Cost of living #3

[Hunga Munga]

Asda do me way better than Tesco . Their Loyalty scheme isn't all that though , it's like cashback on expensive things .

 

[TamsinValencia]

Asda is cheaper than Tesco

 

[simdagger]

@November, you're right. Kangaroo is not popular in the states. They're quite anal about what's normal to be eaten in the states, especially on a legal basis. You can't even buy haggis in the states legally. You'd have to make someone discreetly make haggis in the states for consumption.

Love it how it's ok to eat meat filled with growth hormones, and chicken that has been washed in bleach but...eating haggis or other offal that would be just ground into dog food is forbidden.

Haggis is ok, nothing to really write home about, the Scotch go crazy about it, I think the English Black pudding is far superior ( a sausage made from congealed pigs blood, fat and some herbs and spices)

 

[TamsinValencia]

The bag charge is staggering
50p

 

[simdagger]

Asda is cheaper than Tesco

Lidl is cheaper than both? I hover over them for the £1.50 Veggie boxes, sorted for the week, just go to the Waitress Sainbury's for the spices and funky bit's needed to make meals, I live out in the country so the local shops are super expensive but when I go to a city I check out the Chinese Supermarkets to stock up on crazy cheap Noodles, Ramen and stuff you can't find in the supermarkets

 

[nightshade]

Lidl is cheaper than both?

But they don't deliver!

I do my top up shop in Aldi, but it's too small to do a big shop in, however I still get distracted by the middle aisles!

Shopping online saves me money, I can do a big monthly shop, edit it and then have it delivered. They get the fun of finding somewhere close to park, and carrying it up the stairs!

I've got a few hours left to edit my order, before it's confirmed.

 

[LovyDovySpuffy]

Love it how it's ok to eat meat filled with growth hormones, and chicken that has been washed in bleach but...eating haggis or other offal that would be just ground into dog food is forbidden.

Haggis is ok, nothing to really write home about, the Scotch go crazy about it, I think the English Black pudding is far superior ( a sausage made from congealed pigs blood, fat and some herbs and spices)

Yeah, America is hypocritical and inconsistent when it comes to health standards. But I wonder if Europe has better health standards. I know Europe has banned some things that America's F.D.A. approves of.

Not a big of haggis to be honest. But just find it interesting how America makes a big deal from the ingredients in haggis. Not a big fan of pudding texture, either. But I'm just imagining the flavor sausage, pig's blood, fat, herbs, and spices being okay, though.

 

[nightshade]

It's April, and that means payrise! It'll be good to see what difference that makes, however as it's school holidays now, I'm working extra this month, next month will be a more regular one, so it'll be June when I see what the difference actually is. I'm hoping it'll be enough to just start savings off, ready for Christmas. Need to start putting money aside for that soon. Will definitely spend less this year though, but I say that every year!

 

[simdagger]

Yeah, America is hypocritical and inconsistent when it comes to health standards. But I wonder if Europe has better health standards. I know Europe has banned some things that America's F.D.A. approves of.

Not a big of haggis to be honest. But just find it interesting how America makes a big deal from the ingredients in haggis. Not a big fan of pudding texture, either. But I'm just imagining the flavor sausage, pig's blood, fat, herbs, and spices being okay, though.

I think anywhere where you don't exclusively buy your food online or at the big supermarkets is the way I know that's the same in the States as it is in Europe or Australia... for instance I can take a walk down the lane, buy eggs from a lady who has surplus fresh one from her chickens and I put a couple of quid in the pot at the end of her drive, nothing fresher! No FDA or Farmers Associations checking up on them just simple fresh eggs. Every moth there is a farmers market where we can get fresh meat and we have a fishmongers over the road where we can get that days fish (I get that you're not going to get fresh fish EVER in say the midwest for instance!) Oh we also have in our village a churn where we can fill our milk bottles up with fresh milk from a local dairy.

I guess the FDA and the EU equivalents are only really geared at mass produced industrial processed garbage so as long you don't eat that you're all good.

 

[November]

Its illegal to sell eggs and produce without health certificates here. Even at markets you need to be certified. I dont think its hard but there is a fee with the shires. Every so often there are horror stories in the news about people eating bad eggs or mushrooms and dying by the dozen.


The lack of housing is SO bad here now. Never seen anything like it on the coast. People living in vans on the beach, but getting massive fines for it, and then just going to jail instead of paying fines because its a roof and 3 meals a day. Some farms have opened up paddocks for full time employed people to set up camp until real houses are built. Caravan parks are full of people living there. There are just not enough houses for the huge increase in population. It'll all catch up, there is a lot of land to be built on and infilled in the city, just sucks til then. Im so relieved I have my house, well away from it all.


I am well stocked up for winter. Next thing to do is get quotes for Harmonys leg surgery. I am hoping I dont have to take her up to Perth but that might be what happens if waitlists are too long down here.

 

[Dogs of Winter]

If people want something, they will most definitely get it! There was recently a news piece about some people in the US ramming a storefront with a truck to steal sports merchandise.

That used to go on all the time in the UK. Loads of stores have anti ram raid barriers outside now

When I was at college I used to work at a coop superstore and people used to walk out with big items like lawnmowers and double duvets.
There was a security guard but he wasn’t allowed to stop people so I was never quite sure what was the point of having him. Although it is quite awkward carrying a lawnmower so maybe he would hold the door open for them

That's the good news, the bad news is Tesco are putting the minimum order up to £50 from £40, which is more than I need to order in a month. Their clubcard scheme isn't as good as it used to be either,so might look at Asda prices and their loyalty scheme.

I recently got a blue light card which gives you 10% off at Asda so I have done my weekly shop there the last couple of weeks. Its not bad but if you like fresh food it isn't great. The fruit and especially the veg is definitely much better at Sainsburys and even Tescos

Haggis is ok, nothing to really write home about, the Scotch go crazy about it, I think the English Black pudding is far superior ( a sausage made from congealed pigs blood, fat and some herbs and spices)

I love black pudding. I just try not to think what is in it !

 

[Bop]

Remember in the old days when all plastic bags were free.

 

[Hunga Munga]

Remember when you could your foot x-rayed at the shoe shop ? 😛 A single use plastic bag was a treat in them days ! 😉 .

Wales has been phasing out single use plastic for a while . First they charged for them . Now you can't get them . My Asda has been bagless for a year or two . I use Lidl ,woven polypropylene reusable shopping bags . Large , sturdy , can do bulk or delicate items . Shoulder or hand straps for toting . I thought I was gonna hate the change , but it's actually made my life easier .

 

[November]

Remember in the old days when all plastic bags were free.

I still rant about this on tweeter 🤣 cos I used to use the free bags as bin bags and its just added a whole other level of difficulty to my life. I cant afford bin liners, so everything goes straight in the dirty plastic bin. I've stopped recycling completely, it just got far too difficult. Now I never have to worry about which week is recycling bin week 😁

The rubbish trucks dont really empty the street bin completely now cos the bottom 1/8 is stuffed with loose rubbish. There has been a dead rat stuck in the bottom of mine for weeks lol.

The oldies are nicking the plastic produce bags and dog poo bags at the park to swap produce in, the paper bags rip instantly after use. They bitch about how they had to stop using paper to save the trees, and now they have to stop using plastic for political fashion trends. The cost to them is the greatest cos they try to load up their reusable bags to the brim at the shop and then they injure themselves trying to lift them since none of them can use a smart phone or credit card for delivery. Honestly the minimum delivery is too high anyway and sharing is near on impossible because its so hard to get cash. (No atm in my town, and my bank doesnt do cash withdrawal from the post office, if I could just get on the NDIS the first thing I would do is get them to help me change to a more accessible bank!)

There arnt that many 85 year olds online, but i can tell ya, the stress is real for some. Some are fine with it, so much change already in life, but others cant deal with the changes at all (like me! Hehe). Plastic takeaway containers, plastic plates, forks, straws and coffee cups are all near on banned. I am hoarding my plastic containers for dinner runs to the neighbors. They cant keep promoting this town as a retirement place, its just cruel when food is so hard to get.

 

[Bop]

still rant about this on tweeter 🤣 cos I used to use the free bags as bin bags and its just added a whole other level of difficulty to my life. I cant afford bin liners, so everything goes straight in the dirty plastic bin. I've stopped recycling completely, it just got far too difficult. Now I never have to worry about which week is recycling bin week 😁

I still use plastic bags as bin bags because it just gives me something to do with them 😂

the paper bags rip instantly after use.

I really dislike paper bags. The thing is they're fine if you're just using them to carry stuff from the shop to your car which is what the average bureaucrat is imagining and that's why they see no problem with them but personally I walk to to the supermarket and back with my shopping so what am I supposed to do if the only option is paper bags and it starts raining while I'm walking home. Well the answer is bring my own bags, and I prefer to carry stuff in my backpack because I don't feel the weight of it that way but it annoys me because they say they're making a switch to paper bags to help the environment but yet it mainly disadvantages people who don't drive which is very ironic because the cars are doing a lot of damage to the environment.
Pedestrians, which would include a lot of old people, are not considered in society in multiple ways.

 

[November]

There is no option to leave bags out of delivery. And they only put one thing in them each so i paid $2 for bags alone on my last delivery. And they still left the lettuce out so its all wilty.

I messed up my delivery days, they've changed it to you have to buy a membership to get access to spots more than 4 days in advance. I havent kept up and missed my normal slots before they were sold out. Now I am going to have to drive tonight as nothing will be open tomorrow! Need bunny food for the weekend. Really mucked it up bad. Driving at night before a long weekend on this highway is ridiculously dangerous. Maybe i can push it to Saturday but even then will be wild out there

 

[November]

After an assessment, they can then give you access to food vouchers to use.

Charities can also help you access other wrap-around services such as housing and financial counselling

The cost of living is seeing people access food relief for the first time. Here's how to go about it

The rise in the cost of living is the primary reason more Australians are struggling to put food on the table. If you are needing help for the first time, what are your options and how can you get the help you need?

www.abc.net.au

Urgh these articles drive me mad. The barriers to food relief are the assessment and application process. Its too bloody hard! I know from experience that the first thing they offer is financial counselling BEFORE offering food. I couldn't reduce my rent so I worked in exchange for food relief instead last time I did it, which was the only way to get reduced food without going through the referral system.

If you're homeless then you can have the fruit for free off the middle table, but anything around the outside needs a voucher.

If they made food relief so that a low income card is all you need, it would be MILES easier. To jump through all the hoops to get the crappy food (in our region) is not worth the effort. Its difficult to get referrals and approval. If I was capable of all that stuff I'd have a job and not need it!

Im struggling today with it all, migraine incoming I bet! Haha

 

[nightshade]

I am in love with my new airfryer, paying extra was definitely worth it.

My food shopping delivery doesn't come in bags, they bring it up in a crate box and I bag it and bring it inside.

I will definitely look at asda for next month, I know it'll be a cheaper month food wise as I need to buy toilet paper.

 

[November]

My electric bill wasnt so bad 🙂 I have the heater on now. After seeing that bill, I am more relaxed. Its 7C/45f in the lounge room at midmorning after almost 20c yesterday. Xander cant be losing any weight before winter sets in. I didnt want to start the fire for just one cold day. Will wait til there are a few in a row.

I am worried about my car rego and servicing. I will have to juggle to do it. Costs more in the long run, but I cant think of any other way. I think the only way is if is when the next fuel card comes in, I use my car more for very small shopping trips to save on delivery fees. It'll burn through the fuel card, and put k's on the car, but at least it will free up some cash for rego.

Was talking to a guy that lives next street over. They've taken his license off him because he is over 85. He said he told them he has to drive to the shop and they said he could apply for an exceptional license. He didnt..he's just gona drive anyway and he rekons if he gets caught, they will feed him in jail.

 

[Fuffy]

Meanwhile I'm watching the local currency lose more and more of it's value by the day, good thing that I downgraded everything that I could downgrade before losing my job.

he's just gona drive anyway and he rekons if he gets caught, they will feed him in jail.

Nice 😂😂😂