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

HariboJunkie

It's been a bit milder here so the garden is starting to waken up. I have started lots of pots of salad leaves in te greenhouse and all my veg and flower seedlings are doing well in the indoor windowsill propogators.

Have been adjusting my household budget again this morning to account for the fact that I have overstocked while taking advantage of supermarket offers. I am hoping that I only need to buy meat, fresh fruit, veg and milk until he end of the month.

I have several voluntary committments next week so am trying to plan for those and catch up on the letter writing involved there too. Lots of fundraising invloved as any grants we had have been cut due to the financial climate.

I am sure HMR&C should update their 40p per mile allowance as it has been like that since long before the oil price increase and the VAT hike which affect maintenance costs. 40p per mile doesn't cover it at all any more.:(

lostinrates

Pitlanepiglet wrote: »

OH is now working 3 miles away, there is no bus service there and it's on the side of a main road with no decent walking route in between. I can take him there and back if necessary but he's working 9am - 9pm a the moment (business start up) and there is a chance that his job will move to somewhere a bit more out in the sticks. .

A scooter is a great idea,walking/cycling often seems less safe. but three miles Isn't far and it sounds like the main road is the problem....is there anyone coming from a direction he could walk to/be dropped off at for a run the rest of the way over the main road? My guess ATM is is that the running him there and back might make the petrol still less expensive than the costs of a whole extra car.

Have you double checked foot path routes? They may be a little known of route under/over main road.

7_week_wonder

mardatha wrote: »

Nothing growing up here either - just snowdrops and crocus. Gardening is freezing ! I think in the old days they maybe wore warmer clothes. I am wondering where to get old books on veg growing or allotment stuff ? Even wartime ones ?

Have you read the Katherine Stewart "Croft in the Hills" books? I think you can get them from libraries. Not exactly gardening manuals, but there is some useful stuff about what they grew/did and when. Plus it reminds me that it's a blimmin hard life crofting - and whatever I may occasionally daydream - I'll stick to my suburban veg growing and hen-keeping. That'll do me!

Bigsister

Grandma-thanks for that, will investigate further.

Slow cookers rock! Just finished the 3rd day of the best stew ever!

suzid

Hi all'
Just been listening to Martin on the Jeremy Vine show talking about the big hike in car insurance premiums. This coincided with DS3 phoning last night and complaining about the huge rise he's being quoted. He's 28 this year so it should be getting better not doubling :eek: He's done the price comparison sites but hasn't actually had his renewal yet and he hasn't had any accidents to cause it. Martin said the average increase is 40% and that's before this EU ruling about equality ie male premiums will fall 'slightly' and females go through the roof. :mad:
We've got the two cars, a Land Rover Defender classed as LGV so not hugely taxed and a Skoda Fabia. DH has to run a car for work as he's classed as an essential user driving from one building site to another. The thing is that the Landy is ideal if he gets made redundant at any point cause he could use it to tow the trailer and go self employed. The Fabia has five seats over the Defenders 3 and cost 'marginally' less to run (going on this years bills anyway). Car tax only £20 in it and insurance likewise, at the moment. I love my Landy and would miss it like hell if it goes off the road. So for now will bury head firmly in sand and carry on untill I'm forced to take action.

dollydaydream07

have just remembered that someone asked me about paying for school lunches for DD, the £20 is for the whole month, she has part packed lunch and part lunches, we get a menu at the start of each term so i knlow exactly what meals are on what day and she only has meals on those days, generally these seem to be on a friday and monday and work out great for us as DH works late and it means DD won't be able to eat with us, so i know she is getting a good meal on those days and for tea i then give her something quick, the rest of the week, we all eat together

was planning on job hunting today but have DD off school with tonsilitis so have spent the day having cuddles and keeping a close eye on her, while watching dvd's with her....... she is finally having a nap so i'm gonna crack on with the housework, rather than doing the job hunting i should be

suzid

Elona thanks for suggesting approved food website, I did look but they only seemed to have baby food. We went to see the specialist today who said that you can't always trust supermarket gluten free products as there is a risk of contamination . There were we thinking we were being so good sticking religiously to all things gluten free. Looks like anything he can't get on prescription is going to be home made from now on. He's had to have his own set of pans and cooking equipment, but he'll need these for Uni anyway so had to bite the bullet.

Fruball

My DS has stopped having driving lessons as he won't be able to afford the insurance... Its so unfair on kids now.

Does anyone know if us laydees will be hugely affected - I'm thinking the 35+ age bracket?

Margaret54

Tried again gailey:) Feel stupid now, wonder what I am doing wrong while trying to send pm? Head like a sieve lol x

suzid

Frugal My DS is in the same position. The others all had to wait until they could afford to run a car but at this rate he'll be in his 30's before it's worth sitting the test . What with all the tuition fees, student loans, housing costs etc, how are the poor kids expected to live? Yes I can see multi generation households, as has been discussed on here, in the future. It's got so much worse since my older kids left home.
Sorry I have no idea how much of an increase we females will have to face. My sons lowest quote £1100 at 28 on a Saxo (not boy racer type) was almost double what he paid last year. He was fumeing.