make do and mend for tougher times

Mrs_Chip

Pops I honestly think you getting yourself into a stew by going over everything all the time and getting nowhere.

Perhaps making one big decision would help you focus on how to go forward - Do you want to spend the rest of your life in your current home?

If the answer is 'yes' then you can decide on a plan that will allow you to do that, whatever comes in the future. Making your home comfortable and secure is what you inheritance can help you do.

If however you could imagine living somewhere else, perhaps by the sea if that interests you, or in the country, or the middle of a bustling city, then making the decision to look elsewhere will enable you to think about how you would achieve that - perhaps using some of your inheritance to fund it.

Please don't wish the money away - that's not what your Mum would have wanted, and if the issue is that you lose some benefits because of it, well so be it. Once the money is gone (well anything over the savings threshold), you will be entitled again.

Truly, this is the time for you to look to the future, we all have to face our lives taking a different path, often not one of our choosing. It might be a rocky road, but as you will know from the stories on here, everyone has the strength to walk it.

Ooh err that last bit sounded a bit profound for me!

Pooky

:jMy dresser is here.....it's half built, I'm having an ice lolly break, it's so sticky and muggy here today.

We had to claim HB for a three month period when DH stopped getting sick pay. We were living in a rented three bed house. We were told we could only have a maximum of the LHA for a two bed flat as that was all that was needed to fulfill our needs. The difference was over £350 per month, we had to find that from other sources and if we'd been reliant on HB long term we would have had to have moved as we couldn't fund that shortfall each month.

But I agree with it, there's no reason why they should pay your entire rent unless you are to ill or disabled to work. But then in all cases you should live in the most cost effective way to suit your needs.

Pops - have you spoken to your HA and aired your concerns regarding affordability? They may have some properties to suggest for you nearer where you're living now.

Popperwell

You know...I agree with most of your post Mrs C:)

I quite like the idea of eing near the sea but when you are not loaded to be honest landlords and especially HA/Council's won't want someone like me inviting myself into their area and I'd be right at the bottom of the list of priorities.

Years ago I always(Well all of us)wanted to live in Bournemouth. You do make your own fortune up to a point but circumstances put a stop to this dream.

I'm going to try and look for the silver lining again. Have a glass half full, not half empty....at this moment in time things are better than they might have been/could be.

Popperwell

Pooky wrote: »

:jMy dresser is here.....it's half built, I'm having an ice lolly break, it's so sticky and muggy here today.

We had to claim HB for a three month period when DH stopped getting sick pay. We were living in a rented three bed house. We were told we could only have a maximum of the LHA for a two bed flat as that was all that was needed to fulfill our needs. The difference was over £350 per month, we had to find that from other sources and if we'd been reliant on HB long term we would have had to have moved as we couldn't fund that shortfall each month.

But I agree with it, there's no reason why they should pay your entire rent unless you are to ill or disabled to work. But then in all cases you should live in the most cost effective way to suit your needs.

Pops - have you spoken to your HA and aired your concerns regarding affordability? They may have some properties to suggest for you nearer where you're living now.

Not yet, in some ways i don't really want to draw attention to myself until it is necessary. And if I do they may start the ball rolling before it needs to...looking around my own area there are no empty properties and they still would be three/two bedroom properties so at best I could step down by one bedroom and save £13 a week(£15 in an HA property)

Mrs_Chip

Pops

Don't write yourself out of the picture - why should you not be able to live wherever you want?

There are lots of options, have you thought about a static caravan type home? I know a lot of older people opt for them, they are super dooper these days, and in lovely locations mainly. There are a lot in Wales . I know I would go into one like a shot, should it ever come to it.

And I am sure there are some places that are still not too gentrified to be affordable, I'm sure a bit of internet research could turn up places where someone with so few requirements (I mean space-wise) would be very happy, and you never know, you might be able to do a swap with someone who needs more room...

prepareathome

Aw kidcat, naughty hubby, we always use the toll road when going south of B as worth paying the money to not get stuck in that traffic, hope you didn't get stuck to long and he uses the toll road coming back.

Am off to Widnes tonight ( all 7 miles away, its nearer than the horrible city centre in which I technically live) as friend wants to go to spiritualist church there and I have been promising I would for ages but each time never feel up to it, but she is a bit down at moment so I know if she gets a message will lift her so going to dope up and go.

Part of me doesn't want to go out the door as thought my baby was going during the night as her breathing was bad so spent many hours giving her healing and telling her how much I love her but she pulled through and we all crashed, other dogs stayed awake cleaning her, from 6am till 1pm. She is tired today and oh I want to stay with her but friend needs this lift - both physically, as she doesn't drive and mentally if she gets a message. So just have to trust Sophie doesn't go while I am out, but she is happily eating dog treats and looking and breathing quite normal, but oh so torn in two.

Missed postman with sleeping in so late so have had to ask for redelivery of parcels on Friday - not sure what they were as have quite a few parcels en route but didn't miss thankfully delivery of Tripod Barbecue or Dutch oven, logistics in delivery firm got it right and delivered both together even though they came from different parts of the country, so well done them. I have been sitting drooling over the Dutch oven, after wanting one for so long its hard even though its here to believe I have one. Was going to set up the BBQ but just to wet out there, we have had rain with thunder and lightning and sun with thunder and lightning and just rain and now we have just sun.

Trying to decide if its worth spending the £14 on the WarTime Farm book, does it actually have useful info in it, how to do things as would rather only add to book pile with how to books, cannot decide from the look inside feature, certainly does look good I admit, but might wait till someone is reselling it unless it really is full of helpful info.

Right better go and have my shower - and take all the tins out the bath that still have not been put away:o

Hugs and Love to all xxx

maryleerk06

Hey Folks,

I found this blog post and has a few thrifty links to sites and blogs that I didn't know of so thought I would share the love because some of these sites have great tips and ideas!

http://moneyandi.co.uk/2012/08/23/top-thrifty-tips-to-save-money/

See what you guys think!

homerdog

Possession wrote: »

I have a quick question regarding velcro (it's not every day I say that).
DS's new duvet covers are a right pain for ending up with the duvet scrunched up at the bottom every single night. I've ordered some stick-on velcro from ebay which I'm planning to put on the duvet and inside the covers, but it then occurred to me - is it going to stay on when it's washed? Anyone know? I should have got the sew-on stuff but it's ordered now. : (

Would you be able to sew over it once it's stuck in place. It might not last especially if you sometimes do the bedding on a hotter wash, then it might ruin other washing.

homerdog

homerdog wrote: »

Would you be able to sew over it once it's stuck in place. It might not last especially if you sometimes do the bedding on a hotter wash, then it might ruin other washing.

OOps, sorry, maybe I should have read further on before I replied...

homerdog

D&#8517 wrote: »

WHOOP WHOOP citylink just came and the book is FABULOUS!!!!
It must have been created 'specially for us OldStylers its so spot on..:T:T:T
Everything from ploughing up the land at the start of the war through to make do and mend,foraging oh my god I'm going to have to read it all tonight I think

Is this the book that accompanies the new wartime farm series?