|
|
Post by farmersboy on Jan 21, 2009 10:29:24 GMT
I agree with every thing you say WT,we were brought up to save for anything we wanted,and only buy what we could afford,if we couldnt afford it,we went without,now people have the,MUST HAVE,attitude,even if it means running into huge debuts
|
|
|
|
Post by Ladygardener on Jan 21, 2009 14:00:29 GMT
Susie, I'm sorry to hear you've had your hours cut but am glad to hear at least you still have a job. I do hope things pick up for you. Big hugs. Looking on the positive side it'll give you more time for gardening and other hobbies.  |
|
|
|
Post by Ruthie on Jan 21, 2009 18:54:00 GMT
This is the first time I've seen this thread. I'm sorry to hear of the problems some of you are encountering and I agree that we aren't yet at the "bottom" of this downturn. My OH is a self employed builder and has had hardly any work since well before Christmas. Luckily he and his brother have money put by in the business (in anticipation of exactly this type of thing, every few years there's a bit of a building downturn) so he can still draw his monthly "wage" for the time being.
I have my small pension which, thankfully, no one can touch (unless the Govt does go bankrupt then we're all in the sh*t) and I know we will manage, even if he has no work for months, because I was brought up to live within my means and know how to do that.
I feel very sorry for the young people who are saddled with big mortgages and debts because that's the only way they've known. They won't have a clue how to cope when they can't have everything they want any more because they've never been taught how to manage their money etc.
I hope this doesn't sound smug. It's not intended to be. I think there should be some sort of formal education available to people who've never known anything but boom.
WT, you could certainly do courses on food budgetting and preparation! That would be a start and save people no end of money currently wasted!
|
|
|
|
Post by Susie Snowdrop on Jan 21, 2009 23:17:21 GMT
Susie, I'm sorry to hear you've had your hours cut but am glad to hear at least you still have a job. I do hope things pick up for you. Big hugs. Looking on the positive side it'll give you more time for gardening and other hobbies. That's a good thought LNG, I'll hang on to that! S xx |
|
|
|
Post by Tig on Jan 21, 2009 23:43:35 GMT
I started this thread last September, perhaps we could all add our contribution and come up with more suggestions on how to get the best from our resources? gardenworld.proboards103.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=6661&page=1Over the years many of us will have ways of stretching the budget - my latest one is to buy the packs of bacon pieces from the supermarket - and roast it in a hot oven, serve with mashed spuds it tastes just as good as a ham roast and there is plenty of meat left for omelettes, stir fries, etc .. x Tig |
|
|
|
Post by isabella on Jan 22, 2009 6:55:43 GMT
This thread is a very good idea  One of our main money savers is to grow most of our own veggies. I love soup for my lunch and make it 2 or 3 times a week - a panful easily makes 3 or 4 generous servings. Carrot and sweet potato Leek and potato Bacon and pea Spicy tomato Vegetable and pasta Chicken and mushroom The list goes on and on and it tastes so much better than anything you can buy OH loves a lamb roast - I can't eat lamb  so I buy a half shoulder so he has his roast and the next day I use the leftover lamb for a casserole with lots of veggies and potatoes on top. I try to make good use of the oven when it is on too. I don't like buying cheap meat - I would rather have a bit less and pay the same. We have 2 or 3 veggie meals a week which we enjoy and are usually cheaper to make. I don't have a dryer - as there are only the 2 of us I use an airer- outdoors if the weather is fine and indoors if not - it is in the spare room. We have never had a car - neither of us can drive I always write a shopping list and never go shopping when i am hungry I try to be good about switching lights off and not leaving things on standby. |
|
|
|
Post by farmersboy on Jan 22, 2009 8:53:41 GMT
I like you veggie meals 2-3 times a week,Isabella,we do the same,and as i grow most of them they are cheap,we only buy meat once a week,and that is for the Sunday roast,which i wouldnt do without,and we finish up cold on Monday,then its veggies in one form or another,Friday is egg and chip day,chips from home grown spuds,Sat is mostly fish day,sometimes from chippy if im going out to footie or frozen. |
|
|
|
Post by Weeterrier on Jan 25, 2009 12:01:52 GMT
How much is Fish and Chips ( called a Fish Supper up here) around the rest of the country? Haddock and chips here is £5.40. Fortunately, that is usually a huge fish or two small ones, so my Dad and I can share. But even then, we only buy one as a real treat. Since my Mum died, and we are living on Dad's state pension, I must admit that I'm really beginning to notice how expensive meat and fish are getting, especially as I used to be a vegetarian and will now eat meat only if it is free-range. That really IS expensive. Also, electricity. I am all electric, no gas supply for miles, and my last quarterly bill really shocked me. I am now walking around the house clothed in various layers of fleece and hiking socks. I look like a teletubby. All the heat is going on in the kitchen and Dad's wee sitting room, so he is warm as toast. I'm not moaning, I consider myself very lucky, I can still afford to pay my bills, I just want to keep a bit money for the future..................seeing as the pension plan I have been paying into for the last 15 years is worth zilch  Honestly, I'm not moaning, just accepting what is. |
|
|
|
Post by Barbara on Jan 25, 2009 12:34:10 GMT
Well you shouldn't have to accept what is, it shouldn't be like that, most of us work hard all our lives in one way or another, so we should be able to retire without worrying about having enough money to live on.  |
|
|
|
Post by farmersboy on Jan 25, 2009 16:18:45 GMT
How much is Fish and Chips ( called a Fish Supper up here) around the rest of the country? Haddock and chips here is £5.40. Fortunately, that is usually a huge fish or two small ones, so my Dad and I can share. But even then, we only buy one as a real treat. Since my Mum died, and we are living on Dad's state pension, I must admit that I'm really beginning to notice how expensive meat and fish are getting, especially as I used to be a vegetarian and will now eat meat only if it is free-range. That really IS expensive. Also, electricity. I am all electric, no gas supply for miles, and my last quarterly bill really shocked me. I am now walking around the house clothed in various layers of fleece and hiking socks. I look like a teletubby. All the heat is going on in the kitchen and Dad's wee sitting room, so he is warm as toast. I'm not moaning, I consider myself very lucky, I can still afford to pay my bills, I just want to keep a bit money for the future..................seeing as the pension plan I have been paying into for the last 15 years is worth zilch Honestly, I'm not moaning, just accepting what is. Where i go Weet,they do a "Cod Special" for pensioners,its £3.70,more chips than i can eat,and although the cod is supposed to be a small one,very often if theres no small ones cooked,they will bung in a large,and as the wife doesnt eat much,theres enough for two,so i think its good value for 2 meals |
|
|
|
Post by Tig on Jan 25, 2009 19:58:31 GMT
I nearly fainted the last time I went to get some from the chippy (last November) - the fish was £5 and the chips were £1.20p  And there was more batter than fish, by the time OH had finished there was a small mountain of soggy floury mash on his plate! I prefer to do my own, and it costs a lot less  x Tig |
|
|
|
Post by Ruthie on Jan 27, 2009 10:05:26 GMT
Cod and chips twice is £8.60 at our chippy. One meal is enough for 2 but NOT for my OH! So we have 2 portions and I struggle through mine somehow Our chippie is closed now for a month because the owners go off to China every year for chinese new year. That should save us some money! |
|
|
|
Post by Weeterrier on Jan 31, 2009 17:31:56 GMT
My chippy is run by a Chinese couple too, though he is Scottish I think, speaks with a Glasgow accent. Though his wife doesn't speak English at all. His is in the Top 5 Chippies in Scotland, so there is always a queue. Seems you are more expensive.
|
|
|
|
Post by MamIDdau on Feb 1, 2009 10:04:31 GMT
The thing that annoys me is that we've been talked into a recession by the media. All they've been reporting is doom and gloom and it's made things seem worse than they really are which has actually made it worse.
I do also think that some companies are using the recession as an excuse to get rid of staff.
|
|
|
|
Post by farmersboy on Feb 1, 2009 10:57:50 GMT
The thing that annoys me is that we've been talked into a recession by the media. All they've been reporting is doom and gloom and it's made things seem worse than they really are which has actually made it worse. I do also think that some companies are using the recession as an excuse to get rid of staff. Thats right April,i think the media has a lot to answer for,it was the same with petrol,they kept on about a shortage,so people went mad filling every thing up,thus creating a shortage,that wasnt there in the first place. |
|
|
|
Post by Barbara on Feb 1, 2009 11:36:21 GMT
My hubby said that as well April, he said theyhave used it to get rid of people who were unsackable for one reason or another..
|
|
|
|
Post by MamIDdau on Feb 2, 2009 15:09:05 GMT
They seem to have stepped up "security" in RM. Not sure whether that's because they want to make sure we're all doing our jobs properly, or a way of getting rid of people who don't follow the rules to the letter (no pun intended).
We're not allowed ANY items of mail/parcels/collection stuff in the front of our vans. We were always told as long as it was a working bundle i.e. where you're going next, it's OK. Now we've been told this isn't the case and we have to work out of the back of van all the time. That's fine but it's takes much longer to do. Our internal gestapo have been going around doing spot checks on people which sounds like a good idea to make sure none of us are up to no good, but I think it's just a way to catch people who aren't really doing that much wrong and using it as an excuse to get rid cheaply.
RM is notoriously hard to get sacked from, only things are dishonesty, wilful delay and security breaches that would get you sacked. Hence my conspiracy theory, they're out to get us!! lol
I'm glad I'm not out on delivery at the moment, although they'll probably find something to accuse us of indoors next...
P.S. I'm not normally this paranoid!
|
|
so I buy a half shoulder so he has his roast and the next day I use the leftover lamb for a casserole with lots of veggies and potatoes on top.
And there was more batter than fish, by the time OH had finished there was a small mountain of soggy floury mash on his plate! I prefer to do my own, and it costs a lot less 
