birthdays to do in next couple of weeks and two parties so its going to be very expensive. Am looking out for party boxes for the food as that really makes sense (thanks Gailey).

No worries actaully meant zero waste.:D

as had packet of mini chedders,animals,funsize milky way,carton of orange and cheese and ham sandwich in each box.
Cost of just food not box,napkin and toy managed to squeeze in was 66p as shopped around family bargain,tesco offers and farmfoods for cartons/bread/cheese/ham.
Obviously the price depends on the deals so try and buy something now if you see a good deal.
We made 6boxes toomany as not everyone rsvp and some forgot!

Anyway hubby took some sandwiches to worknext day with leftover birthday cake.

My girls had remaining sandwiches and cartons for next day.
obviosly mini chedders,animals and milk way wrapped and long dates so they ate that throughout the week.
Littlepopelonly have little appetites and nearly every party been too had far too much buffet and leftovers.
Also was cost/timesaving as all prepared and boxed up at home,easy to transports,noneed tohite kitchen at hall just laid tablecloths and put boxes and balloons on table.

Going to use spare remaining boxes for mini picnics and schoolcake sale.
Chepeast place to find partyboxes definatly ebay got mine local partyshop40p abox asswas short ontime.
Somebody pmed me and said homebargains did them for 25pbut dont have one here.They do plain or themed prints.

jackie-well done on carboot they havent started here yet think its april they restart cant wait as charity shops bit rubbish locally and seem quite pricey.

Greyqeen-love the word shoportunist!:rotfl:
I need to start tracking recipts andmoney more.
Anyone else findsometimes monthly challange does not workbut neither does annual.

We tend to do onebig freezer shop at farmfoods every other month.
huge storecupboard/grocery shopfor allbasics every 2-3months

Fresh/chilled weekly I guess as forver running out of ham, milk,cheese and fruit.

offers bogoffs and reductions as we see them as they obviously timelimited and bulkbuyif deals are good .

Wondering how best to do spreadsheet on this.

did wonder about virtual savings money box soat bottom of recipt says you have saved xamount today put that value into savings and turn it from virtual into actual as would give real incentive for meto watchthe pennies and keepshopping around as savings grow.

The bank ringing you made mechuckle.Shouldhave said invest in bars onwindow to keep me safe see what response wouldbe then:rotfl:.

Think only investments im making this year as debt busting too will be in tinnedfood,saving stamps. Wouldlove to builduptidy pot in isa but not sure if doable at present.

Bit baffled by our energy.Was convinced we were paying too much a month but was scared of next bill too.turns out we incredit and got refunded 160pounds but latest statement shows we still incredit 300quid have no idea how?Hubby tried ringing scottishpower yesetrday but 45min wait very confused.

Want hubby to start putting some money aside each month for car and tax.so not huge cost.we taxed our car 6months but claiming 5months back as new car comes with years tax and was100quid cheaper thancurrent car
.New car aslo has years mot and 12months warranty on it sohoping aprt from diesil wont cost us much:D.

As for micra sailed through mot last year was suprised as been in garge nearly 2 years but then mil wanted rid of it.

All it needed was new battery 70quid and has saved us approx 150quid in petrol costs a month as other car was 70quid a tank lasted a weeks so was spending 280quid amonth.
25quidin micra lasts 4days so put about 100-120in micra and half a tank in other car each month.

jackieglasgow

did wonder about virtual savings money box soat bottom of recipt says you have saved xamount today put that value into savings and turn it from virtual into actual as would give real incentive for meto watchthe pennies and keepshopping around as savings grow.

I mucked up the quote there, but Gailey I think this is a fabulous idea.

Greying_Pilgrim

Grey Queen - I have just re-read my post and don't think it came out as I intended. What I intended to convey was that middle-eastern countries use dried BB's a whole lot more than we do, so by searching for fava bean or Ful (as they're called in the ME) you'd get a whole load of info/recipes - but fava can be eaten fresh, just like we eat BB's. I don't think the UK has many recipes using dried BB's and a quick glance in jane grigson's vegetable book sort of back this up.

Apologies if i sounded in anyway flippant

I was typing and running because I was off to start cooking beans that had soaked overnight. I have pinto/jacob's cattle gold (homegrown) and black-eyed beans (bought) cooking now. therefore another observation is that HG beans don't produce anything like the 'scum' of bought beans that has to be removed as they cook. HG beans less work and cook quicker so less energy use - yay!

This year i intend to grow some 'yard long' beans (have seed) because i read that when dried they were black-eyed beans (or some references said peas, but not sure they are the same). Jury's out on that, as the seeds don't look anything like the black-eyed beans that I bought

I saw reference in 2009 to using dried runner beans in cooking. We tried it with our HG runners. Speaking for our household, unless you aspire to run your own 'wind' farm, don't bother - give any glut of fresh beans to neighbours etc if you've preserved all you need......

Right back to my beans on the stove - BE beans for 'hoppin john' tonight and the HG beans for a chunky chilli tomorrow.

Greying

GreyQueen

It's an interesting subject, isn't it? The single-family household (ie parents and dependant children) is a historical anomaly in this country and unheard-of in many parts of the world. The concept of the elder generation being left lonely in their own homes or "put away" in care homes is a subject of incredulity and abhorrence in many culures. However, it's not to be over-romantic as the bulk of the domestic burden and any caring burden will be on the shoulders of the younger women. Ma-in-laws can be scary as well as loving.

We tend to look at people who share their homes with their adult offspring or their elderly parents with pity, not considering that there are subtle emotional and well as concrete financial benefits.

I live alone but my brother lives with our parents. He's somewhere on the Asperger's scale and doesn't mix well enough to hold a job so he runs an internet business as self-employed. They look out for each other and if anyone comes to the door, the oldies send Bruv to loom over them. No one will try anything on with him as he's well over six foot and a martial artist.

When my parents were teenagers in the late fifties, ordinary people left school at 15, worked basic jobs paying peanuts for a few years, started to "court" in their late teens and married in their early twenties straight from the family home. Children, if any, came along is short order. Having a period of living independantly, or with a group of other youngsters, never mind co-habitation with a partner, was totally unknown. Most of those marriages are still going strong among my parents' peers. The oldies always used to say you shouldn't let a man get "too set in his ways" before he was married. Perhaps a lot of us (and I freely include myself) are too set on having things our own way to make it as sharers?

I've long thought that rising living costs as well as increasing population in a finate world would lead to households "doubling up". I've spent most of my life living in shared homes and only got my own self-contained place in my late thirties, so I can still recall the horrors as well as the joys.........Be interesting to see how it pans out.