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

VJsmum

kittie wrote: »

The boom times were fuelled by the manufacturers still having a strong base but definitely not the case now as the far east has taken over, also the banks by giving credit here there and everywhere and we cannot forget all the people and businesses who were sucked in by credit, they also fuelled the boom by spend spend spend

I've said it as a joke before but i really do blame Maggie Thatcher (although there were tough times before her - i too remember the power cuts of the 70's under Ted Heath, dad coming into the lounge -at 5.55 with candles cos the power went off at 6pm, I wonder if there was a small baby boom after that :rotfl:), what Maggie thatcher did was deregulate everything, particularly the banks and privatise previously public industries like gas, electric, etc. What also happened then was that people were told that they could have whatever they wanted and encouraged to buy.

I grew up in a pretty poor working class household but we didn't think of ourselves as poor cos every one was the same. My mother, who was no natural cook or homemaker, was a bloody marvel at making food stretch between 6 of us. I have learned much of what i know from her. Now i am apparently middle class (hate terminologies like that, tho) but haven't lost my frugal habits. There will be many unable to cope when things get worse, but i hope not to be one of them.

valk_scot

wilding_arms wrote: »

A cynic might say, push everyone into further education whether a degree benefits them or not, just to keep the unemployment numbers down in the medium term.

I'm of the opinion that no learning experience is a waste in that it's good for you to stretch your brain, but on the other hand it might well be a waste of time and resources. I grew up in the days when only the top 2% of the school population went to university, there were only 8 universities in Scotland and when you left, your degree was really worth something. Now what? 50% go on to higher education and in a great many cases, it's totally useless when it comes to either job skills or job prospects. Sure it might teach you to think, (debate welcome here, lol) but it doesn't necessarily mean you know anything.

Plus young people still seem to be mostly uneducated in life skills. Maybe instead of a gap year or a degree in the more obscure aspects of (name of useless subject here) all young people should be required to take a one year diploma in cooking, domestic skills, basic DIY, budgeting, child raising and household management? Actually, why not make it a three year degree course now? Would be a lot more useful than a lot of the degrees out there and would even possibly be worth the money in the long run.

grandma247

This is an interesting discussion.
Has anyone asked themselves why we need to teach older kids to think, could it be that spoon fed, tested into boredom kids are not allowed to think? I am so glad I taught most of mine at home and the one who went through the whole of the system was encouraged to think for himself at home.

I know that if my two youngest had gone to school they would either have been squashed or they would have got into serious trouble because they question everything and that would not go down well in a school situation. They would have been a teachers nightmare. I taught them how to do their own research and was amused a few months ago when i saw the youngest who is nearly 12 was looking for information on a character mentioned in a fiction book. I heard him say "oh he did exist then?". To me that was wonderful because I know he will use those skills to learn the important things.

We could write an amazing book between us all on how to survive this economic mess. There is so much experience between us.

Edited to say I do not blame teachers for the failings of the system, I know there are some wonderful teachers out there but they are trying to do their job in fetters.

jamanda

I'm trying to educate the grandkids in all things OS too. Go out with the dog, and all the time I'm teaching them the nuts and berries etc. and showing them what I'm doing with the garden produce and why. DH lets them help dig up spuds to their mum's horror (Dirty, mud, etc). I let them help pick beans, apples, and whatever is reasonably indestructible with excited kids. DD likes things in a plastic bag from the supermarket, and doesn't teach them to cook. (To be fair she doesn't have much time now, but the inclination was never there to create lots of mess). No hope for her, but I like to think one day if the kids are a bit stuck with something, they'll vaguely remember something I have taught them and they'll get through.

I also think it is wise to have a decent store cupboard and some cash easily available. (+ candles, matches, camping cooker etc.) After all, last financial panic we were only 4 hours away from having cash points shut down, and who knows what is around the corner.

paidinchickens

I never heard they were going to shut the cash points down :eek:

I have been getting together the emergency winter supplies and did not think about CASH for one second. How much cash do you all keep in the house?? DH and I are lucky if we have a tenner between us (if you have it on you your more likely to spend it attitude)

redlady_1

And if you need any confirmation as to what is wrong in the country then this link pretty much sums it up! What a prat!!!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/8743065/Tourist-complains-about-sight-of-fish-in-harbour.html

rachbc

jamanda wrote: »

I also think it is wise to have a decent store cupboard and some cash easily available. (+ candles, matches, camping cooker etc.) After all, last financial panic we were only 4 hours away from having cash points shut down, and who knows what is around the corner.

I agree that a degree of preparedness is essential but before everyone goes flying into a panic and storing cash (not always a safe thing to do) could you tell us the source of the info that we were 4 hours off the cash points being shut down? Its a genuine question - being of enquiring mind I like to be as assured as I can be of information before I decide to act or not on it

meg72

I do recall someday last year there was a problem with barclays and I could not get cash out a machine but was was able to get cash back in store.

jamanda

rachbc wrote: »

I agree that a degree of preparedness is essential but before everyone goes flying into a panic and storing cash (not always a safe thing to do) could you tell us the source of the info that we were 4 hours off the cash points being shut down? Its a genuine question - being of enquiring mind I like to be as assured as I can be of information before I decide to act or not on it

Can't remember exactly where I heard it before the event, but the government later admitted that was the case. Can't recall who it was, whether A. Darling or someone else.

Not panicking, just like to be prepared. Even in a simple power cut from a gale shops are all electronic these days, so a small amount of cash to hand is only sensible in my view.

D&DD

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/alistair-darling-we-were-two-hours-from-the-cashpoints-running-dry-2245350.html

Here you go Rach


Counting pennies here this morning the school hols are not cheap..