How OS are your kids?

thriftlady_2 · 10 October 2006 at 1:25PM

Ok, I feel so proud of my son (aged 11) that I have to share this with you:)

Yesterday he had some history hmwk, which consisted of examining a list of the contents of a fictional family's dustbin (looking at evidence

). He had to describe the family based on what was in their rubbish. The first thing he said was that they didn't recycle much, and pointed to a wine bottle, newspaper and potato peelings as examples. 'Well done' I said, thinking how environmentally aware he was. But, what he said next really warmed my OS cockles - 'look, they're throwing out chicken bones, they could have made them into stock' :T :j

Anyone else got budding OSers

jellycat40 · 10 October 2006 at 1:28PM

Mine at not at all OS.

I have to fish the recycleables out of the bin frequently and their idea of cooking from scratch means heating it up in the oven not the microwave!

Louise

Aril · 10 October 2006 at 1:39PM

Yes in a word very!
Aril

Becles · 10 October 2006 at 1:48PM

Yes - they're pretty good.

They both understand it's better to cook from scratch than buy ready meals or junk food. My eldest came in horrified yesterday as another child had cold takeaway pizza and a chocolate bar for his packed lunch.

I'm expecting and the youngest was browsing a cloth nappy site with me at the weekend, and giving his opinions on them!

recovering_spendaholic · 10 October 2006 at 2:15PM

DD1 is 16, stroppy and not at all OS - she thinks that most OS food is "rank" and thinks I am nuts. DD2 is much more OS - she loves home cooked food and loves to help in the kitchen - chopping, peeling, baking and she loves to clean everywhere with wet and dry microfibre cloths (although I am sure this is just novelty at the moment), and she will try almost everything I make, although she doesn't always like all of it. Having said that they both love pizza from Pizza Hut more than anything else in the world it seems!!

Addiscomber · 10 October 2006 at 2:24PM

Becles wrote:

They both understand it's better to cook from scratch than buy ready meals or junk food.

So do mine, just as long as it appears on a plate in front of them with absolutely no effort on their part :mad:

dolly_day_dream · 10 October 2006 at 3:05PM

I have three children and they vary enormously in their OS habits. DS1 used to manage on non-existent pocket money cos I just couldn't afford any and he makes sure that he cooks from scratch each night even though he often doesn't get home till 9pm each night. :A He is considering getting a bike for his journey to work. has no problems shopping in charity shops and recycles well.

DS2 is an OS nightmare:eek: he is the only one living at home a present. I have had to put home made ready meals into the freezer to feed his craving for them. He is congenitally unable to use the recycling bin. However he is happy to wear charity shop clothes and doesn't spend over the top on things like that.

DD is pure OS through and through. She started Uni last year and has managed her money well. Her housemates were appalled that she wanted to cook from scratch each day, however she was the one who could afford to socialise and finish the year overdraft free:A I was really proud of her cos we are not an affluent family who can afford to give her as much monetary support as others might. She researches thoroughly before spending and tries to get the most ethical, value for money she can.

They have all had a good grounding and understand the reasons for OS - living as gently as you can on the planet plus you get to spend the money on things you want without going into huge debts for them.

Sarahsaver · 10 October 2006 at 4:31PM

Mine, ages 5, 6 and 9 are all pretty OS aware. They instantly say 'recycling' when we finish a bottle of milk and have an empty bottle, they know that we need to shop around ont he market for the best fruit. The boys prefer cheaper meat - that is stuff that still has the bones in it, they like to know what they are eating, and like it if it still resembles a part of an animal;). They do not let me throw bones away - we have a bowl on the sunday dinner table for the bones and they soon remind me if I forget. They pick up pennies off the ground, dd picks me mushrooms and watercress, berries etc. when she is with her dad for the weekend. 6yo ds doesnt like to throw anything away, his stock phrase is 'we could make something with that.
They enjoy having 'free clothes' from friends kids and also enjoy sorting their stuff out for charity or friends' younger children.
On the rare occasion I have something readymade they say they wished I had made it as It would be better. DD knocks out perfect pancake /yorkshire pud batter with no lumps, ds1 makes the best coleslaw and ds2 makes a mean apple brown betty!
The boys often give me a standing ovation for soup which is just made out of leftovers.
They asked me not too long ago why I didn't knit their jumpers for them

Bambam · 10 October 2006 at 4:37PM

My DD is in her final year at Uni too and she is very OS aware. She has a SC which she uses constantly to make soups, stews and stock. But what amazes me is the fact she never throws anything away. She can always find a way to use it up/freeze. I'm very proud of the way she has managed her finances throughout. DS, on the other hand has recently returned to the family home to live and I have just about re-educated his taste buds to enjoy good home cooking again. On his own, if the food wasn't on his plate within 15 minutes it wasn't worth having. The most worrying thing of all though is that he has never been out with a girl who could put a meal together. Cooking lessons for my son, it is then :eek:

Anastacia · 10 October 2006 at 5:02PM

My boys are 14 & 16. The prefer 'proper' food because its what we have always had but I am pleased to say they will eat pretty much anything you put in front of them (including a sheeps head on holiday once - i was impressed but not enough to try a bit myself).
They are quite happy with second hand goods and clothes. The will also skip dive & bin dive & when it too small they give stuff to me to put in the charity bag.
We have to sort rubbish between recycly cardboard & tins, glass, biogredable & yucky rubbish and there is no way anyone in the family apparenty, apart from me, can understand this. So now it just gets put on the work top & I bin, better for the environment & my nerves.Not a bad result for their age though, I think.

thriftlady_2 · 10 October 2006 at 6:28PM

Sounds like, for the most part, that our frugal genes have been passed on to the next generation :T

PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING

How OS are your kids?

Comments

Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

🚀 Getting Started

Categories

Is this how you want to be seen?

Get our FREE Weekly email full of deals & guides - and it’s spam-free