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

HariboJunkie

Larumbelle wrote: »

As one of the childless-by-choice brigade I'm possibly not the expert, but if the Tightwad Gazette has taught me anything it's that it's not necessarily financially rewarding for both parents to work. ?

I have worked full time, part time and not at all since having children and can report that for my family, we are better off if I work only part time which is what I am doing now.
It's not just an issue of childcare but I worked ridiculous hours last year and was detemined to still be OS and frugal and it simply wasn't sustainable.
Working pt again for the family business suits because I am helping fill the family pot of money (and saving OH employing someone else), but I also have time to moneysave and have no work related expenses. It's very much a personal thing but those posters who have mentioned it are right to do so imho.

A quick look at the budget and how it affects us and I am quite positive so far. The reduction in corporation tax will mean alot to our business, as will the increase in the mileage allowance. I am also happy to see theconsultaion on the merger of PAYE and NICs as it will make life very much simpler for the self employed.
There are no personal tax increases, the personal tax allowance threshold is raised and the 1p fall in fuel and scrapping of the proposed 4p rise delayed for a year are good news.
Could have been alot worse. :cool:

Hope things look better soon dollydaydream. xx

jediteacher

Not too bad a budget - I'm just waiting to hear about my pension as I'm a public sector worker and the unions are to be consulted. Good news for small businesses - in my husbands company there are only 8 of them so his boss is pleased. Also good news about the petrol - lets hope this saving IS passed onto the motorist. I was going to get my £30 petrol last night but didn't - will go after 6pm tonight.

Had a lovely morning with my little girl. I kept her off nursery today as she had a bad bout of reflux yesterday and I just wanted to make sure it settled down today. As the sun is shining we went out into the garden and she played in her sandpit and also her paddling pool! She was very excited and pranced around in her swimming costume for well over an hour before I could convincer her to put a cardigan on. Never mind.

Not much OS going on here at the moment as I've just had to pay some unexpected bills - car £135 plus a further £100 for bits and pieces so that's an extra £235 out of my already overdrawn account. Luckily OH gets paid tomorrow so we won't quite run out of money by the end of the month.

Did another quick shop in Tesco last night and spend £30.51 but have got back £29.34. Spent the original money on stocking up for when baby arrives - tins, wipes, cleaning products and nappies. Will pop in again tonight when I get my petrol that should be cheaper!

Have actually got my laundary drying on the line outside today but as it's towels I will pop them in the tumble dryer for 10 mins to get them fluffy again. When I dry them outside they are as stiff as a board and really scratchy and the 10 mins makes them soft again. Will pop another load of washing on when my daughter wakes up.

I work part-time as we could not afford to live off my hubby's wages. I did not want to go back full time as I wanted to be at home at least part of the week for my children. We sat down and worked out what was the minimum I could work in order to just keep afloat and took it from there. I now work a three day week and although I would love to cut this down (ideally to nothing) when I go back after my maternity leave I know that this will not be possible. If we want to cloth and feed our children and ourselves than I have to work. My hubby earns just that little too much to benefit from any extra help and I just despair at times as we struggle soo much just paying the basics - mortgage, bills, food let alone petrol, clothing and any emergencies.:mad:

Anyway, it doesn't pay to wallow just keep plodding on. Must find some enthusiasm to put more stuff on ebay as the house is cluttered up with items that I need to sell.

lostinrates

Trying to catch up on budget now....seems like a ''good one'' under the circumstances.

I've been working in one way o another today and come in side because my back gave way. DH IS coming home tonight....so putting off a dog food run to do it all on the same trip out. I hate doing extra trips.

dollydaydream07

sandraroffey wrote: »

but if you are at work, will you have the time to do all the money savings things, like batch baking etc, as you do now???

working sometimes costs you money; you lose tax creds, its costs to get to work, you need more clothes for work, child care????

if i was working, no i wouldn't have time to do those things, however as we would all be in the house less, then the house would be cleaner/tidier/not smell lol

Larumbelle wrote: »

As one of the childless-by-choice brigade I'm possibly not the expert, but if the Tightwad Gazette has taught me anything it's that it's not necessarily financially rewarding for both parents to work. I guess the only way you'll know though is to sit down and do all of the sums. Tedious and boring, I know, but it's the only way you'll find out.

Please don't take this the wrong way (I can't think how to phrase it) but your hubby needs to figure out what his priority is. Like, if he really wants to move to a different estate then would he be willing to give up his car? Walking to work only in fair weather isn't that much of a commitment really. There is a tendency in this day and age to think that we deserve a certain lifestyle and are entitled to certain things. It simply isn't true. If you want something you can't afford, then you have to sacrifice other things in order to have it. The fact is, we'd all like a nice house.

On the other hand, 'messy' 'untidy' and 'smelly' are all things that can be sorted with little money but through time and effort. Even houses in nice areas get messy and smelly if they are not looked after? Not saying you don't take care of your house lol just wondering if there are things you can do that will make him happier with the house you are in at the moment?

the annoying thing is that i had actually done the house from top to bottom at the weekend and it was spotless and lovely, i sweep the kitchen and hoover living room daily but sometimes you just can't tell and it happened to be his day off yesterday and because the house was a bit messy he didn't like it - turns out the smelly house he thought he could smell, was actually the veg soup i had made(which was REALLY tasty lol) so once the kitchen had had a quick once over it was fine, same with the living room

hmm, things that i could do to make the house better
*declutter - this is a work in progress but we still have lots of 'stuff' and as i said to him, we move to a better house that is slightly bigger just gives us more space to clutter up again
*new bathroom - cost money though, we need a full suite and total redecoration and to be really happy we want to knock through the bathroom and toilet so we have a large bathroom rather than seperates, we could get a basic suite and luckily BIL is a qualified plumber so would get him to fit it for minimal cost..... but as i said, it's all money
*kitchen - nothing wrong with that apart from it's a bit small(not as small as some have on here though) and i don't like the worktop and splashback so want to change them........ money again
*gloss the doors - we have 2 doors that need glossing so could get them done
*garden - well it just needs a spruce up after the winter so a mow of the grass and some weeding in the back and front and they'll be fine, possibly some more wood stain on the front garden fence

RE: the car: i don't think we would get rid of it, it would be a great saving if we did but DD has epilepsy and we feel as she could have a seizure at any time and be needed to be collected from school and various other places, we feel it's better that we keep it,
i can remember when i was younger my parents didn't drive and i had a febrile seizure at school and the school wouldn't help my mum get me home so she had to carry me home, which was a 10 minute walk along with my 2 yr old sister too - i just can't imagine having to do that with my DD
once finances allow we really do need to look to change the car to a more economical one really

shegar

Well I didnt watch the budget, but just heard the news that fuel will go down........its £1.45 per ltr here so it will go down to £1.44 as from 6 pm tonight........wow thats a helluver drop for us all, what are we going to do with that 1p..??....

I like most people worry about putting fuel in the car, well we still will have to worry, cos the budget hasnt helped us much......why didnt he put 20 p on a packet of fags??...and drop fuel to £1.20 per ltr, fags you dont have to have, but fuel you do............god this bl..dy goverment is worse than the last.............

We will definately be using our cars less, an MP even said that the lake district will notice a drop in tourist this year due to fuel......its definately cheaper to go abroad...................it now cost me £78 to fill my car to full, , we are 24 mile from hospital and I have to keep my car topped because of my ill husband gets taken in in an emergency via 999, so I make sure ive always got fuel, thats the only downside to living in the country......... well we are all in this together, keep up all the MS tips they are very useful to everyone, thanks to you all, for recipes etc..... take care all...............................

modern_millie_2

As you say Shegar, 1p off fuel -whoopee. However, increases in personal tax allowances will help some and I think is a move in the right direction. Next few years are going to be a hard slog - we're going to need this forum!
Lovely sunshine today for drying washing, don't need heating on this evening and forecast is looking good for the next few days.
Hoping to have some more work soon as income this month has been very low, and outgoings have been !!!!!!

Re reading 'Not Buying It' by Judith Levine, to keep me motivated.
Hope everyone was able to enjoy the sunshine today.

gailey_2

purpleheather2810 wrote: »

Gailey where are you? Wonder if she's ok - or gone into labour??!!

Very frugal jacket potato and chili for dinner - but what I really want right now is junk food! Stressful day!

Nice to be missed guys:D

Really no need to worry.

still no baba!
Been really poorly since false alarm last tuesday.
sickof curry had 7days in a row!
Although must admit the beef madras defrosted been and sharwoods jar a nice change!
Stopped the clary sage as 9.14 a bottle and had no effect.
yesterday ate 1tin demonte pinnaple and 1 fresh thourght something was happening sadly not.

Today been such a lovley sunny day.
wanted to take youngest topark
was concious boots vouchers expire soon so wanted to shift them gave 2 to my mate which felt nice as she deserves a treat.
recorded budget on sky plus box so will find out/good/bad news later.

Having problems with pram I brought off ebay problem with her paypal account she needs to sortbut wanted my mam topick up tommorow/friday as shes coming over sunday with sister.:mad:

Grrr buses was mad.:eek:waited at usual stop only short 10min trip to local retail park.
sawbus coming right number but went wrong way?
me andmy mate thourght how odd?
then bus cameother direction stopped and said the roads shut bus going alternative route please wait at bus stop round corner on main road as all buses to retail park redirected.We thourght how nice of him.

waited at that bus stop2buses went past hands out dident stop!
We thourght how weird they going where we want to go.
3rd bus did stopafter waiting 45mins and missing 4buses!
Askedhimwhats going on he said previous 2should have stopped and this couldbe likethis for next 2-3weeks sowhy fisrt bus couldent put notice up at bus stop do they expect me to be phychic!

Anyway such nice day andin effort totry bring on labour walked back to eldests school to pick her up and walk home.
Just about tohave nicebath both girls in bed.

having fish and chips for tea from freezer.followed by pinnaple.
after bath plan tohoover and cleanbathroom as mumat school reckons housework the answer shehadhers 2weeks ago hubby thinks thats a good thing.

Getting some hassle from social worker over 13year old stepson.
been worrying me sick as hes changed social worker as last one couldent copewithhimand hes now suspended from school again!

Managed to burn youngests new coat really upset im such a muppet.
she got ice cream down it so vanish sprayed it in kitchen before putting in machine.butbrished accross hot hob I was preheating to cook last nights rice for tea.:(

Brought some cheapy bows from peococks today to try and hide the damage not convinced it does and feel coats ruined!

Got midwifes appointment tommorow.
hubbys hectic in work andhad to take his mam to eye doctor again today.


jediteacher im intrigued by all this money back hun. is this online or instore. is it tesco who refund the difference?we rarly shop at either but badly need to do a food shop!

Hope everyones doing ok. meant to be nice weather again tommorow:)

lostinrates

shegar wrote: »

We will definately be using our cars less, .

as you say, we all use fuel, in one form or another..but this is key and why, though it hurts us, also rural dwellers, I feel reluctantly accepting...and almost supportive of this.

We do have choices, we can not live in the country side, we can be efficient as possible on our necessary trips and -plan well. Basically applying OS principles to our fuel usage. Just like heating for some of us, we need to recognise that this stuff isn't limitless and it does have harmful impact on use.

Personally, I'd like to see substantial support given to alternative fuel research and development of existing alternative fuel sources.

mardatha

They should have a much better bus service nationwide if they want us to get to work etc on time.

Pitlanepiglet

Glad to see you're OK Gailey.

On the fuel issue, we don't all have the choice not to live in the countryside, some of us have care and family commitments that mean that we need to be where our roots are. It's a tad idealistic to say that we can chose not to live in the sticks. The comments feel a bit like Bridget Jones and the smug marrieds "aren't we clever for living in an urban environment" :eek:

Living in the sticks is a very different way of being (and I'm back her now after 20 years in the city), it brings different challenges and different benefits, but for many that live in rural areas it's the only choice that they have.