Preparedness for when

[Deleted User]

I had the quiche in there too MAR and some Jacket Potatoes to reheat later in the week. I too won't put the oven on just for one tray. I will try it on the hob though, it will have a different flavour but will undoubtedly be much quicker to cook.

Frugalsod

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

I've been thinking! 'Oh no not again!' I hear the sussuration clearly but, this is to my mind quite a sensible thought. I was looking through some of my vegan recipe books and the recipes read very well, nourishing and delicious sounding and just had that thought of maybe putting in some of these completely plant based recipes on a regular basis, not because we don't do meat, fish or dairy but because becoming familiar with a few simple basic vegan dishes made with things that are NOT processed in any way and things that grow in our climate and are seasonally available here, no imports necessary, would be a good way of acclimatising us to what would most likely be the only foodstuffs readily available in the aftermath of an emergency situation. I know there would be food in shops, I know we all have a good and well stocked up Armageddon Cupboard but making 'real' food from garden and hedgerow seems a viable alternative to hunter gathering.

If things were financially tight it would also be a lot cheaper to eat local vegetables and adopt a vegan diet for a while. Also seasonal crops would be great for those with allotments and even those who get everything from a greengrocer.

Though I already try and eat as much seasonally as possible anyway. The lack of processing is also very good as it gets rid of all those dratted e numbers.

Perplexed_Pineapple

We went veggie when we were very broke a few years ago, you can really eat for very little outlay if you are prepared to improvise with seasonal veg, foraging and whatever you can find on the day. Probably very healthy too. I didn't know that about the B12 though, that's good to know about and worth keeping in mind. Also I think it's difficult to keep growing children healthy on that sort of diet, fine for us but kids need more protein and calcium from dairy I think.

moneyistooshorttomention

Frugalsod wrote: »

I had a brief spell when my debt repayments were taking all of my disposable income. As I was already keeping my regular bills very low there was no scope for cuts there. So I adjusted as I could and have over the last few years just paid off everything and now have only one debt left, and that should be gone in a few months.

My basic premise is to keep my regular bills to what I would be expected to live on if unemployed so less than £55 a week. It does mean that I can cope with drops in income and also means once debt free my disposable income shoots up. Though I will be boosting my emergency funds.

I certainly think you are doing absolutely the right thing to get rid of debt as fast as you possibly can:eek:

It makes sense to keep basic living expenses to the level of income that would be coming in if unemployed and I can see the sense in that. I've worked on the basis for quite some time of trying to do that and using my "leftover income" after that to make my financial position as secure as possible. Beyond that, if I'm lucky, comes spending money.

This figure of £55 you quote if unemployed - are you thinking that's the amount you would have before or after bills? Mine is just a small 2 bedroom house - but I would say my bills are around £300 a month (including full Council Tax) - so cut out, say 90% of the CT and minimise use of heating and they would still be over £200 a month.

I know roughly what levels of dole money are payable these days and think the question I have in my mind is "what does someone do if there honestly literally isn't enough money coming in even to cover the basics, ie if put in that position?". Even with maximum possible economising on bills, eating cheapest reasonable food, thinking thrice before putting any heating on, and certainly not keeping any money for actually Having A Life - benefit money just isn't enough for childless people to live and I know that personally that, even if I cut bills to the absolute barest minimum, I think there would be very little money left to feed myself - never mind anything else.

Are there are any childless people on benefit reading this and doing absolutely everything its humanly possible to do to manage on the money, but have found its literally impossible with the best will in the world. If so - what do you do? Do you get in debt? Turn to crime? Work in the black economy (if you can)?

themarsbargirl

They have to rely on foodbanks, there's a reason the number of foodbanks has exploded. I am very shortly to be in this situation, although at the moment I have to educate ESA on a part time student not bei being a full time student and therefore not being eligable for and student funding.

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

I certainly think you are doing absolutely the right thing to get rid of debt as fast as you possibly can:eek:

It makes sense to keep basic living expenses to the level of income that would be coming in if unemployed and I can see the sense in that. I've worked on the basis for quite some time of trying to do that and using my "leftover income" after that to make my financial position as secure as possible. Beyond that, if I'm lucky, comes spending money.

This figure of £55 you quote if unemployed - are you thinking that's the amount you would have before or after bills? Mine is just a small 2 bedroom house - but I would say my bills are around £300 a month (including full Council Tax) - so cut out, say 90% of the CT and minimise use of heating and they would still be over £200 a month.

I know roughly what levels of dole money are payable these days and think the question I have in my mind is "what does someone do if there honestly literally isn't enough money coming in even to cover the basics, ie if put in that position?". Even with maximum possible economising on bills, eating cheapest reasonable food, thinking thrice before putting any heating on, and certainly not keeping any money for actually Having A Life - benefit money just isn't enough for childless people to live and I know that personally that, even if I cut bills to the absolute barest minimum, I think there would be very little money left to feed myself - never mind anything else.

Are there are any childless people on benefit reading this and doing absolutely everything its humanly possible to do to manage on the money, but have found its literally impossible with the best will in the world. If so - what do you do? Do you get in debt? Turn to crime? Work in the black economy (if you can)?

Frugalsod

The reason I try and live as close as possible to the unemployment benefit rate is that it will mean less of a shock should it happen. The first thing that can go is the treats and the luxuries. My electricity bill is very low considering my circumstances and in comparison to people in a similar situation to myself. All my light bulbs are now LED and I cook as efficiently as possible, so batch cooking and microwaves. I regularly switch electricity suppliers if there is a price difference and haggle where possible. By eliminating food waste I make efficient use of all my food budget and now make as much as possible from scratch. All the processed foods have added costs and consequently prices, so by making things from scratch I can make fresher and better value food. I do not have a car so that helps a lot and can walk to most places I need or use public transport.

[Deleted User]

Afternoon all, I went into the city today and visited Ikea as we're coming up to the growing season and they do a pack of resealable freezer bags 15x6 litre and 15x41/2 litre for £2.95, best quality and best value around. While I was there I found and bought the replacement for the SUNNAN lamp which has been discontinued. What replaces it is a solar lantern that will either stand on a surface or hang from a handle from the ceiling/stand on a high shelf it's called SOLVINDEN and cost £13 which doesn't seen too much. You can change the battery in the solar cell too, when the old one fails, which can only be good. They have a good offer on in the food department too 2 x packs of swedish cheese+a jar of pickled cucumbers+a packet of crispbreads for £4.95 so I got one of those too! Just walked my boy in the sun and he found a tennis ball under a hedge which he carried all the way home looking very pleased with himself. Just having a cuppa now and catching up on the day!

thriftwizard

MrsLW, those would be excellent for camping, in any situation, never mind if SHTF. I can feel a trip up your way coming on...

I can recommend their little chains of LEDs; we had a lighting problem outside the bathroom, which is an area with no windows. When the kids were small we had a 5w incandescent nightlight in there so people could find their way to & from the loo at night. But you don't seem to be able to get anything that dim any more, and there aren't any plug sockets down there to pop one of those little plug-lights into. So we had to issue any guests with torches, as if we left the full light on, it kept the inhabitants of 3 bedrooms wide awake!

But the little LED lights are perfect; just enough light to see your way by & no more, no heat to speak of to worry about, and a nice long lead (tucked away behind a bookcase) to the nearest plug. I'd always liked them as decorations; it had never occurred to me that they might have a practical use, too.

ivyleaf

Thanks for telling us about the solar lantern, Lyn we bought a couple of SUNNAN lamps last year but haven't needed to use one until recently, when it finally occurred to us that one put on the bookcase on the landing would be ideal to light DS's way upstairs when he got home from his Saturday job at a nightclub.

Before that we were leaving his bedroom lights on, but the light didn't really reach the stairs anyway. Couldn't leave the landing light on or it would keep me awake.

Hope DH is recovered this morning elona.

elona

ivyleaf

He is sleeping better but getting more tired and weak all the time.

Ended up phoning oncology specialist and leaving a message to explain the unexpected changes in him.

Glad he is at least managing to eat and drink and hopefully not too uncomfortable.

Taking the three mountains of clean laundry and sorting it in stages so I don't leave him for too long.

csarina

Hope OH is glad to be home and feeling a bit better.