make do and mend for tougher times

greenbee

Fuddle - I get ice on the inside of my windows most years. The real hassle is clearing it up when it melts!

Popperwell - once you have sorted out the contracts you're probably best of sticking with what you have got while you work out the details. I know you say your usage will have changed since you lost your mum, but it is better to overestimate than underestimate and not be able to afford the payments. So if you can find a meter reading from this time last year for both gas and electricity, and take one now, you can use the comparison sites to work out what the best deal is. It will probably be an online one. If you are now committed, sign up to something like imeasure, where you put your meter readings in weekly and can track your usage compared to other peoples. If you are worried about being able to afford to heat your home, it might be worth considering moving to somewhere cheaper to run.

LavenderBees

Popperwell wrote: »

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4142925

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4141881

You're not missing anythng, Kidcat, honestly. A storm in a teacup as usual.

I'm sure the Toughy thread will continue to keep on track with helping each other

kidcat

Thanks pops will have a read through later

Popperwell

LavenderBees wrote: »

You're not missing anythng, Kidcat, honestly. A storm in a teacup as usual.

I'm sure the Toughy thread will continue to keep on track with helping each other

That's how I see it...

Popperwell

greenbee wrote: »

Fuddle - I get ice on the inside of my windows most years. The real hassle is clearing it up when it melts!

Popperwell - once you have sorted out the contracts you're probably best of sticking with what you have got while you work out the details. I know you say your usage will have changed since you lost your mum, but it is better to overestimate than underestimate and not be able to afford the payments. So if you can find a meter reading from this time last year for both gas and electricity, and take one now, you can use the comparison sites to work out what the best deal is. It will probably be an online one. If you are now committed, sign up to something like imeasure, where you put your meter readings in weekly and can track your usage compared to other peoples. If you are worried about being able to afford to heat your home, it might be worth considering moving to somewhere cheaper to run.

I think if my income does not decrease much and I budget carefully with how much food I buy, cut back on the electric and gas a little I can absorb most of what will happen, it will be tight but doable...see if they find me somewhere smaller but its the other side of town, I lose out on bus and taxi fares so it is probably better to stay put...smaller properties are in short supply.

RosiePuddingPaws

As a relatively recent convert to MSE, this is my first post so please be gentle!

I had to join and delurk following fuddle's message about ticks. One of my cats had an enormous tick under his chin last year. I couldn't shift it so went to the vets where the nurses will remove them free of charge. They use a nifty plastic piece of kit. It was so quick and simple I bought one! Try and find an "O'Tom" (I hope this isn't seen as advertising but they are really good and easy to use). You get two different sizes in a small box and they come in many colours - I like the purple ones myself!! I think it was about £5, which is quite a lot but is worth it as it saves me a 10 mile round trip.

Vaseline and touching with a recently burnt match, etc., is not recommended (by our vet at least) as apparently it can make the tick regurgitate the blood back into your pet and this can infect them (sorry if anyone is eating and this is tmi).

The bit I don't understand is, why does my cat only want to sit on my lap and cuddle in when he has a tick?

RPP

kidcat

off to look for the zombies!!:rotfl:

Popperwell

Good to see you Rosie and the more that jump in and take part the merrier...we get different views and opinions and that's good...more people mean more views and OS tips...

Anyhow nice to see you...

fuddle

RosiePuddingPaws wrote: »

As a relatively recent convert to MSE, this is my first post so please be gentle!

I had to join and delurk following fuddle's message about ticks. One of my cats had an enormous tick under his chin last year. I couldn't shift it so went to the vets where the nurses will remove them free of charge. They use a nifty plastic piece of kit. It was so quick and simple I bought one! Try and find an "O'Tom" (I hope this isn't seen as advertising but they are really good and easy to use). You get two different sizes in a small box and they come in many colours - I like the purple ones myself!! I think it was about £5, which is quite a lot but is worth it as it saves me a 10 mile round trip.

Vaseline and touching with a recently burnt match, etc., is not recommended (by our vet at least) as apparently it can make the tick regurgitate the blood back into your pet and this can infect them (sorry if anyone is eating and this is tmi).

The bit I don't understand is, why does my cat only want to sit on my lap and cuddle in when he has a tick?

RPP

thanks for taking the time to post that. I will google and investigate much appreciated

lisakay_2

:eek: my mudder has found me :eek: will have to watch what I say now, no more talking about her .

Those crumpets look fab, might have a go at them soon.

homerdog...it's not just DD2 that likes fudge you know
pops, hope u get utilities sorted

I pulled up all my onions from the lotty today and left them out drying in the garden while I visited a friend...I now have very soggy onions.
My friend gave me a load more rhubarb and a bottle of vodka with a request for homemade schnapps for christmas again. I wish everyone could give me the ingredients for their presents, that would make for a very cheap christmas:rotfl:

So I now have rhubarb wine brewing, rhubarb schnapps steeping, stewed rhubarb in the freezer and still have enough for a couple of jars of rhubarb chutney. I've also got sloe gin on the go with my foraged sloes. If the rain holds off at some point soon I can take the girls out and gather some more.

I'm still undecided as to what to make with my 4kg of blackberries, they're just sat in the freezer at the moment, waiting to be added to from the lotty and the meadows.

I have finished the first little handwarmer and it's just big enough for DD2, I'll have to adapt the pattern slightly for DD1 and friend to make them slightly bigger. They're so quick and easy to knit, I think they'll make nice little stocking fillers for my nieces too.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/easy-kids-hand-warmers

DD1 has said she'd like to knit herself some legwarmers with a pocket (she's seen them on tv with the lelly kelly shoes, and she knows she has no chance of me buying them, bless). I think that may be a little bit ambitious for a nearly 7 yr old who has only knitted a teddies scarf so far! :rotfl:

Still, she will have a go. We don't have many hard and fast rules in our house, but 1, not allowed to say "I don't like it" unless it has been tasted, properly, several times. 2, not allowed to say "I can't" unless it's been attempted several times.

xx