hard times ahead ?

[mirry]

Hi guys , Lately I keep hearing on the tv news that the world is having a hard time with interst rates and people are not spending and apparently things are going to get worse :shrug: , so my husband has just come home from work and tells me that they are calling a big meeting tomorrow cos trade has slowed down alot , (he works delivering building materials in his lorry).
Its always the building trade that gets hit first and it seems its started now, so we are worried sick and im going into a panic here and have just started emptying our piggy banks trying to get things in order.
If only i could work more ( i do 4 hours a week and struggle)but this bloody anxiety and inner ear problem is getting in the way. Ive never claimed incapasity even tho i must be entitled to it.
I just dont know which way to turn , does money make you panic too ?

[chalky]

Hi Mirry,

Yes,lots of people are feeling the pinch-me included!!!
I work part-time for an Indian takeaway and the last few months have seen people cutting back.My friends who work for Chinese takeaways are also noticing business down by at least 30-40%.
Call into your local Citizen's Advice Bureau and make sure you are getting your full entitlement-I was recently told by Jobcentre staff that applications for benefits submitted with the assistance of CAB staff are much more likely to be accepted simply because they are fully/properly filled in.I know there will be exceptions to this rule but their advice is free and expert.
Best wishes,
Chalky

[honeybee3939]

Hi Mirry

Yes it very worrying isnt it. We have just sold our home again (the second time) as the housing market is supposed to be crashing too so we have heard. Our first buyer backed out for this reason so im keeping my fingers crossed all goes well this time i dont think i can cope with all the stress of the house sale falling through again, so fingers crossed.

Love
:hugs:
Andrea
xxxxx

[jesse08]

Chalky is right about checking benefits at the CAB. they can draft/write letters and have all the latest information about benefits. Don't beat yourself up about not being able to work more hours. You are doing what you can and I'm sure your husband apprciates that.

[eeyorelover]

This is a problem in the US too right now!
No one is formal using the term recession but I fear that is where we are headed!!!
We are so far behind that I am working 59 hours a week and Jerry (the hubby) is working 56 hours a week to try and get everything caught up and maybe have a little put away for what is coming!!!
It's scary to think about and especially for people such as myself and others here who have the 'what if's' !!
I guess that everyone just has to do what they are able to do and let the future bring whatever it's going to. My husband always says ' is worrying about it going to get those bills paid quicker?'
He is right in that worrying about it isn't going to solve it but DAMN it's hard not to sit and fret over it all!!!!!!!
xxx
Sandy

[Coni]

Hi Mirry,

money is one of my major fears...dont know why... but the news recently has been really freaking me out....Ive stopped watching news and reading newspapers now....I also think the media have a huge role in this as they tend to sensationalise everything sending everyone into a panic which makes everything worse (I remember there was a problem with petrol a few years ago and there were no queues until the news started broadcasting about the panic caused by petrol shortages...)

I think it is prudent to watch your finances mind you, but if I dwell on this I'll probably have a major panic (I wouldnt just be skint, Id imagine my family homeless, destitute and the kids turning to drugs as a result....not that I tend to catastrophise lol).

Heres hoping things will settle soon.

Coni X

[nomorepanic]

This may/may not help but our electricity bill is huge so we have done this to cut down and save money..

Turn all lights out that are not necessary

Run dishwasher on economy programme - takes less than 25 mins and cleans just as well

Run washing machine on quick wash - not noticed any difference to the cleanliness of the washing

Bought a power saving plug thing that turns things off that you usually leave on standby

Only turn TV on when we want to watch something and not just for background noise!

It all helps doesn't it?

[Richie]

Hi there MIRRY is there any form of self emloyment that you can do from home as well as your 4 hours? Some skills that you have that might set you up??
I know it is a worry i'm self employed and sometimes when ill can't do that!!
I think that the media though is hyping things up as usual.
So i wouldn't worry too much xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[mirry]

Hi every one , Nic I like the sound of the plug that turns everything off in one go , does it have a name ? I think i should get one of those.
Richie , I make jewellery and sell it in 2 outlets now ( i just lost on of my outlets :weep: ). I find i do not make much from this because people want a bargain , dont we all :shrug: .
Ive been making a little bit of money on pigsback , here is the link ....http://pigsback.co.uk/Pages/4/7/12.aspx?pbq=1269%2c1269%2cHP

Ive also started buying some value things :blush: , and to my surprise have found some things taste fab :yesyes: . These are the following ........

All Tesco Value.

used to buy Homepride curry sauce £1.20 approx and now buy a tesco value tin of curry sauce for 5p , rofl :roflmao: , really !!! and it tastes lovely.
And I buy value rice , for a 1/4 of the price.
Used to buy finish dishwasher tablets , £3.50 approx for 30, now buy tesco value for £1.79 for 30.

Used to buy Hovis bread £1.20 approx a loaf , now buy tescos own 39p and buy the 19p value loaf for making toast.

I mix a good brand washing powder with a cheap brand and only use a tiny bit cos I use dolly balls in the machine which help clean the clothes too.

If I see buy one get one free of things we use i tend to stock up :whistles: .

Alot of my tins are of value nature now .

I have also sent off for lots of freebies.

My husband found out his job is safe for now , but they are cutting back in lots of ways and got rid of one person.

[Meg]

I agree with Nic, our electricity bill has soared this last year.

We now have added auto timers on the washer and dryer plugs, so we load them in the evening and they switch on at midnight. Also the dishwasher has a delay option so it starts during the night too.

Our electric is 12p a unit in the day and 4p a unit at night between 12-6am.

It makes quite a significant different especially when there are 4-5 of you.

It helps to share tips so keep them coming.

[honeybee3939]

Hi

Not sure if any of you use Money saving expert website but theres some great information about cheapest utility providers etc and good advice for saving money.
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/

Theres a section for receiving frebbies too, im always applying for them.:winks: Ive had allsorts from soap powder to teabags.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.html?f=37

Love
:hugs:
Andrea
xxxxx

[mirry]

meg , did you have to apply for the cheaper elec at night or do all suppliers charge this ? Basically i am wondering if i should get this too ?
any help much appreciated.

Forgot to mention , in the poundland down town , they have dryer balls to put in your dryer for £1 !!! usually they are £12 in woolworths , they make the drying time quicker and soften up the clothes so you dont have to use tumble dryer sheets.

[mirry]

Andrea I belong to that site too , and its fab for tips, but the site has gotten so big the past year since he went on gmtv ,lol.

another thing I done recently was got our house insurance thru searching on www.confused.com (http://www.confused.com) , I got it for £88 , amazing I thought .

[honeybee3939]

Hi Mirry

That is a good website too, my hubby got his car insurance by using that site and was £100 cheaper than what he usually pays!:yesyes:

Love
:hugs:
Andrea
xxxxx

[PUGLETMUM]

:hugs: :yesyes: hi all, this has been a major headache for me lately and im sad to say it contributed to my last 'blip':lac: but im now happy to report that i have tackled it and i have even seen it as a challenge like you all have:yesyes: my husband got made redundant and because i only work part-time we were really wondering whether we were going to be able to afford to live here. but i do not want to move:mad: so anyway ive re-arranged everything finance wise - because my husband had a really good salary we had been sold loads of unnessecary insurances - they have all gone except life and critical illness, and ive got a better deal for buildings/contents which now includes away from home, which was the catalyst for allthis as i lost a really expensive pair of glasses id treated myself to in wales and we didnt have this facility on our insurance and it cost £12 more than what weve swapped to. also my daughter isnt going to be having school dinners after may, im buying all offers, and i am only buying books and cards in the save the children i work in - they have so much good stuff:yesyes:

also i only wash now on 30degrees and i have seen a massive drop in my bill, and like nic our clothes are that clean these days that they really do not need to be washed hotter than this - and think i used to wash everything on 60:wacko: also same as everyone else, no unwanted lights on and no tvs that aren tbeing watched, but i do this for enviromental reasons too:yesyes: also all clothes can be bought from shops like tkmaxx and outlet places. and i need to get some of those dryer balls you mentioned. any other tips please keep em comin:yesyes: i used to waste sooo much money but now i actually feel better that we havent got so much, more like back to what i grew up with, it gives me a reason to get up in the morning, coz if i dont work we dont eat!:winks: :yesyes:

[Coni]

Can I just say this has turned into a great thread...I'm loving all these tips. Where do you get the timer thingys please?

Coni XX

[Meg]

I got ours from Ikea - came 2 to a pack as I recall.

We also put one on the TV for a laugh. It took Gary about 5 days to realize that it went off every night at 23:30. He was moaning that the telly was on the blink !!! :D

I think cheaper electricity at night is standard - just need to look on your bill or ring your provider to confirm your particular rates.

[julieb]

what a brillant thread, i think it should keep running and everyone put on their tips to help each other. you're right, theres nothing more stressful than worrying about money. we have been in this situation now for nearly 12 months and i've had to cut down on all my bills, no meals out or takeaways etc

ju

[Coni]

Thanks Meg....I have two timer things for lamps....would those work for other appliances then?

Coni XX

[Pickle]

Hi Everyone

'Bogof' deals are great, but I find I dont have the room in my cupboards or freezer for double the items lol

I shop with a friend and any Bogof items we get, we share. It's a great way to save on the cost and shopping with a friend makes it less boring lol

Just an idea x

Happy Sunday

[mirry]

thanks for all the tips , I agree it would be great to keep this going .
Ive just been down the town with my hubby and on sundays its free parking :yesyes: and we put a bottle of water in my bag to drink and a banana each to save on buying snacks .

Also ,

Maybe we could list any freebies we find on here ?

Heres one .....

https://www.horlicks.co.uk/secure/sample.aspx

[mirry]

more free samples ........

http://www.jellybelly-uk.com/cgi-bin/jb/survey.pl

[mirry]

freebie cat food
(my dog eats cat food lol)

http://www.purinaone.co.uk/uk/cat/sampling/?bc=1

[mirry]

nestle latte creations .......

http://www.nescafe.co.uk/coffee-mate/

[mirry]

One for the ladies , body form ..........

http://www.bodyform.co.uk/Pages/Products/OrderSamples.aspx?id=1459

:winks:

[mirry]

filetti washing sample ......

http://freesample.filetti.co.uk/FilettiFreeSample.asp

[mirry]

for wrinkles.........:shades:

http://www.garnierbeautybar.co.uk/_en/_gb/ultralift/pro_x/register_step1.aspx

[hopeful]

Thank You Mirry.I've just sent for the Garnier cream,the horlicks and the coffee latte.Was too late for the jelly beans today,try again tomorrow.
Lovely thread:hugs:
julie x:hugs:

[PUGLETMUM]

:yesyes: ta mirry, im gonna apply for them later when i have time - a lovely gesture:winks:

also, we have free parking in our town sundays and thursdays from 4pm till 8pm, but with no money to spend prob wont be needing it anyway:blush: also getting the reduced stuff in the shops is good, because loads of it in my sainsburys is well in date, and even if the date is up on the day you buy it and just freeze it!:yesyes: also we have found that shoppin gfor one or two days we are spending loads less money - we have a small sainsburys and a somerfield in our village and i was always going to morrisons or the big sainsburys and spending a fortune - and i mean a fortune,:blush: but now we can no longer do this im actually finding i dont wan to and i can still get everything we need, you have less choice but you also have less temptation than in the big stores:D

[honeybee3939]

Heres another Freebie website i use........:)

http://www.freebielist.com/samplesuk.htm

Love
:hugs:
Andrea
xxxxxx

[mirry]

Julie , I wasnt sure if people wanted me to post any freebies here :shrug: ,
but what i am doing is collecting lots of make up samples ect and then will put them all into a little basket for my daughter for xmas , I will put a big ribbon on it and make it look special (shes 10 and loves things like that).


Emmas ,
I have a somersfield next to me too :D , sundays at 4pm they have all the bakery stuff out for silly prices - 10p for a huge bag of special rolls ect.:yesyes: , is it the same at your somersfield ?

Thanks Andrea , gonna go check it out now !

[hopeful]

Mirry, What a lovely idea.You are a very creative person.:yesyes:
julie x:hugs:

[PUGLETMUM]

:D d'you know mirry i have never been in at the end on sunday, and ive lived here 4 years! but i do get some very good discounted stuff in sainsburys:yesyes: im loving doing my little shops now every day - keeps me busy, and this woman i know said exactly the same thing - that if she shops in morrisons she spends a fortune:ohmy: tnx also andrea for the free site - brill!!! and your idea for your xmas prezzie mirry is lovely:hugs:

[mirry]

I have not long joined this site for click backs and it seems very good at the moment , cos they have lots of click backs to do daily .......
easy way of earning money :yesyes:


www.getpoundsback.co.uk (http://www.getpoundsback.co.uk)

[mirry]

Andrea that site you gave us is fab :yesyes: , best ive seen for freebies:shades: .

[PUGLETMUM]

:hugs: :D :yesyes: :winks: just spent a whole hour fillin gin freebie forms on the site you gave us andrea - im bloody dizzy now! im really excited about getting my free stuff and i think it will deffo save me some money:yesyes: thanks matey:hugs:

[honeybee3939]

LOL Emma

Thats the only downside, makes ya fingers ache dosnt it...lol

Glad the site was usefull.

Love
:hugs:
Andrea
xxxxx

[hopeful]

Thanks Andrea,I've just ordered some sample crown paints from the site.:D
julie x:hugs: