Preparedness for when

Frugalsod

jk0 wrote: »

I don't think number 36 is such a riddle when there have been 35 others this year. Full list here:

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-12-07/riddles-surround-36th-dead-banker-year

When you consider how many people work in finance 36 world wide is almost insignificant number over normal suicide rates. I only think that these are being noted purely because of the high levels of distrust of banks still even 7 years after the crisis. These deaths might have absolutely no statistical significance above what could normally be expected.

annagaradair

jk0 wrote: »

The last remaining place to insulate is under the floorboards. The laminate flooring is getting a little worn, so I am even considering going back to carpets.

Should I?

calicocat wrote: »

Also...do animals ruin cork tiling? I reckon my cat would rip it to bits?

I put down laminate in two rooms some years ago. didn't know about insulation way back then and really wish id kept the carpets. I'm very interested in cork tile although i fear the Little People in Fur Coats would like them too!

Hope your op goes ok today, calico cat.

moneyistooshorttomention

jk0 wrote: »

I don't think number 36 is such a riddle when there have been 35 others this year. Full list here:

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-12-07/riddles-surround-36th-dead-banker-year

That is a lot.

I am wondering a bit about that article though personally, as it says it was submitted in July at the top of it, but talks about him having (been killed?) in November and I am struggling to translate the text into proper English in my head.

Is there a reference elsewhere to all these bankers without time anomalies and bad English?

GreyQueen

:)Morning all.

Sorry to hear that your 'improved' heating is actually colder and less effective, daz. Mine is a late seventies block and gawdelpus if/when they need access to these pipes as it'll be up with the Marley tiles and into the concrete floors with a pick-axe to get at them. I pay just shy of £400 per annum for my heating and hot water, which is added into the rent.

Some of the council housing around here, including some of the sixties towers, are developing serious faults. I'm not talking collapsing, just an endless stream of expensive interior defects which is making them a money pit for maintenance.

I used to know an older lady who worked in London for Wimpeys, back in the sixties, and she typed up some of the costings for social housing projects around the country inc some of the towers in Glasgow.

Even then, they were built very cheaply and this shoddy workmanship is coming home to roost. Some blocks across the country are already approaching the stage of being beyond economic repair. A lot of social housing was built in the sixties, so much so that there was a brick famine as the suppliers couldn't keep up with the demand (my Dad was in the building trade at the time, and we still rag him about some of the estates in the hometown which he laboured on, and which are still standing, lol).

There are also problems all over the region, inc our area and presumably country-wide, with the various system-build houses, developing unexpected defects and being very hard to upgrade. I spent part of my early childhood in an 'Airey house' one of the sys-builds with concrete plank-effect outer walls. Mum always thought it was airy not Airey as they were so bliddy draughty. Those particular Airey houses have been pulled down and rebuilt in conventional brick now.

And, although that row of Airey houses comprises of pairs of semis, the ones which were purchased are still as they were then, whilst others inc in some cases the other half of the pair, is rebuilt in modern brick with cavity walls and all the mod cons. Pretty sick-making for the owners, I would have thought.

So, there is a bit of a crisis in housing brewing, not just the lack of it, but that some of it is barely fit for purpose. If you're shopping for any, be careful about what you buy...........

[Deleted User]

Frugalsod wrote: »

So what everyone needs to do is get rid of that debt one way or another. Pay it down if you can. In six months I will be completely debt free from all debts so will be safe.

This is exactly what I started the tough thread about in 2006. Personal debt was getting out of control then and it seems to be happening again. There was a christmas spending item on bbc just now and it appears that 50% of the people interviewed were very blase about debt over christmas. This is how deep debt can start for many people. I despair, haven`t people learnt anything from the last 8 years.

Frugalsod

kittie wrote: »

This is exactly what I started the tough thread about in 2006. Personal debt was getting out of control then and it seems to be happening again. There was a christmas spending item on bbc just now and it appears that 50% of the people interviewed were very blase about debt over christmas. This is how deep debt can start for many people. I despair, haven`t people learnt anything from the last 8 years.

Some how I think people are being fooled by the media in thinking that things are good now and they are thinking that it is only they who are struggling.

It is not as if it is an unexpected event. Christmas comes around the same every year and should be easily to prepare for. I have an artificial tree and that means I do not need to spend any money on trees or decorations, as they have all been bought ten years ago. I am careful putting them up and down so they still look good even after all these years. I make my own Bailey's and that is cheap to make and tastes really good. We will also have Champagne and that will have been bought during some deal earlier in the year. We get just enough food so that we are not eating leftovers for several weeks, and there is virtually no waste. Presents can be bought over the coming year as we find a gift that will appeal. So the costs can be spread out easily. You could always get a piggy bank for Christmas food and save the cash each week in that, so that there need be no surprises.

For adults they could always drop the gift giving completely. It saves you the problem of what to get people and where to put the present they give you at the same time. Next week some time I will be taking a few people to lunch and that will be my gift to them all. It does not have to be expensive it could be lunch at Wetherspoons. :beer:

Trying to keep up with the Joneses is what is ruining their budgets.

mardatha

One of my kids is really bad with money. Always went over the top with spending at xmas. Had a loan, then a top-up loan, then a bigger loan, then consolidation loan, and then added a credit card to the mix. Now in debt over 20 grand and 3 grand on the CC... with nothing to show for it!
I have been going on for years about all this but do they listen?? Nope not to a single word I say.

1Tonsil

you have the most horrendous storm heading for the UK , it will probably hit Thursday or Friday. please prepare for it as it is seriously dangerous weather. Here is a link, I am not sure if it will work as its from Facebook . It may hit Scotland on Wednesday
https://www.facebook.com/severeweatherEU/photos/a.1423656947857402.1073741825.1377757209114043/1605473329675762/?type=1&theater

jk0

Anyone noticed when you go to vote that the ballot paper number is recorded against your name?

I challenged this a few years ago, and was told it was for security reasons, and the names would only be revealed after a court order.

Hmm. The reason this came to mind again was this comment on Zerohedge:

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-12-08/nirp-arrives-us-tbtf-banks-tell-customers-move-their-cash-or-be-charged-fees#comment-5528567

I would worry if the SHTF that having voted for the 'wrong' person might affect my future prosperity.

GreyQueen

jk0 wrote: »

Anyone noticed when you go to vote that the ballot paper number is recorded against your name?

I challenged this a few years ago, and was told it was for security reasons, and the names would only be revealed after a court order.

Hmm. The reason this came to mind again was this comment on Zerohedge:

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-12-08/nirp-arrives-us-tbtf-banks-tell-customers-move-their-cash-or-be-charged-fees#comment-5528567

I would worry if the SHTF that having voted for the 'wrong' person might affect my future prosperity.

Y'know, I think I shall have to ask an elections officer about that, when next I talk to one on other business. I've noticed that they ask your name and address and then tick you off before handing you your ballot papers. I've always thought it insane that they never ask for proof of ID. I mean, anyone who knows my name and address could rock up at the polling station saying they were me and as long as they did it before I arrived, they'd get to use my ballot.

I must admit I do feel that some of the gaiety has left the nation since the demise of the Monster Raving Looney Party. Now that was a political party which wasn't making any pretenses.:rotfl:

Gotta head off kitchenwards as I have a heavy beetroot infestation which needs processing. When I've finished boiling and preserving the beggars in a day or two, I shall have to give the place a darned good scrubbing as there's beetroot gore everywhere. Hope the constabulary don't come calling as I look like a wumman with some 'splainin' to do.