make do and mend for tougher times

Glam_girl

Hi all. I'm the usual serial lurker finally deciding to post!! I am only on page 42 so a lot of catching up to do. I love this thread as I keep saying to my OH about stockpiling and preparing. He is very much just get on wi it leave me out of it. Charming. I am sure he will be interested in it when it comes to feeding him in a hard time lol. I do take it to the extreme sometimes. OH cooked a BBQ for us when I got back from work last night and I was slightly annoyed at all the meat he had used just for two of us, but bit my tounge and will restock today with hs money of course ;-) xx

VJsmum

Possession wrote: »

I've never been to Oban or Iona, think the furthest I've ever been is Skye. In fact I suspect I've explored more of Asia than this country and I've never even been to Ireland. It will all have to be rectified.
DH went for a very rare night out last night with a friend from his OU course. It was the friend's 56th birthday. He has been out of work now for almost 3 years, and it isn't for want of trying. Now he's 56 he feels like nobody is going to employ him, and I'm not sure what the answer is. He was on a very high salary before but he isn't looking for anywhere near that, but still he's barely even had any interviews. I think perhaps he should retrain as a plumber or something but he went through a messy divorce and has no savings at all now so I guess he can't fund it.

I have seen this so much amongst friends and family - highly paid men in their early 50s being made redundant and can't find anything else. Of my acquaintances one now sells Kleeneeeeeze, one is a FE teacher (he was a plumber!) and one works in a distribution centre. ANother is considering applying to A$da as a delivery driver. My OH is 53 and his company is shortly to go through a major change. :eek: Watching others led us to take positive action regarding pension and investments to ensure we will still have an income - particularly as we have 2 school age children. One is still only 13.

WElcome, glam girl, you have a lot of reading to catch up with!! I often feel like I save pennies whilst OH spends tens - or even hundreds - of pounds.

I am tackling the bedroom of doom today. Unfortunately it is ours and not the kids!!! It has been a bit of a dumping ground of late but I have the SIL and 2 kids sleeping in it tonight. OH is away so it is easier to give them our room and I'll go in the spare.

I am babysitting the kids while SIL goes to a family do. She is widowed, so doesnt get much chance to go out and we help out if we can. Unfortunately SIL does like to take advantage - give her an inch, she'll take a mile. I am planning some craft things with kids (my own wouldn't dream of doing that!). Readers of another thread will know I have a candle making kit bought by my late mum that I have had difficulty getting rid of but is a bit faffy to do. So me and the kids are making candles, cakes and doing some sewing tonight.

Then I'll probably resort to pizza and films! :rotfl:

Possession

VJsmum wrote: »

I have seen this so much amongst friends and family - highly paid men in their early 50s being made redundant and can't find anything else. Of my acquaintances one now sells Kleeneeeeeze, one is a FE teacher (he was a plumber!) and one works in a distribution centre. ANother is considering applying to A$da as a delivery driver. My OH is 53 and his company is shortly to go through a major change. :eek: Watching others led us to take positive action regarding pension and investments to ensure we will still have an income - particularly as we have 2 school age children. One is still only 13.

WElcome, glam girl, you have a lot of reading to catch up with!! I often feel like I save pennies whilst OH spends tens - or even hundreds - of pounds.

I am tackling the bedroom of doom today. Unfortunately it is ours and not the kids!!! It has been a bit of a dumping ground of late but I have the SIL and 2 kids sleeping in it tonight. OH is away so it is easier to give them our room and I'll go in the spare.

I am babysitting the kids while SIL goes to a family do. She is widowed, so doesnt get much chance to go out and we help out if we can. Unfortunately SIL does like to take advantage - give her an inch, she'll take a mile. I am planning some craft things with kids (my own wouldn't dream of doing that!). Readers of another thread will know I have a candle making kit bought by my late mum that I have had difficulty getting rid of but is a bit faffy to do. So me and the kids are making candles, cakes and doing some sewing tonight.

Then I'll probably resort to pizza and films! :rotfl:

VJ I wonder if he's thought about teaching - there used to be routes where you were paid while you did training, that might work for him, but only if it was enough to pay his rent etc as I suppose he would lose all benefits. Of course, he might be completely unsuitable, I don't know him very well.
Hope it goes well tonight.

mardatha

I loved my wee hens and still miss them. I failed with them and I dont like failing. Bloody ME has such a lot to answer for!
Could we have more book suggestions do you think? If anybody's read a good book on wartime economies or Depression cookery or even Victorian Soup Kitchen meals (I'm sure it will come in handy with this govt ) then please post them.

[Deleted User]

Hello GLAM GIRL - nice to have you with us, lovely to have new people on the thread, Cheers Lyn.

Glam_girl

Thanks! I am hoping to learn a few more tips and perhaps share a few. I struggle sometimes, I'd I but in bulk it seems OH eats it quicker. I never buy pre-made things but if I make cakes or treats they just seem to go! I can't complain too much we have enough money and food and never really seem to struggle like some people i know do, but I like to know we have stuff in the house just in case! I guess I am just a frugal girl at heart. I know people worry about how to make ends meet, but I always find things just seem to work out in th end. That's not me being on my high horse or anything. I just know in my own times of need things have been ok in the end and there has been no need for stress or worry xx

Mrs_Chip

Workhouse soup - there you go Mar, why don't you give the RV a treat tonight

Possession

Hi Glam Girl, I know exactly how you feel about treats disappearing, so what I do is leave a few out for immediate treats and then freeze the rest and bring out for lunchboxes or whatever. I read of somebody who had a big tub in their fridge for lunchbox stuff and everyone knew they weren't allowed to take stuff out of it, I might incorporate that idea.
Need to plan what to bake for lunchboxes this weekend since last week's treats were rejected, but banana cake definitely has to be in there as I have 3 very sorry looking bananas to use up. Needless to say, DD doesn't like it but everyone else does, especially when still hot!

MrsCD

Possession wrote: »

Hi Glam Girl, I know exactly how you feel about treats disappearing, so what I do is leave a few out for immediate treats and then freeze the rest and bring out for lunchboxes or whatever. I read of somebody who had a big tub in their fridge for lunchbox stuff and everyone knew they weren't allowed to take stuff out of it, I might incorporate that idea.
Need to plan what to bake for lunchboxes this weekend since last week's treats were rejected, but banana cake definitely has to be in there as I have 3 very sorry looking bananas to use up. Needless to say, DD doesn't like it but everyone else does, especially when still hot!

Hi Possession, how about some banana muffins instead of banana loaf /cake? You can add extra dried fruit in the mix. There is a recipe on the GC recipe index.

Mrs_Chip

For anyone who has never seen it, here is a link to 'The Wartime Kitchen and Garden' a series with Ruth Mott who died only recently.

And a quaint american film about rationing in Britain .