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

hornetgirl

DH also has an ancient Nokia. It died on him last year and he got a new battery for it and it's been grand ever since.

candygirl

mardatha wrote: »

I have an ancient Nokia mobile that tends to faint. I take the sim card out and give it a wipe, shove it back in and then give the phone a good dunt on the corner of the worktop

Lol I always give my watches a good smack when they stop working, and it usually works:rotfl::rotfl:

Lindy_-_Loo

kidcat wrote: »

Need a little advice - DD4 is having a birthday in a few weeks and we have found a magician who will do some of the entertainment - she wants 20 guests and I am thinking its better to have them here and save the money on hiring a hall but OH is going white at the idea - how bad can 20 4/5 yr olds be??

I'd hire the hall, unless youve got a big space at home - which sadly we havent.

After doing the tuck shop at the infants disco yesterday and than being at a 3 year old party in the local wacky warehouse today - I definatly would not want that many little ones running round my house!!

fedupfreda

Hello all :wave:

Another one here who has a foot in both the Arms and OS. Good to see lots of new faces. Hope everyone, old and new, is coping with the weather (miserable drizzle all day here )

I am desperate to get out into the garden (looks like a bomb's hit it) - spring must be on the way, the weeds are sprouting On the plus side, a lone, foolhardy daffodil has put out a yellow bud - what's the betting the frost will come back next week? :mad:

Catch you all later x

Luis

Wow - I step away from the pooter for 24 hours and there are a million posts to catch up with - thanks to everyone who has posted to me, too many to quote direct - but thanks x

Thank fully, we do have enough food, as I tend to stockpile a bit, and also a good friend did a 'red cross parcel' for me and the little man, as i think she realised how dire things have got.

At present, I've managed to balance in and out, in terms of bills etc, but if the interest rate goes up, I'm ruined. Also the diesel is non negotiable, as I need the car to do my job - ran out today, so have had to raid the emergency fund.

Have been trying to do the equivalent of envelopes for expenses, by putting bits in bank accounts via online savings etc, for eg little one's birthday, emergencies, his shoes (how fast do they grow?), but looks like I can't do that, as I need every spare penny.

Any unexpected, or non routine expenses and the whole lot will fall down

Not entitled to any benefits

Have always done the batch cooking and freezing, trawl charity shops for clothes etc, as much free entertainment for the nipper as I can find (pet shops and dog walks etc), Shop in Aldi, use the library etc etc. Just can't cut it any finer than I do.

I don't mean to sound like Eeyore, but things are bl**dy tough. All that matters is that my little man is happy, healthy and OK, but it would be nice if life did not feel like such a grind.

God, what a misery :rotfl:

kitschy

Luis wrote: »

Wow - I step away from the pooter for 24 hours and there are a million posts to catch up with - thanks to everyone who has posted to me, too many to quote direct - but thanks x

Thank fully, we do have enough food, as I tend to stockpile a bit, and also a good friend did a 'red cross parcel' for me and the little man, as i think she realised how dire things have got.

At present, I've managed to balance in and out, in terms of bills etc, but if the interest rate goes up, I'm ruined. Also the diesel is non negotiable, as I need the car to do my job - ran out today, so have had to raid the emergency fund.

Have been trying to do the equivalent of envelopes for expenses, by putting bits in bank accounts via online savings etc, for eg little one's birthday, emergencies, his shoes (how fast do they grow?), but looks like I can't do that, as I need every spare penny.

Any unexpected, or non routine expenses and the whole lot will fall down

Not entitled to any benefits

Have always done the batch cooking and freezing, trawl charity shops for clothes etc, as much free entertainment for the nipper as I can find (pet shops and dog walks etc), Shop in Aldi, use the library etc etc. Just can't cut it any finer than I do.

I don't mean to sound like Eeyore, but things are bl**dy tough. All that matters is that my little man is happy, healthy and OK, but it would be nice if life did not feel like such a grind.

God, what a misery :rotfl:

Sorry to hear you're finding it tough, Luis. You sound like you have your head screwed on. Sending you a big hug :grouphug:

Just doing the monthly price check at the three supermarkets I pass on my daily travels, and am appalled at how much things have shot up in the last few weeks. Bread up 30p a loaf :eek: Am going to follow Mardatha's advice and buy one thing per category to put away.

budgetboo

Luis - you may have your back to the wall right now but at least there's a few of us here in similar positions to help you prop it up!

Kittie please can you post how you make elder flower cordial and champagne in 10 weeks time when the flowers come out? I'm going to put by a couple of bags of sugar ready for this as a glass of elderflower champagne fits my "elegant simplicity theme" for the year far better than "DS found enuf coppers dawn the high street that his mam could get a can of white lightning ":rotfl:

This might sound daft but where can you get nice crisp (so not that thin polycotton stuff) white napkins? Do people buy the cotton or linen and then hem it or what? If so what fabric do you buy for the old fashioned sort that launder well for years. I really want some nice crisp napkins for when we have guests.

fedupfreda

budgetboo wrote: »

This might sound daft but where can you get nice crisp (so not that thin polycotton stuff) white napkins? Do people buy the cotton or linen and then hem it or what? If so what fabric do you buy for the old fashioned sort that launder well for years. I really want some nice crisp napkins for when we have guests.

I would be tempted to get ONE nice, heavyweight (200 thread count or more) pure cotton sheet - cut it into appropriate size squares, then hem. Cotton sheets are expensive but easier to come by than lengths of cotton fabric. Last time I went into a fabric shop basic cotton dress fabric was £7+ a yard/metre - but that was a while ago - you might be able to get some sale sheets off the internet.:)

modern_millie_2

Hello everyone, lovely to be back here. Arms fun but a bit frenetic for me (must be getting old).
Luis, just read your post, are you able to do ebay, car boots or surveys to help out at all? It's those unexpected expenses that get to many of us I think.

I have a few hours work this coming week, not much but better than nothing. Our income is mainly seasonal, so we have to put money aside in Summer for the rest of the year - should just about stretch this year, but who knows next year? Can usually 'loosen up' a bit by April/May, but not this year!

Here's something I never thought I'd say - I turned a collar yesterday on one of OHs shirts - just unpicked, turned it round, sewed on and took off the button - he doesn't do the top one up anyway. Was pleased as otherwise it would have had to go. (Well, he would have carried on wearing it, but it was getting a bit embarrassing!). Right, I'm wittering now so I'll shut up but just wanted to come on to say I'm so enjoying the thread atm.

mardatha

I remember when I first found out how you turn a collar how amazingly simple and obvious it seemed. It's not wittering, it's a minor miracle LOL