Recession??

[Millymollymandy]

Bigger flatscreens

We don't even have a flat screen telly - let alone want a bigger one!

I loathe those really big tellies - we do have a wide screen one though these days compared to others it's a pretty small wide screen - my OH bought it when wide screens first came out and it cost £1,000 back then over 10 years ago and as most telly wasn't even broadcast in wide screen everyone looked short and fat A new telly, especially so expensive, was was not my choice, I was happy with the telly we already had. He has since learnt to be frugal and sensible! And this one is almost as deep as it is wide!

[Green Aura]

everyone looked short and fat

- maybe you were you visiting me?

I occasionally watch these house buying programmes and have noticed this really worrying trend of everyone having to have their own bathroom! This at the same time as hosepipe bans. So you can shower all at the same time for as long as you want but can't give your plants a drink.

Anyway, back to the thread - sorry you've had such a tough time ct. I hope it all gets sorted to your advantage. I think you would have struggled much more, but for your Ishness (I'm aiming to get this word in the new edition of the OED ) The community garden will help loads not just in terms of growing veg and saving a bit of money, but also the camaraderie and support that often go with these things.

[fruitcake]

It's passed us by this time because we have everything we need, including space to grow food and decent stuff in the kitchen to allow us to cook well. It's been totally different to how it was for us back in the early 90s. Back then we were just starting out - old single tub washing machine with electric mangle, 2nd-hand carpets that didn't reach the walls, blankets trapped in the top windows to act like curtains, a piece of string nailed across the wall instead of a wardrobe, just enough food to stop our stomachs rumbling but not enough to satisfy us or keep us healthy. Our cookware was simply a set of pans, frying pan and an oven tray. And I didn't have a clue what I was doing in the kitchen.

So I think that this recession has been easier for us because
1) we have a garden and allotment,
2) we have all the furniture we need,
3) we have all the cookware needed to make good meals,
4) we are older, wiser, and have more knowledge about how to look after ourselves, our money and our health.
.

I can soooooo relate to that - I graduated into the last recession and OH was made redundant in the past - took the keys for his new car straight back to the garage, let out his house and then sold it and he learned to cook with pulses instead of spending dosh on veg/chicken etc. My old flatmate and I had a single tub, I sewed old blankets onto the bottom of curtains in my flat so they reached the ground, our phone only had incoming calls, cling film over the windows in the winter, went everywhere on my pushbike or walk - used to weigh up the walk home over spending 40p on the bus etc etc- life was great - i didnt consider it a hardship - it was normal life but it did make me much more resourceful and appreciate everything I've acheived since - same with OH after his redundancy experience. It gives you a sense of resourcefulness and resilience knowing that no matter what - you will survive

[Milims]

Workwise, we have felt the recession in that OH works for a very small marketing company who are really finding it hard ATM. He is the only one in his department who has been there long enough to qualify for redundancy pay (the company are not good at keeping staff); so the company seem to be trying to find ways to sack him - by blaming him for errors that aren't really his fault, etc. We've fought every disciplinary hearing with the help of ACAS, and they half-heartedly extend his warning period; but it seems obvious that they don't want to pay him anymore, they want to sack him not make him redundant so they won't need to pay him, and they can get the two new 20 year olds to do his job (aye, right), for £6k a year less than they are paying him.

Your OHs company may want to look into defending themselves agains a constructive dismissal case!

[citizentwiglet]

Yep, and we have made them VERY aware of that. MD is one of these typical 'want want want' types that doesn't look further than her perfectly powdered nose, she doesn't think we'd dare.

[fruitcake]

Your OHs company may want to look into defending themselves agains a constructive dismissal case!

aye and keep looking for a new job! Get out asap - you can still go for constructive dismissal up to about a year after i think. Just make sure you keep a good record - it sounds like you are on the case though which is great
Good luck!

[Green Aura]

Yep, and we have made them VERY aware of that. MD is one of these typical 'want want want' types that doesn't look further than her perfectly powdered nose, she doesn't think we'd dare.

I don't understand businesses like this. It was a similar problem with OHs old company.

The company he first worked for was tiny, only about ten people, but they grew slowly and within their means, making him a partner on the way. It had a workforce of 30+ by the time it was sold and was an award winner in its field. They got bought out by this company which had grown really quickly, financed by credit - like you say because of this one person's greed and desire to be the main man from what I could see. Then he bought another company within 6 months and things started to go wrong.

In a nationwide company, employing over 200 people, OH was the only one who knew one particular thing they did (but it was a pretty big part of their business). This put an enormous strain on him and despite promises of support they never materialised. By the time OH left clients had started to leave and afterwards it was a stampede. I'm sure that other parts of the business must have had similar problems because within 6 months the banks pulled the plug.

The most annoying bit is that you know this greedy ******* hasn't had to sell his huge house (here and abroad). It's only the workforce who are now, presumably struggling. Fortunately nearly all OHs previous colleagues got offered work by another firm who knew there track record, many others weren't so lucky.

Sorry that was very long-winded and probably off topic, but I've needed to get that off my chest for ages!!

[madabouthens]

Don't just threaten constructive dismissal....put the wheels in motion as soon as oh gets new job, but be prepared to settle before the tribunal meets; but don't accept their first offer.
I suffered a breakdown, due in most part to bullying in the workplace by my line manager and the top boss didn't want to know . Received 6 months pay if I promised not to take things further !
There got that off my chest too. Now I am changing direction(at 55) and doing something much more creative .

[crowsashes]

i must have escaped the recession but then im doing what i have done every year since i started uni a few years back - living within my means.

the only thing i am suffering with is the fact my television has just packed up ( 6 yr old analogue one so hopefully its fixable) and so has my iron and the cooker has almost died! the oven has failed.

all i can say is thank god for freecycle as im currently on the lookout to replace the cooker.

thankfully im lucky enough to have everything i need, decent woodlands etc for foraging and decent sized garden for veg and a soon to be erected chicken run ( they are coming after xmas sometime yet to decide when)

and im lucky enough to be able to make 90% of my xmas pressies and have a sister whos asked for a book and gladly picked her up 4 second hand ones for less than £2! bargin

[indy]

I have to agree with most of what has been said already, I was bought up by my grandparents who obviously went through the war so I have always had this ish ethic in varying forms and was taught never to buy what I could not afford, the recession has passed me by because of two other things as well, I produce as much as I can out of my 5 acres and I barter with the pig farmer next door for pork, I swap hay for some beef also. I am also lucky enough to work in the care industry where I will always be needed

[indy]

Just wish I had a little more time to make more gifts for christmas though

[Minnesota]

Great question, this Recession has effected me to a point. Since most of society had been spending money on this and that, they were replacing there old things with new things. Now this has nearly stopped. So it's much tougher buying items second hand and many times for free, plus there is more competition to get those fewer items second hand. But that's about it. I work as a contractor and only need to have work a few months of the year to get by. If I work less (which has been the case for the last two years), then I have more time to be productive in other "ish" type of ways which saves me money in the end.

[Big Al]

It's just been on the radio that we have been in a recession for almost a year. OH looked at me bemusedly and asked "have we?" I guess WE haven't - we haven't been affected by the same sort of money problems that many others have been simply because of our lifestyle. We have everything we need and more. So I was wondering, how has the recession affected other ishers? Adversely or has it completely by passed you too?

Not affected us either......

[The Honk]

I am (was) in the construction industry which is always first to suffer and last to recover so I heard alarms bells when they were telling us "not to worry" and "it will only be a little itty bitty reccession" etc etc.

We were lucky enough to get an offer for our house in Newcastle just before the property prices plunged so moved to a rural part of SW Scotland and bought a small house with a big garden. The house was a derilict brick shell and we spent all our money renovating it and making it as ish as possible. There's still a few jobs to do inside but not essential so I'm busy outside just now getting things ready for spring.

We dont have much money left but have a lovely place with plenty growing space, a greenhouse and a soon to be populated hen house and run. No mortgage, have halved our council tax liability and dont have a penny of debt. All our heat is from burning wood and some of the hot water and most of our cooking is done by the wood burner cutting the electric bill down.

I now work in a factory for less than half the money I used to earn but I'm happier, the wages arn't much but enough to get by on.

So, I would say the reccession has had a dramatic impact on our lives but for all the right reasons. They can stick the rat race where the sun dont shine and if I ever leave this place, It'll be in a wooden box. Happy days ahead

[Millymollymandy]

Good on yer, The Honk. It's good to hear some happy stories instead of the doom and gloom one hears on the news all the time.