'supporting each other through really tough times'

Prudence

Quick note: Fray Bentos Steak n Kidney pie (425g) priced at $5.99 each yesterday. About $14/kg. I'll leave you all to do your own recalibrating of currency and weight

Popperwell

Prudence,
That seems to make the FB pie around £3.92 here if they charged the same price at present. A large supermarket is selling them at £2.19($3.34) each and £3($4.58)for two. These are for both 475g and 425g tins, no difference in the price.

Popperwell

mcculloch29 wrote: »

Pops, not that I wish to nag, but we had this conversation a few weeks ago - please do apply for your bus pass if you are on Higher Rate Mobility! It was the very first thing I did when my DLA award letter arrived.

I can fully understand why, Pops, you want to stay put, your house is ideally situated and there is almost zero likelihood of your getting something similar but smaller.
Some of the areas locally (that you would probably be moved to) are areas nobody would actively choose to live in. It's all about quality of life.

If all goes well with the change from one benefit to the other and money does not stop I'll look into it ASAP awaiting the phonecall/letter on the mat hoping for good news...don't see your advice as nagging. I did get support from my Dr which I hope will help too. Waiting for that letter can be a worry.

And of course what you say about moving is true. Thanks.

monnagran wrote: »

Pops: I know you are worried but at least you have the comfort that you will not suddenly find yourself without a roof over your head. You will not starve. You will not freeze to death. You have someone you can let off steam to, (that's us!) and worry is like sitting in a rocking chair, it passes the time but gets you nowhere. I know you fear having to move and how you'll cope, but I promise you, we human beings are much more adaptable than we realise. You will be all right. Honestly.

What you say is true and I am sure that it will work out in the end...its still early days after all, having support does help and a lot of what is said makes sense. Thanks. As you say I won't starve or freeze even if it is a basic life and you can survive on very little. And keeping a roof over my head is a big weight removed. Its not ideal but at least layered clothes, duvets, fleeces, hot water bottles, hot drinks and hats, gloves, scarves, socks and thermals all help.

I was going to pop into the discount supermarket yesterday and buy two thermal t-shirts suitable for wearing over clothes whereas all my other thermals are for wearing under clothes. And see if anything had been reduced in the other supermarket hoping to hit lucky but the weather was not very nice and I fell asleep.

Then I could not be bothered. I cannot say that I had a troubled day or was depressed, I slept well and peacefully so that means more to me...it must have been what my body and mind needed. I'll make more of an effort today...

I planned to have more food too so started with a double portion of porridge with apple and raisins(I added some blackcurrant pieces too)and semi skimmed milk.

But did not get around to the chicken casserole and dumpling ready meal so will today and add some extra veg. And may have some cereal and toast for breakfast too possibly some fruit juice and a mug of coffee. So I am trying.

Popperwell

ginnyknit wrote: »

pops we use £900 per year, all electric to heat and function in a 3 bed house. think you may be going wrong somewhere.

It will be interesting to see how it all works out.

ginnyknit wrote: »

Ds has his heater on and uses tv and laptop but is careful. Cannot see the point in freezing when OH is poorly. I cook a proper meal every day though I do batch cook and use sc and halogen a lot. Obviously we dont know your circumstances, you may have debts like us

No debts thankfully. My bills are food, water rates, telephone, tv licence, internet and for the gas/electric. Looking to bring the phone/internet down and may stop the TV licence next year.

ginnyknit wrote: »

I was given the option of moving but there are no 1 bed flats and as we have seperate rooms it wouldnt work anyway. the rent officer said it would be unfair to expect us to move as it would be cruel to move hubby after 34 years when we are so organised here and obviously the move would be detramental to his health.

Much the same here Ginny. So from April the BT will have to be added to the outgoings.

MuffinMan7 I think quite a few of us are doing what you suggest to keep warm going by many threads in the OS area of MSE. Especially layered clothing, thermals and duvets/fleece blankets and looking for reduced food in the supermarket.

fuddle wrote: »

the TV chef genre has a lot to answer for. So many recipes are out there, recipes that suggest we need to use umpteen ingredients that costalot or need to be sourced from overseas. We have more chefs showing us how to produce fancy meals on TV than basic home cooking.

I think that the people in restaurants, cafes, takeaways are the people who still have a bit spare money. I would argue that with food bank stats people who really are struggling dont eat out.

That is how I see it pretty well. Lately, I have seen more of my town and a couple of neighbouring towns and as I have said they are not as vibrant as they once were. It could be for a variety of reasons, I think money first and then if you need to use a public transport as Fuddle suggests it isn't cheap and often the service leaves much to be desired. I said on another post how empty some takeaways seem to be around here as I pass and if many are delivering that could be the reason.

But cafes and restuarants don't seem as busy...pubs too for that matter, I have gone past quite a few and found some closed by 10pm. In the same town I saw another pub with three people inside and a resturant with two couples. So unless they were busy earlier in the night it must be costing the profits to keep the place warm, pay staff and the lights on.

fuddle wrote: »

I hope you all don't think that I'm turning back into spend thrift, easy come etc because that is what it feels like but I can see it's a means to an end at worst and a tool to really move on up both personally and financially. How is the jobs market these days? I hope my experience and personality sees me well x

Even those who work or try to improve their situation, many still have to be frugal and remain OS in their outlook. If it allows a little more for spending that's a bonus. It is awful that many who work see little or no improvement financially and still need to have their wages "Topped Up" in some way. And when the politicians talk of those who claim, most are in low paid jobs. Only 3% of welfare goes on unemployment.

So it is not betraying the principle of being an OS'er if you are trying to improve your life.

Softstuff

I'm sorry but I haven't done more than skim the past couple of pages of posts, so am aware of a bit, but still dopey. I'm due my injection today, but hadn't factored in that with additional exercise I should have had it sooner.... so by last night I felt like a tired toddler ready for a tantrum and I slept over 13 hours straight! I've done very little today apart from the injection and have had to postpone jogging from today to tomorrow (I'll still get the three sessions in within 7 days, so I'm not wussing out!).

So I'll just give a comprehensive love and hugs to all who need it and catch up when my body does.
xx

jem132

Hi I use £20 a week elc and the same gas I don't think that's too bad as there is 4 of us. I could probably economical be more if I tried harder so at least I know I can probably save somewhere. X

I do things like put the tumble dryer on to warm the kitchen and warm kids clothes for our 2 mile walk to school every day. X

Leave the light on for the dog.

GreyQueen

Prudence wrote: »

Quick note: Fray Bentos Steak n Kidney pie (425g) priced at $5.99 each yesterday. About $14/kg. I'll leave you all to do your own recalibrating of currency and weight

:eek: Good grief!

I never pay more than £1 for an FB pie, those 425g ones in the flat tins. If the tins we priced at the GBP equivalent that would be £3.92 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How much does fresh steak cost per kilo, by any chance?

Popperwell

Your price seems better than the offer I found at Tesco's GQ.

Fresh diced steak at Tesco's varies in price but it seems to start at £7KG and then increases depending on how much you buy. I would assume Fray Bentos have their own suppliers and that keeps the prices down.

Perhaps they cost more in Australia because of importing etc...and possibly the exchange rate?

quintwins

GreyQueen wrote: »

:eek: Good grief!

I never pay more than £1 for an FB pie, those 425g ones in the flat tins. If the tins we priced at the GBP equivalent that would be £3.92 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How much does fresh steak cost per kilo, by any chance?

I was just thinking that, we don't have those pies anymore, it used to be my back up meal because i love the pastry on them now now we would need 2 maybe even 3 for us, my back up meal has switched to pasta.

I pay £60 a month or slightly less electric and i only pay for what i use. Heating well we have heating oil, when i moved here i assumed 900litres (£550) would last us a year as it lasted us a good 10months in the old house and heres smaller, sadly the boiler is old and we have a tin roof so we ran out a few days ago, i rung around for qoutes and managed to get a fill for £525, that works out about £50 a month (won't use it in summer at all so divided by 10 saying that i'll obviously use more at xmas ect than in say april) we also have a wee pot belly stove we spend about £30 a month on coal and logs, i've been really lazy and not lighting it lately so theres no wonder we ran out of oil

GreyQueen

Popperwell wrote: »

Your price seems better than the offer I found at Tesco's GQ.

Fresh diced steak at Tesco's varies in price but it seems to start at £7KG and then increases depending on how much you buy. I would assume Fray Bentos have their own suppliers and that keeps the prices down.

Perhaps they cost more in Australia because of importing etc...and possibly the exchange rate?

I buy mine at Iceland and £land, Pops. You can pretty much always find them at a £1 and if I can't, I hold on until I do. The joys of storecupboarding means I can ride out price blips. I've occasionally seen them of offer in Liddly for 99p.

It's simple and hearty fare and as each one does me two meals, with veggies, it's a good arrangement for me.

Plus they stack!