make do and mend for tougher times

fuddle

SDG would your machine be able to cope with a layer of velcro? Say if you made the curtain and then sewed a layer of velcro along, then made the black out lining, again sewing the other part of the velcro along that then attaching them via the velcro?

smileyt_2

jamanda wrote: »

Evie - I am also totally incapable of throwing away perfectly good ice cream/marg tubs. I only need so many, but they seem to become personal friends and I really, really struggle to get rid.

Mrs_Chip wrote: »

Morning All

Can I also admit to a 'healthy' hoard of assorted plastic boxes and containers? OH thinks I am mad, but what does he know . I do struggle with storing them as they are all shapes and sizes and there is no space for a big box for them.

I can sometimes be found cooing over a nice set of plastic storage stuff, stroking them even and wistfully walking away... sometimes I give in and add to the collection .

Aha! You both need to pop on over to the hoarding thread https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4007961 where several people have admitted to this very problem with tubs ..... I have now limited myself to one small box of tubs and one small box of jam jars and anything which won't fit in there goes for recycling STRAIGHT AWAY before I succumb to the 'but it's a useful item' trap!

I had a very successful declutter yesterday - 14 tatty (and I mean tatty, stained and threadbare) items of clothing removed from my wardrobe. I have cut them up for cleaning cloths (*awards self a gold medal for OS thrift*) and bagged the remains to see if the local Oxfam wants them for selling to the ragman. I have two large carrier bags of stuff for charity, although I am considering a front-door tabletop sale to see if I can flog any of my tat to my neighbours ..... Actually it's not tat, it's just stuff I don't want. I have finally bitten the bullet and decluttered all but half-a-dozen soft toys. I hate soft toys as they are useless and clutter the place up, but people give them to me. I am slowly getting the word out to friends not to buy me any more. The toys that are left are from my childhood and they are at the bottom of my bedding trunk.

It's my godson's birthday on Monday and I got up early so I could go into town and get him a present. However, it's really hot already and I don't want to go, so I am sending him a gift card via the internet. Is £10 enough for a 14 year old boy? It'll be for one of the sports shops (he's sport mad). He lives miles from me so doing it this way saves me a trip to the post office. Not going into town also means I won't be tempted to spend money on other stuff on a whim.

Was thinking of these pre-paid card things. They could be useful for some people for budgeting ie you put your grocery money on at the beginning of the month and only use that card. A bit like having jam jars on the mantelpiece only a modern version. Might be useful if you are the kind of person who spends loose change on things like magazines and Mars Bars - if the card is a gift card for a particular supermarket you can only spend it there.

Time for another cup of tea and then I have to go to the hospital to pick up some hearing aid batteries. In a rare fit of organisation, I have gathered together all the dead batteries to take back, as they have a recycling facility.

Have a good day all xxx.

ETA: Byatt I am very sorry to hear about your sister. Sending you hugs xx.

Popperwell don't disappear. A small disagreement and it will soon blow over, we'll all be talking about the possible price rise in teabags soon ....

Byatt

Thanks...it's new territory for me, so trying to find out as much as I can.

greent

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 am a perfectly lighthearted person. Not a worrier - although I am a realist and perfectly able to cope. I tend to think of the worst case scenario, decide if I can deal with it and if the answer is yes, then move on without worrying about something which I usually have no control over. We have had 3 redundancies between DH and myself, major depressive illness with suicide attempts, life-long health issues, depression on and off for the other one of us, a complete and total physical and emotional breakdown, other worries re jobs at other times. Both of us come from poor originally single parent families where (between us) we can count alcoholism, major (and minor) drug abuse, theft, several prison sentences (inc the aforementioned and GBH, ABH and a case where the police wanted to try for attemoted murder) from one of our parents/ step-parents. We have not had it easy (and I'm not saying that anyone is saying in any way that we have) and I do really understand tough times. However, I am still (for the most part) lighthearted and an optimist by nature (which does not exclude me from being a realist)

elisamoose wrote: »

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!

I, too, thought the same about the rolling laughing smiley.

Rainy days - We have claimed contributions based JSA once in this household, using our savings (redundancy money) to top up our allowable weekly allowance of £40.44 (after tax). This was all that was claimable for a family of 6. Thankfully DH gained another job before we spent it all and we never needed to claim anything means tested.

fuddle wrote: »

Please help keep this thread a nice polite place to be.

Fuddle, I have been on the 'tough' threads for a long time and have seen the swift degeneration that can occur at times. I don't think that either myself or elisamoose were being impolite. Possibly controversial in what we've said, but not impolite.

Popperwell wrote: »

I haven't any rainy day money...when I come into Mum's savings it is not a lot but it will be used for rent, council tax, food and utility bills. My help stops. No guarantee I will get help when I reapply. Mum's money will be used up within 12-18 months and possibly before. No luxuries...

If I had money I would not be entitled to what I have now...now lets stop giving me the third degree, I won't respond and the regulars on here know how genuine I am...

Popperwell, you have posted elsewhere how much your mum's money is expected to be - whilst not a vast sum it is not to be sniffed at.

No-one was 'giving you the third degree' - merely responding to your many posts. And just because elisamoose and I may not post regularly does not necessarily mean we are not regulars - as I said earlier, I have been on the 'tough' threads for quite some time

westcoastscot wrote: »

Very uncomfortable with the way this conversation has gone, so going to bow out again for a while.
imo I'm very uneasy about the idea of moving money to other places to disguise the fact that it is savings, and indeed it won't help - unless one blatantly lies on the forms they specifically ask if you have any money for a rainy day, stashed in any place other than the bank.
Good look for the future everyone, we surely are going to need it
WCS

Good luck to yourself, too, WCS. It was never my intention with any comments I have made was to make anyone feel the need to bow out, but I, too, may do the same (again)

Byatt wrote: »

You know Popperwell, no-one IMVHO was giving you the third degree but were making valid points based on your posts. I would have said the same but someone said it before me. No-one "knows" you or me, only who we are based on what we post, regulars or otherwise, although points of view are not only allowed by the "regulars" on this thread but by all. Especially when somone posts on this very public web site. It would be very easy to find out who you are based on the information you have given out and believe me there are plenty of people who would report someone on a lot less. Not so long ago, you were not a regular. As for saying "lighten up" I think that is uncalled for.

We can plan and worry, worry and plan about our future's but guess what, there are no gurantees, none at all. I have just found out, in the last week that my sister has dementia, very, very sudden and cruel and she is only 65. I am heartbroken. So many wasted years through estrangement and now I don't get the chance to enjoy life with her. And neither does she, to see her crying over something that happened 20-30 years ago, puts a lot of things in perspective. Including my life.

So sorry to hear that news, Byatt. Things like that can make us all re-assess our lives and what truly is important to us. I hope the two of you can make the most of the time you have together for now


On that note (of a very, very long post - sorry!) I shall end

jamanda

smileyt wrote: »

Aha! You both need to pop on over to the hoarding thread https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4007961 where several people have admitted to this very problem with tubs ..... I have now limited myself to one small box of tubs and one small box of jam jars and anything which won't fit in there goes for recycling STRAIGHT AWAY before I succumb to the 'but it's a useful item' trap!


I think that was a rather cruel suggestion and I'm not listening. I need my tubs for freezing tomato goo, and............ things!

I also need my jars for jam making, onion pickling and ......more things!

Ok, maybe I don't need "quite" as many as I have but I do use lots and lots.

Now if you want to talk about hoarding, I invite you to come and play in our loft :eek:

meme30

Looking back over what has been said this morning I can see why people are getting upset. At no time did anyone say that Popperwell's money should not be declared.
At this moment in time he is not exceeding the savings guidelines and is fully entitled to spend his money on anything he chooses to buy.
Anyone reading his posts can see that he is anxious for the future and is in the early stages of grieving for his Mam. You only have to register his sleeping/eating patterns to realise this. Spending too is a recognised sign of early grieving...spending makes us feel better, it's that simple.
Over the last few weeks Popperwell has bought himself several pieces of kitchen equipment and clothing. It makes him feel better. No-one has criticised him for spending this money.
Many of us here are conscious of how he is doing and we are all trying with many tips and ideas to help him through this. Wether he puts his money on pre-paid credit cards or under the bed like Mardatha is for him to decide. Accusing someone so obviously fragile of fraud is very inflammatory and understandably people get upset.

The most important thing to remember is that everyone is allowed a voice here. For many that's a big thing. All posts are important not just the ones we agree with.

(Sorry Popperwell that this post is so personal to you)

stiltwalker

Morning all

Can I 'fess up to a small cupboard of plastic containers - both bought and saved marg and ice cream tubs! To be fair though I do use them for all sorts of leftovers in the fridge, various baked goods and have even been known to syphon off a few saved tubs to take to workshops and home ed groups for paint and glue!

Got 2 cakes in the oven and washing on the lines so giving myself a pat on the back for being a good organised house person today! The cakes are for this aft as MIL coming for afternoon tea. It's her birthday and PIL is still in hospital so we wanted to make sure to do something nice for her. PIL has been going a little senile for a couple of years now but this stay in hospital has really seemed to hasten his mental decline. We're really hoping that once he comes back home into his own environment again he'll pick up some otherwise it's going to be even harder for MIL - this Sunday will also be their 51st wedding anniversary!

Byatt - so sorry to hear of your news about your sister. We have some experiences of early onset altzhiemers (Sp???) in our family so can only extend heartfelt sympathies. It is hard enough to see PIL deteriorate but at 84 you begin to expect this sort of thing a little but know only too well how much harder it is to see someone struggle who is far to young. My only suggestion would be to make sure that your sister and whoever is caring for her get as much help as possible - you sound from previous posts like an expert in foot stamping at 'the system' to get what your daughter needs - maybe you could pass along some tips. (((((Hugs)))))

Enjoy the wedding Evie - what a lovely excuse for a good dress up and how generous of the Bride's Dad it restores your faith in people doesn't it? Have a lovely time.

Hobsons_Choice

Just a quick post to say how sorry I am to hear your news Byatt. My sister-in-law has had the beginnings of dementia for some time now, but it's progressing very very slowly in her case. I hope the same applies to your sister.

On other matters: It just shows how posts can be misunderstood when you're not speaking "face to face" and can't see expressions. We're all in it together and doing our best eh?

eta: Hope you don't mind me poking me snitch in but remember Pops, it's only a bargain if you really need it and can make use of it.

elona

Byatt


I am so sorry about your sister. It is a horrible thing to have and to witness as the person you love is no longer there.

I think the latest advice is not to correct them if they refer to someone long dead as alive or say they need to see their Mum etc but just to let it go. Well meaning people saying "Your Mum died 20 years ago" only upset the person and they did not retain the information so were distraught each time it happened IYKWIM.

Chicken pieces are marinaded, lamb koftas shaped and DH has dug up some potatoes from the garden so will use them for potato salad tonight. Dishwasher is loaded and DH will drag Henry the hoover downstairs for me so I can do downstairs and tidy kitchen and steam clean the floor.

Might wait till afternoon to see if I can get any YS things and stock up on teabags.

meme30

Smiley:- A Tenner sounds reasonable to me.