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make do and mend for tougher times

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  • Popperwell
    Popperwell Posts: 5,088 Forumite
    greent wrote: »
    Really? And just how is it not savings? It is money you have put aside 'for a rainy day'(whether in a bank or a prepaid cc)

    If someone is doing it with the intention of hiding the money from the authorities and thereby gain more money in benefits - that would be fraud...

    I don't have any cards and I suspect it will always be a small amount if I did...like an emergency fund...
    "A government afraid of its citizens is a Democracy. Citizens afraid of government is tyranny!" ~Thomas Jefferson

    "Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won't come in" ~ Alan Alda
  • greent
    greent Posts: 10,759 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Popperwell wrote: »
    I don't have any cards and I suspect it will always be a small amount if I did...like an emergency fund...


    I know you don't have any right now - but I wouldn't say that potentially having £000s on them is a 'small amount'
    Popperwell wrote: »
    I'll do that...even if I have £100's or £1,000's on them eventually, especially if I can spend them anywhere and the DWP cannot have access to them:rotfl:

    Means I can perhaps still use them in my old age;)

    I wonder if CTB, HB, IS could be affected still...I would use my IS for daily living and put the DLA on the card...
    I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul
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  • Popperwell
    Popperwell Posts: 5,088 Forumite
    Elona,
    It is tidy in the store room but I can try and find a throw perhaps to go over everything...It will have to be a pretty big throw...

    The energy company knows of my health problems but I don't think that I come under any of the schemes that help for another 5 years or so...
    "A government afraid of its citizens is a Democracy. Citizens afraid of government is tyranny!" ~Thomas Jefferson

    "Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won't come in" ~ Alan Alda
  • PhGage
    PhGage Posts: 121 Forumite
    grandma247 wrote: »
    Cheapskate being able to make good pastry is not a little thing. I know a lot of people who are afraid of it because they think they can't make it.

    Dan Lepard's Light Cream Cheese Pastry is the most tolerant recipe I know.

    I always loathed making pastry and avoided it wherever possible but this comes together well, stores for a few days in the fridge, making it really easy to pull out for a quick pie, and rolls out more readily than any other pastry I've ever tried.

    Use it in place of shortcrust for savoury recipes, it is a very good topper.
    August grocery challenge: £8.65/£300

    An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest. (attrib.) Benjamin Franklin
  • elona
    elona Posts: 11,806 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    My understanding is people are trying to make sure they can pay for heating , food, shoes and coat that don't let in the rain, paying for prescriptions ( two or three items soon add up to a scary figure).

    No one is talking about spending thousands on new carpets and fancy sofas, getting kitchen redone, posh car and cruises or wintering in hot country. Ironically that might be allowed and not seen as deprivation of assets.

    Strange to think that people who only want to make sure they can pay bills and who have lived as frugally as they can are being seen as dodgy while those who ran up debts or spent every penny are not.
    "This site is addictive!"
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  • Popperwell
    Popperwell Posts: 5,088 Forumite
    greent wrote: »
    I know you don't have any right now - but I wouldn't say that potentially having £000s on them is a 'small amount'

    The clue that I was not being serious is the rolling laughing gif...and if I was seriously thinking of doing so would any sensible person say that they were? I almost said what I am now before you brought it up...

    Lighten up a bit...
    "A government afraid of its citizens is a Democracy. Citizens afraid of government is tyranny!" ~Thomas Jefferson

    "Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won't come in" ~ Alan Alda
  • Popperwell
    Popperwell Posts: 5,088 Forumite
    elona wrote: »
    My understanding is people are trying to make sure they can pay for heating , food, shoes and coat that don't let in the rain, paying for prescriptions ( two or three items soon add up to a scary figure).

    No one is talking about spending thousands on new carpets and fancy sofas, getting kitchen redone, posh car and cruises or wintering in hot country. Ironically that might be allowed and not seen as deprivation of assets.

    Strange to think that people who only want to make sure they can pay bills and who have lived as frugally as they can are being seen as dodgy while those who ran up debts or spent every penny are not.

    My next big purchase is electric blankets and mattreses...As you say Elona there are other items I could do with but will do without like new carpets(mine have threadbare areas)but as there is only me here I can live with that. May hide the holes with runners...

    My beds are old but the new mattress will make a difference. The sofa needs replacing but I can manage...As long as I can eat, stay warm, still have a little bit of entertainment(I love my radio and internet)pay for food, electric and some CH. I'll be fine...even if that means staying home a lot.
    "A government afraid of its citizens is a Democracy. Citizens afraid of government is tyranny!" ~Thomas Jefferson

    "Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won't come in" ~ Alan Alda
  • Cheapskate
    Cheapskate Posts: 1,767 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    grandma247 wrote: »
    Cheaskate being able to make good pastry is not a little thing. I know a lot of people who are afraid of it because they think they can't make it.

    If I'd had a cuppa it would have been all over the keyboard! 2 of the people at the cook thing (one a trained chef!) said they'd made it once or twice, but were indeed scared of making it! :rotfl:

    A xo
    July 2024 GC £0.00/£400
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  • elisamoose
    elisamoose Posts: 1,124 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Popperwell wrote: »
    The clue that I was not being serious is the rolling laughing gif...and if I was seriously thinking of doing so would any sensible person say that they were? I almost said what I am now before you brought it up...

    Lighten up a bit...

    I actually thought your rolling about laughing smiley was to do with keeping it away from DWP...........that's how it came across to me.No-one would object to a small amount of your benefits being kept for a rainy day on such a card,but most people would be a bit suspicious of thousands on one after getting an inheritance- especially anyone investigating your claim.

    Benefits are surely for people who cannot work or get a job and HAVE NO OTHER MONEY!
    If I were to lose my job I would expect to spend my rainy day money before getting anything means tested.That is what a rainy day is!
  • fuddle
    fuddle Posts: 6,823 Forumite
    Please help keep this thread a nice polite place to be.
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