Living on $12,000 a year

dolly_day_dream

ceridwen wrote: »

HI Dolly Daydream

Got a "recipe" for how to make a shaggy rug that you can share with us? (and what sort of cloth/whatever one can use for it)

I cut the t-shirts across the middle (the body part) to get strips about 2cm wide, then these strips are cut into 10cm lengths. I use the other parts of the t-shirts as well as long as I can get these dimensions out. These strips are used like thrums (can you remember how redicut used to sell pre-cut wool for their make your own rugs?) I use a carpet hook and latch each one into carpet canvas.

Working from the right side - fold the thrum in half and hold it behind the canvas.
Push your carpet hook through the hole
Bring the loop up just a little - keep this loop on your carpet hook
Push your carpet hook through the other side of the canvas thread to get the rest of the thrum
Pull this through the loop on your hook
One down - several thousand to go

I appreciate that my instructions are not too good so if you can find instructions on the web about rug making (traditional not rag) then you will probably understand it better.
I am making up a design of stripes and add as much to each section as I think is needed. I am sticking with cotton cos I will be using it in the bathroom and I like the feel of it.

dolly_day_dream

calleyw wrote: »

Think you need to read "No logo" by Naomi Klein big eye opening not just cheap brands are made in ways that you might not be happy with. Some of the bigger names do to.

But buying second hand is probably the best way though.


Yours


Calley

I did know that the exploitation was not confined to the cheap ranges. For instance the rage in beading this year has put huge pressure on 'sweat shops' for want of a better term in India to turn out all this beaded clothing whether it is for Primark or Harrods. But I have to admit that seeing clothing at such cheap prices - far cheaper than I could make it for - brought home to me the reality of how others must be suffering.

Hardup_Hester

My income is made up from many different sorces i.e.
My main job £9,000 net this covers all the standing orders & allows £20 a week for food & petrol, but does not cover car insurance, MOT, repairs etc.
I have occasional short term lodgers, usually for max 6 weeks, £75 a week, this covers their room, breakfast & evening meal, the quality/variety of food improves when we have a lodger, but then the costs go up accordingly.
I do an hour or 2 most evenings on a chat line, this pays approx £20 a month which pays for broadband.
I knit & sew, scarves, rice/heat bags, aprons, bags alter curtains etc. I sell these in the run up to Christmas & this pays for Christmas.
Hubby works sporadically, his wages & his DLA are saved to pay to run the car. Without the car he could not work at all, as he needs to be at the mainline station by 6 every morning & there is no other transport available to get him there.
Hester

ceridwen

Hi Hard Up Hester

Just a thought - 'scuse me if you'd beaten me to it on that one - but I wondered whether the sort of income level you are on would qualify you for help with getting a rebate on council tax? I've looked into it for myself - but didnt qualify - but wondered whether you might - another "income stream" in effect so to say?

Hardup_Hester

Thanks Ceridwen
We don't qualify in the area we are in, in some areas we would qualify because of hubby's disability, but in our area, he's not disabled enough

moanymoany

I have this link for the instructions on how to make a rag rug. It has good descriptions and lovely colour piccys on how to do it.

http://www.craftbusiness.gbr.cc/70163/info.php?p=2&pno=0

I think the idea of a cotton tee shirt fabric rug is great. It will be easier to co-ordinate the colours too.

I think it will be easy to make a 'proddy'. Famous last words ...

clearvisor

Aril wrote: »

Is anyone aware of any similar UK sites [apart from this] or thrifty blogs from this side of the pond please? I always enjoy the American ones but would think that perhaps I could glean more ones I could relate to more. I've been following Lauren's 365 frugal challenge over on the DFW board with interest.
Aril

Aril,
This is my life at age 65, I live on £8,000 yr,grow own veg, hardly ever go out, don't drink/drugs etc, do all my diy and decorating,make own clothes, and have tried to sell them, but I have found folk want them dirt cheap even though they are hand made and made well,mainly size 10 &12,
tried to sell all my used clothes as well but no takers at all,just a bill from ebay for £96-00 which has really put me off,
I have years ago brought old dressing talbes and chest of drawers, taken legs & mirrors off ,hand rubbed down,(before sanders were invented),painted egg shell and new handles, great to resell,

littleowl

Hello,

I have been following this thread with interest. I am 65 and my net income is £11,000 pa. My rent is £6,000 p.a. and I need to run a car. I do everything I can to augment my income - selling on ebay, using Quidco for insurances etc.

I really need to find a way of increasing my basic income - think I have decreased my outgoings as far as I can following many advice threads on MSE.

The main way I could gain would be to find a cheaper rented house but that is difficult - rents seem to be increasing all the time and, although I am willing to move around the country, I am fairly discriminating about what sort of place and area I wish to live in.

Any ideas would be very gratefully received!

Pandora123_2

littleowl,

You might try looking at this thread for inspiration:

Great 'Bit on the Side' Hunt

:A

littleowl

Thank you Pandora - I have started looking through it and have gained some ideas already!