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

grandma247

suzid wrote: »

OMG
By the way, has anyone else who's chicks have just flown noticed a dramatic drop in energy consumption? We're using half the leccie we were with DS at home. :T

Oh yes! and ds2 is off to America again next week for three months so am looking forward to mega belt tightening since the youngest at 12 is too young to be using much electric at the moment, Goodness knows how ds2 does it. I can only think he never turns anything off in his room. I will miss him though. Thank goodness for the internet so I can keep in touch.

I am finally getting my courtesy car today. My car has now been written off as the garage estimated more than £2000 damage to it.

cat_smith

mardatha wrote: »

Smiley, anybody who can spell "licentiousness" has my complete admiration.
But can you say it without your teeth falling out?

I can :j:j

katieowl_2

Well I'm having a mixed sort of day. Last night DS opened a letter from the college - which is an hour away on a bus laid on from town, to discover that they had decided to only give him a 50% contribution towards the cost of transport - £315, meaning that they want him to find that? He's been out of work since he left school ten months ago. He's got no income ATM, they've not sorted out his money for the 'scheme' he's on, we are on a really low income too, and they've seen the proof of that.

I told him last week that I wanted a tenner when it came through to cover OUR petrol etc. driving him back and forth to meet the bus, as really that was the MAX I thought I could ask if he was only getting £30 a week, and of course we are paying for all his food etc. So now he's looking at loosing another £10 a week to cover the bus! He's sooooo discouraged, he's gone back to the old moan of he might as well join the army, because then hopefully he will end up dead

He says he will query it, but because I don't want him to drop out, I'm going to end up paying it aren't I? There is absolutely no flaming incentive for these kids to make anything of themselves - he's not stupid by a long shot. He's probably the most intelligent of my three, but he decided NOT to go to uni because of the fee increases, as he thought the likelihood of getting a job in the field he was interested in was very low (history) that it wasn't worth doing, and he'd rather just work instead...but like I said, 10 months on the dole bored him to tears, and he had not one interview in that time!

Already I've picked up the tab for new clothes, safety boots, special tech drawing stuff, course books etc!

I've picked up a business B&B customer, who is working nights in town, and wants the room to sleep during the day, so no breakfasts or anything! That's a few extra quid.

I went into town to buy a few really small jars so I could pot my jellies up, which I got. I picked up a 1919 book about wales for 10p and a rather nice string of faïence beads for £1 - resisted a cook book in the Works...

Hope to get my dogs out now this B&Ber has arrived. I've done my Crab apple and sloe jelly, and just have the grape and thyme one to do...came online to check if Jam sugar with pectin has the same ratio of sugar to juice, but got sidetracked by OS!

Kate

TudorRose

Have enjoyed catching up on all the posts from last night. It's good to have a laugh.
Have been doing some 'real' cooking for first time in months.
Have made sausage rolls using pastry I bought on offer at Mr T's the other day & sausage meat I found in freezer which was an extra pack left over from last Christmas & an apple pie. Used the rest of the block of pastry & some apples I got cheap at the market on Saturday.
It felt good to make something so will have to do it more often

rachbc

aww katieowl I know it sucks but college's have had the amount they get cut big time. Ours has certainly take the decision to help more students with smaller amounts than less students with all they need. Is the £30 he is getting EMA (or the bursary that replaces it)? That is really meant to cover travel costs etc and our college doesn't give any extra for travel if students get the full EMA. Now he's back in education you should get Child Benefit and Child Tax Credits for him again too- so remember to reapply for them

katieowl_2

rachbc wrote: »

aww katieowl I know it sucks but college's have had the amount they get cut big time. Ours has certainly take the decision to help more students with smaller amounts than less students with all they need. Is the £30 he is getting EMA (or the bursary that replaces it)? That is really meant to cover travel costs etc and our college doesn't give any extra for travel if students get the full EMA. Now he's back in education you should get Child Benefit and Child Tax Credits for him again too- so remember to reapply for them

No Rachbc he's 19 now, so no more CB or CTC! It's some kind of ALG (which is Assembly rather than Adult LG as we are in Wales I think ALG in UK is axed with EMA) 'Pathways'?? I can't remember, but they are supposed to be finding him a work placement one day a week. But he doesn't get paid any extra for that.

All over the country there are going to be hard pressed parents being even harder pressed with moves like this. I did say to him that they probably had a limited pot to dip into. I think it was bad that the letter came in with no suggestion as to how the extra should be paid. I do think that when dropping a bombshell they should be saying you can pay us monthly/or weekly or something rather than just leave it at we'll pay 50%

We were just walking the dogs and trying to think of ways for him to earn some cash - I suggested bar work for Xmas, but as he pointed out he didn't manage to get a job doing that before while he was looking for work! I think it's worth a go though. Trouble is 'town' is four miles away from home, so 'Dobbie' the house elf gets to run the taxi service for the kids jobs!

Kate

Kimsmum

I am sure my OH wonders what I am reading at times, as I have been reading over last night and today posts.Nearly spilled my tea at one stage, he just looks at me and shakes his head. He asked me was I sure I was on the right forum. :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Well money is going to be very tight around here for quite a while, as something has come up and we just dont have the money for it.
So today I have done a inventory of the fridge, freezer and food cupboard. Have also meal planned for the next eight weeks, made a list of the items I will need and them and only them will be bought.:(

Was feeling down about it, them though we still have a home, warm bed to sleep in, clothes,and plenty of food so I am much more positive just abit of a shock went I first found out.
I also have this thread as it has really cheered me up today so thank you all:)

HariboJunkie

Sorry to CheapsKate, Katieowl and Kimsmum for your extra expenses. We have hit that too this month so you can join us in the corner eating beans on toast.

Katie, could your son take some seasonal work at one of the big stores for Christmas? Much as I admire our brave soldiers I hope he stays home safe with you. x

Love the story of the wooden spoon shopping experience Softstuff. Well done on starting the liquers. Mine look to be maturing nicely. Let's hope I can restrain myself from sampling until Christmas.
Cranky, those bags are lovely. Well done. :T

OH isn't well so I'm painting alone and it's sloooooowwww. I really wanted it finished tonight but never mind. Today has been a struggle with him out of action as he does all the heavy work around here so I'm lifting in one log at a time for the stove.
I have a whoopsied beef topside in the oven which I'm going to slice and shove in a bit of baguette with some watercress, HG tomatoes and mustard mayo for my tea then get on with the second coat on the doors.

Behave yourselves ladies. :p;):D:wave:

ceridwen

Softstuff wrote: »

I shall mention liver to you no longer, and will pop it in my cupboard next to the ball-gags.

As for the elderly lady in the hairdressers, things I've found out about my family, and extended family, with an upper age of 83, tell me there's nothing I can ever get up to that they haven't at least tried once, and probably some on a daily basis :rotfl:

:rotfl::rotfl: Oh well....cor some families are different to mine then - I have a bitta suspicion in one (non immediate family) direction in one respect - but "straight down the line" "conventional" about sums most of them up and defo. my immediate family.

Am now wondering if I'd win a "most conventional family" award....:think::rotfl:. I dont know my mother very well at all - considering how long she has been my mother for (I could work out instantly what her tastes would be in any respect and confidently choose anything for her if I had to - but thats as far as it goes) - but I'd be willing to bet there's absolutely no "skeletons in the cupboard" whatsoever in my immediate family.

Shall I put my hand up for "Most Boring Family" Award then?:rotfl:

.....errrr...and admit I'm at a loss to know what "ball gags" are....ummm...DARE I ask? The only reason I didnt ask about "gimp masks" is I googled to see what they were....ah right....<ahem>

katieowl_2

HariboJunkie wrote: »

Katie, could your son take some seasonal work at one of the big stores for Christmas? Much as I admire our brave soldiers I hope he stays home safe with you. x

Not really any big stores here in Cardigan? I suppose we could try Mr T? That's a good idea though, I'll get on to that myself on his behalf?

Kate