make do and mend for tougher times

Popperwell

grandma247 wrote: »

Pah I sat here with tears running but with laughter not sadness. Girl did you stir them up! I would try to find out about that photo. Blummin cheek not asking you if it was ok and telling you what they were going to do with it.

Might go into some magazine or promotion they are running or an internal newsletter for staff? Or just a file for reference?

Byatt

Congratulations all those with news of jobs and exam passes and Grand Goggies...:T Unixgirl, really pleased and hope it all works out well for you, I know it must be such a relief as you have been trying so hard.

Hope LizzieB and Softstuff are ok just to name two of those MIA. :A

Mrs C have you done anymore kayaking? Loved the image of you both...sounds like fun.

edit: I am loving the Olympics, just totally enthralled and never thought I would be. Loved, loved, loved the men's gymnastics and the equestrian, so, so much to enjoy. I loved the opening ceremony, loved the village...just so enjoyable.

stiltwalker

What a day for good news!

Congrats to everyone else who has had a visit from the good news fairy - Mr Possession, unixgirl, Mr Pips mum and anyone else.

Katie owl - you do realise we need photos to ahhh over, may your new grand goggie bring your DD and everyone else much muddy joy.

Mrs_Chip

Pops

Six years ago, when my mother had her devastating stroke, she had savings over the £16,000 limit to be entitled to free care (she needed maximum package that was £400 a week at the time. For that she got
4 x 30 min visits a day). Parents were told there was no reason why they could not spend the money above £16,000, and were in fact given tacit approval to do so. So father had a small conservatory put onto the back of the house (mum was bed bound on hospital bed in downstairs living room, this enabled her to be moved to see the garden and get fresh air) and bought a specially fitted van to take her wheelchair. All this came to quite a lot, and there were no issues about spending the money to get council to pay the care costs.

Please do not worry about the future too much. You are doing what you can to make sure your are doing the right thing, if you are in the lucky position to have a bit of surplus cash at the moment then don't feel bad about spending it.

fuddle

pops how about live in the moment? If the money is there, have a bottle of wine, take a taxi into town. Is there any rule against a savings pot? I mean if you spend £5, put £5 in a tin, that way you can feel better about spending your money and saving for a rainy day... you know pops even bankrupts are allowed to take into account for emergencies/repairs/replacements.

If you can fund the heating right here and now, and you won't get into debt for it, and your cold put the heating on! I would, it's only because we still owe for last years usage and want to get that paid off to have a cushion when it gets hairy. Can you not up your gas DD o make sure you have a cushion too?

I've typed before about being frugal and being sensible. If your spends are being watched and assessed then make sure you use what you are entitled to in order to survive as comfortably aas possible. Lets face it pops, it's hardly mega bucks or chucking money down the drain is it. It's just normal spending to pay our way through life.

I know you're worried about what may come, it's a big worry for you I know but that's when you need to be a frugal as we know you can be. Now you need to just live and live within your means - next time you're in the shop, buy a big bag of sweeties and think of us

You can still be here on this thread even when things aren't as tough you know. We live in NE england, we rent, we have bills, you're relying on benefits, I've kids to clothe and feed - we've got it tough. Just because we're able to treat ourselves to a glass of wine or visit the cinema or take the kids swimming, doesn't mean we're spend thrift. We're just living. I think, and would hope the others agree, that this thread is as much about learning skills OS in preparation for when the poop hits the whirly thing as much as it is coping with life when that whirly thing splatters the poop about! Ergh, sorry lol

Hugs to you pops

Pips_Mum

Fuddle thats a really fab post. We took Pip to see Mickey Mouses Magic show on Saturday and at first I was fretting thinking I really cant afford the petrol and the treats (tickets were already paid for) but then I thought its not like Ive blown all the money on a 2 week trip to Florida! Without little treats I think we would all go a little mad and I will cry if Pip ever grows up saying "We never did anything as Mum and Dad could never afford it", that doesnt mean he will be spoilt though.

Mrs_Chip

Hi Byatt :wave:

No not yet , we have either been busy getting the van ready for work or the weather has been rubbish. It's looking good for Thursday though and hope to go out again then. It is tremendous fun, the coast here is lovely with lots of sea caves to investigate. We must look a right pair, as the harbour is usually full of kayakers in all the proper wet gear, and there's us in out tees, shorts and sunhats

Popperwell

Thanks all,

I booked my theatre seats(One show cancelled)and I forgot my password for booking online and when I got back to doing so, the seats I had picked had gone and I am now 6 rows further back:mad:but have the last seat at all the shows I have chosen...Now I have to put aside the taxi fares(may as well do that now)then it's all paid for...

prepareathome

shelley_crow wrote: »

Very well done Stiltwalker, you've worked hard and are reaping the rewards!

PAH: Another one here with HA troubles, you have my sympathies! We have many of the same problems as you. Mould is painted over and they say the problem is solved....until it comes back. We have rickety hard wood doors that we were told were being replaced but then they ran out of money and that was forgotton. Our tatty kitchen is circa early 70s, my parents bought the same one when they moved in together, HA swear blind that it was replaced in early 2000s but obviously that isn't the case. Bits are falling off left right and centre, so they come out and glue them back on. The latest one today is that our boiler is on the brink, no hot water without switching central heating on as well, we were told it isn't a priority to be fixed. We can barely afford to heat the house when it is cold, let alone in July! Dunno when that will get done, I must admit I flipped and sent the complaints department a rather stinging email. The HA were given a large amount of money to bring the stock up to a decent standard but we haven't seen any of it, they spend a lot of money on flowers for various places.

I can honestly say that the only people who say they want council houses are the same people who have never been in one. I would dearly love to move but alas the financial situation isn't good at the moment. If it was my house, I have a couple of friends who could look at the heating for beer money and would save up to replace the doors/kitchen myself. As it stands, I can't make any alterations, even if it would be beneficial to us and them.

Oh Shelley my troubles are nothing compared to yours I did get my new kitchen(old one was circa 1932 included the 6ft long, 6in wide, 3 ft high with one 3in shelf and half the kitchen I have now was a coal cupboard with outside access and so useless oh how I hated my kitchen. base unit they gave me fell to bits within a week and they admitted it had been taken from another house so we had to go and buy base units as council guy told me I have a wooden draining board use that for all your work and pile up your food in the pantry and dishes on window ledge and felt he had done me a favour.

Apart from base unit under sink I now love my kitchen as I got to design it and cupboards were made to measure, although I had to pay for a few as I was only allowed one single wall cupboard and two base units. I cannot remember off top of my head what other cupboards cost but double wall cupboard was £214 but at least they fitted it.

I think you should see your MP as all homes have to be brought up to a certain standard and that is why they got money.

What is it with councils or HA spending money meant for one thing on another.

Mould I hope is a thing of the past as they fitted an envirovent which certainly keeps the humidity down and not expensive to run ( not that we were even told about it or running costs, I just came out my room and saw this large box sticking out of the ceiling),

Could you afford to buy a Dehumidifier or see if anyone has one on freecycle.

I wonder if there is any way to get the repair history of a property from before you took over tenancy as in some ways knowing certain things were done can be important as often councils or HA will keep putting off doing whatever for current tenant then when a new one takes over they say they did do those jobs.......like your kitchen.


I would give shelter a ring same as I did on Friday when I just had, had enough. They felt we were entitled to legal aid to go down the legal road if need be.......they have other options and can point you in right direction. They can help with all housing problems not just homelessness.

Chin up-you can beat them and good luck and lots of hugs

Evie74_2

Yay Pops! I think those evenings out will do you the world of good. My grandmother always used to tell me to save up golden memories - of experiences, travel, funny things that children say, simple pleasures - as those precious memories will make you smile all your life. I think she was right - hopefully Pops you will make some new happy memories to counterbalance the sad times you have been through.

Also I am very envious of Mrs C - I would love to be so close to the sea! We are (fingers crossed and weather permitting) going to have a couple of days at the seaside this weekend as (for long, convoluted and annoying reasons) we have a hotel booked and paid for near the coast which we no longer need for a family event, so may as well use for a couple of beach days with the girls.

DH is nagging me to get off the PC now, so I'll sign off for the night. Hope you all have good days tomorrow.

Evie xx