It was getting tough in 2006 and the workhouse still threatens us in 2011

scottishminnie

Anyone want some rain? - going free. Just let me know where to send it and it's all yours - I've had qute enough:D

I think I should venture a peek at my potatoes later given so many comments about blight. They are in a container and the shaws have been dying back a bit but I've been ignoring them. It's partly because my dad grew potatoes on the farm when I was young and the "tattie picking" took place in the October school week so I can't quite think of them being ready now. Must investigate though - don't want to lose them.

I made an early morning trip to Asda earlier. That was traumatic - I'd already noticed 2 horrendous price hikes - smart price butter up 11p since last week and a tin of tuns chunks in spring water now 13p more expensive - when I got stuck behind this older couple. I'm not sure what they were looking at, something in the tinned aisle, but she was saying "we just can't afford to pay that, we'll have to find something else". He was saying something along the lines of "but we've always bought it". I didn't want to stare at them but I kept thinking they could have been my parents, or anyone else's for that matter and they shouldn't have to worry about being able to buy food. It really upset me, I'm home without half of what I need as I just headed for the checkout after that, I couldn't face more shopping.

It's still bothering me. I so hate this country for what it has become when decent hard working people have a miserable retirement.

I need to do something constructive this afternoon to snap out of my maudlin state - hopefully Delia's scones will do the trick.

scottishminnie

gailey wrote: »

Hi guys


*I started with sky and cut down package, negocaited half price movies my only luxury and moving phone/broadband over from virgin saving us £60a month.


*Washing machine making horrible noise on spin like its going totake off think its the bearings and its slowly dying.
went to shop and he said most manufacturersthink people do 4loads a week we do 3-4,loads a day which is what they classify as commercial.

:TGlad to hear you are back - thanks for giving us a rundown.

I should really phone sky - we have been on the full package for over 20 years and on the one occassion I rang and said I was thinking of cutting it back to save money they said fine.I'm terrified to call in case they just cancel (and then hubby would kill me!)

3-4 loads of washing a day isn't commercial -it's perfectly normal for a family - geez, these guys need to come down to earth:mad:

ceridwen

scottishminnie wrote: »

I made an early morning trip to Asda earlier. That was traumatic - I'd already noticed 2 horrendous price hikes - smart price butter up 11p since last week and a tin of tuns chunks in spring water now 13p more expensive - when I got stuck behind this older couple. I'm not sure what they were looking at, something in the tinned aisle, but she was saying "we just can't afford to pay that, we'll have to find something else". He was saying something along the lines of "but we've always bought it". I didn't want to stare at them but I kept thinking they could have been my parents, or anyone else's for that matter and they shouldn't have to worry about being able to buy food. It really upset me, I'm home without half of what I need as I just headed for the checkout after that, I couldn't face more shopping.

It's still bothering me. I so hate this country for what it has become when decent hard working people have a miserable retirement.

That would have upset me too - and I would be instantly quizzing my parents the next time I saw them about whether they are still buying all their usual stuff.

I think many of us could relate to what you felt there.

...and I can be "bossyboots" enough - and have enough money - that I would probably have stepped in actually and picked up "whatever item it was" and hung around to hand it to them (AFTER I had paid for it of course...)....but I'll admit to being an "interfering old battle-axe" sometimes - as I can still recall gestures that made me feel so much better decades after they happened...

HariboJunkie

Good to see you back Gailey. :hello:
Mardatha, I had to laugh at RV and the spare room spuds. :rotfl:
Scottishminnie, bless you, I would have been upset too. Nothing we can do I'm afraid other than hope things get better for everyone soon.
Margaret54. Well done on all those tomatoes. :T
Frugal Dreamer I hope you got my pm. Please, please, please don't let anything put you off posting.

OH has gone scrap wood hunting to fix a couple of door frames and skirting boards that have seen better days. The guys at the dump let him take wood that other people dump and we get it for free. That and OH's self taught carpentry skills save us a fortune. :j
I've done a load of baking which has gone down well with the girlies' friends who seem to congregate in my kitchen when I'm baking. :cool:
Am teaching a few of them some sewing today and it seems to be going down well. They are amazed at the pretty things you can make with some scraps of felt.

OH is cooking tonight as a treat for me. Not sure what I've done to deserve it and I got flowers this morning as well :thinks: but I never look a gift horse in the mouth.

redlady_1

Either he is going to ask for something, do something or is up to something! Be on your guard HJ

I wish I could take wood from the dump as it would save me a fortune but we have the Health and Safety Nazis who patrol our patch.

I remember my mum and I used to make peg dollies from the dolly pegs, a marker pen, glue and scraps of material. I would play for hours with them.

Uniscots97

gailey wrote: »

Hi guys

apologies for absence im still alive.

school hols and small baby boy 19weeks yesterday times gone too fast.

enjoying no school runs.

news with us

*had joint christening for 2youngest last sunday was lovley but pricey even me trying to do as much on the cheap as I could. - don't forget places like Poundland, Home Bargains and B&M these places are great for getting fab items for gifts

*garden bit dissapointing this year and struggling to forage there were no cherries this year dont know why? also I missed the edlerglower was gutted so going totry making elderberry wine instead. -look on the scotland/england/wales thread section (not sure where you are) maybe someone knows of a haul of berries somewhere (even ask on here) and is willing to share the information

*since the car insurance confusing costing hubby 500quid of fine the 9points meant over 1000 a year increase in car insurane so need to find savings of £100per month just to stay even. - do you use Quidco? If not start using this to re-claim a bit of cash for what you do spend on. Also try the likes of Vivatic (slowing down now but I'm averaging £10 every 10 days with them), YouGov etc to help bring in extra dosh.

*I started with sky and cut down package, negocaited half price movies my only luxury and moving phone/broadband over from virgin saving us £60a month. - I can't say anything here as I have Sky , make sure you get the best out of it www.sky.com/rewards gives you free cinema tickets etc for subscribers, great for kids/pressies etc

*need to focus on food again as used few dicount codes done online shops.
but we need totopus fresh weekly so doing smaller weekly shops instead of stockpiling.
think we need to go lids soon. - would meal planning help?

*lost 1half stone on slimming world but thats costing me about £25 a month but hopefully reach target soon then be free. - well done on the weight loss

we all eating healthier just the kids like locusts and eat eat eat. doesnt seem to last 5mins. - not sure how many kids, or how old, my stepson is a bottomless pit. I make Twinks hobnobs, microwave sponge (got the recipe on here) and serve with 6p supermarket custard, also try giving them bread and butter with a meal, and soup before hand (I have been know to use clean potato and carrot peelings to make soup and add a handful of split peas and liquidise).

we spending approx 400a month including some nappies and household and all foods.
going to try reduce this to 350. - write down what you normally buy and what goes to waste. Meal plan where you can or buy things that can be frozen or used for many things. Nappies, wipes etc everyone has their preference for these, my advice would be get onto the freebies board and see what baby stuff is there.

*no hols for us maybe few daytrips. went to zoo farm other week as won tickets in a raffle I never win anything one bit of good luck. - use your sky.com/rewards to get cinema tickets and use them as a treat. Just remember to take your own snacks instead of buying them there


*panicking as not managed to save for xmas but have started xmas shopping already gotbargain rocking horse in milgarage need todo a few carboots. - get onto freecycle, I managed to get bit for friends for their kids to go into their xmas (perfume, clothes, toys etc). Also if you have any bits to clear sort them into piles to sell on ebay/gumtree/etc and freecycle

*trying to have mass declutter tidy and organise house once and for all.we giving the girls our room the largest! - see above. Also why are the girls getting your room? (Sorry if this is nosey), I have friends who let their 3 boys have the two largest rooms and they are miserable in the box room. If its a question of space or that they have too much there's loads of ideas on here for storage etc. Do they have bunk beds? Your room should be your haven.

*workingout what clothes they need finding with 3kids its ahell of a lot of laundry,use cloth nappies on baby too. - again not sure how old the kids are (i.e. I was washing and ironing by 11), but even if they are younger they can help fold towels and anything that doesn't need ironed.

Talking of laundry our driers playing up still under warrenty so someone coming to look.
using line more on nice days.
Washing machine making horrible noise on spin like its going totake off think its the bearings and its slowly dying.
went to shop and he said most manufacturersthink people do 4loads a week we do 3-4,loads a day which is what they classify as commercial. - thats a lot of washing, our house was the same till I found OH's kids were changing (unnecessarily) their clothes 4-5 times a day including trying something on, deciding not to wear it and classing it as dirty. They were also putting jeans in the wash after wearing them once.

*trying to find part time job to fit in around hubbys as struggling on 1 wage. - try surveys, mystery shopping. Also (might not be possible with a small baby....also your OH might not like it) but what about the chat lines or tarot lines.

*hubby finally tookkids camping in garden they lasted 2hours!

*eldest my stepson being good at the moment at least.

*sickened by riots in news i avoided bristol centre this week. just dont getit.yes its tough but to turn to crime and violence feel really mad about it.

Do hope everyones ok. thankyou for everyone who missed me.will try to regular post again just find not enough hours in the day!

Hi Gailey, I hope you don't mind me butting in but put a few suggestions (in red) that may help.

Chin up, we're all in the same boat. My car is still in the garage and a few hundred pounds later its still not fixed. we thought it was fixed till we tried to start it this morning and nope wouldn't start!

gailey_2

Thanks unix some fab ideas there.

we have huge family bargains and poundland in citycentrebut that involves bus and cant face it with all 3kids.will do wheneldest goes back to school.brought a lot of christening stuff off ebay so saved lots there my dress was 5.99, sons gown was 4.20 and daughters dresses were 15quid each.

I find it odd no cherries this year been watching the trees for months. lots of blackberries so will make do withthose.

I meal plan in head mostly need to start writing stuff down again and shopping around more just lost my waylast few months with new baby.definatly noticedthe price rises.

my mil buys set things. we buy set items but we do only buy whats on offer and not a slave to the brand anymore.
finding even value items more expensive.

rooms-we decluttering and tidying girls rooms atmoment they have own room.
we 3beds and 2reception.

so decided to give up our room the biggest so they can share room for all their stuff then. just on hunt for cheap bunkbeds.dreading putting nearly 2year old in bed shes still in a cot.
The 2nd bedrooms very small double roomfor bed and bedside table but nothing else, ithas fitted wardrobes.
The box room will then be my baby boysnursury.

not ideal but cant afford to move and need to make most of space we have.

Not sure if its weather or just state of house getting me down.I try to be be upbeat just think im tired. had 4kids this week as stepson came to stay. hubby works a lot of hours, my tasks neverending.Hate stressing about money butsomeone has too.
Think we be ok as we trying to make all cutbacks we can.

going to look at house insurance/breakdown cover next see if we can save there

going to list stuff gumtree ebay this weekend.
also join free cycle.
on hunt for cheap storage on ebay.

havent made twinks in ages alwasy turn out wrong but will try this afternoon as eldest is bored.

ohh not seen sky rewards will look into that. i did managed to negocaite half price movies for 6months and dropped our hd subscription,got engineree coming to move the multiroom for free. my freinds selling me new sky box cheap as wanted plus upstairs as well as down. will need to new wireless router for sky when we switch from virgin. did consider virgin but not as good.

used todo mysterty shops an dsurveys but they stopped sending.

got few very cheap days put locally and pack picnics.
did want to get bikesbut dont think we can afford it.

the £1000 we spent on the cars in june and the extra insurance costs really set us back financially.we had nearly paid off a creditcard now its back at its limit we paying it down but cars making funny noise again justfeels like 1step foward 2steps back.

the bank of england announced inflation torise to 5percent.
just feel squeezed dreading energy bills this winter.
wages not going up but foods rising every day.
we rarly go out,we try to be careful.
we both worried but trying not to stress and see how we go month to month.

With the baby i breastfeed, use cloth nappies, buy 2nd hand and plan to make own babyfood when we wean.

flowertotmum

Hi all...
Gailey...wow your soo busy..nice to see you back though babe...:A
Scottishminnie...o dear that would have set me off..probably would have bought it for them and gave it to them at doors...my treat..poor ole dears...

Ceridwen..your soo cool..hugs for you(((love)))..

Well had a busy day or 2..been harvesting at lotties..have to say spuds have done well but my cauliflowers are no bigger than carnations:o..carrots have got fly in them:mad:,and some greedy so and so has pinched the rest of my blackberries..:mad::mad:..fuming...thing is there is loads on the bushes and we would have gladly given some away..but no they pinched them...we have put in a complaint to the allotment committee...they are not happy either as quite a few folks have had stuff go missing over the last week...we have a witness who saw the couple taking them..and another wtness saw the same couple helping themselves to other folks beans and apples...so they are going to be evicted:(..sad really..
Back to os..have been making more lime and lemon marmalade..its zingy i'll give it that:cool:..blimey will only need a spot of that on my toast:rotfl:..next is my raspberry jam..yummy..then blackberry and apple jam..
Have cleaned out my gutters today(hubby did)..in anticipation of a rough winter and wet weather still to come..also been pricing up exterior paint for my porch..looks like wickes is best place to go.
Had an horrendous afternoon..had tots little friend around to play:eek:..never again is that child coming in my house..what a little horror...upset both my girls,had a tantrum because i wouldn't let them go upstairs to play,didn't want the juice i have,didn't want the same snack as others:mad:..i only have so much patience and this child tested it in spades...thankfully her mum came to get her on time...never been so relieved to see someone leave..then i spent a good hour cleaning up the mess she left behind...
We are both worried as to how we are going to manage financially through the crisis..money is tight and our budget is so tight it squeaks..
I have a little thing i do..i write down the most essential things i need..you know clothes wise..like at the mo its winter stuff for me and tots..i pop the list in my purse and when ever i go into a charity shop i take the list out and try to get whats on it..obviously not all at once but a few things...its working so far..i have 2 jumpers for fern for 50p each and they are lovely..cardigan for iris 50p, and a few long sleeve shirts for me at £1.50 each...i have also started to embellish the girls stuff myself to make it unique..fern gets pink flowers and iris gets lilac ones..sewn on to tops,or sequins sewn around jeans pockets..they look fab..bought some lovely ladybird buttons for 99p(ebay) and have replaced plain buttons with these..amazing how much it transforms a plain white cardigan...
I went to my local co-op yesterday,whoopsies galore..bread reduced down to 9p a loaf,cobs and cakes..meat was going for £1.50 a pack...must admit i did get a few but that means no more spending now until monday to keep inline with my squeaking budget...
Right i'm off to have boiled eggs(my chickens) and HM bread all toasty and lovely...o and its raining again...nevermind.
love to you all...
take care of each because each other is sometimes all we have.
ftm

flowertotmum

redlady_1 wrote: »

Either he is going to ask for something, do something or is up to something! Be on your guard HJ

I wish I could take wood from the dump as it would save me a fortune but we have the Health and Safety Nazis who patrol our patch.

I remember my mum and I used to make peg dollies from the dolly pegs, a marker pen, glue and scraps of material. I would play for hours with them.

Wow i do this for my tots..we use old boxes with a square cut out and they put on plays with the dolly pegs..so cute.
love
ftm

mumoffour77

scottishminnie wrote: »

Anyone want some rain? - going free. Just let me know where to send it and it's all yours - I've had qute enough:D

I think I should venture a peek at my potatoes later given so many comments about blight. They are in a container and the shaws have been dying back a bit but I've been ignoring them. It's partly because my dad grew potatoes on the farm when I was young and the "tattie picking" took place in the October school week so I can't quite think of them being ready now. Must investigate though - don't want to lose them.

I made an early morning trip to Asda earlier. That was traumatic - I'd already noticed 2 horrendous price hikes - smart price butter up 11p since last week and a tin of tuns chunks in spring water now 13p more expensive - when I got stuck behind this older couple. I'm not sure what they were looking at, something in the tinned aisle, but she was saying "we just can't afford to pay that, we'll have to find something else". He was saying something along the lines of "but we've always bought it". I didn't want to stare at them but I kept thinking they could have been my parents, or anyone else's for that matter and they shouldn't have to worry about being able to buy food. It really upset me, I'm home without half of what I need as I just headed for the checkout after that, I couldn't face more shopping.

Close to tears reading this!! I bet the man worked hard all his life!:(

It's still bothering me. I so hate this country for what it has become when decent hard working people have a miserable retirement.

I need to do something constructive this afternoon to snap out of my maudlin state - hopefully Delia's scones will do the trick.

That breaks my heart:(
I would have walked out too:(