What would you find hard to give up in these times of austerity?

7_week_wonder

Thanks for eveyone's interesting posts. Thinking about it - I would probably miss dairy, and more specifically milk, most. Yes I like tea, but there is nothing as lovely as a glass of cold, fresh milk. I've tried UHT and powdered and they are ok for cooking, but no substitute for the real thing.

Non-food it would have to be the internet: I go stir-crazy without it!

I am fortunate that I have managed to save a rainy day fund. And just last week I used a one-off money bonus to do a mega-order from my local food co-op. I now have about a year's supply of flours, oats, seeds etc. I'm hoping that will help come the New Year.

[Deleted User]

This is quite a tricky question. The luxury for me would be chocolate but that wouldn`t be essential

I think the essential would be good quality knitting wool, so that I can be busy enough to take my mind off chocolate

In all honesty I have lots of things I couldn`t do without: organic flour, good butter, sugar and salt so I can make wine, sweets and all sorts of preserves. Oh and almonds so I can make nut milk

I am another of those who has a rainy day safety net but it has taken a whole lifetime to build up and tbh it is there for our 3 adult children as well as us, no-one knows what is around the corner and they haven`t had a chance to build, what with having young families

Butterfly_Brain

JackieO wrote: »

Well we all seem to be fond of either our tea or coffee I did smile at the contraception post though:)
Strangely enough no one mentioned heating which I thought of this morning.heating in my house is a major expence as it has to be at a cartain temp. to keep me mobile but if push come to shove I guess I'd just layer up a bit (I do anyway)It must be difficult when you can only eat a specific food as well My niece's little girl has a very allergic reaction to so many foods that her Mum finds it very hard to buy her specific food at times as she is a single widowed Mum
When does the point come when you have to make these sorts of decisions I wonder. I am fortunate that at the moment I can afford my odd luxury but if the country is sliding further into the mire where will we be in a years time.I think I may have to stockpile a few packets if I can, as they are vacuum sealed they should stay fresh until the seal is broken.Is anyone stockpiling stuff at the moment .I heard that flour will increase after Christmas which in turn will push up the price of a lot of things across the board bread apparently rising by 10p a loaf My DD has a large family and they use around a loaf and a half a day with packed lunches etc.
I wonder if when we recover from the recession whether folk will have learned much from it with regard to having a something behind them to cushion hard times.I myself have always had a bit of 'rainy day' money that tucked away for emergencies.So far its not been touched hopefully the clouds will dissapear before I have to dig into it.Anyone else have a rainy day fund at all ?

Flour has already started to rise Asda and Tesco have put their basic brand up to 60p, but it is still only 52p in Aldi, their bread flour is only 60p a bag as well and it is quite good.
This will also affect the price of Pasta, fresh baked and frozen cakes, puddings and bread, custard, batter mix, frozen yorkshire puddings, coated fish, pies etc,

We have enough for bills and mortgage for three months and I am
trying to pay off the mortgage as soon as I can.
We also have our larder and freezer filled to the top. I didn't think of the car, but I would miss it because of me being disabled, yes I have a mobility scooter, but that is an 8 hour charge and it wouldn't carry a weekly shop

Dreamer80

Hi,

What would you consider to be a rainy day fund? Enough to cover 3 months outgoings? 6 months? Or more?

We have some savings, currently saving towards a house deposit but they could be used in desperate times. I do worry that when we buy a house we will be starting again with a savings pot of £0!

D80

chirp

Tea and my computer. Tea has become an addicted habit. And I feel lost and dis-connected without all the info (news, emails etc) I get from the computer.

Going4TheDream

JackieO wrote: »

I wonder if when we recover from the recession whether folk will have learned much from it with regard to having a something behind them to cushion hard times.I myself have always had a bit of 'rainy day' money that tucked away for emergencies.So far its not been touched hopefully the clouds will dissapear before I have to dig into it.Anyone else have a rainy day fund at all ?

I have one, like you I hope that I don't need to use it, but it does give me a sense of security knowing its there and takes the pressure off of worrying if something suddenly needs repairing or replacing that hasnt been budgeted for.

5 years ago I would just have wacked it on my credit card without a 2nd thought.... how times change!

babyshoes

We've got some of our 'rainy day' fund left, but had to dig into it a bit when OH was unexpectedly out of work for several months earlier this year - the day after we'd put in an offer on a house! It is nominally our house deposit savings - the bulk is intact but the 'legal fees' fund is pretty much decimated. Her current contract is only 3 months, with a fairly good possibility of being extended so we are still being careful with money just in case it isn't. I'm hoping that we can find stability again in the next year or so and start looking for a house after that.

I don't know how well we would have coped if we didn't have that cushion - a two-thirds drop in household income is pretty tough! My salary would just cover the rent and regular outgoings, but leave very little left for things like food and unexpected bills like vets, cars etc.

In terms of giving things up, I was thinking again about this thread and realised that what I said earlier about tea and chocolate is only part of the bigger picture. What I'd really, really struggle without is sugar, in all it's wonderful forms. I could do without some of them if necessary, but not having any would be a real struggle for me. I reckon I am actually addicted to it, which would explain why I find it so hard to lose weight!

Teg-Rem

I really miss a joint of beef or lamb, I miss decent tea and coffee, decent bread aswell, basics on all of these things just isn;t the same, and chicken bits and pork chops for Sunday dinner don't quite cut it, but at least we eat, but the thing I will never, ever give up is a bottle of wine at the weekend, it just makes all the rest a bit more worthwhile somehow.

simmed

JackieO wrote: »

Yesterday on the wireless someone was talking about what they would find really hard to give up due to the austerity measures that are hitting us all foodwise.The sort of thing that brings you pleasure when you eat or drink it and you really would feel miserable if you just couldn't afford it anymore ?

I had a think and decided that if I could no longer afford to buy my favourite ground coffee I would feel pretty fed up about it. It's my luxury which I know I could do without, but feel I enjoy so much.
What are yours chums ? Chocolates,booze,
cigarettes ??? or even men

Sadly we have already given up heating (can't afford it). We live in Scotland so it gets coldddddd.

VJsmum

I was thinking about this and my first instinct was decent coffee or a cup of coffee out but I could do without if I had to. Heating definitely would be a problem for me.

I think my biggest loss would be choice - having the choice to have nice coffee or a bottle of wine.