Preparedness for when

grandma247

teacake. How to make home made washing powder or liquid, home made clothes softener and other household cleaners. There are lots of blogs with the recipes. I have used home made washing liquid and powder. They work fine in the machine and for hand washing,in fact I like it for hand washing because it does not make my hands sore like manufactured stuff.

There will be other things but I can't think of them right now.

ragz_2

JayneC wrote: »

BMF I too have considered spoiling the ballot paper. Maybe writing NO CONFIDENCE across it. I even thought about starting a Facebook campaign, but that involves sticking me head above the parapet. Mebbe I should just sod 'em and do it! I wonder if there's an obligation to declare how many spoiled papers there are? Would be interesting if so....
.

There are quite a few groups set up along those lines already and as far as I know, they do declare the amount in some way, it's definitely counted. I am currently researching other parties to support (such as The Peace Party) but if I can't find one I can vote for I will be spoiling mine.

Banking problems again, Lloyds and others cards not working this evening apparently...

Frugalsod

grandma247 wrote: »

teacake. How to make home made washing powder or liquid, home made clothes softener and other household cleaners. There are lots of blogs with the recipes. I have used home made washing liquid and powder. They work fine in the machine and for hand washing,in fact I like it for hand washing because it does not make my hands sore like manufactured stuff.

There will be other things but I can't think of them right now.

I am looking at the ideal of doing all this as a money savings idea and also because it is less toxic to the environment.

Hollyberry

Such sad tales of those children.

OH and I have started buying extras for the local food bank. We may be self-employed and skint, but we're warm enough and fed.

As far as today's banking problems are concerned, I still lean (perhaps in a Pollyanna-ish way) to c*ck up rather than conspiracy. I have heard that systems are old and creaking, and a lack of investment is causing them to crumble more regularly. Hoping future events don't prove me wrong... :eek: In the meantime, am adding to my cash stash at home just in case.

BigMummaF

I would like to know what would happen if the majority of voters did spoil their papers.. would it bring down the government, cause another coalition (huh yeah.. cuz this one so works dundtit :mad: ) to be formed, whoever has the most 'unspoiled' votes get in... what?

As for alternative parties, how can you vote for them if there's not a candidate for your constituency which has happened here many a time.
The more I think about it, the less I believe that we do live in a democracy!

(There's summthin a'currrrin a la Londinium if anyone is interested, being organised by a group on a social media site. I will post details if you wish but don't want this thread &/or site to be penalized if this isn't the place to do so. )

ginnyknit

It all makes me want to make sandwiches and twinks hob knobs and stand outside schools feeding the children as they go in but lets face it things are so tight here (as with all of us) that I couldnt attempt it. I completely understand that some parents cannot manage their money well but its a much more complex situation than that. Its long term money shortages, emergencies that put you behind with bills and low low income for all, working or not.

Teachers are at the sharp end arent they? Bless the lot of them for caring. Dgs's teachers are absolutely amazing with him and his problems and along with his childminder they have supported us all way beyond the call of duty.

Well think its time to fill my beloved hot water bottle instead of sitting here in the cold. If I drink any more hot drinks I will float out to sea

nuatha

BigMummaF wrote: »

I would like to know what would happen if the majority of voters did spoil their papers.. would it bring down the government, cause another coalition (huh yeah.. cuz this one so works dundtit :mad: ) to be formed, whoever has the most 'unspoiled' votes get in... what?

Whoever has the highest number of valid votes gets elected. Unfortunately we don't have an "None of the above" option. A spoiled ballot paper is not a valid vote. The number of spoiled votes are published in UK elections.

As for alternative parties, how can you vote for them if there's not a candidate for your constituency which has happened here many a time.
The more I think about it, the less I believe that we do live in a democracy!

There is always the option of joining the relevant political party and seeking its candidature for your constituency. Offering to pay the deposit (£500, forfeit for less than 5% of the votes cast) may well assist for some of the smaller parties.

ragz_2

BigMummaF wrote: »

I would like to know what would happen if the majority of voters did spoil their papers.. would it bring down the government, cause another coalition (huh yeah.. cuz this one so works dundtit :mad: ) to be formed, whoever has the most 'unspoiled' votes get in... what?

As for alternative parties, how can you vote for them if there's not a candidate for your constituency which has happened here many a time.
The more I think about it, the less I believe that we do live in a democracy!

(There's summthin a'currrrin a la Londinium if anyone is interested, being organised by a group on a social media site. I will post details if you wish but don't want this thread &/or site to be penalized if this isn't the place to do so. )

I am thinking if there's a party I can believe in I would run myself if I had to... Politics needs to change and simply moaning or waiting for the entire system to collapse won't solve anything. Sorry, this likely isn't the place for that kind of talk...

Looks like the card problems resolved by around 8pm but a lot of inconvenienced people...
We had been discussing a few months ago about keeping spare money in cash rather than in the bank, also converting some to useful things and yet more stored food! Then car broke down and that issue was solved for us... but hey ho...

Frugalsod

I think that most people are actually struggling so it is a matter of keeping your heads down right now. Apparently 76% of Americans are living paycheque to paycheque. I would not be surprised if the proportion was similar here. My objective right now is to reduce my overheads to the extent that I can become debt free very rapidly. I can save around 80% of my disposable income so am able to clear things quite well. Once that is done I will be getting some camping kit so I am a lot more flexible in terms of cooking and sleeping if things get really bad, plus increase my holiday options in the meantime. Things could continue like this for a number of years, before the proverbial really hits the fan. At least if by then my debts are gone I will have so much more flexibility. If all goes well then I will be in an even better position.

Hard_Up_Hester

At the secondary school where I work we provide a free bowl of porridge for staff & students, but the take up is low. Myself & another staff member provide bits & pieces for some of the children, soap, scarves, hats, a hot drink & a couple of biscuits. I also often pay for a lunch for some of the kids who don't have enough money. I've worked there for 9 years & it's always been the same & I'll be honest, most of the kids who are going without come from families with a chaotic lifestyle rather that poor & it's they same families over & over again. Some of the kids approach me as I'm a neighbour & they don't see me as part of the school.
A lot of staff provide fruit for their form every morning & our 6th formers are given breakfast on exam days.
Hester