Same boat im a carpenter & builder the building trade has been on its ar5e for 12months at least with no signs of getting any better just had child no3 and my wife has had to go back to work 4months eariler than planned not happy times at the moment have got a a weekend booked at easter and a week in summer holidays so better make the most of them!
We have had a multi fuel/log burning stove put in,,,,,our house is now red hot and has saved us loads on the gas bill, infact its the best thing we have ever done regarding the house, i love it, and you buy your fuel before you use it..
------------- wishing everyone,,,,what you would wish for yourselves x
Try sitting down and looking at all your finances, we have done this we where paying 62 pound a month for tv,broadband and bt phone, we have got a deal with Virgin for all services for 30 pound a month. Checked our electric and gas bills today and found out we are 595 pound in credit so claimed that back(even though e.o.n didn't want to give it back to us).We have also dropped the weekly indian takeaway,shop at the end of the day looking for the yellow stickers. It feels quite good to strip back the finances a bit like cleansing the soul.
What ever you do don't sell the van try and keep it going,we now use CLS apart from our main holiday.
Keep your chin up we are all here for you when needed.
herald.
Ps I lost all my overtime,bonuses in Decembe 2008 and still the same at the minute we lost about 350 pounds a month+My wife lost her job but you have cut your cloth to suit
Know what your going through, hubby been off sick for a while now & money tight,We felt our only choice was to sell the van BIG mistake.Hope on the horizon tho, as doc say,s hubby should be fit 4 work soon.So things are looking up 4 us now & they will 4 u 2.We will dig our tent out 4 some time away this year (hubby over the moon) He prefers the tent me although i like the tent i prefer the van.Hoping 4 new van 4 next year.Who do you think will win this one???
Sorry to hear your news fife-bloke, we're cutting back too as Husband just retired from Navy and finding it difficult to find work. 2 years ago he would have walked straight into a job but not anymore. He's hoping to go offshore and being unemployed is a big shock to him, Job centre not much use, actually did suggest one job.....an iceskating instuctor!!!
Lots of good advice on here about cutting back, seem to be so many of us in the same boat, shocking really.
Remember to take a flask down with you when you're checking your caravan and just pretend you're away. It's what I'll be doing!
Good luck, hope thing don't take too long to pick up again.
Start with the tax credits, then mobile phone go for a sim only option with friends and family so you can all call each other for free, home phone and BB can be got from Vodafone for £21.28 plus VAT a month, that includes line rental free 24/7 land line calls and unlimited BB access,
if you have sky change to the free-view option its free.you can always go back once things improve
if you have a car try to keep the tank full and try to fill up at the cheapest place like asda.
There is a potential saving of £130 a month with the above
Really sorry about your work situation. Hope it all gets better soon - glad you've managed to hang on to your van, getting a break is so good for you if you can manage it, even if it's only once in a while/not far away.
When you're truly struggling to make ends meet it's grim & can wear you down. We have only ever had pay as you go on our mobiles & only use them when we really need to. Never buy `ready meals' & sauces & the like. I don't skimp on the quality of food but make the most of whatever we buy - eg chicken only bought whole - we skin & portion them ourselves as it's much cheaper, & always make soup with the carcass even if I've already roasted it & eaten the flesh. etc etc.
Lots of ways most of us can cut back & still manage to go camping - in saying that, you can't get `trim back' if you've already pared to the bone... & that is a dreadful situation to be in. All the best to you, sure it will get better.
My daughter is a single parent with a low paid job.She is marvellous at managing her money. She saves a lot by using Tesco vouchers. She has a Tesco credit card, buys at Tesco when they have special offers on. Buys her petrol at Tesco and watches for when they are giving extra points. I think she has Tesco Insurance too.She changes her vouchers for admission fees to attractions, restaurant vouchers and other things. She is taking her daughter to Blackpool at Easter and has just changed some vouchers for Pleasure Beach passes.(wrist bands I think).She uses the 'My voucher codes' site and another site called Quidco for other good deals.She only has one child and will obviously find it easier than others but she amazes me with what bargains she finds.
We just sold our caravan, it would of sat there most of the year, still costing us, and losing value.
We have brought trailer tent, lots cheaper and we can still camp, you can easily get another caravan when things pick up and its a great time to sell at the moment!
Many commiserations. We've been very lucky and not been affected by the downturn at all (yet). But when I gave up work after having babies, a big mortgage and chunky financial commitments meant we had to watch every penny. But that was when we bought our first trailer tent, then re-mortgaged a small amount for our first cheap caravan - the only way we could keep on getting away. But I knew I'd be going back to work one day and wouldn't have to worry long term. So much worse when there's no end in sight.
I agree you must keep the 'van. It'll give you hope. You can still get away for a fiver a night some places and you can take food with you and go on great picnics. Walking/playing football costs nothing - you can have a ball for very little and you'll need something look forward to in the days ahead. Very best of luck - and I do hope you keep the 'van...
my mum has offered to pay for a pitch for us during the upcoming school holidays.i also have my unused 6 man tent up for sale among other things as well so maybe just maybe we will get away sooner than we imagined
------------- Who needs travel agents,we have our static
Hi there fellow Fifer, Glad to hear you will manage away now, any thoughts on where you will be going? We are hoping to go away for a few days at Easter but we will wait till after Easter Monday. I think we might go to Tarland as we like it there and the woods are good for walking the dogs. Havent been away since the October holiday weekend and it seems ages so hopefully we will get away soon.
I am sure your work situation will improve in time, we are self employed and quite quiet just now but we know things will get a bit better, enjoying the quietness just now because when we get busy we are REALLY busy.
Quote: Originally posted by Bramble Brown on 12/3/2010
Hi there fellow Fifer, Glad to hear you will manage away now, any thoughts on where you will be going? We are hoping to go away for a few days at Easter but we will wait till after Easter Monday. I think we might go to Tarland as we like it there and the woods are good for walking the dogs. Havent been away since the October holiday weekend and it seems ages so hopefully we will get away soon.
I am sure your work situation will improve in time, we are self employed and quite quiet just now but we know things will get a bit better, enjoying the quietness just now because when we get busy we are REALLY busy.
Enjoy your break away.
were heading over to oban liz cant wait now
------------- Who needs travel agents,we have our static
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: money is going to be tight for us
