Monthly Archives: December 2009

I love Christmas food. Perhaps it’s a bit greedy of me, but it’s one of my favourite things about the whole festival. Delicious roast potatoes, pigs in blankets, homemade mince pies and Christmas pudding. Fantastic. What I don’t like about … Continue reading →

Our local shops are feeling the pinch in the recession and some are warning that they might have to close. So, as I explained in my last post, I’ve decided this year to try to spend as much of my … Continue reading →

We’re well into December now and it’s time to crack on with the rest of my Christmas shopping. Normally I try to do as much as possible ahead of the festive season in sales throughout the year. But there have … Continue reading →

I’ve come to the end of my challenge to live on the equivalent of incapacity benefit or the new version, employment support allowance, and it’s been a really eye-opening three weeks for me. Obviously I can’t pretend that my challenge … Continue reading →

Picture a workforce six million strong, paid £50 a week, working long hours, often on call 24 hours a day, with few breaks or holidays. Some workers are as young as 14, while others are in their seventies or eighties. … Continue reading →

It’s the third week of my task to live on the equivalent of incapacity benefit (£89.80 a week in my case) and a disabled friend of mine just emailed me to ask how I’m getting on. From a financial point … Continue reading →