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

lizzyb1812

Oooh, I'm a big Time Team fan, but archaelogy under the Dunwich Cafe...................V hard decision :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Rummer

Last year we got cavity wall insulation and it made a huge difference to our temp levels over the winter. It was hugely subsidized. We also reduced the radiator temps in most rooms and used blankets and hot water bottles as well as lots of warm clothes to keep our heating bills down.

We are trying to sort our finances by really living an old style life. I have taken up knitting and crochet so we have snuggly blankets for the winter and I have a productive hobby.

Also asked for practical gifts for my birthday and xmas like seeds and items for the home and garden. This links nicely into the fact that we have tried to plant and grow some of our own food. So far the sift fruit has been the most successful. A lot of our family and friends have also taken to asking for practical gifts.

I have gone back to meal planning with a vengence and I am using the difference in cost to remove debt and then build a bank of savings.

The library has been a great resource for me as I go through books like nothing on earth and I can read as many as I like without having to spend any money.

Other things I have done is to try value brands and to check prices so that I am getting the best value for money for my items. Freecycle has been great for rehoming new items and picking up bits and pieces that I have needed.

It is a worry although I have ways that I could cut back further if I had to and it may come to that as OH is not in a stable job so we may have to survive on my income which would be challenging and worrying.

Pink.

Hi oldtractor,

We have an existing thread on the same topic:

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

I'll add your thread to that one shortly.

Pink

lizzyb1812

Pink Winged -Er? wasn't OldTractor's post already on that board?

Pink.

lizzyb1812 wrote: »

Pink Winged -Er? wasn't OldTractor's post already on that board?

Hi lizzy,

I'm not exactly sure what you mean?

Pink

Softstuff

It's a worrying time with the worlds financial markets going down the toilet, but I've resolved not to worry about it too much.

I think now what's important for us is getting our home in a state where things aren't broken and will last us for at least 10-15 years, that means as prices for everything go up at least we won't worry about maintenance. I've been a little relaxed also about spending on what I consider to be luxury items, such as good warm sheets, nice pillows. Given that prices of everything are on the way up and the value of money is tumbling, we may as well get those now. And then as it comes to the stage where we can't go out at all (other than for free walks or other free events), our home is as comfortable as it can be.

I'd like some food stocks in, but am focusing more right now on repairing home. Hopefully I'll still be able to stock up a little before things get stupid.

Overall, I'd say this, it doesn't matter what gets thrown at us, we'll survive, because we have a sense of community and we'll be pulling together when the rest of them are falling apart.

Also it's worthwhile, as it always is, to build relationships with your neighbours. Take them some cookies, help them out with something when they need it, foster contacts and friendships. This'll be worth more than paper money long term.

HariboJunkie

lizzyb1812 wrote: »

Pink Winged -Er? wasn't OldTractor's post already on that board?

It was on the main Old Style board and has been merged with this thread.

The sun shone for most of the day here so we hit the beach.

Everything feels better in the sun and worries have been successfuly procrastinated.

OH is still at work bless him and I have got ahead of myself with the housework. Tommorrow's activities are dependant on the weather so we will either be out and about investigating future foraging sites and gathering wild raspberries or staying in and turning the frozen garden gooseberries and raspberries into jelly and jam.

The girls have requested another knitting lesson so I need to attend to that too. If they get the hang of it I have some dishcloth cotton they can turn into dishcloths for me.

No further forward with securing payment from our non paying clients. We're not exactly destitute but it's beginning to make me very .

grandma247

I feel like it is Autumn too.
My Autumn raspberries are fruiting and has anyone noticed the absence of wriggleys on their rasps? Must have been the lack of sunlight here at the right time so no eggs were laid.

In our Mr T, which closed after just two years, we regularly had fights between some ladies over whoopsies and some of the male assistants used to take the food in the back to reduce, then they would get the big trolly just outside the door and give it a shove and stand back away from the brawl that followed. Some were eventually banned for a while so it quietened down.

I used to go for stuff I knew they would not be interested in such as meats and they were kept in another place.
It never ceased to amaze me how many people would look at a pack of cheese for example and chuck it back in disgust. Often it was reduced to 70p from well over a pound. I used to watch for this behaviour and I would buy loads of it because to me half price was good and I could not afford to wait and see if it went down more sometimes as I probably would not have got a lookin anyway

Onions and leeks can be slit and turned upside down in a bucket of water for leeks or vase for onions and the dirt will fall out. Just jiggle them up and down in the water a bit.They just need checking to see if it has all gone and give them a rub if not.

trifles

like everybody else,I'm finding it very hard to make ends meet just now.I am determined to keep cheerful,however,despite a lot of personal unhappiness that I am having through work.I am grateful and give thanks for my resilience,and the love and support that my sister,nephew and friends give me.I am conscious that the only real wealth that we have is the quality of our relationships with others who matter in our lives and our sense of humour to get us through whatever life may challenge us with.That,to me is the essence of O/S living.
I'm on holiday this week.I have nothing planned except having friends round for meals,reading some books and enjoying my home.
I would like to share a bubble of pleasure with anyone who would like to receive my positive thoughts just now. Hope everybody has some peace in their day:A

Kittikins

Thanks trifles, that's really lovely and kind of you Your week's holiday sounds blissful to me!

I feel like the season is starting to change too as all of a sudden spiders are coming into the house, bless their little cotton socks! I ge nearly overrun with them each autumn, but I have a deal with them, they can scamper about wherever they like without disruption, but if they're in the bath when DD wants one, they have to let themselves be scooped up and popped outside