Preparedness for when

DawnW

fuddle wrote: »

So I wonder what it is that makes a person choose whether they want to continue where their parents left off and strive to make their way with what they have, themselves, or opt for the easy come easy go attitude and enjoy aspects of having the Nanny State.

My own mam's upbring was in the bosom of her mam, a housewife of a miner. I would love to know what it was that made my mam choose to live her life and bring her family up to be consumers/service users that sought debt to strive easily and comfortably? Maybe my mam rebelled her childhood?

If that's so, what is it that makes people of my mam's generation (a lot of you I expect) to embrace the strategies/way of life and not rebel against it?

My parents were children during WW2, and knew very well how to make do and mend. However, when they grew up they mostly chose not to, and embraced the consumer society enthusiastically. As kids, we had enough to eat, not great, but enough, decent clothes (often second hand, but that didn't matter), presents at Christmas etc, but absolutely no encouragement or expectations for the future. Our council home had new furniture, decor, carpets etc almost annually, and all on tick :eek: There were always money worries - how to pay the bills. As a little girl I used to worry at night what might happen if 'Bill' were not paid :eek: Somehow though, he mostly was :rotfl:

They were decent, law abiding and respectable people, but I learned little or nothing from them, except that I didn't like chipboard furniture and nylon carpets. Perhaps it was the worry about how to pay for them all. OH and I chose a different path, inspired by the self sufficiency craze during the 70s / early 80s, we gradually learned to grow and cook our own food, keep a good store cupboard, and do more and more for ourselves.

maryb

I think every woman defines herself in some way by reference to her mother. In my case it is an effort to be as unlike her as I can be. My lowest moments came when I was tired and stressed and shouted at my children and heard her voice coming out of my mouth.

But not her words thank God, I never sank so low as to be as poisonous as that

calicocat

Re: the whole food thing.....

If I had the money I would only ever be buying my food from a local farm. It is however really expensive and for everyday out of my budget alas. The meat is Amazing though, way different from any supermarket carp. All free-range and organic.


I plan to learn to grow more stuff myself though, so at least I know where that has come from.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

Calicocat, after 20 plus years of dreaming we managed to buy a smallholding,, and rear our own pigs...next year I am really going to knuckle down and grow a lot more...


When buying other meat, veg etc, I try and do a balance.. I would rather spend more money on my meat, and try and save the pennies on other stuff, it is hard though..

calicocat

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

Calicocat, after 20 plus years of dreaming we managed to buy a smallholding,, and rear our own pigs...next year I am really going to knuckle down and grow a lot more...


When buying other meat, veg etc, I try and do a balance.. I would rather spend more money on my meat, and try and save the pennies on other stuff, it is hard though..

Same here, I try to get my meat from goo sources.....or the best I can afford.

Having a smallholding must be fab. I have a really small garden....really small. However i'm on the case as to how to maximise this for next year, the soil is carp, but have since learning things here , been doing some trench composting to make it less clay, and now save all tea leaves for same.

I have always had good tips on these boards. I have learnt loads!....all good, and makes life richer.

JayneC

I have found that meat from the local farm isn't actually that expensive. It's more expensive than the really cheap stuff but considerably less than the 'finest' or supermarket 'organic'. I try to buy good quality meat and bulk out with veggies. My food budget is £70 every 4 weeks for 2 of us and £20 of that is the milk bill, so I haven't got money to splash around but I usually buy decent meat.

Regarding the import/export situation - I remember reading somewhere (may even have been on here!) that due to the subsidies available it is cheaper to buy New Zealand apples and wine in the UK than it is in New Zealand! Crazy world! This 'Free Market' stuff is a fantasy, if the government has to offer subsidies all over the place how can 'the market' decide what's fair?

Tis a charade this democracy lark. Let us think we have some say over the people in power and that quells any desire to raise up against it. Could go on a rant about hidden powers, but I'll refrain

Caterina

Many years ago I made a bet with my first (now ex) husband, a Scotsman. He refused to believe that proper Scottish whisky was cheaper in Italy than in Scotland. We went to Italy together and I was proved right. Weird!

siegemode

This is a pretty crazy state of affairs too.

http://www.biofuelwatch.org.uk/2014/carbon-calculator-pr/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2290444/Madness-How-pay-billions-electricity-bills-Britains-biggest-power-station-switch-coal-wood-chips--wont-help-planet-jot.html



On the subject of consumerism I believe it's down to marketing, advertising and planned obsolescence. The desire for advancement and need to keep up with ones peers is encouraged every where you look, but it's just a way to enslave and dumb down creating a mindless dependant population easier to control. I think those of us here and other like minded forums have managed to evade the trappings somewhat and through experience have learnt that the only way to avoid the misery and stress of the world we live in is to be as independent and resilient as we can.
By preparing and taking notice of the world around us and by not becoming fixated on new shiny things we separate ourselves from what is considered normal.
Joy is to appreciate the simple things and appreciate loved ones, family and friendship. After all when the electrickery fails or the chips are down they are likely to be much more supportive than the latest gagetry or guberment.
Unfortunately too many are sucked in by the need to have or a sense of entitlement that they over stretch themselves financially and have neither the time or inclination to see what is happening around them let alone what could be around the next corner. Thus leaving them dazed and confused and looking for someone or something to blame when it all goes pear shaped.
I started out my adult life striving to achieve and acquire as my parents had, but life soon taught me that the values and morals of my grandparents were what would save me. That along with the skills passed on by them.

Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy a few luxuries like good food and the occasional bottle of wine. It takes work though, shopping carefully and utilising offers and searching for bargains and discounts. To us it's more about quality and things that last rather than quantity and colour matching etc. Looking after our health, having shelter and warmth along with a full belly and each other is what is most important to us.
I admit to endulging in a little retail therapy from time to time, but I have a weakness for practical clothing, footwear and kitchenware bargains like cast iron cooking pots at 70% off:oI refuse to buy things unless they are heavily discounted and are multi purpose. I also only ever spend what I have put aside and never on credit. If we ain't got the dosh it stays on the shelf no matter how desirable, useful or bargainous.

Out of interest does anyone else have any weaknesses when it comes to consumerism ?

Frugalsod

Caterina wrote: »

Many years ago I made a bet with my first (now ex) husband, a Scotsman. He refused to believe that proper Scottish whisky was cheaper in Italy than in Scotland. We went to Italy together and I was proved right. Weird!

Not completely. Don't forget that whiskey might cost pennies per litre to produce but the bulk of the total retail costs are duty and VAT. So here in the UK the duty might be say 80% of the price then retailers margins etc, add VAT, and you get the final price. In the case of italy the whiskey will be sold without the UK Duty and VAT. So when it arrives in Italy they may only apply 20% duty and the local VAT rate and so it is quite easy to be cheaper there than here. The real rip off is in the Duty Free, there is no Duty or VAT and yet the price is only slightly less. What has happened is that the reduction in taxes has almost totally been absorbed into much higher profit margins on the Whiskey.

[Deleted User]

Books are my weakness but I try to limit the damage by buying from charity shops/boot fairs/Fleabay etc. whenever I find what I want. but a world without books for me would be utterly unthinkable and my idea of a wasteland.