Prepping getting harder !

[Carrot Cruncher]

One good thing about portable gas fires etc is you pay up front for the gas you use, no nasty surprises when the gas bill comes in

[Furrytired]

This may sound nuts, but I'm knitting jumpers for the little darlings to wear. More layers, less central heating. I've unwound their old jumpers and am in the process of re-knitting the old wool and adding some new wool as they've grown again ... the old tricks are the best!

[diamond lil]

It certainly doesnt sound nuts, it sounds liek the most sensible practical thing ever. Way to go!
I knit socks for my diabetic cold-footed OH, but the whole family loved them so much that not I've got a full order book all the time and they moan at me to knit faster. My daughter says she will never buy another pr of socks ever
Also try neckwarmers - so much better than scarves for kids - can't lose them and no trailing ends to tuck in.

[damar2000]

Is this not we are preparing for?
This is the beginning of high inflation (perhaps hyperinflation) and a lower standard of living in the west.

To me prepping is to some extent about becoming self sufficient - i.e. growing food, cutting consumption, learning new skills (home cooking, brewing, DIY, etc) and taking responsibility. All of these things should reduce your need for money as you are providing for yourself and reducing your reliance on stuff that costs money. Therefore you are more prepared for a drop in living standards.

"You think you are free? Try going somewhere without money" Bill Hicks.

[the_flying_emu]

You ladies are so clever with your knitting! Im still only at the stage of knitting scarves, but cant wait to learn how to knit something more useful like socks! Im quite good at knitting with real wool and felting it up,but have only made a shoulder bag so far.
Yep, we go to Lidl or Aldi once a month to stock up on tins and dry things. Always on the look out for a bargain tho with money being ridiculously tight. We did find a bargain in Tesco once...big jars of pickled onions for 1p each....yep 1p! So we bought a shelf full They have crazy deals on now and then but nothing as good as that since then.
We turned down the thermostat on the gas, and it seems to help save a few pennies. Last winter we got a wood burner, so that saved on gas central heating because we collected fallen wood for free. Im a big fan of warm wooly blankets and socks instead on putting the heating on.
Definately eating less extravagant meals thesedays, opting for good healthy one-pot dishes.....which also helps me practice making a decent meal on a few ingredients in one pot, like over a campfire or wood stove..... for life after the poop has hit the fan!

[diamond lil]

Is how it's meant to be - fun and adventure and beating the system eh ?

[Poledragon]

cant wait to learn how to knit something more useful like socks!

If you can make a bag and felt it, you can knit socks, believe me. It's just going round in circles instead of back and forth

We're gutting our new house and installing two woodburners as we can scrounge/scrump a lot of wood locally for free. I've also insisted on having one of these stoves http://greymetal.co.uk/product_info.php ... ucts_id=84 as it has a small oven in the top. Part of me feels like it's a waste if you can't cook on one of those things! The slightly larger burner that's going in the living room has a backboiler which is going to be plumbed into the hot water system day to day, but plumber friend of DH says there's some valve we can fit which will heat the upstairs radiators should we prefer. Solar water heater tubes on the south facing roof will also help cut bills, as will extra insulation. Figured a few extra quid spent now will pay off when the winter gets here.

The best thing is though, I've been able to specifically design long term storage into the garage and utility room. DH will be putting up shelves for weeks...

[itsybitsy]

Is how it's meant to be - fun and adventure and beating the system eh ?

Well it's peeing me off at the moment! Bloody sick of being skint all the time. Grrrrrrr!!!

[jansman]

Just lost a good lump Of income this month.No chance of replacing it soon.As one member just put it,it's what we prep for.So,what now?We go into conservation mode and fall back on reserves and resources.The garden is growing and the woodpile is building...mind you what I could do with that hundred quid a week!

[diamond lil]

It's hard to build up the preps when money is short. And I don't think it's going to get any better anytime soon.