Is the recession biting?

[SlugLobber]

Thankfully the only debt I have is the mortgage, so provided my job stays (which it should do), I'll be ok. OH hasn't notice a drop in business, but then people need their vans to be working more than ever, now, so he's flat out, mechanicking!

[Victoria26]

Since I've moved to Ipswich I've been on the lookout for a job.... NOTHING! Things are gonna get hard.

[Epsom Gardener]

I couldn't imagine losing my job and having no money to spend on gardening Being on an Ancestry Visa means I (rightly so) could not claim any public funds if I were to be unemployed. Luckily I work at a College so the job is pretty secure although there's not much left after the damn high prices of utilities in this country! Add to that paying for private school fees for one of my 2 children (still living in Australia) and all on an administrators wage. It's tight, but like Maureen Hall said in her post, it is amazing how little you can get away with spending. I see all my work colleagues buying lunch every day and yes, occasionally I do 'splurge', but most days I sit here and eat my home made lunch or leftovers! I have learnt to take a hip flask to the pub - it costs so much less for a coke than a scotch and coke (naughty!) On the flip side, there is a lot of enjoyment gotten from finding a new way to save money or reuse/recycle something

[ailsasyl]

I am about to finish paying off morgage arrears from when I had my ankle op and insurance refused to pay out, so can start paying back mum, my job is secure although low paid I earn about half what I used to earn, but am topped up by tax credits, have to say even though the news was full of extra help for low income families, I have not seen any difference?? Apart from extra £2 on child benefit, doesn't go far when you consider increase in food and utility bills.
What gets me is that folks that work as carers with the council have just ha wage increase again they get £8.06 start wage, petrol money paid on training days, free uniform including nice waterproof and fleece, I work for a private company but do a run that is the same as the council I get£5.80 no petrol money, get trained on my time off had to pay for my uniform, its not fair!!
Rant over....wanders off to zen garden for a cup of cammomile.

[Flummery]

We are lucky - and we know and appreciate it. Mortgage paid off 9 years ago, me retired, small but useful pension from work and from the state. Himself hoping to retire early at the end of the summer. We HAVE been poor comparatively - we had no savings and small income in the past but we don't do foreign hols, only buy new furniture when something wears out or breaks, have always had some home-grown food, so we've accrued some savings over the years. No make-up or fancy hair-dos (me neither!) so our outgoings are modest.

When we had the kids we didn't have much money - but talking to them now, they didn't realise it. There was always plenty to eat and warm (often home-made) clothes, and we had time for them, as I didn't work when they were small. I really feel for those with families now though. Expectations are so different. I hope everyone copes with it.

[bramble]

I would be in the same place in my life as Flum. Kids grown up and marriwd.
House paid for. Hubby retired with a pension from his job.
When my kids were growing up I cookedb baked, knitted and sowed to get by, but then so did everyone else at that time.
Things are certasinly easier now but still have to watch the pennies as everything hgas become so expensive.
I've been very lucky, have never had to work outside the homwe since I got married.

[Comfreyfan]

I'm another one in much the same place as Flum and Bramble. Still one left to finish Uni, but that's manageable at the moment. But OH and I have both been through this before (more than once) and we remember how much it can hurt.

I blame a lot on Mothercare! These days you simply have to have your buggy matching your car seat matching your crib matching your nappy bag matching your baby - it was a lot easier for us - everything was begged, borrowed or stolen - well begged or borrowed anyway - and jolly grateful we were for it.

[matthew2riches]

Since I've moved to Ipswich I've been on the lookout for a job.... NOTHING! Things are gonna get hard.

Yep, a relation has moved down here from Scotland and finding it hard for jobs.

I live in Ipswich but am self employed and am fine (touch wood) at the moment.

[miffy]

Lots of things gone wrong on the house, water won't heat up unless boiler on! Water leak out back, drains playing up etc..No pennies to put it right.
However son getting better after being ill for nearly 10 months, hubbie's blood pressure now normal and as long as they are alright i can put up with not going out, or having much money.

[sharonr]

Ah miffy think positive. Glad to hear family getting better.
Our house needs new bathroom, redecorating (been here 4 years and not done any yet) an extention with a nice big kitchen, new boiler with new radiators, new fire and new windows plus god knows what else. We get new windows in November. Just got to save £4,500 by then. Help.

[Claire72]

New windows in November sounds a bit chilly!!! That is a lot to save up

[sharonr]

They should of been nearly £6,000 but I think there desperate for the work at the moment. In the 3 weeks since we ordered them I`ve already saved £100. And all my Ebay money will go towards them to.
It`s amazing where you can save money when you need to.

[sez]

In august I decided (due to being miserable at old job) to take the big risk of just quitting without another job to go to. I left a bank job and have now been working 'temp' for the council since september, and waiting for my contract for the rest of the year to come through. While I'll have to find another job at the end of the year I'm glad I got out of the bank when I did!

We, to be honest, haven't felt the recession much - I'm on min wage, OH 20k, but we live within our means - and don't waste money on clothes, makeup and getting hammered at the weekend. We save up and buy what we can afford rather than putting things on credit so no problems there. The only major effect has been the cost of fuel as we're on a prepay meter, with terribly insulated house and at times it has cost us £40 a week just for gas - we had it on for a maximum of about 8 hours per day even during the coldest parts of the winter, usually much less.

[jackie j]

The only way for a lot of young people is to rely on grandparents to look after the children while the parents go to work. Something that I have done since my grandson was born, I have worked part time and still do, only now its only one night a week, but if I look after him it has to fit in with my work. Now he is at school it is easier and then during school holidays or non pupil days I am free to have him if needed.
At some point we have all been left wondering how we will manage but somehow everyone does. We might lose our house or something just as drastic ( I do know what thats like ) but if you have your health and your family are healthy too does it matter if we dont have the latest gadget or holiday.

[Chillimad]

The only way for a lot of young people is to rely on grandparents to look after the children while the parents go to work. Something that I have done since my grandson was born, I have worked part time and still do, only now its only one night a week, but if I look after him it has to fit in with my work. Now he is at school it is easier and then during school holidays or non pupil days I am free to have him if needed.
At some point we have all been left wondering how we will manage but somehow everyone does. We might lose our house or something just as drastic ( I do know what thats like ) but if you have your health and your family are healthy too does it matter if we dont have the latest gadget or holiday.

Jackie,,, You have said exactly what I have wanted to say on this thread for ages but never quite had the right words,,,,,,,,,,,,but thats it, simple as that,,,, Health & Family,, thats whats important, not the newest gadjets, not the biggest shiney new car,,, not even the best food on the table (Although I bet most of us on here eat quite well on what we have grown), the recession is here and we all just have to accept it, things will get better they nearly always do,,,Health is the most important thing and some do not have the greatest health at present. why should we all be moaning that this has gone up, or that is dearer today than yesterday,, lets think about the poor and needy in 3rd world countries, blimey they would look at us in even the deepest recession and think we lived like gods...............Whoooooooooosh,, rant over.