Preparedness for when

[Deleted User]

Depends on how you define poor.

While there are, undoubtedly, some people who are desperately poor, most people are a lot less poor, than they were when I was a child.

Doveling

Thank you M.T.S.T.M.:rotfl:I will shut up and send you my soapbox in the post for your compost. That was very subtle telling off .
Sorry Bob, agreeing to disagree?:)

moneyistooshorttomention

:rotfl:

Doveling wrote: »

Thank you M.T.S.T.M.:rotfl:I will shut up and send you my soapbox in the post for your compost. That was very subtle telling off .

Mygawd....I've actually managed to learn how to do "subtle" at last have I?:rotfl:...and I could do with a reasonable supply of wood for building hugelkultur beds in my garden (ie sorta raised beds with wood as the basis).

Just goes to show theres a first for everything....:rotfl:


It's definitely going to take rather longer than I had anticipated to get my garden "good to go" sadly....you know the scene..."....and 6 months after a move across Britain the house will be renovated and good to go and at about the same time so will the garden be......" and then I woke up and stopped dreaming...sighs...

Is definitely feeling like that's "famous last words" and having to take consolation from the fact that other recent "incomers" in this area have barely started getting their homes up and running...whilst mine is nearly "good to go"...so I must have been getting something right somehow...

...much determination/biting of tongue etc etc later....

mardatha

BB there must be some chancers and some genuine people. As in any part of life, we can't generalise. But the fact that there are food banks and they are deemed acceptable in this country in this year, is so so wrong in so many ways. And if just one tenth of the greedy pigs in those queues sent the food banks a donation then that would be good. If maybe too much to hope for.
Either way, both sales frenzy and food banks are horrible warnings to us to prep faster.

Frugalsod

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

That's the problem.

We don't know who is short of cash through no fault of their own, and who is short of cash through their own choice.

Also, we don't know how many going to food banks are really skint, and how many are simply free-loading.

Actually you cannot get even accepted at a food bank unless you have been referred by another government department. So the numbers of free loaders are probably zero or so damn close it is not even worth thinking about. It is also a sign that the system has failed when people are dependent on charity when there is a benefits system.

Also if there are people blowing their benefits on booze then they really should be referred to the NHS for treatment. It could be alcoholism or depression. Both of which will over time reduce someones ability to even work.

Also the chances of getting sanctioned are pretty high because the requirements to comply are pretty onerous. What most people really should be concerned about is whether they will be replaced by a stream of people forced to work for nothing for several weeks as a result of benefits office or be sanctioned.

The problem is that many people have absolutely no idea of what life is like for people on benefits. You hear of the odd benefit cheat who plays the system but for every one of those there are thousands who are struggling.

mardatha

So many people in this forum even, posting what has happened to them or their families. It's an insidious horrible menace.

elaine241

Hello All

Havent written anything for a while, tbh nothing really that interesting to say! Not that anyone missed me :-(

Well funeral plans, black friday and food banks, all of which I avoid either by design or need! I'll leave you to guess!

My friend helps run a local food bank on a large estate near to me. TBh you get every sort in there even though they are supposed to be referred, I think sometimes they are referred just to get rid of them. Yes there are the genuine needs wether through benefit sanctions, lack of budgetting, homelessness or any other multitude of reasons where someone becomes desperate. Unfortunately there are also those who are taking advantage of the system and have no shame doing so! Getting something for nothing seems to be a mantra with some community members taking advantage of every free or subsidised service organisations offer. I worked in a community organisation where the free give away of lightbulbs and kettles almost led to a riot! They were fighting and arguing over them amoungst themselves way before black friday was even heard of!! One of the ways we used to get a good turn out for a community event to gather their views was always to offer free tea, coffee and buffet after we had asked them the questions we needed answered or questionnaires filled, bit of a cheat but it did get over 20% population in through the door.

Black Friday in the city I work in was interesting, the traffic jams to the out of town super stores were horrendous! What a load of lemmings!! Town centre was busy but also looked like they were shooting doctor who/sci fi film as every weird and wonderful member of the community seemed to be out. I went for a breath of fresh air at lunch , went in fav chazza, then bolted for my office feeling very unnerved (not at all usual for me).

Funeral plan, I dont have one! Not being at all religious I would feel uncomfortable ( if I could feel at all when dead) with someone I never met saying generalist things about me and adding in the odd prayer. There are some hymns I do like but on the whole its not for me. I would love to be buried under the oak tree on the farm where my pets and horses are. The view is stunning , all along the Severn estuary ( yes BB I know I cant see either!) and its not filled with the bodies of people I dont know or like! Failing this I would have to be cremated and scattered there.

My grandfather, a man of the countryside, no strong religious faith and tbh more of a Pagan than anything else, had a nameless vicar at his cremation due to my mothers decision. As he was an agricultural engineer and sea fisherman all his life and had a good sense of black humour we decided to scatter his ashes by throwing him off Beachy Head (cliff on South Downs, notoriuos suicide spot) as it was half way between agricultural land and the sea.

Prepping wise I have done very little, so smack on the hand for me! I really need to refresh the items of every day carry in my bag and tote bag also check the get home bag in the car. My preps in food department are slowly increasing although this is part of "normal" life rather then specific prepping. Candles, matches and oil lamps abound! Blankets etc also more than enough! Ok I know u can never have enough!!

One thing I STILL havent done is scan all my docs into computer, save on web or on a stick , or put copies of them safe outside of the house. I think I really need some bad weather for a few days as I am often outside or on my horse and paperwork is like ironing..... the devils work!!

I have bought cut price veg seeds or saved them as I am determined to make a proper go of my veg patch next year. As always things such as planning consents, property renovation and accounts took over my life and meant that poor veg patch really got neglected. I am desperately trying to simplyfy my life so that I have more time for the things I enjoy although it seems my life is constantly busy. Anyway at least I am trying to declutter!!

I still love to read and keep up with all your preps and other discussions even if I dont make any worthwhile comments or contributions. Prepping wise I am more prepped than ever in my life and that is solely down to this thread. My son (10) is also shwing signs of prepperish behaviuor and wants to learn bush craft, shooting and fishing, so hopefully some of mums sensible preps and ideas will be carried foward.

Take care everyone and keep the chats and ideas coming they make me feel less of a weirdo! LOL ELaine x

ivyleaf

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

I've just bought a £1.50 willow pattern jug from a charity shop, no one shoved me out of the way, in fact someone actually got out of the way for me to reach it on the shelf! Horses for courses eh? I guess it's what you decide is a NEED on a personal level, and how ruthless you decide to be to get what you think you need. I think life is complicated enough even on a good day without getting to fisticuffs over a mobile phone and I've found that sooner or later what you have on your 'need' list surfaces in a charity shop or at a boot fair so I bide my time and wait for it to find me, much better for the blood pressure!!!

I quite agree, Lyn. And I do trust you weren't suggesting I am ruthless and greedy for wanting a mixer (which was bought online) because arthritis makes it painful to mix by hand.

How lovely to find a willow pattern jug! Do you collect willow pattern, or is the jug a one-off for you? I remember years ago one of my Christmas annuals had "The Story of the Willow Pattern" in it.

Re food banks - I read in the paper the other day about one that is closing (can't remember where) because the local council is accused of sending people to the food bank instead of giving out hardship payments. I presume the food bank is overwhelmed. At any rate, it's closing after Christmas

ETA Elaine Being buried under the oak tree sounds a lovely idea It may be possible, though I don't know who you'd need to contact to get permission. Your local council may be a good start.

the_cake

If you have space, you can be buried on your own land ... with something like a woven willow coffin and a DIY ceremony this could be the cheapest (and most fun?!) option. I would definitely like to be buried here, with my favourite horse and cat. Not planning to go just yet but must remember to mention this to OH. A church service would not suit me (although I have attended some lovely ones).
Here is a link about home burial:
http://www.naturaldeath.org.uk/index.php?page=home-burial

Mojisola

elaine241 wrote: »

Not being at all religious I would feel uncomfortable ( if I could feel at all when dead) with someone I never met saying generalist things about me and adding in the odd prayer. There are some hymns I do like but on the whole its not for me. I would love to be buried under the oak tree on the farm where my pets and horses are. The view is stunning , all along the Severn estuary ( yes BB I know I cant see either!) and its not filled with the bodies of people I dont know or like! Failing this I would have to be cremated and scattered there.

If you don't want anyone (especially a stranger) talking about you at the service, don't have it. If you don't want hymns, don't have them. Leave your ideas for how you would like your funeral to be organised for your executor and then you can be buried in a green site or cremated and scattered where you want.

'Services' at the crematorium vary enormously from the full-on religious stuff to a couple of secular songs and no eulogy to just the coffin being brought in with no music and no words. then the curtains close and everyone files out.