make do and mend for tougher times

prepareathome

Well just had a go at paper brick making..........very easy.......and if hubbys job does go and with all the proposed changes I can see us scouring the streets and pinching papers out of recycle bins so we can make these to burn for heat. I think I will slowly covert all papers hubby brings home into them and once dry store them somewhere and if never needed can be used in garden fire. So from now on no more recycling of newspapers for me except into paper bricks.....

Hubby is allowed to bring one home a night so going to be a while to build up to many as our paper recycle goes every fortnight - lucky for me its next week not this........so have my new toy:rotfl:

Pooky

I picked up my paper brick maker today too PAH, yet to try it. I made some smaller briquette type nes last year using my potato ricer to squeeze the water out....they burn slowly so ideal.

Dd1 has gone on her week away and gave me a quick call to let me know she was there safe, the room was clean and she was abseiling after tea :eek: she'll be having loads of fun.

Picked up two stuffed and rolled turkey crown joints along with a stuff pork joint today at the butchers, each joint has been cut into three bits which is more than adequate for the four of us. £26 for 9 joints wasn't to be sniffed at, it's local organic meat and I know the quality is amazing.

Fuddle - I hope you've stopped feeling guilty about the party, life's too short. I'm sure your DDs far enjoyed their home day.

I need to do a complete stock take list of what's in the store cupboards and an overhaul on the budgets, DH keeps trying to draw up spreadsheets but I'm more a pen and paper kinda gal.

kidcat

I finally tackled our car insurance today, and was horrified that the APR was 33% if I paid monthly, I didnt have enough to pay in one so have paid by credit card instead which is a much lower rate - it will save me about £20 in interest, added to the cashback of £35 and the £40 cheaper than renewal it all adds up.

I think we are all going to have to become very inventive and even more savvy. I also popped into the local farm shop, we now live closer than ever before but I have stopped using it in favour of Aldi etc. It was alot cheaper but obviously cannot match the super six deals - but if I buy the super six at Ald! and then call past the farm I think I can save a bit more each week.

GQ - like you I received strange notice from TC today, its obviously the first of many and bears no relation to reality, judging by the council tax bill I think this is about the time of second bill! So plenty more to go.

fuddle

They were fine with not going but they told their dad as soon as he came in though, so it must have bothered them... he told them that sometimes in life you can't do and get hat you want. He said it's good for them to experience disappointment every now and then.

We're off to the library for some fabric painting tomorrow so at least they won't be stuck in all day.

My house is beautiful Really worked hard today and feel so calm and content sat with the curtains drawn and candles on.

I didn't realise there were council tax changes ahead. How long are this government in for? I don't remember the poll tax other than a sticker on my dad's car saying 'axe the poll tax' what was it?

kidcat

fuddle - poll tax was basically ( I wasnt that old so not an expert) the idea that instead of each house paying for council services, each person had to pay instead. Everyone became liable and I remember there were riots and people went to jail for non payment.
I am sure someone can give better picture than I can, I just remember the horror people had of it and the troubles at the time. My mum cried at the time as we simply could not pay.

westcoastscot

kidcat wrote: »

Have just filled in a "consultation" thingy online to describe my feelings towards it all
WSC - does that mean you get bedroom tax a whole year ahead of us?
Times are no longer looking tough - they begin to look impossible

hi Kidcat, some folks I work with have gotton letters stating it comes into effect in April next year - it's working out about £13 a bedroom on a £75/week rent.

kidcat

WCS - its so worrying, I wonder what all these people will do, will they simply fall into arrears. And if they do can the HA/evict them?

I know that a private LL can evict for rent arrears but can a social LL? Will they not have a responsibilty to rehouse them if they evict them.

Will there at least be a period whereby if you put in for a smaller house you are exempt while you wait for one to become available?

It all seems so wrong is there no common sense any more?

fuddle

I am wanting this storm kettle.

http://wildstoves.co.uk/storm-kettles/popular-storm-kettle-0.75l/

Not necessarily for storms but for hot water making if power goes off/money saving

prepareathome

What I remember about the poll tax is they put all my children's name +dog on it.....turned out as we moved back down here as they were starting it we missed the form sent to the homes so I had to phone up to register so was asked who was in the house and ages and woman kept going on was there anyone else and I said no one unless you count Judy our dog.......the following week or so bills turned up for Pah, Mr Pah, Miss Pah, Master Pah, Master pah 2 and Judy the dog- I still have that bill around somewhere it did contain those words. Tried to get them to cancel the ones for kids( all were under 16) and dog but they got summoned as mine and hubby's was paid but not for kids or dog so they were unpaid .......I called the newspaper and we all had our photo inside the court in it including Judy the Dog and her poll - tax bill, clerk when he saw the ages of defendants and the dog, quickly disappeared and came back to say they were not to appear and council would be in touch....kids thought it was great fun.

Oh yes you should have seen the clerks face when he saw our dog and told us sorry animals not allowed in the building and I showed him her summons.....council told us it was an error......

We weren't the only ones by that had this happen, newborns (council got the registrar to let them know when baby was registered and home address, excuse was they needed to make sure the parents were registered but really they wanted as many names to collect money from and some people paid up as they were so scared of their children going to jail), visitors even ended up on bills....it was mad crazy and disgusting. Nazis could have learned something from the way our council got information.

smileyt_2

Mar - JSA at the moment is £71/week if you are over 25. Under 25 it is something like £55.

I have a spare bedroom so will have to pay 14% of my rent if I am unemployed. That would be £10.50. Here the figure I have heard for council tax is 15%. Our council tax is about £850/year for band A. So that would be £2.90/week. So I would have to find £13.40 a week, leaving me with £57.60. A young person would be left with £41.60/week to live on. How on earth people are supposed to manage on that I don't know. I am lucky because my rent is very low in comparison with many other properties and areas of the country. God help David Ca-moron if he comes to Manchester - I'd smash his smug, smarmy, ugly, toffee-nosed face in first and serve the time later. (You could all write to me and send me home-made sweeties and soaps and stuff to show your support ....)

This stuff p*sses me off so much. I can't tell you how angry it makes me feel. Byatt, is there any way you could go and see your local councillor about this and explain what it is going to do to your finances?

Kidcat, sorry to hear about your (lack of) respite. Go and kick some a*se!

Right well I am in a really foul mood now on Byatt's behalf and on behalf of all the people who are being royally screwed by this government.

I am going to take refuge in a Harry Potter book and attempt to distance myself from it for the good of my blood pressure.