when you reach breaking point

sophlowe45

completely agree Grouchy.

Evie74_2

Grouchy - no need to apologise! We are constantly being told that boosting spending on the High Street is the way forward, and given explanations as to why that should be so. I am by no means an economist, and I am jolly glad it's not my job to run the country.

In our own domestic setting DH and I have always believed that we should live within our means, and save up for things that we can't immediately afford. This meant that while many of our friends were bashing the credit cards and having new cars and marvellous holidays a few years back, we were just plodding along in our own little way, not spending for the sake of it, and maybe not having quite such an exciting time.

Even so, the recession is taking its toll on our finances, as it has for pretty much everyone, especially since DH was made redundant a couple of weeks ago.

What I was trying to say (perhaps not very clearly) is that it's all very well trying to understand the bigger picture about what has caused the problems and the shortages, but when you're living through it the main and most important thing for most people is to look much closer to home and try and do the best you can day to day for your own family.

I hope I haven't offended anyone btw..!

Evie xx

scaredy_cat

perhaps when 50% of working people (i say working people to include single people as well as families) are having to go to food banks to survive, the government might eventually do something!!!

Grouchy

Evie I agree with you, the bigger picture is one thing , but I think everyones first concern is their nearest and dearest. It does seem tougher and tougher what with pay freezes, lack of jobs, people being laid off left right and centre and prices of everything skyrocketing. I'm sorry to hear of your situation but sure you will come out ok!
I'm not sure I agree with you when you say people who are spending on plastic are having a better time and got more flashy things as in the end it is just stuff, and for some, stuff you haven't paid for. Perhaps they have the appearance of having a better time. But then, each to their own. I just refuse to play the spend spend spend game. the government encourages us to spend and then people are living on plastic and before you know it you are in deep do-do.
I've been well off and not so well off during my life like most people, but have not been one for keeping up with the Joneses or spending to impress. I've always led a simple life as much as possible and enjoy it. After all you can't buy the things that are the most important in life.
What does get my goat, as others have mentioned, is that there is a ton of money in this rich country and a few people making huge profits (bankers, supermarkets, utility companies, rail companies and on and on and on), but the distribution of wealth is completely distorted. As usual, the ordinary folk get the hardest time.
I think this is probably just the beginning of the big squeeze. OSers are at least in a decent position to make the most of what they have and not be sucked in or terrorised into spending money they don't have on stuff they don't need.
Well, I really need a nice glass or red now and get off my soapbox

COOLTRIKERCHICK

I am really glad i am not on my own, worrying about when that financial breaking point is/comes...

I know i was up to my neck in debt before... and still have some manageable debt, but trying to balance the books is getting tougher and tougher...

We have a coal central heating fire in the living room, and over the last few years, we have been burning more and more wood, to try and save money... It looks like coal prices will go up again this winter, so we will be buying less coal, and burning more wood..

even though not ideal for burning( they burn too quick), we trying and pick up free pallets, and we have cut some trees down on our land, which will be seasoned by next year...

But its the price of food shopping that is scary.... a few pennies increase on this, 20 - 30p increase on that, mounts up every quickly on a grocery shop

Grouchy

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

I am really glad i am not on my own, worrying about when that financial breaking point is/comes...

I know i was up to my neck in debt before... and still have some manageable debt, but trying to balance the books is getting tougher and tougher...

We have a coal central heating fire in the living room, and over the last few years, we have been burning more and more wood, to try and save money... It looks like coal prices will go up again this winter, so we will be buying less coal, and burning more wood..

even though not ideal for burning( they burn too quick), we trying and pick up free pallets, and we have cut some trees down on our land, which will be seasoned by next year...

But its the price of food shopping that is scary.... a few pennies increase on this, 20 - 30p increase on that, mounts up every quickly on a grocery shop

No not alone at all. I'm fairly lucky at the moment as reasonably well off but who knows these days? I'm always trying to be careful and put extra money aside for a rainy day/week/year. Just talking to friends who are in vastly different situations and you realise to different degrees everyone is worried as things seem so unstable and it can often be just the loss of a job or an accident or an emergency need for a lumpsum of money that can tip the scales.
Positive thoughts your way during these tough times.

lostinrates

Re spending, I can't help but think there are two types of spending. The first, what is being pushed and what we seem to have done as a cou try, is to buy cheaper, imported goods, that while provide retail jobs and uk business to, do not provide manufacturing jobs or enhance the skill of the work force or exploit our materials and historic skills.

The second, imo is more os, but harder when things are tough. Its to buy LESS often, but good stuff' even second hand, of a quality iten, preferably keeping uk skilled jobs as well as retail (which of course can be highly skilled). Holding these things in high esteem and maintaining their value inthe market.

There is NO value in putting oneself finacially on a limb because we should spend, or because we want something. There is value in saving for something we appreciate.


I think there are still savings for many who have not embraced an MSE or os way of life. Most of us still have more clothes than our grandmothers did, and wash them more often for example, though i appreciate OSers tend to be the least of these, and Cs sourse them! But many, many people every day post how there backs are against a wall and on there soa's once posted I think, thats not the wall, thats just the sofa infront of the wall.

Ctc, for you my dearest, I dunno what the specific answers are. . I do think its going to be a horrid winter, and i feel sort of guilty that for us its going to be the easiest for a long time. One of my parents has moved in, spread generdation living might be an option for some, and has contributed to getting some heating out in, because they need it. Althoguh atm i am struggling in the adaptation of budgetin and planning for three adults, (especially one who does not understand my aversion to waste and who has their back against a sofa not a wall but cannot see it) i am not expected to magic the money from no where. In fact, my parent arriving when they have has been a god send, able to ferry me to the hospital appts dh could not, and help with light chores like letting dogs out in the morning so i can get more sleep.

I know its not popular, but resource pooling of various manners might save in more ways. I am considering, for example, running an advert for others in the area who use same animals feeds as me, to see if as a geoup we can buy at the bulk order prices, and all save something.

COOLTRIKERCHICK

LIR...... you are right...this is why i do try to buy some things from local independant shops suppliers instead of the big boys...

I have reluctantly given in with my parents footing the bill and moving in, in the new place....which as you say will def ease living costs...

animal food co-operative is a good idea, a few of us were thinking about that, and were going to look into more when we get our pigs....

craftynutters

we are going to be totally scr**ed soon becase they are changing my husbands incapacity benefit which is not taxable to employment support allownace which will be so we will loose the equivalent of his money from working tax credits we only just have enough to pay the bills and morgage at moments so so dont know what to do

themull1

Each year i'm getting worse off, there's no point in having a tiny pay rise ie £12.00 a month, then everything else going up £20/30 a month, its impossible to sustain.