Put away your purse & become debt-averse

QueenJess

I read the report from my council on where their money goes, but I suspect I am vastly in the minority.

Suffolk_lass

HMRC used to send a breakdown of national revenue and spending. Of particular vindictive misrepresentation, public sector pensions were included under "benefits".

When I started in 1986 and some of our programmers and project managers were being taken by the private sector I remember reading that the reason we were paid 20% less than them was because of our benefits package (additional 2.5 days on top of bank holidays, pensions, full pay on sick) - all eroded now in the race for the bottom.

I personally think we are closer to protests/revolution than we have been since the poll tax riots. If the new PM does not intervene quickly and effectively we are heading for a society breakdown.

I was listening to a landlord of a pub being interveiwed. His electric (no cap) is projected to go from £45k to £180k this winter. After keeping employees in employment through furlough and making huge loans to businesses it is hard to believe they will write these off, but with this lot it is not their priority.

foxgloves

That is absolutely it, @Suffolk_lass. Back in the 1980s (my first pre-professional public sector job was 1986-7), that was the case. Our salaries were lower than the private sector, but we had a decent overall package...holiday, pension, sickness pay, etc, as well as importantly, training opportunities, a career structure & therefore a good chance of progression up the ladder. Fast forward to Conservative government decimation of the public sector & endless restructuring as service heads try desperately to make the budget stretch. Cue multiple rounds of people having to apply for their own jobs & de-professionalisation, as non-qualified staff's job descriptions/job titles are changed so as to save money. 
I don't know how many thousands upon thousands of public sector jobs have disappeared - jobs with not stellar salaries but stable. All those job holders on PAYE paying into the system & doubtless supporting their local high street/business community. You simply can't compare those jobs with the zero hours, minimum wage, no or poor terms & conditions, which conveniently came along to make up the numbers.
I too think we could be standing on the cusp of a sea-change. So many people's livelihoods will now be affected. Will it mean people joining the dots, understanding the Grand Swindle which has wrecked the social & economic fabric of the UK? I'd like to think so, but it isn't going to be pretty. As a country, we should be on a war footing......instead we have an uber -rightwinger about to take over, caring more about 'woke people' (what does that silly phrase even mean?!), toilet gender & other niche populist issues which will be utterly meaningless even to their supporters when they can't afford to heat & eat. The endless refrain about tax cuts......Mr F & I are not wealthy, but we'd willingly pay a little more tax in return for better funded public services.
Ah well.....perhaps the sunlit uplands & frolicking unicorns of Brexit will even yet come galloping along to save us......
F x

foxgloves

Hello Tuesday Frugalistas,
Been quite busy today - usual beginning of the week kind of stuff - baking bread, doing the laundry, etc, but have also had my winter plan in mind with a few jobs too:
1. Tested the 30 mins at 30° cycle on washing machine for a mixed load of coloured clothes this morning. Low spin setting fine for a windy day like today, but even if I was drying such a load on the heated airer in Winter, an additional 10- min spin at 1400 setting would only amount to a total of 40 mins use, rather than 1.58hrs which is the duration of the standard 30° cycle. Everything looks clean, anyway.
2.Garden pickings. This feeds into my winter plan because it's important to us that we maximise every bit of our homegrown food. Today I've gathered aubergines (last 5), a pepper, more windfall apples & blackberries, courgettes, tomatoes, mint, grapes, lettuce, spring onions & beans. I'm using some of it for a salad to serve with tonight's pasta & will serve the beans tomorrow. 1.1kg of the apples currently dripping through a jellybag for jamming into apple & mint jelly tomorrow.
3.Sowing stuff for winter salads to cut down a little on buying fresh stuff. I've removed the aubergine & cucumber plants today, as they've finished now. I've re-used their grow-bags for two types of rocket & also sown coriander, lemon coriander & parsley. I also intend to sow some lettuce for baby leaves as soon as one of the spring onion troughs becomes empty. I already had the seeds & didn't need to buy fresh compost so it's a no-brainer.
4.Knit black cardigan. I intend to wear it next month & so far it's a back & half a front. It will take a couple of my summer dresses into Autumn by adding a warm layer.
Right, I must go & do a couple more bits & pieces, then make a salad bowl.
Love F x

milann

Hope you’re enjoying doing your black cardigan more than I’m enjoying doing one for my gdd. I started it over a year ago and have found it really hard going…..I can crochet in black with no problem - but knitting 😳😳😳I’d hoped to have this and a pink crocheted one ready to take on Thursday when we go……it’s a tad touch and go…..I’ll finish the crochet one there if needs be as it’s easier, grows faster and is a sixpze smaller. I knew if I’d finished that one first the black one would never get finished 🙄

ladyholly

I think if people do start to protest they will be far worse than the poll tax riots. People are getting angry and I think whichever candidate wins it will be a poison chalice for them. If, as exp[ected Ms T gets the job there will be a lot of very unhappy tories who voted early in the election. As a foreign minister she has recently been rude about the leader of an ally, refused to give a tv broadcast claiming she is too busy, and is trying to tell people that a minimal tax cut is the way to go to help people. Sorry we  only pay about £4 a month in tax between us so I dont think that will help much and for those who are much worse off than us it wont help at all. Is the women blind, stupid or ill advised or a combination of all 3?

Onebrokelady

ladyholly said:

I think if people do start to protest they will be far worse than the poll tax riots. People are getting angry and I think whichever candidate wins it will be a poison chalice for them. If, as exp[ected Ms T gets the job there will be a lot of very unhappy tories who voted early in the election. As a foreign minister she has recently been rude about the leader of an ally, refused to give a tv broadcast claiming she is too busy, and is trying to tell people that a minimal tax cut is the way to go to help people. Sorry we  only pay about £4 a month in tax between us so I dont think that will help much and for those who are much worse off than us it wont help at all. Is the women blind, stupid or ill advised or a combination of all 3?

She is a deluded nutcase 

QueenJess

Onebrokelady said:

ladyholly said:

I think if people do start to protest they will be far worse than the poll tax riots. People are getting angry and I think whichever candidate wins it will be a poison chalice for them. If, as exp[ected Ms T gets the job there will be a lot of very unhappy tories who voted early in the election. As a foreign minister she has recently been rude about the leader of an ally, refused to give a tv broadcast claiming she is too busy, and is trying to tell people that a minimal tax cut is the way to go to help people. Sorry we  only pay about £4 a month in tax between us so I dont think that will help much and for those who are much worse off than us it wont help at all. Is the women blind, stupid or ill advised or a combination of all 3?

She is a deluded nutcase 

I was going to say she’s insane, but your description is more accurate.

2Scratters

Morning Peeps,
In the words of a colleague in Dads army "We are doomed, Mr Mannering, we are doomed"
I do read the annual statement that comes with the council tax bill. It winds me up each year in particular the added not too long ago Social care for the elderly bit, I really didn't mind a £20 per household contribution but now we are well over £100 and it gets a big increase each year!! I don't recollect agreeing to annual increases of this "charge".

I have written to the area MP re the fuel company HUGE profits and our HUGE (unjustified IMO) price increases. I haven't held my breath for a response.  At what point doe the stupidity and total arrogance of this government think where businesses and rest of the country are going to get the money from in the first instance?
Managed to only use 2 units of gas this month. Which is half of last month. We only changed from washing our hands in cold water instead (we cook on gas) and stopping the continuous fire up of the boiler. For those with little ones its safer for them too. Just make sure the tap is easier to use to say I am impressed is a bit of an understatement especially when you look at the bigger picture. That's a definite win.
To think the standing charges alone for both will be as much as we were paying for using energy early on in the year. 

2Scratters xx

ladyholly

QueenJess said:

Onebrokelady said:

ladyholly said:

I think if people do start to protest they will be far worse than the poll tax riots. People are getting angry and I think whichever candidate wins it will be a poison chalice for them. If, as exp[ected Ms T gets the job there will be a lot of very unhappy tories who voted early in the election. As a foreign minister she has recently been rude about the leader of an ally, refused to give a tv broadcast claiming she is too busy, and is trying to tell people that a minimal tax cut is the way to go to help people. Sorry we  only pay about £4 a month in tax between us so I dont think that will help much and for those who are much worse off than us it wont help at all. Is the women blind, stupid or ill advised or a combination of all 3?

She is a deluded nutcase 

I was going to say she’s insane, but your description is more accurate.

I was trying to be a little PC but can only agree with both descriptions. Mr LHs description of the candidates is a choice of slime or grease. Take ypur pick which belongs to which.