The commonsense thread

Popperwell

bupster wrote: »

Treats are dead important, so is social interaction. Pops, have you thought of volunteering in one of the charity shops you go to? It would get you out of the house, you could make new friends, and you wouldn't be using up fuel to heat the house while you were in the shop. They're always looking for people to help sort clothes etc.

A great idea bupster,
When people are struggling I have felt guilty going to the theatre as I have been doing lately(Then again that is so,ething I have not done in years)but as things get tighter that pleasure will probably disappear or become rare so I am doing it whilst I am able and I have almost finished that fun anyhow.

I'm living in the now or trying to...but at least I will have some memories and I have found myself able to smile and forget my troubles/worries for a few hours.

I may be willing to do some volunteer work but whereas should you volunteer, if you are unwell you can go home or phone in and say I cannot make it today(I did VW for approx 20 years)

But as rules change and the DWP/Government get stricter, if I am not careful they may say if you can do that, you are fit. Then my help may be affected(of course that could change anyhow with changes coming in)so many unknowns...

I'm not against getting out there and being involved. Dare I say that I am friendly, caring and sociable and normally have a sunny disposition(without being annoying):p

If I live long enough perhaps I'll have to wait till I am of retirement age before I can volunteer without being affected:rotfl:

We seem a bit short of meeting places for "free fun"...I think the truth is more people for whatever the reason stay at home these days and don't mix.

When I have come home from the theatre in recent weeks, everywhere is dead. The restaurants/takeaways seem to be short of business and empty.

The fish and chip shop near here closes by 10pm and stays shut at weekends...the other TA's next to the F&C shop are open later but no one is about! The same in the larger towns and cities I was in for the theatre(I felt a little uneasy being the only one walking about)These places are well known -Durham and Darlington.

Last night I went to the SM at 9.30pm, as I returned home...all the houses here were in darkness or the bedroom lights were on(10.30pm)but as I usually have no reason to go out I don't know if this is a new thing due to the situation we're in or it's always been this way. And this may be the same across the country...

taplady

trifles wrote: »

Another thing I tried recently when my coffee machine died,was to measure out the ground coffee as before,put into a jug and add boiling water,stir and pour into a mug via a cheap 15p tea strainer.Have done this for weeks,got used to it and will use money saved up for new one on something else.
a great idea!:T

Using nets from oranges scrunched up together as a pan scourer I've done this and it works well! scrunched up old silver foil also works if you save up any leftover bits.

Dinner cheaply from home made soup at least x2 week-1 tin toms and 1 tin baked beans blitzed together with stock and herbs is one of my cheaper standbys and very quick. This is a soup I learned about from Slimming World:T


Burning cheap candles in front of fire grate keeps me feeling less chilly!Saves heating. Fab idea - I'm going to try this :T

Try to put money saved from commonsense scrimping like this weekly into treat jar for short term benefits eg going to cinema which keeps me from getting too disheartened at gloom and doom around us all.


All money saved goes in jar to pay for treats eg cinema visits-so I am seeing short-term benefits for scrimping.:T

some excellent tips here thankyou:T

bupster

Pops, I think you could maybe do a couple of hours a week and just not tell the !!!!!!s? In any case, the government seems quite keen to get people volunteering and certainly allows you to do some if you're on JSA - http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/Gettinginvolvedinyourcommunity/Volunteering/DG_064299

esmf73

Popperwell wrote: »

We seem a bit short of meeting places for "free fun"...I think the truth is more people for whatever the reason stay at home these days and don't mix.
The same in the larger towns and cities I was in for the theatre(I felt a little uneasy being the only one walking about)These places are well known -Durham and Darlington.

Last night I went to the SM at 9.30pm, as I returned home...all the houses here were in darkness or the bedroom lights were on(10.30pm)but as I usually have no reason to go out I don't know if this is a new thing due to the situation we're in or it's always been this way. And is this the same across the country...

Popperwell, am just south of Darlington, but know what you mean. Perhaps it's the run up to christmas, the cold weather or the fact that children have just started school, so the inevitable bugs are going around.

I don't mind too much though, specially if I can get round the SM quicker! Although I have to plan that as I have fat club on Tuesday's and beavers where I help oh.t on Wednesday's, the. There is all e children's clubs and my husband to negotIate around!

Popperwell

Thanks, I will consider your suggestion Bupster...certainly I will try and find some groups I can mix with socially.

I've said elsewhere(and this will be new to me)if I have to and am allowed because things get tough(and this will mean social contact)I may have to consider trying to get a lodger in, something else that may happen in the future. If I can choose carefully...if anyone wants to stay here and have me as a landlord/companion.

I will feel at my most uneasy probably when it is time to sleep. Would I have to get locks on the interior doors? It's not as if I will be walking into the lodger's room un-announced.

I read an article suggesting ideally you need to look for someone who works away from home and goes back at weekends so you get your home back when they are working or go back to their "Real" home so you still have some privacy but staying in someone's home is less expensdive than a hotel.

Again something to think about...

westcoastscot

I may be willing to do some volunteer work but whereas should you volunteer, if you are unwell you can go home or phone in and say I cannot make it today(I did VW for approx 20 years)

But as rules change and the DWP/Government get stricter, if I am not careful they may say if you can do that, you are fit. Then my help may be affected(of course that could change anyhow with changes coming in)so many unknowns...
................................................................
You can do this when you work also - many of us with chronic illness work, some through choice, some through necessity. If you feel you can volunteer then the dwp would be right, you could in theory work and should be proactive about looking for work rather than trying to avoid it

mummysaver

Don't forget car bootsales peeps: coffee makers and cafetieres are often on sale at the local ones, for a couple of pounds at most. Plus a lot of boot sales now have fruit and veg stalls, generally great value, particularly if you have a big family and need the vast quantities they sell things off in late in the day

Popperwell

westcoastscot wrote: »

I may be willing to do some volunteer work but whereas should you volunteer, if you are unwell you can go home or phone in and say I cannot make it today(I did VW for approx 20 years)

But as rules change and the DWP/Government get stricter, if I am not careful they may say if you can do that, you are fit. Then my help may be affected(of course that could change anyhow with changes coming in)so many unknowns...
................................................................
You can do this when you work also - many of us with chronic illness work, some through choice, some through necessity. If you feel you can volunteer then the dwp would be right, you could in theory work and should be proactive about looking for work rather than trying to avoid it

This is what can happen if you mention personal details about yourself this kind of comment is thrown up and then people get nasty.

I said that I could consider VW, I didn't say that I could do it...

I was heading for dialysis, possible transplant or no cure. Still could happen. My mobility is poor and I get easily tired. Every day is different. Things can change often during the day. If I have a shopping trip, I can be fatigued afterwards and have to lie down. I work around how I feel. I am on very strong medication.

I often cut trips short because it's a struggle that's why I mainly use taxis if I want to go anywhere.

These past few nights I have not slept because my legs were paining me and I could not get comfortable(and there's more but why should I have to justify myself)some symptoms that I have are even similar to ME and arthritis. And I fully appreciate some people do work when they have certain conditions.

If I go anywhere I have to think whether I am able.

Some posters get support on forums like this who say similar things to myself and others find themselves being criticised, not sure why that happens...oh well...

The original poster Bupster who suggested this idea was just being kind and thinking of a way to get me to socialise but do some good at the same time and my considering doing so was for the same reasons.

valk_scot

trifles wrote: »

Have been using the dried grounds to stuff pincushions,and also a small amount as a cellulite scrub in the shower:D
Using nets from oranges scrunched up together as a pan scourer

Good in the compost bin too and (reputedly) keeps the rats away. Also good for sprinkling round the base of plants to discourage snails and slugs. I don't drink coffee but Starbucks used to give away bags of used coffee grounds for composting if you asked nicely. I don't know if they still do, I used to get them when I went to meet up with a friend there but I've not been in since friend moved away. There's a new Costa in the high street though, I might go and ask there.

melanzana

[QUOTE=

Say hello, Good Morning to the Second person you meet every day. the first one is the one you love, so the second one is the one you puts a smile on!

Do not take my word for it, it could be an absolute codswallop of bull, but I nose, it works for me.[/QUOTE]


Love it!

A smile or good morning, or hello costs absolutely nothing. Don't you just love it when someone smiles at you in the supermarket and says, hey go ahead you only have a couple of things in the basket, it's fine.

Yay, I let people through all the time like that. What's the problem?

I think if people were friendly and not so anal, we could cope with all the stuff we Fear is Coming down the tracks. In the war, as my mam used to say, we all pulled together. Now it's each to their own, and not very pleasant. Much of the time IMV.

We all have the same needs at the end of the day.

So I always say hello to folk walking down my street. I pretend to like their dog, ha ha, and I love the way people are delighted to hear someone's voice, rather than a head down and no engagement.

Maybe it's the British reserve. I dunno, but try it, you will like it, both as giver and taker.