what more cutbacks can you make to combat increasing gov cuts and price increases !!

sjprmc01

Seeking happiness : if you Re getting the painkillers on prescription have you checked its not something you can buy over the counter any cheaper?

And if its not, have you thought about pre-pay prescription charges? I believe this makes it cheaper!

seeking_happines

yep going to sort out a repet when i go next....at least some forms of the pill are free
how are all the cut backs afecting evryone else ? how are folk coping...or not

[Deleted User]

good Idea my DD has to take regular prescription stuff and she buys a 'passport type thing and it means whatever she has to get is covered more or less with her pre-pay ticket.Outlay is a bit steep at first but it has paid for itself especially if she needs something outside her regular prescription

good_advice

Some good idea's so far and good attitude. It is some times hard to put a brave face and a smile on your face.

There are lots of people who like me are not on benefits but also have no job. I got made redundant from my small job. Even with that few hours a weekend I was always being told what a nuisance it was by family (needed lift to next town). Cost of petrol.

It can be very emotional watching others spend and telling you about there holiday abroad. Then I also consider how much is put on a loan? Credit card...

There is plenty of things to do around the house without going near the shops. I am now coming to the end of having a decluttering the home session. I began in February with the flylady project of the month. Donated, given away things to adult DD that I no longer need. CS and neighbours have also done well. Found items I can now put to use.
The house was not hugely cluttered to start with, there is just more space now. Easy to clean and looks better - visitor friendly.

One habit I can recommend is unplugging. Must have saves £'s. When people go out I can tell by looking at my "OWL" monitor if it is to high.

FairyPrincessk

I think some of our "cutbacks" are more of "plan not to spend" For ex, OH has just been offered a job for next year after completing his course. While normally we might consider moving into a nicer property, buying a car or something we're actually actively planning NOT to do these things. We will be moving, but to somewhere within walking distance of the job as he'll no longer be eligible for a student bus pass. We'll also be looking to offset any increase in rent by a more efficient household. Although we are planning a few splurges, they'll be saved for out of money budgeted for something else that didn't get spent (i.e. if we're under the grocery budget or our energy bills are lower than expected we'll add that to the pot for one of the much coveted kitchen items on our list). Of course, the things we are looking to buy are also aimed at saving us money in the long run--kitchen items vs. meals out etc.

It is disheartening to think that we've worked on degrees for so long and will be no better off, and in some ways worse off when we finish, but I try to stay positive and remember that this is about the long term. We aren't on benefits (and as an immigrant I'm not entitled to them anyway) but the recession has certainly hit us in terms of inflation, cuts to local services like our leisure centre which is still standing but only after protests, and of course energy hikes.

FairyPrincessk

Just wanted to say--I second the unplugging...and the un-reading as well. And not going into town just to "look" at the shops. If I don't know it is there then I don't need to want it! It is to the point now that when I looked through the newspaper glossies last time I realized they were just lists of things I was supposed to buy, most of them pointless, overpriced and disposable in the long run.

good_advice

I am beginning to think there is far to many shopping channels on freeview. All wanting and tempting us to spend.
I like watching the quilting show on create and craft on Sundays BUT the x4 acrylic templates I would have liked with some freebies supposed to be thrown in the deal came to nearly £60 and £2.99 p&p. Way out of what I would be willing to spend.

Florenceem

good_advice wrote: »

I am beginning to think there is far to many shopping channels on freeview. All wanting and tempting us to spend.
I like watching the quilting show on create and craft on Sundays BUT the x4 acrylic templates I would have liked with some freebies supposed to be thrown in the deal came to nearly £60 and £2.99 p&p. Way out of what I would be willing to spend.

I am not tempted by shopping channels at all - no TV. I have been without a TV since June 2012 after having one in the house for 50 years. I don't miss it!

Hillbilly1

Interesting point by OP about using the short cycle on the WM. We have a 30 degree 15 min cycle. Do you think this will radically alter how clean our clothes are if we use it al the time?

We both work in offices and travel by car, so minimal dirt on clothes!

troll35

I see that some of the posters here feel bad about depriving their kids of things like days out.
Over the years I have become an 'expert' at free and very low cost days out and activities with my kids. Really what our kids want is to have us parents spend time and energy with them, rather than spend money on them. This is particularly true for younger kids. Examples of cheap outings-
Picnics are perfect!!
- to the park (take balls, bikes, mini cricket etc, do a treasure hunt for leaves, flowers, squirrels etc, take a camera and let the kids loose with it taking photos of things that interest them). Visit different parks if you can.
- to a river or stream. On a hot day (if we get any) this can't be beaten! Take towels, water pistols, buckets and spades. Look for tadpoles and other water creatures, take some string and get the kids to make fishing rods (they will stand in water for ages attempting to catch a fish and don't seem to care about success or failure in this respect)
-check out your local council website. Many have guides to local low cost activities, details about museums and art galleries and other places of local interest. Many have special activity days in the holidays that are free.
- Art galleries may sound boring but kids love it if you take some art materials with you (pens, paper, glue-sticks and other crafty stuff) so they can make their own versions of what they see. Again there will often be organised activities in the holidays/weekends.
-go to some woods, play hide and seek, build a den from branches. If you can find a safe place make a camp fire. Make art from sticks and leaves etc.
There are lots of ideas here
-If it's raining put your wellies on and go and splash in puddles. Kids love it when grown ups do this (find your inner child lol).
Can't think of any more off the top of my head but I am sure there are lots more.