make do and mend for tougher times

SDG31000

Anyone want some sweeties? I got the family to ration them rather than giving out handfuls of them and then we had a huge rain storm and no more trick or treaters.
I have a large mixing bowl and a tub of sweets left over. I also have some very soggy decorations to dry out and put away. Next year DH is booking Halloween off and dealing with it all.

Today I also need to have a cooking day and tidy up yet again. I am so sick of getting the house looking ok and then the rest of the family trashing it. DH is the biggest culprit and it is driving me nuts.

Sorry for the rant. I had better go and drink some more tea and try to break this down into small jobs as I just feel overwhelmed by it all at the moment.

Take care xxxx

7_week_wonder

kidcat wrote: »

Panic have realised I need to take cakes for today but havent made any, so am planning on throwing some scones together but now cant find my scone recipe

This is my favourite Delia recipe -- I just use ordinary milk instead of butter mile. Must dash, have cake in oven, mother arriving late afternoon, still got to clean house ready for her and I appear to have agreed to do an 8 mile hill run this afternoon: oops!

Popperwell

Morning All,
It really was oh so quiet here over Halloween and these past years the same has been true on Novembr 5th too, long gone have the days of any neighbour doing a display or hearing any going off in the steets weeks before.

Unless, because there is a restriction on the sale of "Bangers" for domestic use perhaps that is the reason. They did bring in some kind of rule didn't they?

GQ, there was me thinking the Frey Bentos pies were a good offer:o:pI had no idea the price is regularly so low at many outlets...I have never seen them being sold at that price before but then again we only have Tesco's and the few times I have managed to venture into a kind of pound shop they were not selling any.

I'm like yourself now...I will be using up my store of food and reducing it so any shopping will be mainly now just the basics like milk, fresh veg/fruit and bread. So that should keep spending down. Perhaps I'll get a coulple myself as a last addition to my store...my own food bank.

That documentary was frightening about them the other night now I have seen it. People struggling to feed themselves but trying to keep a roof over their heads.

But last night the radio was saying the unrest over austere measure has started to hit Portugal and they now have food banks and one person interviewed is using it and until recently she was donating and helping others now it is the other way around. And the featured branch is giving out 45 tons of food a day!

The BBC documentary was reasonably fair but some of the people featured I could still imagine some watching not having sympathy for even without the conman at the end.

And from next week I may be able to use Aldi's but I am not so sure I'll save much or have much choice on basics there.

Cheapskate

Morning everyone

Happy All Saints' Day or New Year! I have sweeties left over, too. Mar, do you want a care package sending?

We watched the foodbank programme last night, think it was an eye opener to DH, and we were both slightly appalled at the chap who seemed to be scamming the place, but agree with others' comments about selling the fancy tv/computer - surely feeding your children and yourself comes before keeping up appearances? Bet DH that I could probably feed us all (3 adults, 2 small children) for not much more than £60 a week, might have to soon, as well! Think I'll start practising what I preach this week, to get back into the habit before our income drops in the new year.

Can't quite remember everyone's posts, except to say hope your DD gets home safe, MrsL, hugs to everyone as well. Hang in there, toughies!

A xo

Aria`s_Tail

Morning everyone.
No knocks on the door up in Cumbria for me last night either. Mind you, I didn't get back in from shopping till 7pm. There was 3 pairs of girls trick or treating up the street (quiet side rd) but they seemed to only be knocking on selected doors, maybe ones they knew? I was unloading my estate car full of bags so maybe I looked too scary to approach?
Anyway, took my Mums huge list and went to Li*l, MrA and Mozzies. Got a lot for my own storecupboard too, a few YS items and had to get new wiper blades for the car. (went to local motor spares company to save money).

I also watched the food bank program on Iplayer last night. I was gobsmacked and annoyed with that woman too, 50" tele, mac and the fact she turned up to collect her food in a people carrier! :eek: I apreciate that with 5 kids a car probably makes things easier but really, some peoples priorities are all wrong, petrol in car over food for kids?

Sun is out this morning, I woke up toasty warm as my cat had snuck into bed with me and was purring into my armpit.
Want to get the inside of my car cleaned this morning as it is revolting, have a tidy round then head off back down the M6 for 200 miles to home this afternoon.

Sunshine4

Lyn, Hope your DD made it home safe.


Denise

Popperwell

The programme also showed something that even if I did have some religious leanings, I would've refused to do and she looked uncomfortable doing it, when they asked a foodbank user to get up on stage and be used at a kind of meeting where it looked as though they were trying to convert people into their faith.

Some of the examples used also played into the view many have of people in hard times so probably many who watched will not be sympathetic. Glad no one shown seemed to have Sky that really would've caused a negative reaction. Possibly rightly so...

Good luck for the future Cheapskate.

[Deleted User]

Hi DENISE - As far as we know the plane left with them on board and should be landing at Heathrow any time now. They will have luggage to collect and I hope will be in touch as they head for the car park, I'll certainly post as soon as I've heard from them. You are all such a support with your caring and good wishes, I've felt like hands were holding me up through all this, Bless all of you, Cheers Lyn xxx.

VJsmum

GreyQueen wrote: »

Yesterday I succumbed to a temptation and purchased a silly hat. I'd restrained myself last year but it was too much; I now have one of those with the fake fur linings and the long earflaps which come down on either side of your face. Bring on the blizzards.

As long as it isn't one of those ones that are an animals head!! :eek:
Why would anyone.... Just why?

Kidcat - good grief it is really early days for Uni's to go giving offers. Frankly I'm surprised anyone has one yet. The cut off dates for applications hasn't even passed! It is difficult to tell them not to panic - especially with such a helpful mother My MIL is like that, one of my favourite sayings lately is "A closed mouth gathers no feet" but MIL hasn't practiced it!

Well, OH and DS have gone off to Germany for a few days. As i dropped them at the railway station I realised that DS hadn't got his coat - too late!! Fortunately he could do with a new one so it isn't the end of the world, but still...

DD is at school and I am working at home - but spreading it out over the 5 days I now have until back in the office. I think my first task, after the usual juggling of laundry, will be DS bedroom :eek: As he isn't in it, i have good opportunity to really bottom it out. I may get rid of some of the more babyish stuff - though he told me last night that he doesn't want me to get rid of his books, even though some of those are very babyish and DS is 13 SO over the next 5 days I am going to clean house from top to bottom, DD and I are mostly having freezer surprise for tea, and I am hoping to dig over the veg patches and manure the bits that weren't done this year. Oh and do the work I am supposed to be doing today. Fortunately I got a new Harry Potter talking book from the library, so that will see me through the cleaning.

I am looking forward to it - it feels like I'm on holiday

Mrs LW - hope your DD is back safe
Fuddle - hope you OK

Hi, Aria's tail - thanks for reminding me I should probably clean the cars too. I may splash out a few quid and get someone local to do the one, it is minging.

annie123

I'm miffed and need to rant over this article.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2225987/Angela-Epsteins-furious-attack-Government-My-family-losing-child-benefit-just-earning-100k.html

Hubby and I pay taxes and since '08 our income is 1/3 of what it was and longer comfortable, and I fail to see why, when we're struggling to make ends meet to avoid any debt, this woman should have any of our taxes to allow her to continue to get child benefit when their income is £100k per year :mad:

She doesn't go to the SM at known YS time to get meat she otherwise couldn't afford, nor does she have to buy her clothes in CS, primark or jumble sales, doesn't need to think 'can I afford to buy fleeces to keep the drafts out this month, or do I need to wait 'till next month?. She doesn't have to make do and mend, she want's the money rather than needs it.
Maybe taxes could be increased so we pay more so there's enough left to pay her too.
My hubby works bl**dy hard to earn just above NMW now and I don't see why she should get any of it.
If her children lose out because CB is withdrawn from her then she needs budgeting lessons and should join MSE.

Rant over, going to have a cuppa and calm down.