Not mentioning the T word at all

Kaz2904

Today has been a disaster! Well, tea was . I made the pea and ham soup and served it. It was cold . So I put it back into the pan and reheated it. I then served it again. It was revolting! So we went to Asda and got pizza as my sisters are coming tomorrow. DH then brought it through and promptly dropped it on the dining room carpet :eek: So I had to vax it . Our family have given up on pigs feet now. Barely any meat on them and even the cat won't eat the left over skin bits.
Never mind, we've tried

HariboJunkie

I'm still trying to catch up with you lot.

Hope you are all well. I have missed your craic (and your support) on the other thread.

MaLarkin

Good Morning Everyone

Not posted for a few days because I've been trying to deal with some odd feelings and reactions and I'm not sure I can explain it at all well but if I try maybe you can all help me make sense of things

First of all I'm like all of us,just getting on with life, being as frugal as possible. Working in a job I neither love nor hate but knowing I'm lucky to be working and fairly secure in these troubling time.

I'm sure you all sometimes feels scared by the way things are going as I do. I worry about when we are retired and what life is going to be like for my children and grandchildren. Being OS is hard work and I know others feel worn out by it at times.

And then last week there was a death. Not someone close to me so my reaction should have been "Oh that's sad" and then move on. Instead for some reason it's struck a chord with me and made me stop and reassess things. It feels a bit like when people with debts actually face up to the fact they have a problem they can't hide from and have a LBM.

I feel I am explaining this quite badly but somehow this death has released something in me and made life sit more lightly on me. I'm not going to "sweat the small stuff" anymore. I can't stop being frugal it's part of who I am but I'm going to stop and smell the roses as I carry on saving the pennies.

Sorry all a bit deep for this early in the morning. I hope I haven't said anything that anyone feels is inappropriate. I've struggled with these feelings that have surfaced in me (and still am struggling if truth be told.) I feel as if I've lost a layer of skin I'm so pathetically sensitive at the moment the least thing brings tears to my eyes but I'm not depressed quite the opposite which of course makes me feel guilty because someone died! Going to stop now need to decide whether to hit the submit button.

redlady_1

Ma, surviving something when someone else dies often brings feelings of guilt. Some of my friends (HMF) have never truely come to terms with them being the one who survived when their friend didnt. But then in tribute live their lives to the full. Chin up xxx

I am currently looking at buying sacks of flour (again!) With the prices of everything going up I think it would be wise.

Oh and the OH this morning was not very MSE. He put diesel in a petrol car and is currently camped at the station waiting for the nice AA man!!!

Red_Doe

Not sure what everyone else's weather is like at the moment, but I hope folks are staying safe in the floods and high winds! Got howling gales here again, which have destroyed my wee home made polytunnel. But I'll make another one!
In all my OS cutting back, stockpiling, saving plans, one thing I forgot was something my OH reminded me about last night...making sure there is enough electricity money in the meter! (we have a key meter) because if we get cut off in winter we can't get to the shop to pick it up.
That was a Doh! moment, can't believe I forgot. Well, yes I can, knowing me..... *blush*

redlady_1

Oh how many times have I been sat in darkness because I forgot to put electric on my key! Normally about 10.10 when the shop closes at 10!!!

The plus side of now having a bill is that I dont end up hunting for the torch and a shop in my PJ's

maryb

Ma, It's quite normal to have a reassessment when someone you know dies even if you were not close to them. We have both now reached the age when people we know are getting serious/terminal illnesses. It has influenced both of us to retire at the earliest opportunity because you just don't know what is around the corner - even though the anxious part of me that wants to be safe, safe, safe still worries about money, when rationally, I know that there is no need to panic (although inflation does concern me).

In its way this sort of personal reassessment is a reaffirmation that life is worthwhile and that means everyone's life including the person who died

crumblepie

This year I hope I'm organized with the gas and electric - I'm on a key meter too. This is the third winter with the meter and last year with all the snow I was very close to having no heating a couple of times. A combination of not being able to getting to shop and not having any money. So this year new plan and over the summer I've been stockpiling food and I know that will last me until the new year and beyond apart from a bit of veg, milk, bread and stuff for the fridge. Now that money that would be spent on food can now be put onto the meters and I'm hoping to put £10 - £20 a week to build up a credit big enough so I don't have to worry about it running out.

ab7

Dunno if this will help but if any of you on prepayment with British Gas or Scottish Power they do an online payment service?

Scottish power or british gas saved my bro lots of times last year just dont do what he did and forget to top up before it ran out he'd forgotten he needed elec for his internet to work :rotfl:

born_blonde

paidinchickens I would really recommend a Remoska. It's not just they are cheap to run they cook so well. Mine does the travels with me. We are in our static caravan this week with only 16 amps of electricity and despite having a gas cooker the remoska is invaluable. Roast chicken last night and sausages this morning. And when mine developed a loose handle despite it being years old Lakeland sent me a shiny new one free of charge in just 2 days!