www.iva.co.uk

Hi, long time no type...
Just putting it out there, has anyone really felt the pinch over the last couple of months? I appreciate that we're all in the same boat but the cost of everything recently has really put pressure on the amount allocated to ensure we can just live. I cannot believe just how much things have increased and there seems no end in sight. there done it, soap box is now firmly put away and I promise that it won't be allowed out again this week.

16 months down, hopefully 34 to go...[:)]

see, I am so confused I can't even add up. That should be 44 to go, BOO!![:I]

Hi Paul
I have set up your countdown calculator below your avatar
Hope this is ok

Regards

Hi Paul,
Ha ha thats wishful thinking (34 to go!!) In answer to your question yes things are tight I'm trying to be inventive in new ways of saving money !!! everything seems to have increased just after I had my annual review too DOH !! I'm managing (just) at the moment but praying the interest rates dont go up, thats another bit of wishful thinking cause I know they are going to very soon. You get on your soap box any time you like by the way.
Karen [:D]

Hi Paul you are totally right everything seems to be going up despite and wages are not keeping pace (I have not had a payrise in 2 years 6 months!).

I do find it perverse that we are allocated a set amount for food and expected to survive on that for 5 years lol. With a conservative rate of price increases of 3% year on year a budget allocation of say £100 a month for food needs to be £115 by the end of 5 years! We all know that prices on many things have gone up by much, much more than that.

I am growing lots of my own veg to help and have started cycling to and from work so I can use the travel expenses on other things. That said I am going through inner tubes like no ones business due to too much glass on the roads.

Luke - how are you?

I put our food expenditure up this year and is was accepted.

We have two dwarf apple trees, some rhubarb and growing some strawberries and that's it!

Can't do the cycling - too many dark roads and on the one route there are just too many dodgy people!

Andy,
Thanks for that, I know my place being only a man... I get to carry, pay ,chauffer, babysit and go to work but would not have it any other way.....
I'm sure some of the ladies will agree that thats where man should be and my wife would be at the front, shouting the loudest...

I'm good Jan thanks, looking forward to my first courgettes lol.

i have an allotment and am just about to put the seedlings into the ground. did have 34 chickens as well but mr fox depleted this to 15 after 2 nights, devastated. I know they are chickens but you do get very fond of them with their little querks..
any way, hopefully all fox proof now and looking forward to the free range eggs as they are back to laying after the long cold nights.
Just planted more fruit trees and noticed the slough tree in full bloom, i'll start saving for the gin, ha ha.[:D]

I'm jealous Paul (I only have small garden) as I do not have the time for an allotment, nor can I get one for love nor money anyway!

Sorry to here about the chickens. Foxes are a nuisance, not so bad if they eat them but they just kill them for the sake of it don't they?

Ah homebrew that's my language! Just put 5 gallons of cider and 10 gallons of wine mmmmmm.......

We are raising 2 orphaned lambs at the moment. Cheap to feed and loads of delicious lamb for us in the autumn! Also building a chicken run so eggs wil be free!!

Not a fan of lamb myself but cheap is always good! Would love to keep chickens.

they have only eaten 3 and the rest left or buried. what a waste. i have a fairly large allotment luckily and its good to see so many different people all willing to help each other, much like this forum. Just about to embark on the homebrew venture, tried a friends rose wine last night, fantastic, crisp clear and with a hint of strwbwerries and all in 3 weeks, great[:)]
white grape juice, red grape juice and a tin of strawberries, add the sugar, yeast and top up to 1 gallon with cold water, thought it ws about to take off with the gases involved.

yes we feel it too,fuel worries me a lot,i can't go on foot as i've got a disability. i used to ask hubby to take me for a drive,just to get out,haven't done that for ages.

we've got fruit bushes - full of flowers! i'm excited,ha!
hubby's bought some veg seed's from Poundland so we'll see. he grew carrots in pot's last year &tomatoes.

Glad you are ok Luke, courgettes not for me though! LOL! I love all sorts of meat but couldn't keep them and kill them myself!

Rosepetal, do you have higher rate mobility? If so, you can get yourself a new car every three years and only have to pay for petrol.