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

kitschy

I'm just in the middle of making candles. I had some from The Pier, which I love, and they burned clear through the middle. As I can't get them any more, and scented candles are SO expensive, I ordered some wick and wick grips from eBay, and I'm melting the wax and pouring into empty jam jars.

Margaret54

Hi Gailey Sent you a wee private message love:)

charlies-aunt

Good to tell its the weekend - rain has been hammering down most of the day! Snowdrops are out and looking lovely though
Having an exciting night in - planning to repair and remodel some of my clothes - have a few thing lurking that need buttons on and going to have a go at altering a few things to fit better. Sadly despite the new years resolutions, I have failed to shift any weight due to comfort eating but on the up side - I don't have the hassle of trying to take stuff in.
Don't know whats up with me just recently - I feel really down, worn down with the effort of stretching every available penny & generally finding life very tough at the moment . . . really hope that this thread keeps going as its a great source of support

jumblejack

kitschy wrote: »

I'm just in the middle of making candles. I had some from The Pier, which I love, and they burned clear through the middle. As I can't get them any more, and scented candles are SO expensive, I ordered some wick and wick grips from eBay, and I'm melting the wax and pouring into empty jam jars.

What an absolutely wonderful and practical post!! Many thanks for a super suggestion!!!

Charis

maryb wrote: »

If you are thinking about switching it might be worth doing it sooner rather than later. At present, I don't think they charge the householder for putting in a meter (at least they don't round us) because it helps them to meet their water savings targets but there was something in the press a while back about making meters compulsory for everyone and charging them for the switch

Thanks for the warning, Mary

kitschy

Candles finished - got enough wax out of 4 "dead" candles to fill two large jars and have enough for a small one left over. :j Will definitely do this again! Going to keep a tub for dead candle bits and save them up

Charis

born_blonde wrote: »

On the subject of Water Rates, I'm metered and it costs £400 per year and that is for my house and our small camp site if that helps decision making.

:eek: Eek, that's £99 less than I'm being asked to pay for a small 3 bed bungalow with one careful lady flusher!

I asked a friend who lives locally today, he has a new 4 bed house with meter fitted when the house was built. He pays half the amount they want from me, and he's a keen gardener. So far I think only one household seems to have worked out worse off and lots seem to be better off, so I'll be phoning the water company on Monday and asking to go on a meter. Many thanks to all who responded.

shegar

bertiebots wrote: »

How can you prepare your children for the tougher times ahead ? I have 3 who are well aware of my domestic budgeting skills and finiancial planning. I am lucky that I have kids who do not care about branded clothes and designer labels..I will of course (and am) teaching them the skills they need for cooking etc.
But what really worries me is how are we going to afford to live when they leave school ( I am now a single parent) and there are hardly any jobs..Pay is pretty poor for the work I can do and that really worries me. The housing market is beyond crazy and renting a cheap little terrace house (like I did is) no longer an option for young people wanting to leave home.
I have no doubt that more cuts will mean less college placements and demand /competition is already fierce. I cannot afford to save up to help them out . My kids are 14,12,10 at the mo and the time is flying by.
Depressing I know but despite the fact that I know its all out of my control I cant help but worry for them. I wish there was a light at the end of that tunnel!

BTW the thanks buttons keep vanishing!

You really musnt worry now about when the children leave school and how will you cope....you will get through we all do somehow..............
When I had my children at school id be worrying about how to buy uniforms etc etc, but I did it somehow, youve learnt how to cope through your family me too......

Bring them up like your doing now and you will all pull together..........I just cut back where I can and get on with it....nobody really dare look into what will happen in the future .................you cant keep on worrying you will ruin your life, enjoy all lifes littles things , it may turn out ok in a year or 2 s time ............If youve all got good health then you really cant ask for more.....................................:D

mardatha

Funny coincidence - I was feeling a wee bit low a few weeks ago, went to bed and asked "them" ...-- "them" being my mum & dad, spirit guides, etc anybody listening lol -- to help me cheer up.
Woke the next morning with the song that is your sig running through my head, and the scene from The Life of Brian :rotfl: where they're all singing it on the crosses :rotfl: That mental picture made me wake with a big smile on my face

happierdaystocome

BertieIt sounds like your doing a brilliant job of ensuring your children has very good independant living skill. We've been having discussions with DD 15 about way that she can gain skills that will be attractive to employers, as we are aware that when she lives school next year it is going to be a very tough job market and although she intends to stay on a school to do A levels, she will still need to consider getting a part-time job. We have suggested that she consider doing some voluntary work.

In terms of preparing for the tough times ahead we are working on planning for the worst. We found a cheap house to rent before xmas and had both planned to start using bikes to get to and from work as the weather gets warmer (unfortunately this is nor going to happen as I dont drive and OH will have to drop me off due to health issues:(). I am stock piling non perishable good, when they come on sale and have decided to try and get a chest freezer for the garage so that I can stock up on meat deal as OH does not feel is a meal without a good sized portion of meat. Im also trying to reduce food and energy cost by batch cooking or cooking two days meals together so that one can be warme =d through in the microwave the following day.

Although one of our biggest expense is on DD's clothing as she feels that she needs a new wardrobe every season plus extra for going on holiday with her dad.