The OS Doorstep - a helpful and supportive thread in these tough times

PRINCESSX87

Monnagran. What a lovely story. Its amazing how children see everything so differently than adults.

Kidcat, Sorry your having such a tough time of late. Best wishes for you & your family x

I have been awol for the past few days because I am trying to get as much Christmas stuff done. On top of that, general house work, paper work, organising when it just isn’t happening.

Already have tonight’s diner done and in the slow cooker for a long and slow 8 hours!
Cooking Spanish chicken & egg fried rice, Who knows whether it goes, But the idea for me sounds lovely.

Managed to get my photo book done and its been dispatched. My mum loves photos therefore having a whole album of her first grand child seemed to fit the bill. Just hoping now when it arrives it looks as promising as it did when it showed online.

We’ve also been glued here with the Amazon black Friday deals. We’re all crossed here that some of the items we “NEED” come up & heavily discounted. This is our first Christmas we are watching the pennies rather than taking the attitude, Just get it on credit!

All this hard work is paying off in all fields of our lives too. For example, I’m due a mobile upgrade. My phone is on its last legs, I’ve kept my eye on one phone since its release, But because its still too expensive, My brain isn’t allowing me to give in. I know, Right at this moment in time, We can afford it, But, What happens if anything changes say in a month, Can I afford it then?
I like this new sensible me! I think it suits….Do I think we’re missing out? NO!

Hugs to everyone who wants one. Hang in there toughies! We are all here for a rant & rave! x

alfsmum

Princess well done on resisting the phone deal, I have three contracts ending in January - mine and both DDs - and there will be no upgrade to new phones and more contracts. Instead will be looking out the best sim only deal that I can cancel at a moments notice if needed.

KIDCAT, Gailey hang on in there. Life seems unfair at times. We see people who don't work any harder than we do but seem to have so much more. Note the SEEM, material things come and go but spending time with your little ones is worth so much more.

Sheila hope you get plenty of rest this week and feel a little better

MONNAGRAN good luck with the cushion making, have fun!

Have Dd16 home poorly today, she's been under the weather for a few weeks, tummy pains, nausea, generally feeling rotten. GP has ordered blood test for her so have that tomorrow. Wonder if she is intolerant to something or maybe IBS? Keeping her off college for a couple of days to rest, hope we get something sorted soon for her.


Very cold here today, dd19 had to scrape inside of her old car before heading off to Uni. Have to take reluctant cat to vet later for another blood test (thyroid) and one of the Labs has an ear infection not a well household at the moment. Still, going to clear the Christmas tree corner today and bring things down from the attic at the weekend to cheer us all up. Might get a jigsaw puzzle on the go too, bought half a dozen mostly Christmassy ones from the CS last week. Think we cleaned out their window display :rotfl:

nuttyp

Hi everyone, well I just wanted to add to my girls up bringing. When our house was repossessed they were told we were really lucky to be moving to the country, it was an aweful house and the council then it was that or nothing. It took ages to clean let a lone decorate.

We use to take the kids to the seaside for the day as a treat, no holidays, we took a picnic and then they got 50p in 2ps. We bought a bag a chips and made chip butties on the sea front with the bread and butter I took from home. Ice creams we always bought a box as it was cheaper than buying individually.

Christmas, that was hard as OH family bough lots of toys. Ours got a couple each. And they were often secondhand. I remember youngest wanting dash around doodles game, I couldn't afford to get it. She cried as her friend got it and she didn't. It didn't last long.

Yesterday mum, me and both DD had a day out to a shopping centre. It was nice but lots of people where staring at DD. Someone in a shop asked if she was ok, needless to say nan stepped in and said she had an operation last week. Nan treated us to a pub lunch - 2.99 each. I got my neice and nephews pj's for xmas. Saw a lovely top in the Dorothy perkins concession in BHS. It was £22, and satin. I didn't buy it but my mum did, bless her as a treat for me as I take her anywhere she needs to go. But that's what you do for mums!!

It amazed me what people where spending, so gailey I appreciate how you feel. Im sure when your littlies grow up they will remember more the walks in the leaves, the time you helped colour and paint with them. They aren't missing out on a new car, after all the chances are the people who have 2 of them have them on HP or lease hire, and every month that needs paying to keep up the appearance of wealth. Chances are they are knee deep in debt, and only paying the service charges to keep the debt at bay. I know as in the past we were in a situation where all we could do was just manage the minimum repayment.

As long as you have a home, some food in your belly and in the cupboards and love you have a happy home. If you have nice warm comfy clothes and shoes that have no holes you are safe too. The label/make wont help keep you warm, and a cheap set of gloves will keep you as warm as a pair that costs ££.

Thing im saying is, we all like things but they are all irrelevant when you have littlies. It will get easier, hopefully tax credits will be sorted for you and they can back pay you too.

Well must get dressed!!! I have a short shift at work tonight, OH will be home with DD just in case. There was some blood on the dressing again this morning so need to keep an eye on her.

Take care x

PRINCESSX87

Very jealous of the amount of bargains you all seem to find / get at your CS. Our local one is very expensive on everything.
Maybe I need to check out ones further a field. Gailey gave me a huge list last week as we have discovered we’re local to one another. So maybe I’ll have a check in some of those.

Pooky

Morning all

Beautiful crisp, cold, blue skies - lovely, just my sort of weather.

Gailey - I don't drive so have had to walk everywhere with DDs, I'm still here to tell the tale. It is horrible in the cold and wet but a decent buggy for little ones, blanket and rain cover will keep them snug. As soon as we got in it was a quick dash to strip off the cold clothes, put some snuggly jimjams on and a warm drink for everyone. My DDs still do this now at 15/17, in from school/college/work, strip off as they walk up the stairs and they reappear in onsies and fluffy socks. It's such a comforting thing.

There was a year that DD1 wanted a particular game for Christmas but I'd already spent what I could afford on 2nd hand stuff (mainly from bootfairs), when she'd finished opening her presents she burst into tears and said shed not got the only thing she wanted in the world, we had a half hour strop before she realised it wasn't going to get her anywhere, boxing day came and Inlaws arrived with gifts including said game, she played it all of 3 times before it got shoved in a cupboard.

I think I've been lucky that I don't envy others, I wear what's comfy, not what's "in", I don't do the "hair and make up" thing, I slap a dye on once every few months (what ever is on offer) and get it cut when I look like a mop. I can't abide the trends in decorating every year with having to have everything to match....my home is a mix of second hand and new but with lots of homemade.

We've got a beautiful home that's comfy and cosy, 2 wonderful daughters that are kind and caring (and a pain in the backside like teenagers can be) and a lot of love and time for each other. The larder is full, the fridge is too, the bank account is empty but I've got all I need.

I've also got jelly babies

mardatha

"I've also got jelly babies "

*moves closer to Pooky*
Apart from anything else, I would say it's not a good idea to give children everything they want anyway. Cos when they grow up they continue to believe that it's their right to have it - that leads to debt or divorce lol

gailey_2

PRINCESSX87 wrote: »

Very jealous of the amount of bargains you all seem to find / get at your CS. Our local one is very expensive on everything.
Maybe I need to check out ones further a field. Gailey gave me a huge list last week as we have discovered we’re local to one another. So maybe I’ll have a check in some of those.

Glad the list was useful with buses its all acessible kingswood/staple, hill,downend and fishpond all walkable or could take dayrider what i inend to do hen hubby gets paid most go over facy hopping centre and im going to do all the charity shops as a least the money go to good causes.

Im sorry for my little outburst yesterday just got bit much dident help started day tired and stressed.

Its definatly getting colder i have few coats on ebay watch list.
put but wanted for snowsuit for small boy
everyone has gloves and hats could maybe get couple more pairs gloves but they 99p from corner shop.
small boy has 2nice winter coats.
small girl has 3 but watching for 1 more
big girl has 2 but neither are warm enough so wathing ebay for another.
hubbys oats fine but could do with dry clean so might get quote on that
have 2oaair boots need reheeled one wre pair from carboots£ sheepskinned lined brown leather so think its worth me getting them fixed.

I think i have become fixated with outerwear.

The little ones had fun yesterday on common with all the leaves.
just walk to and from school can be stressful.

I get pedestrian rage too as amount cars that wont stop when rainy or cold all flash brand new cars some parents themselves winds me up.Most go too fast around blond bends so im always hyper cautious as middle one nearly got knowked over in sept.
Lollypop man has 2weeks holiday and no replaceet going to make it ission in new year pester the council and try make school road safer for all.

I live in an area were most families have 2 cars and hardly any walk therefore bus routes are not great.plus they expensive never on time and hate kids.


I know money cant buy everything but sure does make life easier. as it allows you treats, a break ie babysitter, it gives you options .

where as my calege was had 10quid what could i get and that included nappies which left nothing left over for the bus.ts only 20min walk hope,. amused the kids by looking at crazy peoples tree lights and told eldest its just all wrong hristmas should start in december withexeception of xmas fair and switching on of town lights which is always end of november.

Shes looking foward to going christmas tree farm and picking a tree but cant decide what date as dont want it dead dry looking by xmas day.

I need to sort clash of xmas party out as be gutted for small girl miss that as its her 1st xmas at new preschool. so unless hubby can swop whuch hes not sure as has to take mil dentist that week will hae to reshedule dental hospital.I also hve to book is heraing test also i think in hospital in city centre.

I know we probably have to move house next year an cant wait so been scoping out areas would like to live in that are cheap and nearer school.

last night got kids bed early all asleep by 8 then watched george clarkes amazing spaces recorded pff more 4. I adore that programme because hes actually qualifies, seems so nice, happy and enthuiastic loved the tree hotel in sweden would love to stay in ufo and in y head i think if ant afford buy ahouse maybe one day can afford a camper van instead..

There was one idea on there that caught my eye. flat pack hive pods 10k each and can add more and they go together to build cheap house. In principle its fab idea modern prefab and could add extra room when could afford it and george said answer to britains housing crisis but land is so expensive and not sure can get mortgage for land or to buy flat pack homes.
asked hubby why its not done and he said housing market would rash they have to protect the developers but worries me housing gettting even worse and theres no solution no mass social housing building, no laws better protecting tennants nothing unless you want or can buy.

If only governement could buy land and lease plots out so people can pay for them over time then build their own houses would be fab.

Most people worry about rent, energy and food all 3seem to be going up higher than wages.

I took 2sleeping pills last night had good nights sleep.

Im now ready

Trying be tackle some of bedrooms today.

Trying to be positive. we have lots food in house, its sunny and dry out.

stiltwalker

Morning all - can I share some good news as I have just been doing a little dance around the house!!! (Looked a prat but don't care) I just got my latest result for my most recent OU module and it's a Grade 2 Pass!!! Woo woo - so happy as I have hated that module but still did really well on it. Might have to have a little celebration tonight!

FairyPrincessk

I think you've got a point there Mar!

I remember a particular Christmas growing up that must have been terrible for my parents. I think our rent was at least partially, if not entirely, paid by charity. Although I had no idea at the time, looking back I realize everything in my stocking must have come from the equivalent of a 50p bin. However, my mum knew I really wanted a dollhouse, and there one was, under the tree. She'd made it from cardboard boxes and had put wood effect sticky paper on the outside. I remember her helping me make the kitchen out of the inside of a packet box that was pink. I never played with it much, mainly because I cherished it so much. I don't think she'll ever know how much I loved it. Several years later, when times were substantially better I got a wooden dollhouse which I did up over and over again, using up scraps etc. but it will never mean as much as the one my mum made for me.

The thing is, because we didn't have much that was available for sale growing up and all of our clothes came from CS, I've come to recognize a lot of things for what they are. So many of the toys aimed at my niece and nephew really are cheap tat that I know they might want but won't really enjoy. I hand make many of their toys or (as I did this year) get mum to help me by sewing stuff. I won't buy the plastic doodads that only do one thing but if I'm buying its things like blocks or books.

As an adult I think it really crosses over with things like phones, ipads, laptops etc. While I do see the value in having good, serviceable gadgets, I don't feel the need for regular upgrades or keeping up with the latest. I have a very basic phone that makes calls, texts and at its fanciest will take very poor photographs. I've replaced it with the same model whenever it was broken because it is servicable and withstands me dropping it. One day I will probably have to have a smart phone for work, but I don't right now and it is sheer bliss not to have it constantly telling me what is going on. I'm the same with clothes. I don't buy into many trends, but I do buy quality. Because I learned to sew and understand how garments are constructed and the differences between fabrics I can buy very nice clothes in CS.

I think some of my favourite parts of my character are a result of growing up poor. That doesn't make walking in the cold and rain any easier--don't get me wrong--that is always hard. Harder when you're carrying groceries that you aren't sure will stretch enough meals and even harder when your shoes have holes. Those things are certainly a worry, I do hope no one is worried about the other stuff. It really isn't important.

grandma247

A few years ago when we hadn't any spare money I got some ring binder files from free cycle and printed lots of age appropriate things from the internet for each child. Colouring pages, games, mazes and a couple of printable books each.

I also bought some of those clear plastic A4 zip bags and used a hole punch to make a couple of holes in the bottom of each one so they would fit in the binder. This was filled with crayons etc as well as a few stickers and other little craft bits from my card stash. I also used foam letter stickers to put each child's name on the front of the binder.

The day after I had given them DD rang and said "Do you hear that?"
I said I couldn't hear anything.
DD said "Exactly, they are all so busy with the things you gave them that I haven't had a peep out of them all morning."

We have had difficulty finding puzzle books to buy for kids this year. There are any amount of colouring books though.