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

babychick

wowsers! it's just taken me little under a week to catch up on the thread from start to finish

lots of folks finding it very tough at the moment so hugs to all those who need them!! Congratulations to those who have new jobs/homes/are expecting babies...

I'm a long time lurker - and have followed the threads for a couple of years now - things are about to get tough for me and my little family so I hope to be around here a little more often!

We're buying our first home, moving from privately renting to taking on our first mortgage :eek: what's more, I'm in my final year of nurse training and have no guarantee of a job (or income) come September - foolish you may think but we've done the sums (as have the mortgage provider) and we can manage with the income my OH has but I'd like to continue to live the comfortable(ish) lifestyle we lead now so will be looking to cut back where it hurts least. I can cook, and make a lot of meals from scratch during the week. My downfall is that when it comes to the weekend after being at work/uni all week I simply lose motivation and we often end up with a takeaway

I'm hoping you lovely people will help keep me on the straight and narrow and that I'll be able to get into the habit of meal planning and/or batch cooking to help me save a few pennies this way. :T

starsandmoon

Well work are moving me to another office, good news is its nearer to home downside is Iwill have to pay for parking. Icould get the bus and have researched the prices/times etc. Dilemma is parking will cost about £16 a month (work 3 days a week) but will still use petrol and wear and tear, bus is £13 a week (for 7 days). Think Il do a trial run with the bus.

So happy the weather is nicer. Have got washing dry outside the past 2 days. Desperately needed summer trousers. Toddled off to a charity shop or two and now have cropped jeans, long shorts and cropped cotton trousers all for £2 each. It'l probably rain now.

Food shop tomorrow but popped into Home & Bargain for the bits that are cheaper and Heron who have 6 eggs for 55p, not free range but looks like hens who have been kept in a barn not battery ones.

All those who have had big car expense I feel your pain. Mine is due a service, needs a new tyre and road tax is due. I joined Groupon and have got a service for £49 so saved a bit there!:T

Did anyone see Saint Martin on the One Show tonight?:money::money:

redlady_1

If Mr O had put a penny on the price of a litre of fuel then everyone would be moaning. I will take any little bit given. However, it will be taken away if they do get rid of NI and tax us at 32%. For those with more than one job you will be 12% worse off on your second income...because if you are currently under (I think) its £110 per week, you dont pay NI.

What worries me is that nothing is STILL being done about the massive deficit we have.

starsandmoon

Ive got 2 jobs, didnt realise I would pay NI on it with the new budget. I pay tax as it is. More job joy. My money seems to be going less each week. 20% in wages on main job, then they decide to have an Xmas shutdown for 4 days which we wont get paid for and my ex lost his job so no maintainence.

redlady_1

Well they are on about doing away with NI and raising the basic rate to 32%. So most people wont be affected (allowances will go up to compensate) but for us with two jobs, we will really feel it. I currently dont pay NI on my second job (tax, yes) so to suddenly have 32% taken off would really hurt. We just have to hope its another idea that will be shelved before being brought into action. It isnt in place yet.

grannytwice

Hi just noticed that frugal queens blog is back, but just for a short time, it was lovely to see that she is in good spirit, my computer skills are limited tried and failed to leave a message on the blog with no success so if she reads here wishing her all the best and hope she extends her blog again at a later date i dont think she realises what an inspiration she has been we need all the moneysaving help we can get, hope i've posted in the right place, I'm afraid i tend to read more than post, still learning.

zarazara

Hurray,frugalqueen is blogging again.

starsandmoon

redlady_1 wrote: »

Well they are on about doing away with NI and raising the basic rate to 32%. So most people wont be affected (allowances will go up to compensate) but for us with two jobs, we will really feel it. I currently dont pay NI on my second job (tax, yes) so to suddenly have 32% taken off would really hurt. We just have to hope its another idea that will be shelved before being brought into action. It isnt in place yet.

My second job is on alternate Sundays (was every Sunday but hours were cut). I dont earn a lot from it but its a very welcome extra income. Seems to be no matter how hard you try, you get knocked down. My second job is great as dont need childcare and can walk there and I enjoy it. A rare thing in the working world.

Charis

ceridwen wrote: »

...and, of course, thats without taking into account the larger garden I would have for my money if I lived less conveniently...so I could grow more food. So - as long as I wasnt paying over the odds for my fuel (oil central heating only....) or my broadband then "Its all good...".

Hang on in there a minute - I think I might be in the process of convincing myself that I can afford to go back to my semi-rural roots......LOL...

If you do decide to move back, be aware that rural areas are being targeted by burglars lately. We've had nine burglaries and one attempted burglary in this isolated town in a fortnight, from normally none. Patio doors were the weak spot and jewellery was the prize. Fuel oil has been targeted during the colder months, siphoned out of people's tanks. Lead and copper from roofs, plumbing, wiring and decorative features have been stolen too. Police believe gangs are coming in from urban areas and doing a bit of 'recycling' of their own, Robin Hood style.

It is blissful here when the sun comes out though. The birds are singing loudly and fat pigeons occasionally crash land on the roofs of our bungalows as they attempt to mate. I found evidence of a local predator left on the drive, after the bin men had been... if I find that cat he won't be back in a hurry. :mad:

I also take an interest in local wildlife when I'm out and about. Today I spotted a young male human without his shirt, driving a lorry, and I thought, not long till summer. :T :rotfl:

ChocClare

Charis wrote: »

I also take an interest in local wildlife when I'm out and about. Today I spotted a young male human without his shirt, driving a lorry, and I thought, not long till summer. :T :rotfl:

It must be warm! Still, at least he was "indoors", if he was driving a lorry. The downside of living by the seaside is that people insist on coming off the beach and walking up the street half naked. I bet they wouldn't think of walking round their own home town in a bikini!

At my old house, which was on the cliffs, you would see very white half-naked people walking to the beach in the morning, and very red half-naked people coming home in the afternoon. You'd think the sun only shone in Bournemouth, so desperate were they to soak up those rays.

If people want to bare their all on the beach then fair play to them, but if a middle-aged man has a stomach which comes into the room half an hour before he does, then I really don't want to look at it while I'm on my way to the post office *shudders* :rotfl::rotfl: