A new 'tougher' thread... and so it continues

fuddle

GreyQueen wrote: »

:eek: That's just pure evil; I'm not gonna look, I'm not gonna look.

Fuddle I'm impressed that you manage to cut your own hair; how to you manage to see the bit around the back?

I deliberately grew my shortish hair long to save money and once I'd got all the layers out I really resented shelling out my hard-earned to the hairdresser. So I make my Mum trim it for me. She last did it this spring and I have cautioned her that I'll want it done sometime over Xmas. Honestly, it's so thick that I could probably attack it with hedge-clippers and nobody would notice......:rotfl:

did you look :rotfl:;)

I honesly don't know how I can do the back. It amazes me every time. I use a hand mirror on my bed which reflects the back image onto my large mirrored wardrobe doors so that will help. I have learned how to do feathering and layers so as long as I get a thin base line straight the rest can be hacked left right and centre :rotfl: One of these days something is going to go horribly wrong.

I'm also greying at 32 and not bothered. It's took a little while to feel that way but it's down to money really. My mum colours every 6 weeks and even then it doesn't tend to 'stick' to the grey very well. If I start I fear I will get into a cycle of needing to do it often and I simply haven't the funds

ifonlyitwaseasier

cheers fuddle, only 35 years, 1 month and 26 days til i retire............


fyi on the hair dye front for covering grey, i find the redder the shade the longer i have coverage and as i am the same age as you i am refusing to be streaky yet!!!

jamanda

My retirement age has gone from 60 to 62 yrs 9 months (I think). I worry about those in hard physical type jobs because I can't see how they can keep going for so long.

Madardyarthur - You and I are frequenting many of the same sites away from MSE. I saw a post of yours a couple of weeks ago on a different forum and was quite startled to find you there (a weather one).

I'm trying to stick with the Christmas presents I'm supposed to have finished buying, but find it very hard to stop when I see something that DD, for example, would love. Anybody else find themselves staring at something having a chat with themselves about whether or not they "need" to buy it? Somebody's going to have me committed one of these days.

With regard to hair and hairdressers, I cut chunks off around the top of mine, and I used to get my dad to cut the bottom. However, since he has Parkinsons now, neither of us are very confident about the results, although I still think he would be better than either DD or DH at the job. And anyway, I can't see the back

Mum keeps warning me not to spend any money due to the negative outlook. Unfortunately I'm planning to install a downstairs loo and shower after Christmas (thinking about aging parents, stairs, and looking after them). She'd have a fit if she realised it was mainly for their benefit - just in case.

Everybody else I know, other than my mum, seems to have not the slightest clue that there are possible problems ahead and are carrying on as usual - no obvious cutting down on anything as far as I can see.

lizzyb1812

I stopped colouring over my greys when I noticed that my mum's salt and pepper colour actually suited her skin tone and that she has never gone completely grey despite now being in her mid seventies.

Cutting is more difficult. It's fine and greasy and has to be washed every day. I have it cut into a very short crop but will probably have a go at trimming it into shape at the bottom and letting the layers grow out - then there might be enough thickness to let it all grow. But it's going to take a couple of years to get the short bits on top to the bottom so no rush!

Cold but sunny here - pup walked and lunch/tea prepped. Got all my mending done yesterday and will be prepping apples for dehydrating later. I'm having about an apple's worth of dehydrated chunks in my breakfast porridge every day and I'm getting a bit low. They're nice to eat as a snack too.

I think I'm due to retire at 66. I just missed the cut off point for retiring at 60 when they equalised the pension age. I'm not working at the moment but will have to look around in the new year. I'm hoping that being willing to go part time will help - hard-pressed employers in my field can afford part time but get lots of applications for full time work. Not worrying about it though - I've been through the mill enough times to know that I'll make it through somehow.

Heard a snippet on the radio this morning - "austerity doesn't have to be misery". Very true.

fuddle

My mum isn't at all perturbed about any difficulties ahead. She lives on her own and still spends money that she most certainly could be saving. My sister and her husband are so focused on paying off their mortgage (still in their twenties) that every spare penny, and I mean spare as they have a fair bit of residual income is put straight into a savings account connected to the mortgage. While I applaud them for what they are doing re: mortgage I just feel to have all their eggs in one basket is a little bit too tunnel vision for me. I would feel better putting some aside to live off should I need it. I guess we are all so different and hey, who am I to talk, I rent due to losing my home in 2009 so....... I have no right to cast aspersions on any body's financial habit not least one regarding paying the mortgage!

I think I have been so desensitised about homes and had to learn quickly that any house can be turned into a home and for us now what is important is actually affording to eat and stay warm should the rot set in. It's my weird, warped way of looking at things I suppose. I've had to, in order to cope.

I am shocked at how many of my family members really believe their jobs are safe and it's never going to happen to them. Largely they work in the public sector - education & council offices etc I don't see any bodies habits change of the last few years other than my own - and that was forced but I am so relieved that I have learned how to cope when the chips are down. I'm scared but think that if pushed to the limit we could survive.

rosieben

don’t listen to just the doom and gloom merchants though, too many of them have their own agenda, and there is some positive stuff out there. There were some good reactions to yesterday’s autumn statement, and some signs that it has given a boost to world confidence in the UK's ability to get out of debt though its going to take some time


Goldman Sachs are just about to have their credit grading downgraded btw

taurusgb

jamanda wrote: »

With regard to hair and hairdressers, I cut chunks off around the top of mine, and I used to get my dad to cut the bottom. However, since he has Parkinsons now, neither of us are very confident about the results, although I still think he would be better than either DD or DH at the job. And anyway, I can't see the back

Mum keeps warning me not to spend any money due to the negative outlook. Unfortunately I'm planning to install a downstairs loo and shower after Christmas (thinking about aging parents, stairs, and looking after them). She'd have a fit if she realised it was mainly for their benefit - just in case.

I usually hack my own hair into shape as I have long hair that I always wear up (can anyone explain why I look OK with hair up but very plain and ugly with it cut short?) but as I am going into hospital in a couple of weeks and will probably not be able to fiddle about putting it up for at least a couple of days (and I don't want to scare the nurses) I'm treating myself to a proper haircut this afternoon.

We only have one toilet and that is upstairs so I feel understand your worry ref your parents. My dad is currently in hospital with a severe infection in his leg and it upsets me greatly to think that if they can't get him back mobile he will never be able to visit us again. We can't afford to have a downdstairs toilet fitted either so there is no solution there.:(

I'm a bit fed up today. Having now got a date for my urgent operation, I have made the decision to stay away from all public places and any people at all other than my DH and DS2 (because they live here lol ). There are loads of coughs, colds and viruses doing the rounds and the idea that I might catch one of them and have to have my operation postponed fills me with :eek::eek: feelings. I have been accused of trying to wrap myself in cotton wool and told it is pointless as my DH or DS could easily bring germs home. Well yes they could, but surely limiting my exposure to risk to just 2 people isn't that stupid is it? Other peoples reaction doesn't fill me with confidence on how willing they will be to help me avoid infection after I come home and have to adopt lifestyle changes either. :mad:

Right going to re-look at family budget, last time I was in hospital it cost a fortune so need to be as prepared as possible for it happening again.

lizzyb1812

fuddle - savings accounts connected to mortgages can be drawn on as savings usually if the need arises so your sister should be OK.

I agree that being able to afford to eat and stay warm are essential - I've stockpiled lots of dry goods and filled my freezer over a period of time so that my money can go on heating over the winter. That way my overall cash flow stays even over the months/year.

A couple of my windows ought to be repaired but they are still burglar proof and not unsightly so the repairs don't fall into the need category. I have funds in an ISA specifically for doing up the house/paying other sale fees should I have to sell but at present my intention is to stay put forever. When my remaining mortgage is paid off I'll use the sale fund for updates, etc. Bubble wrap is keeping out the draughts for a second winter :rotfl:

kidcat

Fuddle - I know what you mean about houses, having lived in rental houses that were not particularly nice, I appreciate that home is wherever we are as a family and that we can make anywhere home.
As for christening gifts, you could go with a children's bible which can be picked up fairly cheap or how about printing a bible verse and framing that? There are loads of bible sites online that can be used.

A really lazy day here, we have all only just woken, have no real plans for today other than getting through it. Ordinarily I would have taken kids somewhere and enjoyed the day off but as most of us are ill we are staying put. Hoping for a NSD.

kidcat

Taurus - you need to do whatever you feel necessary to stay well. Having had a massive overspend this month when dad and oh did the shopping I definitely agree with the being prepared for when you are in hospital. Online shopping would probably be ideal for you and i would recommend a meal plan for the time you are in hospital along with instructions for how to cook, when to cook and how big a portion. My oh dished up a curry I had ds make, it usually does two meals for six of us and then a couple of freezer portions, he fed the six of us then threw remains away as he said there was only a tiny bit left!