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

ceridwen

Mrs_Veg_Plot wrote: »

Has anyone any suggestions as to what else I can do to reduce the cost of our living. The main things we are doing are as follows

I am full time (37.5hrs) and always work an extra shift at the weekends.
We have reduced to one car. I walk home from work every day except the weekends when OH picks me up. OH will cycle to and from work when the evenings are a bit lighter.
I have had my tax re calculated and my tax code has been reduced (will see exactly how much by per month this month).
I cook from scratch and meal plan. Have down branded and buy the majority of groceries as own brand. Have halved the weekly shop compaired to this time last year. Make my own bread, cakes and biscuits.
We have changed our suppliers where we have found better deals.
We grow quite a bit of our own veg, mainly salad type stuff last year and some veg (including winter veg) as we started late but have started early this year.
OH has started to sell stuff on ebay and is planning to go to carboots as we have a lot of stuff in the attic.

What else are you all doing out there?

:think:......

1. Are you in your local LETS Scheme?

2. Just been inspired (by the idea)/frustrated(by the lack of space in B.H. - aka "Blimmin' House" again - as I dont have the room to do it here) by a new blog and the posts on fermentation. I've not yet had the chance of buying (whether through LETS or otherwise) any fermented food (apart from conventionally-made sauerkraut - which I dont like....:p). I DO think fermentation is a possible way to go on preserving garden surpluses - so I'm on the lookout to try other peoples' "end results" of this and there simply hasnt been a chance yet - because its still about 2 years away from starting to become "fashionable" in Britain I estimate:(. Its a way of preserving vegetables without having to use things like electricity, sugar or any of the other things we may either not want to use/wonder how long we will be able to use....

Now - if you would like to have a go at this.....??

Come to think of it - if ANYONE would like to have a go at this and come back and report what the "end product" was like please?:) (Think of it this way - if it works out - then its extra produce to trade at LETS Trading Days/barter in some other way...:)).

Hmmm....:think:

EDIT: If anyone is wondering about this fashion-to-be that I dont have the space to get on with myself (grrr!) info on:

http://www.wildfermentation.com/

So - its been "on the agenda" for the last couple of years to have a go at this if I ever have the chance and I understand its now at the stage of just working its way into gourmet restaurants.....LOL..

redlady_1

What a flipping day! I was camped on the doorstep of Lidl at 10 am and scooped up 6 packets of belly pork and one of chicken breasts. I now have enough food to eat so that is good. The downside was it cost me £65 to fill the car up! :eek:

One of my friends came over today to do some jobs for me and payment was roast beef. I got rid of my wardrobe (just need to sort he clothes out now!) on ebay and so that has given me more room. Reorganised downstairs and moved the rocking chair down there and it really is starting to look like a little home instead of a shack!

Considering how crap things have been financially/health recently I can confirm that this has been my best weekend for ages...and we kicked French !!! in the rugby to boot!!

flowertotmum

redlady_1 wrote: »

What a flipping day! I was camped on the doorstep of Lidl at 10 am and scooped up 6 packets of belly pork and one of chicken breasts. I now have enough food to eat so that is good. The downside was it cost me £65 to fill the car up! :eek:

One of my friends came over today to do some jobs for me and payment was roast beef. I got rid of my wardrobe (just need to sort he clothes out now!) on ebay and so that has given me more room. Reorganised downstairs and moved the rocking chair down there and it really is starting to look like a little home instead of a shack!

Considering how crap things have been financially/health recently I can confirm that this has been my best weekend for ages...and we kicked French !!! in the rugby to boot!!

OOOH am totally envious of your rocking chair...so glad you have had a good weekend..sometimes its the littlest thing that can make you feel damn good..and yay england..
ftm

flowertotmum

Does anyone else feel good..i mean i know times are tough and money is in short supply..but i feel really good about myself..i have discovered skills i never knew i had..like sewing and making things from scrap..i don't really have a penny to my name but i really don't care..i'm happy,my family are well fed,happy and healthy..i have green fingers and love growing things..i feel much more centred than this time last yr..anyone else? or is it just me?
ftm

kitschy

flowertotmum wrote: »

Does anyone else feel good..i mean i know times are tough and money is in short supply..but i feel really good about myself..i have discovered skills i never knew i had..like sewing and making things from scrap..i don't really have a penny to my name but i really don't care..i'm happy,my family are well fed,happy and healthy..i have green fingers and love growing things..i feel much more centred than this time last yr..anyone else? or is it just me?
ftm

I know what you mean, FTM. I think I just value the things I do have more now, and take pride in making things last etc. I certainly eat a lot better when I stick to a budget, and feel more in control.

redlady_1

As long as the bills are paid and I dont start waking up at 4am worrying about money again, I will be ok. As I am finally coming to the end of the renovations I can finally clean properly - which is my major destressor. I never knew just how stressful getting the house in shape would be. I have had some huge outbursts/tears/tantrums. You name it, I have done it. Getting the second job to pay for all the work. And yet, I am happiest when I can "nest". Wouldnt say no to a pair of Karen Millen high heels right now though!

FTM I have two large pieces of furniture that are just not ever leaving me. One is a massive set of oak/beech drawers with a proper victorian style bottom drawer for the baby! And the second is the rocking chair.

JenniO

flowertotmum wrote: »

Does anyone else feel good..i mean i know times are tough and money is in short supply..but i feel really good about myself..i have discovered skills i never knew i had..like sewing and making things from scrap..i don't really have a penny to my name but i really don't care..i'm happy,my family are well fed,happy and healthy..i have green fingers and love growing things..i feel much more centred than this time last yr..anyone else? or is it just me?
ftm

yes, self-reliance is an incredibly powerful feeling! Enjoy it! I always feel quite proud of myself when I'm able to 'mend' something - a missing button on DD's pyjama top, fixing a broken zip on OH's 'man bag' (I know - don't ask). Last week, I crocheted(sp?) a tea cosy and it came out great and I am just a beginner at crochet anyway. I'm a big believer that all of our OS ways should be considered accomplishments.

bertiebots

flowertotmum wrote: »

Does anyone else feel good..i mean i know times are tough and money is in short supply..but i feel really good about myself..i have discovered skills i never knew i had..like sewing and making things from scrap..i don't really have a penny to my name but i really don't care..i'm happy,my family are well fed,happy and healthy..i have green fingers and love growing things..i feel much more centred than this time last yr..anyone else? or is it just me?
ftm

I know just what you mean..I may have portrayed myself as a bit of a worrier! But I am so proud that I can manage when times are tough..and be sensible when they aren't! Recently when I saw my solicitor to start divorce proceedings she said things must be pretty tough on my income. I was sat there thinking ermm...nooo... not really!! I saved up to have my whole kitchen refurbished after my x moved out in August last yr ..and I didn't have to adjust my lifestyle at all:T. I think my x always thought I was tight (which really annoys me!) but i simply have never understood why you should pay double for something just because of its label or because your friends and neighbours do etc I live within my means,...the value of a person is not in what they own but who they are at the end of the day:D
I was crocheting baby blankets and using washable nappies 14yrs ago when everyone thought I was barmy ,but I look back and know I am true to myself..never have been a sheep/never will be. I just wish, if anything ,that I could fulfill my dream (that I have had since I was 16) to have a home somewhere rural, with enough land for chickens , an orchard and polly tunnel!
With that in mind I keep buying the lotto tickets;)

MaLarkin

Yes FTM I know exactly what you mean and I think you have used the perfect word for the feeling when you said "centred" it's that feeling of being of being in control rather than letting events just sweep you along. We work out what is coming next and we plan how to deal with it. That way we bend but don't break.

kezlou

I totally agree FTM.

Last couple of weeks i felt terrible and down, but then this week my mood changed. Maybe it was seeing my children happily playing and helping me in the garden. Or feeling proud of myself for fixing coddy's jacket.

Who knows, but were content and happy for what we have.

We haven't got a penny either, but at least we can laugh!

I finally bit the bullet and asked MIL for some of her strawberry plants. She said i should have asked her ages ago, the strawberries have taken over her garden, so she's planning on moving them. So i should have some plants soon! Can't wait.

My MIL grows her own veg and fruit, which is great as she gives me lots of produce and advice.
So been another os day for nd were all still full up after the dinner we had at hers.