As The Workhouse Approaches....How To Do Everything To Avoid It, the Old Style Way

Larumbelle

Ceridwen - most 'people' wouldn't see it as stealing, unfortunately the law and the big corporations do and it appears that Tesco for one have no qualms about criminalising people for it:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1355525/Theft-finding-Woman-took-thrown-Tesco-waffles-charged-stealing.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-13604504

It makes me really, really angry.

Regards the keeping warm / keeping bills down, do keep an eye on charity shops as they are more likely to get winter stuff donated at this time and less likely to shift it - so prices are low low low! My local one has all winter coats for £3 right now. I bought OH a pure wool Christian Dior Monsieur one and myself a 70% wool Kohler & Krenzer one. They'll both need a dry clean, and the lining on mine needs some attention, but still a bargain. And a pure wool double Early of Witney blanket for £4 too. I have an Early wool blanket already (passed down from Mum, she got it as a wedding present) and they are fantastic, as well as machine washable. I'm not a label snob by any means, but it all helps when you know you're buying great quality for peanuts!

bluebag

redlady_1 wrote: »

Holy crap! I have just had my electric bill - £200 for a quarter and I live in a 2 bed cottage!!!!!!!!!!!! :eek::eek::eek: So much for buying wood this month. I wouldnt mind except I am really good about switching things off so have now switched EVERYTHING except the washing machine (because I cant get to it) and the freezer. I am horrified.

It sounds so wicked when you say 200 quid, but it's just over £2 a day, which to be honest isn't bad when you consider how awful the weather has been for this spring and summer up to now.

smileyt_2

I don't think people who skip dive are thieves either. I only don't do it because I can't reach :rotfl:

I also don't think people who are on benefit long-term but do the occasional 'cash in hand' job are doing anything wrong, either. I'm not talking about the ones who deliberately claim when they're working, or run marathons whilst claiming mobility allowance etc! I mean people who might do the odd bit of babysitting or maybe help a friend with decorating and get given the odd £20.

Out of curiosity, I went on Martin's Budget Planner and fiddled around with the sums as if I were on JSA long-term. I worked out that I would only just about be able to make ends meet if I never bought an item of clothing for myself or a Christmas or birthday present for anyone ever again. Also I would have to walk everywhere (I wouldn't be able to afford to get my bicycle fixed if it broke) and only have the heating on when it was below freezing. I'd not be able to have any pets. I would never be able to buy a newspaper or magazine, chocolate bar, go anywhere at all with friends, even for a cup of tea and a toasted teacake in a greasy spoon .... :eek:So who can blame those who are long-term unemployed if they do the occasional cash in hand errand if it's the only way they can buy the occasional treat (like a pair of socks or new knickers!!) or a pair of shoes when the ones you are wearing have holes in them?

I'm not surprised so many people get into debt.With the best will in the world, I would be in debt in these circumstances if my washing machine broke or if a family member were ill and I had to travel even a short distance to see them in hospital. It's quite shocking when you look at the sums. With the costs of heating and food going up and up there are going to be some very desperate people around this coming winter.:(

westcoastscot

redlady_1 wrote: »

Holy crap! I have just had my electric bill - £200 for a quarter and I live in a 2 bed cottage!!!!!!!!!!!! :eek::eek::eek: So much for buying wood this month. I wouldnt mind except I am really good about switching things off so have now switched EVERYTHING except the washing machine (because I cant get to it) and the freezer. I am horrified.

I'm £40 a month in electricity, cooking included, and £33 a week in coal. I buy wood also in winter to supplement that. My house is a tiny mid-terrace.

ifonlyitwaseasier

can i ask all you lovelies for a few candles tonight

a family member is very very ill right now and i'm scared stiff.

thank you

ioiwe

ginnyknit

Have a vision of smileyt with her little legs sticking out of a skip, shouting 'all this for a bloomin butty ':rotfl:


On a serious note, I too think this is going to be a difficult winter especially for those not capable of switching suppliers, without support like we have or with lots of small children and on a low wage or benefits. You only have to look at business people in the USA living in tent cities to see which way the wind is blowing. The elderley for, example, who will not be getting as big a grant for heating this winter, don't have bright O/S children and the knowledge we all have to access information.

Many years ago I was that person, with holes in my shoes, living on tinned tomatoes and toast so my baby boy could have good food. Yet again it was all thanks to the DSS who decided I could run my own house, pay bills and bring up a child on 18.00 a week, then suddenly they owed me thousands but it was too damn late and I lost my beautiful big house. Thats when I learned a lot of what I know now and have fought to keep my head above water - not always successfully but I have worked 4 jobs at once to get us through, but you can't even do that now because the whole country is in the same boat. Me thinks its time to tighten our belts further and get ready for winter NOW.

smileyt_2

IOIWE sending a prayer and a hug.

Ginnyknit I'd probably fall in and never be seen again :rotfl:I've just ordered a grabber off lakeland - it was in the sale and I had a £3 voucher so I thought, 'why not?' It's a folding one, apparently. So I shall be taking it shopping with me. It will save me having to climb up the supermarket shelves (I kid ye not) to reach items from the top.

ETA: LAKELAND SALE HAS LOCK N LOCKS

Search discount codes n vouchers thread for lakeland free postage code over £19.99

Larumbelle

ifonlyitwaseasier wrote: »

can i ask all you lovelies for a few candles tonight

a family member is very very ill right now and i'm scared stiff.

thank you

ioiwe

:grouphug: thinking of you and your family, hope they get better soon. You know we are all here for you if you need us xxx

[Deleted User]

ifonlyitwaseasier wrote: »

can i ask all you lovelies for a few candles tonight

a family member is very very ill right now and i'm scared stiff.

thank you

ioiwe

You aren`t alone

http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/message.cfm?l=eng&cid=13640467

xx

Larumbelle

ginnyknit wrote: »

...then suddenly they owed me thousands but it was too damn late...

Same thing happened to me. I was told I wasn't entitled to any help unless I left education and went on the dole (and you wonder so few care leavers get any qualifications?). Fast forward to the last year of my degree and my LEA finally admits that I had been eligible for care leavers' grants of £100 per week for the last five years,plus bigger student loans and no university fees, but there had been an 'administrative oversight'. Needless to say nothing could be backdated past that academic year. We just about survived, but only by taking multiple jobs and as much overtime as possible. And even then we ended up with a ton of debts.