No T Words mentioned at all - a fresh start

[Deleted User]

FTM - we have a few noisy crows here too - I reckon they only shout so loudly to be heard over the squabblin g Jackdaws ! Hope things pick up at work for your DH its not easy at the best of times to run home and family let alone in this financial turmoil - however, you are the one to manage the situation if anyone can - you have a thinking head on your shoulders girlie and you have the knowledge and experience to win through - more strength to your arm ! SCOTTISHMINNIE - I use a Dylon machine dye (in fact this time I used two as I had 4 pairs of jeans to do ) I used one Black dye and one Navy dye because I had them already in the cupboard. The jeans have come out a dark navy and hopefully will last me another couple of years. The dyes are so easy to use the instructions inside are crystal clear and the only other thin g you need is 500g of salt. Have a go its simples!

flowertotmum

Morning all..thanks ladies for the support..i am very worried about it all..seems we just get on our feet and wham the rug is pulled out from under us...hubby is worried too...we didn't get to bed til gone midnight last night..sat up with a pot of tea at the dining table working it all out..we will just about manage so long as nothing throws a spanner in the works...fingers crossed..it will be a challenge again..but i love a challenge and so does hubby..so for now we are going to concentrate saving as much as we can and make do and mend.
Saying that we do have a new fence on order..our front fence is totally shameful..i have painted it and tried to sort it out but it just looks even worse..so we took the plunge and ordered some new panels..from a local wood merchant..think he did a deal for me..low cut tops and cleavage are the way to go lol..i even got free delivery thrown in...
I have cancelled my fruit boxes that are delivered weekly..from abel and cole..and went to my local greengrocer told him what i was paying and what i got for it...he started laughing and reckoned they saw me coming...not happy...me i mean..so for £4.50 a week i will get double what i was getting for £11.99..i would not have it all but i cannot grow bananas,lemons,limes,oranges or clementines...apples are no problem for us we have 3 fruit trees...so there is a bit of extra money..
I am just so glad we are debt free..otherwise it will be a real struggle...
Scottishminnie i use dylon in my machine..the jeans i am wearing are about 5 yrs old..very comfy and a nice dark blue thanks to dylon..they look new..i do hope your DW is working ok...
right i have to go and sort front garden before fence panels turn up...it will just make it look neater and tidier..plus i get to paint them..love painting..
love to you all..
ftm

flowertotmum

Quick update..hubby has spoken to his manager and its no go i'm afraid..the company he works for are totally refusing to pick up the slack..they reckon government were hoping that all companies would..but they aren't..so he has to work his job,lose the £72 a week and keep smiling...bloody hard to do i can tell you..
ftm

[Deleted User]

FTM - I know it wont make up the defacit of £72 a week but when the allotments are producing way too much to use would you consider selling the surplus at the garden gate? We have done this in the past and I have made jam and chutney also and sold those on as well very successfully. We made enough to cover totally the cost of next years seed order and ate very well all through the year - so free food if you discount the work to grow it! It might give you a little slack - easy for me to suggest but I don't still have littlies at home. Just a thought!

[Deleted User]

FTM, so sorry about the change in circumstances for you. I was thinking about you last night and your fantastic positive attitude to coping with the nasties that have been thrown your way. You are a strong person and you have a strong survival instinct. You don`t sit back and moan but you pull your sleeves up and get stuck in. A brilliant role model to your children

Our three were very young in the 70s and we had a mortgage and one salary then the recession came and suddenly ie overnight, everyone at dh`s work was on 2/3 pay. We were sick to our stomachs but knew that that was the only chance for the company to stay afloat. That is when I became the most frugal ever and cash was taken out once a month and put into envelopes. I have never forgotten and never ever been in debt since, although our only loan was a small one. Once things got better then I saved into a safety net and later in life overpaid the mortgage. You just get the rug pulled once and it is a warning for life. I still get shudders when I think of it, I lost weight easily then as we lived on basic frugal food from the garden

flowertotmum

Hi ladies..thank you..i have spent today re-working our budget and with a bit of jiggling we can do it..just.
MLW..i think thats a great idea..i have lots of surplus summer veg when it comes through..lettuce,toms,cucumbers,courgettes,spring onions etc..i will defo do that..also i made the most addictive spicy courgette chutney last year..it was gorgeous..and really easy to do..so if i get too many courgettes again i will make and sell it...also jams..i have gooseberries up the ying yang and coming out the wing wang when they get going..so i will do jams with them and try to sell them too...
Have got some bundles of clothes to sell too..also lots of toys..had a good look at it all today and i know we can do it..just such a shock thats all...
Kittie thank you..i didn't have a very good upbringing and strive to be the best mum for my children..i really hope i am a good role model for them..like you say roll up my sleeves and get on with it..
thanks to you all..
right best go..hubbyhas made a cuppa before he goes to work..
frugal is as frugal does..
love
ftm

[Deleted User]

FTM - Do you have a local LETS (Local Exchange Trading System) in your area? If so you might look into joining the scheme as it lets you trade off skills for other services without cash exchange. If you could babysit or mow someones lawn or walk a dog etc, you might be able to trade for haircuts, sewing , home decorating all sorts of things, They would probable be in the local services/associations book at the library or on line and might help ease the burden still more for you. Cheers Lyn.

scottishminnie

FTM - sorry to hear the news. I think the idea about selling produce is good. Often when hubby and I are in the US we will stop and buy fruit/veg from someone selling at the end of their garden/side of the road. I'd much rather hand my cash over to the person who has created the goods from scratch than give it to the last party at the end of a big supplier chain. I'd love there to be more farmers markets round my area but quite a few have been driven away by the bureaucracy and the remainder are held in town centres which are pedestrianised so you have to pay to park miles away and carry your bits and bobs back to the car. It's such a shame our authorities have destroyed a prefectly good trade opportunity.

Chutney and Jam is another winner for me - would buy home made every time if I could.

It's a short visit tonight - I've brought home lots of work to do. I wouldn't mind if I worked for a company who cared about their staff but things are miserable at the moment. One of my colleagues complained about morale recently and was told that a fear culture helps "sharpens people's focus and efforts". I hope those at the top get their comeuppance some day soon.

[Deleted User]

FTM - DH who was on the allotment committeee says that technically you are not meant to sell surpluses - so it would probably be a good idea to grow 'a few extras' of everything in the garden to cover this! if you see what I mean!

flowertotmum

Morning ladies...
MLW..yes i know hubby told me yesterday...scuppered at the first post lol..nevermind, i told him that him and the tots had better learn to love veggies,salads and chutneys coz thats what i will serve up..

Somehow how knowing its going to happen has settled us down..we can plan and budget for it now..obviously any "extras" will go to family..

Had a good day yesterday..i put a "for sale" sign up at local surestart centre on the noticeboard..just some bundles of clothes and a pushchair..couldn't believe it i sold them all last night..so the money has gone straight into an envelope for emergencies..

Have my big shop coming today so i will re-work my armageddon cupboard..i sorted my kitchen cupboards yesterday and have quite a bit more than i thought..

So ladies all in all we will make it and survive..thank you for all the ideas..
love you all
ftm