make do and mend for tougher times

GreyQueen

Well, I went up the city with a list of To Do stuff and have To Done it all. Not that there's an end to it but some stuff has been resolved. Five errands off the list.

Moved some money from A -B by cheque as have stuff dotted around left, right and centre and it was getting a bit ridiculous. Not that it was much in any case, not needing to be spread around like that. Had a mass-shedding and will do a little more this afternoon. Had an interesting chat with the bank teller and asked her if more people are withdrawing money that putting it into their savings and she thought so. People are speaking of using it to top up their income because bills etc are going up but the amount of money coming in is static or falling.

Went to T0sco to see what they're charging and they wanted £7.99 for a 4-pack of Princes tuna. Honestly, does anyone out there pay £2 a can? I toddled into Iceland and got the same brand at £3/ 4. Went into Sainsbugs and it was reduced to £4.

Honestly, the fancy footwork you have to do to keep up with price fluctuations is getting wearisome. Mum used to grumble that she couldn't be doing with running around all over the place, buying some groceries here and some there, until I introduced her to Aldi and now she's a firm fan. It's not penny-pinching either e.g. red pepper in Lidl last weekend 39p; red pepper in Sains today 80p. Prices wheel 100% or more between stores or even in the same store on different days.

I figure a sensible person has to buy when it's cheap, if it's something you can use, and leave it alone if you catch it on one of the up-cycles.

My Sainsbugs haul was 4 cans of their basics tomato soup, 2 pkts their basics teabags and 4 x litre cartons of UHT semi-skim at 80p a pop. Saw a few peeps stocking up, so wonder what rumours are circulating in the wind. It's in date til Dec so I shan't waste it.

fuddle , hun, there are some days where everything you do seems to turn to carp (Reverse Midas Touch Days, I call them). You walk up the road and your shoe splits, people barge into you on the street, some burger takes the last parking space, the supermarket trolley has a wonky wheel and the cats rip open your bin bag.

It happens to all of us, only the details change. You just have to learn to laugh, or if that's too much of an ask, grin wryly and tell yourself tomorrow will be another day. And it may eventually stop raining and if it's a bitterly-cold winter at least a lot of the extra 50% of slugs won't make it thru, mwah ha ha.

:mad: Today I have been shoulder-barged by a woman on a pushbike whilst I was walking in the pedestrian precinct. And she muttered at me about getting in her way! Just once in this life I'd like to see the police administer the £30 fine which is in place for that.:mad:

Humidity is ridiculous and it keeps showering and having mini thunderstorms. I must brave the dodgy weather to get to the lottie this afternoon as there is fruit which needs to be harvested. It's a whacko summer when you have to take a GoreTex jacket and/ or a brolly everywhere.

Never mind, at least I'm not flooded although the nearby river is well up. Have a good afternoon GQ x

kitschy

GreyQueen wrote: »

Went to T0sco to see what they're charging and they wanted £7.99 for a 4-pack of Princes tuna. Honestly, does anyone out there pay £2 a can? I toddled into Iceland and got the same brand at £3/ 4. Went into Sainsbugs and it was reduced to £4.

Honestly, the fancy footwork you have to do to keep up with price fluctuations is getting wearisome. Mum used to grumble that she couldn't be doing with running around all over the place, buying some groceries here and some there, until I introduced her to Aldi and now she's a firm fan. It's not penny-pinching either e.g. red pepper in Lidl last weekend 39p; red pepper in Sains today 80p. Prices wheel 100% or more between stores or even in the same store on different days.

I try to do my shop on mysupermarket and then make 3 little lists of what to buy where - in any week period I pass 4 different shops. L!dl is always first, and I take all my lists in there - anything that is cheaper is bought in there and crossed off the list for the other three shops. I only do a shop maybe once a month (apart from fresh fruit/veg/milk) so although it sounds like a lot of work, I think the half hour research is worth it, especially as you say if you can save £5 on just one item.

I got told off in Mr T once for writing prices down in my pocket notebook - they assumed I was a spy from a competitor and weren't happy with my explanation! :eek:

meme30

Fuddle:- Mardy is right, make a list and do one job at a time. There is great satisfaction in ticking the jobs off. None at all if you have so many projects going that you don't get any finished.

Popperwell:- You seem to have some hard emotional chores ahead of you and I'm sure you are prepared to be overwhelmed by them. Just keep your chin up and moan/howl here and we will all try to help get you through it. Well done on the chicken!

I have been to Ald* and there seems to have been a mad rush on Pasta and UHT milk. Full of OS'ers I expect! Am presently making Strawberry Jam and Lemon Curd in the microwave. Kitchen is very sticky!!:rotfl:

Sunshine4

Kitschy and Smileyt

Good Luck both of you for your interviews tomorrow.
Everything will be crossed

smiler34

So proud of myself I've managed to go through my freezer and I've got about 3 weeks worth of meat and other bits for meals and I've hand made 3 loaves of bread last week resulting in only spending £50 a week on shopping last two weeks x

Hobsons_Choice

I cleaned the oven this morning Oh how I luuuve that job...We can be away on a weeks holiday and it still gets greasy! I have a small built in oven and am seriously thinking of saving up for a free standing double oven and ceramic hob.
Well, I can dream, can't I?
Those Magic Erasers from £land are good for cleaning stainless steel though.
Time for a calorie laden lunch...well, I MUST have burned off loads cleaning that bl00dy oven! Maybe chocolate cake as well.

Popperwell

kezlou wrote: »

Pops enjoy your night out! Don't apologise if you have repeated yoursef, which i don't think you have. Its good as it helps keep her memory alive and helps you grieve. I have tears in my eyes everytime i hear "Simply The Best" by Tina Turner, it was one of my mothers favourite songs and we played it at her funeral x Take care hun xx

Unconditional love...I'll always miss her and no matter how ill she was she was so grateful, even the staff at the nursing home said that and the carer who came here always left with a lump in her throat and was scared that Mum would be the first person she would lose...sadly she was.

She managed to have(I know that I am biased)everyone take to her, in hospital and even when she was having her radiotherapy treatment last October. Mum had me late(aged 32)if I had been born sooner I would have possibly another ten years with her, it wasn't to be.

I should be thankful(as many are not as fortunate)that we had nearly 55 years together. Whatever our age we will always miss our "Mum's"

meme30 wrote: »

Popperwell:- You seem to have some hard emotional chores ahead of you and I'm sure you are prepared to be overwhelmed by them. Just keep your chin up and moan/howl here and we will all try to help get you through it. Well done on the chicken!

I do wonder what my budget will be and if I'll be forced into somewhere horrible, if I will lose the roof over my head and though tight, if I can afford the bedroom tax and stay put. What I will do if they withdraw my DLA(well they will)but its what it's replaced with and whether I qualify and if not can I manage on the new ESA or JSA?

Neighbours and aquainances say I will be ok and as I have been here as long as I have they can't move me, so stay put but they can make it difficult so you have no choice by keep chipping away at the income coming in. It's difficult if you rent and even if you are buying a house or own one, there are always costs...everyone is affected.

All things I cannot know what will happen, it is an unknown...

Just when you think you are doing reasonably ok...but so many are in the same boat or worse...

Now, how to make that chicken stock in the slow cooker to make the gravy or would it be just as easy to simmer on a hob for a short time...I can't seem to find any bones:rotfl:where did they go?

Popperwell

For all that I said in that long post as far as Mum goes I do think that I am doing reasonable well and have surprised myself.

paidinchickens

Popperwell wrote: »

Paid In Chickens...
It was an official news story from a relaible source but now even I am wondering where I read it...

Found it...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jul/01/france-tv-licence-computer-screens

May happen but I bet it does...

:eek::eek::eek: blighters I bet they try that here

Popperwell wrote: »

Might interest you Paid In Chickens...will be available later on the I-player I should think...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00zsdsb

I am not the wife I only have three honest :rotfl::rotfl:

Went for our "trade free lunch" well talk about cut backs.......one small piece of bacon and a titchy roll and we could only have tea not coffee as the budget did not stretch to coffee.

No surprise then that they did not extract, entice or charm any money from me :rotfl::rotfl:


PIC x

Fervent37

Popperwell wrote: »

Fervent 37,
Thank you for your kindness in responding about my situation and as I say i appreciate we are all having to face or have this. Bonnie was right what she said.

I forget what I sometimes say so I hope I am not repeating myself...a favouriet song(we had many)was Joe Brown and his version of I'll see you in my dreams played on a ukuele(it's on You Tube)I had it played a the end of Mum's funeral.

I haven't been to a theatre in perhaps 20+ years but I discovered he's coming to a local theatre in October(it may the last chance)so though it's cost a fair bit whilst I can afford it. In the future I may not be able to...I decided I would buy a ticket.

It seemed strange that he should be appearing so soon after losing Mum. it's a fair bet he'll sing that song and I may lose it but I have to go...sadly alone but...at least I have made the effort to go and have a night out. I'll have add taxi's to the overal cost(busses are practically non existant in the evening)and are quite a distance from my home and the theatre, mobility problems will make it difficult to walk.

That's when you miss not having your own transport or friends who may say "I'll take you..."

Though I am alone and have no children, our time together was special and I would not have changed anything.

Again thank you...

Pops we went to see Joe Brown a few years ago and he was fantastic. You are doing exactly the right thing in going to see him and will have a great time. And remember what bonnie_bumpkins said, your mum will be there enjoying it with you.

I think you will find that certain songs will always make you fill up. After 37 years since losing my Dad I still fill up at Eddie Calvert's O Mein Papa. So much so that when my next door neighbour who plays a cornet (very well I have to say) added it to his repertoire I had to ask him to play it when I was out. Bless him he obliged and still doesn't play it when he knows I am in.