A year's supply of soap and washing away worries.

 I made a few batches of soap last year, most of which became birthday and Christmas gifts for the family. It's still washing our delicates, the car, the windows, the worktops and the floor. Firstly, I chop it into cubes and then blitz it for a few seconds. I then add a couple of spoons of washing soda.

 The end result is a version of soap powder. I store it in a plastic box with a lid by the sink and use it for all household cleaning, including hand washing and of course, washing ourselves. I know soap is cheap, but hand made vegetable soap, which is cruelty free and planet friendly isn't. Mine costs 16p a bar.

I don't stock pile, I don't have the ready cash to do that. I have a few 'stashes, but I never have a year's worth. I often have three or four months supply around the house of 'staples' and I'm shocked when I buy them again, as they've always increased in price.

Again, I would like to thank anyone who has emailed me, or left messages of support. I have taken advice and now all messages are moderated by me before I then allow them in the 'comments'. It's easier to just delete. I've had over three thousand hits on the website today and the most moving emails from people who know we'll get through this together. To those people, and you know who you, and what you are personally going through, just hang in there. We have to. We are in it together. We are here for each other. If there's something you might think I can advise on, or you want help with; then leave a comment and I'll see what I can write about.

 I have a feeling it's going to get worse. One of the biggest employers in most economically developed countries such as the UK and  Australia etc are the public sector and they will be cut as the economy recedes. They employ millions of people, who are at risk of losing their jobs. Dearly Beloved is just waiting to find out about his job. I'm grateful for employment and as I have known the delicate situation of the private sector as I've been employed in it and have been an employer myself. I know many friends who have been made redundant, who were lucky enough to find another job only to be made redundant again in a very short time. We need to really 'cut our cloth' carefully. If we have debts we need to reduce them. If we spend, we need to be wise. If we use credit cards, we need to stop.

I don't want to tell anyone how to live their life, but I do want to share mine. It's been a painful journey and yet full of rewards. We have zero % transferred loans that we snowball and pay off in huge amounts. We pay off £1750 in debt repayments a month!!! And that doesn't include our mortage. We leave ourselves with £400 a month, which is more than adequate to feed ourselves, transport me to work, clothe ourselves, have days out, furnish our home, look after our pets, pay for hair cuts and care for our immediate family and friends. We've lived like this since November 2009 and it hasn't killed us. If I can help just one person cope with less, if just one person feels that they can make do and stop consuming, if one person just grows a potato plant in an old shopping bag on the front step, then deleting the odd cutting remark will be worth it. I might disappear occasionally when life bites me a bit harder than I can cope with, but I won't stop blogging.

Between you and me dear reader, I need this. It helps me make sense of the planet. I reflect and actually, I have a wonderful life. I'm healthy, well fed, well clothed, funny, clever, in love, a mum to two wonderful adults, daughter of two loving parents and I live in paradise. If you want to read, then read, but let me know it's worth it and become a follower and leave a comment every now and then.

Here's something for you to ponder and comment on today............if you were going to stock pile to get through hard time, or if you already do, let us know what it is and why.

As ever, Love Froogs

xxxxx