make do and mend for tougher times

stiltwalker

greent - my OH is the same sometimes the ordinary vampire can find a vein but more often they need to call sister over. Mostly it takes him less time to actually donate than it took for them to get him set up. They persist though as he is one of those oh so valuable O neg types whose blood can be used as a universal. Me I'm the opposite - nice visible large blue vein in the crook of my arm - straight in every time - but takes me at least twice as long for them to extract the arm full.

What a fantastic idea smiley - hope it gets the go ahead and encourages more donors.

Right must go and battle the DS monster - he's been up ages but still in his jammies! Did his nappy before he was properly awake but been putting off dressing him as he is in such a delightful, smiley mood and he seems to think that any hygiene related activity such as nappy changing, face washing, dressing, hand wiping etc is as assault upon his person and possibly against his human rights as a small boy to be as mucky as possible! and it generally results in him shrieking the place down followed by giving me mucky looks!! - He's only 15 months, what on earth is he going to be like as a teenager?? :eek:

SpikyHedgehog

Mrs_Chip wrote: »

Fuddle - I always take a stick with me when blackberrying or collecting sloes - one with a good hooked handle - vital for slashing down nettles and hooking down the best berries, which are always out of reach. Also very handy for seeing off nosey coos !

One of the clearance CS near me always has walking sticks, so I bought 1 last year for blackberrying. DS2 took it into school for his class play (Treasure Island) & it didn't come back, so I need another :-/

bossymoo wrote: »

That's just awful. My husband died in November, I called to cancel his DLA, which had only just been awarded. The young man was very helpful, and took me through everything, including tax credits. What he didn't tell me was that would suspend my claim, a month before Christmas, with two toddlers and a funeral to pay for. It was the end of January before I got a new notice, stress I really didn't need at the time, but thankfully I had other means of supporting us.

I was aghast at how there was no "fast track" for bereaved claims, I was just told I was a single mum now, and had to start again.

I kept thinking how awful it would be if I had no other money and no family to help, but the reality is there are young widows out there with young children, exactly in that situation. It beggars belief.

What makes that even more appalling, Bossy moo, is that when I phoned them to say Errant Husband had left me, they made sure there was no delay in my money. So angry with them, for you & my friend who had the same experience as you & all other widows :-(

fuddle wrote: »

Not OS but getting my anger off my chest.

We've been out the front gardening, as you know, this morning. Kids are being archaeologists and digging for finds with sticks. Normally I don't like them playing out the front but didn't want to spoil their fun. So I tied the garden gate up so they couldn't open it to make sure they didn't get out on the road.

I'm stood at the window watching them, while ironing. I see some of those chuggers walking the street, clip boards in hand and I thought, they won't come in here, they can see the girls playing and the gate tied up. Went to make a cuppa, walks back through, nearly pooped my pants at the gate wide open! I rushed to the door where two men are stood next to my kids!

I lost it. Little quiet me lost it big style, part for letting my kids playing out the front, part for taking my eyes off them to make a cuppa and part for their own selfishness of making money, not even thinking about my kids' safety. They got a good mouthful from me, I really was shouting like a banshee. Never mind. I am angry at them but I'm cross at myself. I now have two kids crying upstairs because I've spoilt their fun. I don't know what to do. Are my anxiety tablets calming me down to let the girls do abnormally dangerous stuff or is it ok for them to play out in their garden with the gate tied up when I'm mostly watching but not exclusively. I'm very confused. I don't kno what is normal. They are 4 on Sat and 8 next month.

I know others have said it already, but you were not at all unreasonable in letting the girls in the front garden. I love the idea of the bike lock on the gate, & you could encourage the girls to interrogate anyone trying to open it. ' Why are you trying to come into our garden?!' Or come & tell you ' Mum, the postman is here!'

My friend & I were talking about it yesterday, how hard it is for us mums to let our children have the opportunities to do things that they don't find scary, but we do! DS1 is 16 & goes to the cinema with friends, & I'm so relieved when he gets home, her DS is 15 & goes round friends & comes home in the evening, my DS2 is riding his bike round our close...

cuddlymarm

Good morning everyone:)

I normally only lurk and mentally support you lovely people but today I have a day off and my Mr S shop has arrived early and is all crammed into every corner I can find in my kitchen so I am now to have coffee and join in if thats OK . I have turned truly frugal by splitting the two big loaves of bread into portions of 4 slices and froze so that none goes to waste (I object to paying nearly as much for a small loaf as a big one) and the yoghurts that would normally found their way into the bin are now frozen yoghurts so I will have to see how they turn out.
I have a dilemma now though because I got a £6 off voucher when I spend £30 by next Thursday (part of me says this is £6 of free food and the other part says but you are saving £30 by not spending it in the first place :eek::eek: I am a very sad little moneysaver
I was listening to Wake Up To Money this morning and apparently it is the Credit Crunches 5th birthday today (I won't be sending it a card) While the money people in the city panic we just have to make do and get on with it and we do a wonderful job I feel supporting each other on here

Anyway better get on
Have a good day
Cuddles:)

Molly41

elona wrote: »

I got an AF order the order day and some Dr. Oet**** batter mix was in it - thought a bag of it would be handy.

The bag is massive!!! I have about half a stone of batter mix!!

I did exactly the same thing last year but with Dr O Gravy mix. I really should have known better, as a retired Midwife, it was pointed out to me - the weight equalled two newborn babies. However I find it hard to translate figures into reality:eek::eek::eek:

In my struggle with DWP I have received a fantastic letter of support from my physio. Well my husband says it is as I cant bring myself to read it atm but might become more brave as the day goes on. Fingers, toes, knees, arms crossed x

greent

stiltwalker wrote: »

greent - my OH is the same sometimes the ordinary vampire can find a vein but more often they need to call sister over. Mostly it takes him less time to actually donate than it took for them to get him set up. They persist though as he is one of those oh so valuable O neg types whose blood can be used as a universal. Me I'm the opposite - nice visible large blue vein in the crook of my arm - straight in every time - but takes me at least twice as long for them to extract the arm full.

What a fantastic idea smiley - hope it gets the go ahead and encourages more donors.

Right must go and battle the DS monster - he's been up ages but still in his jammies! Did his nappy before he was properly awake but been putting off dressing him as he is in such a delightful, smiley mood and he seems to think that any hygiene related activity such as nappy changing, face washing, dressing, hand wiping etc is as assault upon his person and possibly against his human rights as a small boy to be as mucky as possible! and it generally results in him shrieking the place down followed by giving me mucky looks!! - He's only 15 months, what on earth is he going to be like as a teenager?? :eek:

I'm another O neg one I feel compelled to donate because of that (and because I received a massive transfusion as a newborn)

And I think the hygiene (or lack of!) is a boy thing in general. DD (14) has always been good. DS1, 2 and 3 (12 (so getting stinky!), 6 and 3) all seem to detest any form of getting clean and always have (unless it's the paddling pool in the garden!)

SpikyHedgehog wrote: »

I know others have said it already, but you were not at all unreasonable in letting the girls in the front garden. I love the idea of the bike lock on the gate, & you could encourage the girls to interrogate anyone trying to open it. ' Why are you trying to come into our garden?!' Or come & tell you ' Mum, the postman is here!'

My friend & I were talking about it yesterday, how hard it is for us mums to let our children have the opportunities to do things that they don't find scary, but we do! DS1 is 16 & goes to the cinema with friends, & I'm so relieved when he gets home, her DS is 15 & goes round friends & comes home in the evening, my DS2 is riding his bike round our close...

I like the idea that they come and tell you, fuddle, about the postman (or whoever)- or perhaps the eldest could bring the post in if it's just letters?

Letting children develop independence is such a hard thing. And times are so different now to when I was little. DD and DS1 have phones for that reason - so I can contact them/ they contact me (started with an old PAYG which they'd take with a freind's house around the corner when in Y5 and 6 - they'd phone me when they got there and phone when they were leaving (so I knew they'd be back in less than 5 - I would walk to meet them halfway at first) Phone was only used for that, so it iterally cost pence per month

cuddlymarm wrote: »

Good morning everyone:)

I have a dilemma now though because I got a £6 off voucher when I spend £30 by next Thursday (part of me says this is £6 of free food and the other part says but you are saving £30 by not spending it in the first place :eek::eek: I am a very sad little moneysaver
I was listening to Wake Up To Money this morning and apparently it is the Credit Crunches 5th birthday today (I won't be sending it a card) While the money people in the city panic we just have to make do and get on with it and we do a wonderful job I feel supporting each other on here

That's a hard one - SPiggle on the grocery thread would probably tell you not to use it if you don't need to spend it. Me? If I'd need to spend (say) £20 anyway that week then I'd spend £30 (making sure I didn't go over by more than £1 adding it up as I went around) and spend the extra £10 on things which I use which are on offer (stretching it further) or buy a toy or something towards Xmas. And then you get the £6 off. Your budget and your decision, ultimately..;)

manchestermargo

Morning everyone! Not posted for a long while but have been reading with interest all your posts.

After being out of the house for 11 hours every day working by the time I catch up with all your doings, the moment has passed for me to comment, other than to say I really look forward to hearing what you are all up to.

Take care everyone.

MM

Possession

I have a similar spend and save dilemma - i have today been sent a £13 off £90 and a £12 off £80 which I could use together to get a £90 shop for £65. Not sure about £65 of shopping although if I planned it right it would probably work.

grandma247

The trick with these vouchers is to only buy what you use and buy as many good offers as you can. Check your cupboards first and make your list before you go then you will not be tempted by anything other than fantastic offers you can't afford to leave (they don't often happen). If I do see a great offer I adjust my list to account for it so I drop something I can do without that day.

I have sometimes not used vouchers if I really need to not spend and I don't feel bad about that. There are always other offers at other times.

I take a piece of paper and a pen with me and jot down and add up as I go. Hate using a calculator because I can't check if I have missed something.

cuddlymarm

Thanks Grandma

I think the way is to use the voucher on things that I know I will use and that will keep ( and that will push my next big shop further away) If I leave it until just before it runs out I will have room in the freezer to fit in a bit more meat or fish (at the moment it is like freezer jenga)

Cuddles:)

boultdj

cuddlymarm wrote: »

I have a dilemma now though because I got a £6 off voucher when I spend £30 by next Thursday (part of me says this is £6 of free food and the other part says but you are saving £30 by not spending it in the first place :eek::eek: I am a very sad little moneysaver
Cuddles:)

Is there someone you can go shopping with to get to the £30 and then split it when you get home?

elona wrote: »

I got an AF order the order day and some Dr. Oet**** batter mix was in it - thought a bag of it would be handy.

The bag is massive!!! I have about half a stone of batter mix!! Managed to rejig plastic containers so I could fill two huge containers with it and labelled it clearly. I am determined to actually use it up so apart from experimenting with pancakes, maybe fish in batter - I am wracking my brains to think what to use it for

My Mum use to do us 'scolloped' potatoe and bean's as a cheap tea in the 80's, just peel potatoe's and cut into slice's, coat them in the batter and fry like you would chip's.hth.