make do and mend for tougher times

Popperwell

PAH,
Wasn't Lemon Grass used for Lemon Chicken?

fuddle

I know it's used in thai cooking.

D&DD

God you lot could nag the hind leg off a donkey :rotfl: I've been lurking and trying to keep up but have decided even I can't read that flamin' quick!
Hope you're all well we've had a bit of an intense year so far so not much time to even read let alone write but trying to keep up with my stores etc which have been an absolute godsend this year.
Will pop back later and try to catch up if I can wrestle a computer off one of the kids again :rotfl:
Love to all XXX

Popperwell

Having talked about AD's earlier a tv cook has invented a curry that will send ou to sleep within 20 minutes of eating it but they don't give the recipe but it means you don't need sleeping pills...

Another new food site? http://www.lovefood.com/

Popperwell

Hi D&DD,
Jump in and join in:)

Popperwell

It ain't looking good...

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4113907

Wish I was retired and classed as a pensioner...and again we have not touched on the bedroom tax. Be thankful if you do not live in what was known as social housing...then again you have costs too...

And look how low you have to come down in savings to get help...£6,000.

fuddle

£6000 in savings is a lot of money though. I wouldn't expect help if I had more than £6000 in the bank.

Am I wrong to think that? Really sorry to offend. It's just hard to get my head round getting state help when people have money to survive.

I'm young and have a lot to learn I guess.

Popperwell

Well, how far would £6,000 go especially if the help you receive is being reduced and what you pay out keeps increasing? A lot of help is not just being reduced but withdrawn...

If the help is very tight, that cushion of savings may be needed to pay for repairs/replacement of items that break, perhaps replacement of clothes/shoes and if you don't have access to transport of your own, taxis will soon reduce that...if food/utility bills increase. I know it affects people not getting help too.

Though welcome and it looks like quite a sum I don't think it would last or go very far these days.

fuddle

£6000 wouldn't go very far at all. What, a part time wage for a year... just. But that time a person isn't claiming is more money in the pot and then when they really need the help (as in no money left) they can claim?

I think when you have lived on a teeny, tiny amount your thinking gets skewed and that is why I'm being argumentative. It's a bit like "I managed on nowt, why should people who have savings get help" Soz pops. I'm shut up now. I don't really know what I'm talking about. Apologies

PhGage

Popperwell wrote: »

we have not touched on the bedroom tax. Be thankful if you do not live in what was known as social housing...then again you have costs too...

There's some more information about bedroom tax here - I wasn't aware that there's one set of 'rules' that will come into effect April 2013 and some of these will change substantially and significantly under Universal Credit.

http://www.housing.org.uk/policy/welfare_reform/bedroom_tax.aspx

The removal of 52 weeks protection for people who've had a death in the family and reduction of that to 3 months feels rather hasty. So does the change from "13 week protection where the tenant could previously afford the rent and Housing Benefit has not been claimed in the last 52 weeks" to instant 'bedroom tax' reduction under U/C.

It seems people are going to have to budget and save for all of the additional expenses (because very few people can rely on their job continuing to exist) at a time when their pay/income is frozen and their expenditure increasing.