Preparedness for when

Frugalsod

ALIBOBSY wrote: »

Just looking at that info about what is included in the inflation calcs and nearly laughed out loud at the 2014 inclusion of bird feed, what the heck!

How irrelevant is that to the majority of people. TBH even if you do put out feeders, if the price shoots up you will stop buying. Surely inflation calcs should be based on items its hard to manage without and need to be bought on a regular basis.

Ali x

I think that there should be a low income version that misses out plasma TV's and bird food. It should have higher rankings for housing, food, energy and transport costs. This would be appropriate for pensioners those on minimum or low wages or benefits.

DawnW

Frugalsod wrote: »

I think that there should be a low income version that misses out plasma TV's and bird food. It should have higher rankings for housing, food, energy and transport costs. This would be appropriate for pensioners those on minimum or low wages or benefits.

Not sure if this is right, but I read somewhere that housing costs are not counted at all :eek:

Perplexed_Pineapple

Frugalsod wrote: »

I think that there should be a low income version that misses out plasma TV's and bird food. It should have higher rankings for housing, food, energy and transport costs. This would be appropriate for pensioners those on minimum or low wages or benefits.

A firm called Tullett Prebon published an "essentials" index last year, I can't find that they have updated it this year yet though.
Don't knock the plasma TVs for pensioners though. A family member is partially sighted in retirement and loves their 50" plasma screen - it's like the large print books in the library for them. They get a discount on the licence too. Pity about the power consumption...

Frugalsod

Perplexed_Pineapple wrote: »

A firm called Tullett Prebon published an "essentials" index last year, I can't find that they have updated it this year yet though.
Don't knock the plasma TVs for pensioners though. A family member is partially sighted in retirement and loves their 50" plasma screen - it's like the large print books in the library for them. They get a discount on the licence too. Pity about the power consumption...

Actually I do agree, though most people will only replace the TV when they need to. I gave my parents my large TV when I moved and did not need it. They love it.

short_bird

Perplexed_Pineapple wrote: »

Don't knock the plasma TVs for pensioners though. A family member is partially sighted in retirement and loves their 50" plasma screen - it's like the large print books in the library for them. They get a discount on the licence too. Pity about the power consumption...

Ah, but a plasma TV throws off a lot of heat...

Butterfly_Brain

Si_Clist wrote: »

Just been talking to the bloke who delivers our logs, who tells me that for the first time in over 20 years, he's no idea at all how much round timber is going to be available next year and what price it's likely to be.

Apparently the main problem down here in the southeast is that the new power station near Heathrow is taking thousands of tons of timber a month now. People who own woodland have cottoned on to that, so a lot of it's now being sold to the highest bidder, which of course is the power station, on account of the damned fool gubment has a vested interest in making it seem like it's both environmentally friendly and sensible to make electricity from wood, much of which is imported.

And when I suggested that people will stop buying logs for their woodstoves once the price goes much above what they're paying now, I was disabused of that notion PDQ. I'd forgotten about all the trendies who've bought designer woodburners in the last year or two, and who love getting a load of logs for it because they can play at being eco. Or country folk. Or their ancestors.

Or something ...

Ours is a multifuel stove and we are looking at buying our own wood and then we can use the coppiced wood for the stove

D&DD

Evenincks all


Been enjoying the sun on my back today without that perishing wind,it's blowing up a bit now but I don't care as I snuggled up with my hot bean bag thingie lol.


I've wondered why my bay wasn't doing very well and have been perusing the Grapevine and saw someone had bought the same plant and separated hers into single stems..oops sooo mine are all nicely potted on now and I'm going to have a go at one of these seeing as I have 14 to play with!!! http://www.tree2mydoor.com/double-twisted-bay-tree-gift.html


The kamikaze cukes are going into buckets tomorrow as they're twining up the curtains now and its a bit awkward.


Sowed tons more seeds today direct and in cells as everything is doing so well and I splurged on some delphiniums in the casualty corner at B&Q,I don't really like many flowers but have wanted to grow these for years but they're so expensive usually.Got a whole tray of 6 for 2 quid in assorted colours(I hope) should look lovely between the blackberry and jostaberry


Preppingwise the bedroom is being done over the weekend eeek I may need rescuing from the mugshot mountain which currently resides next to the diminishing couscous one.


I also picked up some quinoa seeds so shall be trying them for the first time should be fun!


I really need to have rubber fences as I sent my OH off in wilkos yesterday for pegs and he came back with a pack of 5 Casablanca seed potatoes for 50p...


I was reading with interest all your news and links about the economic issues and my mum rang this A.M to say she'd had a statement from Santander saying she only had 8p to her name,rather a few bob less than she actually should have had so spent most of today helping her sort that out what a thing to send out by mistake though to an elderly person.

Frugalsod

D&#8517 wrote: »

I also picked up some quinoa seeds so shall be trying them for the first time should be fun!

Let us know how that goes. I might try that myself when I get some more space to grow anything.

D&DD

Will do frugal I only wanted to give them a whirl as there was an article in one of my kitchen garden mags about a vegan couple who grow this and have had great success. They make quite a pretty plant too so that's a bonus!


I'm still in shock the price of all the veg plants this year I thought it was just my local posh garden centre at first but they're all at it!! If anyone needs seeds try out moreveg they do smaller packs for littley gardens like mine and their seeds are very cheap.Great service too

siegemode

Perplexed_Pineapple wrote: »

A firm called Tullett Prebon published an "essentials" index last year, I can't find that they have updated it this year yet though.
Don't knock the plasma TVs for pensioners though. A family member is partially sighted in retirement and loves their 50" plasma screen - it's like the large print books in the library for them. They get a discount on the licence too. Pity about the power consumption...

In fact a larger TV makes so much difference to anyone with sight problems. When we were able to replace our 20 yr old Sony 21 inch with a new 40 inch a few yrs back not only could we see the picture, but we were able to read any text as well. I was initially against a larger TV, however we had a small windfall and got a brilliant deal. After enjoying the benefits of a larger screen we then suggested to our elderly parents that getting a larger TV would increase their viewing pleasure. Both mums and FIL were reluctant at first although now they love their larger screens. I'm sure anyone with sight problems what ever their age will find a large screen beneficial if they are fortunate enough to have one.