Cost of living crisis

Status
Not open for further replies.
I might be getting an allotment, I've been on the waiting list for a couple of years now, and just received an email to say one is available so going to visit it and get that sorted.

Be a great time to get it cleared ready to plant for spring.
 
Had to get out my British to Murican wiktionary for 'allotment'. 😉
Don't think we have any equivalent of that here? 🤔
 
TriBel
TriBel
Apparently you have "community gardens". That's about the closest you get.
Joan the Vampire Slayer
Joan the Vampire Slayer
Agree with TriBel - we have a "community garden" here in the city I live in where you can rent a space, but there is a waitlist.
Still time to take a little crop if the soil is in any condition . Overwintering cabbages for spring planting , a little speculative turnip crop . Maybe look for a little end of season bargain polytunnel . Exciting stuff .

Yeah Metda , allotments used to be quite a big deal in the UK towns . Usually ours are pretty small plots laid out in a good sized field , can look pretty cute if you get a site where everyone is going for it .

The news coming through about the financial help for UK energy costs sounds pretty promising . Frankly I could have done with it 6 months ago , but there we are 😛 .
 
First, I noticed the watermelon snack packs that had only about 4 in the packet. Now Prawns in dipping sauce and there is only about 4 prawns in a pack, they may have been king prawns, but it was still £4 or so.
 
nightshade said:
I might be getting an allotment, I've been on the waiting list for a couple of years now, and just received an email to say one is available so going to visit it and get that sorted.

Be a great time to get it cleared ready to plant for spring.
Click to expand...
That's cool. I know someone who applied for an allotment recently but the waiting list is about 3 or 4 years long

TamsinValencia said:
First, I noticed the watermelon snack packs that had only about 4 in the packet. Now Prawns in dipping sauce and there is only about 4 prawns in a pack, they may have been king prawns, but it was still £4 or so.
Click to expand...
I hate it when they try and stealth charge you by keeping the price the same but giving you less 😡
The supermarkets have started selling tins of Miniature Heroes and Roses etc for xmas and the weight is down to 600g. It wasnt that long ago when you used to get 1kg in a tin 😭
 
Dogs of Winter said:
That's cool. I know someone who applied for an allotment recently but the waiting list is about 3 or 4 years long
Click to expand...
I expected it to be as well, when I applied to join the waiting list, there was already 13 people on it, so I'm guessing people have now decided to leave the list as its only been about 18 months.
 
So , a significant two year program of support for British residential energy users has been announced 🙂 . That should ease a few worries on the board .

I get 6 months as a business user , with a chance of extension , but 6 months sees me to April , maybe as much as 20 pence off the unit cost for winter. To be honest the business support is a bit skimpy . We need more regulation of the business energy market to prevent profiteering ...and cutting the VAT for small businesses at the very least . Otherwise we're just delaying the inevitable collapse in trade . I've been on the raggedy edge of this crisis but I can at least help myself cut costs . Some firms have fixed energy needs that can't be mitigated .
 
So in theory , I get to stay in business over winter . I get to keep my bed . I get to run a workspace (at reduced levels) . I think all my other economies remain in place . It's only a 6 month sticking plaster for business after all . We should expect quite a steep reduction in costs on fridge and frozen food . Inflation could come down quite a bit , so we won't be feeling the squeeze as bad in other bills too .
 
I'm pretty much still thinking that I'll not believe it until I get my first bill after the October price change. If we still get that £66 a month off bills from October and lower price cap then I don't have to worry about the cost of the bill at all really, as it'll cost no more than I'm currently paying and could actually be less depending on how they do that £66.

That said, I still want to continue with my autumn version of a big spring clean before October, so have a sort out, make sure I'm set for winter.
 

Sweet little allotment video from my favourite budget vegans 😉 . They do a regular vlog series . They're keen amateurs , what they lack in expertise, they make up for with effort and enthusiasm 🙂


Their beds could be deeper , the planting a bit smarter , but the moving parts for a productive allotment are all there .
 
Dogs of Winter said:
I hate it when they try and stealth charge you by keeping the price the same but giving you less 😡
The supermarkets have started selling tins of Miniature Heroes and Roses etc for xmas and the weight is down to 600g. It wasnt that long ago when you used to get 1kg in a tin 😭
Click to expand...
yah, i remember when juice and icecream was sold in half-gallon containers. Now it's 59oz I think?

Anytime you hear about "exciting new packaging", it's a safe bet the portion is smaller.
 
Well I went to see the allotment site, he had a few available and I went for a smaller plot up in the corner, the man that had it is moving to a bigger one, so it's been taken care of and there's already a lot growing. Of course I expect him to take it up but I can work straight on it. I will be able to from October so he's got time to take what he wants. I am hoping he leaves a compost bin though.
 
Check if your local council provides them for a small charge . Some do as part of their recycling . Failing that , 3 scrap pallets and string will get you going . Ideally you want a double bay(minimum) for gardening , so 6-7 pallets would give you a composting palace .

My preference would be to add organic matter from offsite to the soil , horse manure , poultry manure , as rotted as you can find them . Then targeted liquid feed during the growing season . You might find matey has already dressed the soil so that would give you breathing room to find your own way next year .
 
Last edited:
Hunga Munga said:
Check if your local council provides them for a small charge . Some do as part of their recycling . Failing that , 3 scrap pallets and string will get you going . Ideally you want a double bay(minimum) for gardening , so 6-7 pallets would give you a composting palace .

My preference would be to add organic matter from offsite to the soil , horse manure , poultry manure , as rotted as you can find them . Then targeted liquid feed during the growing season . You might find matey has already dressed the soil so that would give you breathing room to find your own way next year .
Click to expand...
They do, but he's got 3 on there so maybe he'll leave one! One of the guys works on a farm and does bring down some manure for people to help themselves to, but not sure how often that will be. If need be I can get some chicken manure from mums if I clean out the coop!
Not allowed to keep animals on site, but can go trees or have a pond.
 
I always thought trees were weird on allotments , but those guys I linked above have a couple of very productive trees and it looks lovely . Quite a big money thing though to get going . You can't penny pinch on the trees , or you're just growing firewood that gives you an apple every other year .

My personal mantra is 'pick your battles and grow for value ' . Maincrop potatoes and carrots are the same price as the dirt to grow them so why bother ?You can literally buy carrots as horse feed .

However bunch carrots , baby carrots , new potatoes ,second early spuds, baking potatoes , any kind of heritage variety , anything slightly out of season (new potatoes at Christmas for instance ) . Now this stuff is always expensive . You're still growing potatoes and carrots like , just a bit smarter .
 
Last edited:
The guy currently has carrots, beetroot and parsnips on it, as well as rhubarb and gooseberry plants. I doubt he'll dig up the rhubarb as it's large, but he might take the rest.

I went to the library today, had to get a new card as they couldn't find me on their computer, so I've got 2 books to read, and found out they still do the ancestry website, so that'll keep me going for a bit. I did put an alarm on my phone though to remind me to return the books!
 
Rhubarb propagates like crazy so he'll probably lift it if he wants to keep eating the stuff ...but I imagine he'll leave a chunk if you're into it . It really does breed .

I got a vast bottle of shower gel as a substitute on my Asda . It's a bit 'sporty sea breeze' for my tastes but it's a 2 quid bonus . Proper branded gear too , none of that generic swill (which I usually use 😉 ) . For two quid I don't mind smelling like the gym at an upscale marina for a couple of months 😛 .

The promised energy help for business has been delayed a month . I'm pretty gutted , god knows what they gonna charge me next month . It'll be bad .
 
Temperature has dropped here, so chatting with friends about how to keep warm this winter, lining curtains for drafty windows, draft excluders, door curtains etc. Putting hot water in bed, to warm it up before you get in.
 
Luckily for me the temperature is on the up as I have only 10 blocks of wood left. (2 days supply)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom