You know you're truly skint when...

[ratflavouredjelly]

I've decided to humour myself and start this thread laughs hysterically. Anyone care to join me with their stories. Maybe we can out skint each other...

So, you know you're truly skint when:
Shopping in charity shops are no longer ironic.
The middle of the month arrives and you panic about feeding the family.
You can not afford the petrol to work.
You're growing your own veg but cannot stretch to compost to enrich the soil.
DS and DD's shoes are too tight (something you never thought you would allow to happen)
Your bra is too tight, buying a new one is out of the question, so you just 'get used' to the pain.
Yadda harumph harumph

That charity shop story is awful. The charity shops here are great for books and chikdrens clothes but I find other itens, particularly womenswear are very overpriced for people in need. I regularly shop in charity shops, when I'm skint and not so skint but find it can be difficult on a budget.

Because of this thread I've had messages from lovely MNetters who are willing to send unused items for my DD's birthday. I honestly cannot thank you enough. I've had a really bad few days (DP left us and we're now on a 'trial separation') and it really did make me feel lucky, special and regained my faith in people. I only hope one day I am in a position to give help to those in similar need.

pullup Some great ideas for gifts!

twirly sigh. I think its quite common practice, sadly. I am sorry for your loss x

I dont have any clothes to give atm but as soon as I have a clear out/the boys outgrow the stuff they are in now/summer stuff I will put it on MN and send to anyone who needs it.

star Chatsworth is very nice! We can get there quite easily!

Cheers Badvoc. I don't know what it is with this thread, but it has really been on my mind.

I remember one of the worst things about being skint was listening to other people saying what they were buying their kids and feelings like mine were missing out. But I can honestly say my kids had great birthdays, even though we could only spend a tenner max.

I have also collected a year's worth of milk carton lids for my toddler, he is so happy with these, plays with them all the time!

It's so so painful.

You convince yourself that the clothes in the "Everything for £5" shop are actually very nice!!! :s
You 're-use' DS's nighttime nappies if they have not got wet!
You superglue old sandals to make them wearable again.
You convince 3 yr old DS that holes in jeans really are fashionable!

Oh and you decide a £5 book is too expensive a present for your own father so handmake something instead! :(

You ok nkf??

CM, just finding things hard right now. Sitting here, trying to make finances work. Reading the posts makes me sad too but also aware that so many people are in the same boat.

pullup as I said earlier, my dc are happiest playing with the cheapest things!!! A lot of what you say hits home...I also worry about what others think (too much perhaps esp family) but my dc dont want big b day parties in overpriced soft play where the food is inedible (thank god!) I do think people wonder though....esp his class mates if he has been to their parties, but he doesnt want one and thats that.

They are both happy with a "family party" as ds1 calls them...all the family and lots of nice food and some games.

Its esp hard this year as its mine and dh's 40th and we arent going to be able to do anything "special" IYSWIM? which is a bit depressing. But hey. Could be worse.

I just wanted to pop on and say thank you to the very kind women who've ones to offer us stuff after my posts yesterday, whilst I can't accept as I'm hoping our situation will improve soon and it wouldn't be right your messages really cheered me up yesterday on an otherwise shifty day.
My biggest struggle at the minute is do as he just doesn't seem to grasp how serious it is, we had a huge fight last night and still aren't speaking as he spent money we can't afford on something for himself. I was up til 3am crying and can't even look at him now. That money could have bought ds1 the shoes he needs ffs I just feel so alone with it all

Sorry, autocorrect went a bit mad there, hope ye got the gist

YYY about the party invites!

That and trying to find something that looks much more expensive than it actually was

YY to potty training WAY before DC ready to save on nappies.

Just got electric bill was expecting a springtime improvement our last winter bill. It's the same. I have NO idea how to pay it. Well it can wait at least three weeks.m everytime I pay the cunting thing off,I spend the next three months trying to get back to where I was before. Then it comes again.
Being so so happy DC are 11 12 months so the can have cow's milk instead of formula.

Not giving into tantrums because you can't afford whatever it is they want, not because you are supernanny.

Aggggggraaah the presents!

Knowing where I can go to draw £5 from a cash machine

Vickity I'm always thrilled to discover a new machine that dispenses fivers, most only do £10 minimum now, so annoying!

I am skint and have no floor cleaner. I also have dirty puppy pee scented floors. What can I use in its place? Will straight up bathroom bleach do the trick? It's laminate, bathroom tile & stone tile I'm looking to clean.

The co op do £5 cashback now which is good.

Re: parties and gifts. I re-gift unwanted xmas b day gifts my dc have received that they dont like/wont play with. It great as a child gets a nice gift they like and it prevents a perfectly lovely gift going in the recycling/charity box.

I am pretty fed up re: charity shops in general atm...I have taken so much stuff over the years and I am not sure any of it ever ended up on the shopfloor

rev If you dilute the bleach in water and use gloved for your hands it will be fine....might make your eyes water a bit if you use it neat.

I'll be using a mop so I'll dilute it in a bucket, spread it on and then put my feet up for an hour while it dries. An excuse to put my feet up if any :o

You know you are truly skint when you get excited in the supermarket at 20p pitta breads!

I know Bebe - we're lucky one has recently been installed near me, so I can go there when we have £6.50 in the bank!

rev just thought if you have any sprinkling some bicarb on the floor prior to mopping will really help with the odour!

summerrain sorry to hear you argued with your dh, I hope he's come and begged for forgiveness from you.

I'm quite disappointed to hear about the charity shops, but sadly not that surprised. That's why I'm so very happy to be passing clothes on to lovely MNers who will use the clothes for their dcs and actually appreciate them.