'supporting each other through really tough times'

missrlr

fuddle having done a lot of alpine driving
Check your tyres and pressures weekly
Look to invest in snow sox or chains if you are likely to get stuck, but preferable to avoid that one!
Pretend you have an egg under the peddles, don't crush it!
Practice will help
Breathe when driving to lower heart rate and adrenalin effect
Consider winter tyres on car from Oct to March makes a difference even in the UK!

GreyQueen

Morning all.

Thanks for the info, Prudence, it's very interesting to see what things cost in other parts of the world. We're stuck in a grim situation in Blighty right now with wages static for several years, or falling as hours/ wages are cut. A couple million people in the workforce are part-time because they can't get full-time hours. Means it's getting harder and harder to fund the basics.

Fuddle, congrats on the family help to buy a car. Re driving on ice and snow, I have to say that I find that easier than driving in freezing fog which has to top the scale for me in personal horrors.

Treat the whole car very gently, as someone else said. You don't want to do sudden breaking or acceleration, or steer dramatically. I've driven on snowpack in two different vehicles, on the same roads, in the same day. The front-wheel drive was fine and the rear-wheel drive one tried to fishtail on me coming off a junction in very slow-mo. It felt decidely precarious, so I prefer front drive every time.

Another trick taught to me by a Scotsman from a remote and hilly area is if you're trying to move up a slope and not getting any traction, put the car in 2nd gear and ride the clutch. Not normally to be recommended, of course, but it can give you bite when you can't pull away in 1st gear. HTH.

Softstuff, I have orthotics in both shoes due to developing shin splints which became agonising; I have commonplace foot probs which are easily-corrected. They really do help. Got mine via a GP referral to an bio-mechanics clinic. NHS of course, don't know how such things are organised in Oz. Before I had them, I had some improvement with off-the-peg ones from Boots. Brand name Orthoheel.

:)Suppose I ought to get up and dressed. But it is Sunday.

Oh, and happy news, weight dropped back from 16 stone (:o) on Jan 2nd to 15' 9" today. Still a long way to go but it's heading in the right direction.

mardatha

Had a day out in Edinburgh yesterday, was not too cold up there but when I came home here it was minus 4 and the cars were lumps of ice. Snowing lightly now on deep frozen ground.

savingqueen

fuddle - if its any consolation at all - I am absolutely terrified of driving in snow/ice and also drive 2 miles to school. I got caught in a snow blizzard (just me and the kids) on M11 a couple of years ago and it took me several hours to turn back and get home. It was seriously scary. If I can handle that, I know I can handle 2 miles and if I can - you can. As long as we are sensible, we will be fine.

Can't add much to excellent advice already given - make sure you have breakdown cover or nos of several breakdown cos and a charged up, in-credit mobile on you. Most other cars will be driving more slowly and carefully (not saying you should assume that they are and be complacent) and generally I find people to be patient and help others if for example a car needs pushing etc. Just stay calm - using breathing techniques etc and that will help as you will be more control of the car and the whole situation.

I find the main roads are usually gritted - I have to use a dual carriageway and a few roundabouts but the side are the worse. In severe conditions, I park the car a couple of streets away as our road is very narrow and bendy and I can't always get back up the drive. Again near the school there is a pub car park which is usually ok to park (don't care in those circumstances) and we walk the rest of the way as parking near school is difficult when icy. Check out alternative routes even if longer and alternative parking near home and school to give you more options.

gotta go and hang laundry (as usual)
sq:)

kezlou

fuddle Back in 2010 we were stuck in a drift for over 4 hours just outside of guisborough. Which is about 20 mins drive from us.

1) a small spade, wish we had had one that day. We used it a few times after that.
2)put something in that you can use for traction like some cardboard, carpet
3) some snacks like chocolate, crisps
4)torch and some fleece blankets

Now we've got the van, theres no way me and the boys could push that thing out of a drift. So OH will simply have to avoif drifts off any kind.

Now this is going offend but to be honest i'm not fussed.
Watch out for !!!!!! driving large 4 x4 , they really don't give a damn. So many times i've seem them driving people off the roads like i'm big your little. The night we were stuck in a drift two of the tw!ts forced us off the road and into another drift. These people did the same thing to us in another drift about 6 metres off the road. Didn't and try help us naff all and they knew we had two young children in the car. sorry its rant i know.


I think you should be okay road wise as the roads where we are tend to be gritted quite well. So i think you should be okay.

Jazee

Hello everyone, always lurking, occasionally posting...re driving in snowy conditions: NEVER overtake a gritting lorry! A friend of mine did this and doh realised too late that the road in front was icy and ended up with crashed car and broken leg.

kezlou

softstuff - take a rest hun, your doing really well. I spoke to my partner and said the same thing. He said just do a brisk walk or a jog. Then have a run a week later.

stiltwalker: hope your feeling better soon. Great news for your daughter, i'm so pleased for her, its great when someones see the lovely and intelligent person they are! ouch with the boots with four feet flying!


mar - oh you lucky thing, still no snow here, just ice:(.

kate - i'd have love to the managers face when your dd told muwhahha

uni- if only he'd said earlier, men. at least he's getting some treatment now.

Well OH is out caving for the day, he didn't want to go but i said no your going you need a break. The lads are upstairs playing on minecraft, arguing over what to build and spiders lol. I still don't get the game.

plans for today no idea, made some bread and just see what happens.

[Deleted User]

Morning all, having a thrifty morning and cooking ahead for most of the week to use the oven while it's on for everything. Inspired by GQ re-heating over a Bain Marie and if it works for FB Pies than it'll work for anything else is the theory. Have made 2 x Cauliflower cheeses to feed us both as I had a nice big cauliflower in the fridge, a main dish of Macaroni Cheese with some steamed Broccoli underneath as it needed using up, A prune wartime crumble as I had some cooked prunes left from breakfasts last week, some cheesy parsnips to use up some from the lottie, I think this may go over some of my stewed steak as a shepherds pie,and am steaming a wartime Date and Chocolate pudding which will give 6 good helpings with some custard. I will be making carrot soup this afternoon as we have harvested the last of the polytunnel carrots this morning. I am feeling well off as I had all the ingredients in already so this has been a really frugal week for shopping.

We have a beautiful dry and sunny day today, what a difference to yesterdays cold wet and windy weather. I hope you are all having a lovely Sunday and keeping nice and warm and dry. Take care all, Cheers Lyn xxx.

Own_My_Own

I am going to ring the doctors tomorrow and make an appointment.

I heard a lady on TV today say something that really rang a bell with me.
She said ' The more you save, you more you want to save.'

I think this is my problem. The price of food is worrying me because it eats into what I can save. As does the petrol I use.

I seem to be getting more like my Granddad every day. He was bought up in Barnardos in the 30's and every little thing you had was precious.
When he used to give us our 50p pocket money he always said
' Save some, you may not see me next week and your'll have nothing.'
My sister ignored him as she knew we would see him next week, but I always put 10p away.

I save for everything. I have 4 bank accounts and 3 tins at home.
Car (tax ,mot, ins, repairs), holiday, birthdays, Christmas, clothing, home (breakdown of white goods), and whshtf.

I save everything under 5p and all my 20p coins. I also save £2 coins.

Maybe I am becoming addicted to putting money away.


Who knows.

Popperwell

Softstuff wrote: »

Pops, the prices probably balance out somewhat according to other local economics, but they still feel darned expensive. To give you an idea on my perspective, I have now $125 a week housekeeping. That covers medication (which accounts at present for an average of $25 a week, thanks to some of the prices coming down), cleaning supplies, household disposables, toiletries, food, entertainment, gifts and clothing. Though I now make everything from mayo to pancake syrup from scratch, it isn't easy.

GreyQueen wrote: »

Morning all.

Thanks for the info, Prudence, it's very interesting to see what things cost in other parts of the world. We're stuck in a grim situation in Blighty right now with wages static for several years, or falling as hours/ wages are cut. A couple million people in the workforce are part-time because they can't get full-time hours. Means it's getting harder and harder to fund the basics.

:)Suppose I ought to get up and dressed. But it is Sunday.

Oh, and happy news, weight dropped back from 16 stone (:o) on Jan 2nd to 15' 9" today. Still a long way to go but it's heading in the right direction.

Quite pleasant in my part of the county, didn't seem too cold, no ice, sun shining but from what others here are saying suggesting the white stuff is coming(Mixed feelings on that)I don't mind the snow as such its when it turns to slush and refreezes or sometimes it is removed so that the wet footpaths freeze and if you should fall the re isn't any soft snow to cushion you.

Then again I can stay indoors(plenty of food etc...)and as long as there is power I can have hot water bottles to keep warm, snuggle under the duvet and have hot drinks)even a hot meal.

But there is plenty of cold food and drink too. That saves cooking.

Coinciding with SoftStuff and GQ talk of cost of food etc...I know this will annoy some(sorry)but if/when I come into Mum's savings I will actually be worse off but only for a short time because even if careful I will be spending more...now putting that aside, for now I do try to be thrifty regarding my food bill but I am quite good at eating less, smaller portions, looking for offers and reduced items.

But when the BT is introduced other things will have to be rationed and food could be the likely part of my budget that will have to be reduced still further.

Now today I spent £14 and I wasn't happy and thought you can't keep spending that kind of money...and as I said another time I thought "What have you got for your money?"

Then you sit down and think...it is a lot when you see it spent on one shop and all you have is 18 items.

Then if you break it down still further and I may be able to make what I have last two-three weeks and suddenly we're averaging it out at approx £1 or less each day...

I have 4 Weightwtachers yoghurts(BOGOF)so that is 8 for £1.50, 4 Weightwatchers Fromage Frais(BOGOF)so again 8 for £1.50(so spent £3, saved £3)

Bag of caluliflower and broccoli£1.25(Couldn't manage a full head of either)

Seasonal salad 49p(Usually 99p)

Lemonade 17p

4 pints of Semi Skimmed milk £1

Oaties 49p(Like McVities Hobnobs)

Button Mushrooms 49p
Butter Nut Squash 49p
Bag of Red Onions 49p

12 wholemeal Buns 98p

Orange Juice 74p

*Stilton Cheese(First time I have bought any)55p(worth £2)
*Small cheesecake 49p(worth 99p)
*Small Jam Roly Poly 49p(worth 99p)

*Lamb Rump £1.21(worth £2.80)
*3 Vennison Steaks £1.79(worth £3)

*Fresh Fruit Salad 99p(worth £2)

Have I spent too much? Can I stretch that out? Is it too much for a single person? That is coming in at around £7-£10 a week.

I guess working with my food store and rationing as I do I could actually avoid buying food for quite some time...

Like GQ my weight has been quite constant but as I have been eating more these past few days I may put a few pounds back on but of course that depends if you are eating items higher in calories or items that are lower as vegetables are...

But I have already had a bowl of cereal, fruit and milk so that is approx 200 calories...

Mum and my Gran used to say I was a good little shopper and I was quite good but of course there was more money then, now that has dropped a lot so I am having to be even more so and accept there are times items I used to buy are a rare treat or not to be bought at all.

*Yellow Stickered