Please help me get BACK TO THE BASICS of os moneysaving

PenniesMake£s · 18 July 2016 at 12:04PM

I came onto the os board today to start reading through the threads with all the tips and advise for saving because our money is running out. We are eating into our emergency fund to pay for the bills and food etc. This is not sustainable but I have forgotten all the os ways such as hanging out washing instead of using the time dryer and em... not boiling the kettle? See, I am a terrible waster of money these days but I have to do something about this or we may never holiday again

.

Please let me know all the tips and advise possible so I can become an oldstyler with money in the bank xx

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Sayschezza · 18 July 2016 at 12:49PM

Doesn't sound if you have forgotten, just got out of the habit. Good luck.

cheel · 18 July 2016 at 1:15PM

Oh a basics thread is a great idea.

I've not been at this long. But the very first step for me was to summon up the courage to look at my bank accounts card and bills.

Now I'm just trying to think before I spend, stretch the food electricity and gas. And trying to be organised , not easy for a scatter brain like me.

Good luck. (its a great drying day today

PenniesMake£s · 18 July 2016 at 3:40PM

I have about 4 loads on the washing line today cheel so that's one step in the right direction. However I've been using laundry capsules in recent times which is probably the most expensive option eek!

luxor4t · 18 July 2016 at 4:16PM

Well, you have the capsules so use them up and then replace them with a cheaper option.

The same applies to every other 'consumable' you have bought: use it up carefully then replace with something far more budget friendly.

Ilona · 18 July 2016 at 4:51PM

If you flick a switch it's going to cost you money. If you turn the tap on it will cost you money. If you take money and cards out of the house you will end up buying something. If you buy too much food you will end up throwing some of it away so buy only what you need and eat it all. Buy all your clothes and shoes and bags from car boot sales or charity shops. If you go out take a pack up from home, don't buy any food out. Snacky crisps, biscuits, cake, sweets, chocolate, fizzy drinks are not food they are junk and should be a treat, not every day. If you forget to buy an item of food, don't rush back to the shop, manage without it. Check your cupboards fridge and freezer before you go shopping so you don't buy more of the same. Delay your weekly shop to 9 or 10 days, stretch out what you already have. Make meals with what you already have. Cut down on the booze or give it up. Change your thinking on entitlement, just because someone else has it, you don't have to follow suit. Loads more but the list is never ending, it's a lifestyle choice that you can get into, if you want to.
Ilona

PenniesMake£s · 18 July 2016 at 5:14PM

Fab post Ilona thanks. I am taking notes:T

[Deleted User] · 18 July 2016 at 10:52PM

Ilona we are sisters under the skin honey

I too watch the light switch and unless I am reading I don't need a light to watch tv I like to have a few tea lights burning as they cost only pennies. I have never owned a tumble dryer and was married for 7 years with two children before I even owned a washing machine I would chuck the kids in the bath with some soapy water to trample the sheets and blankets.At the time we lived in a 'cold water' flat with only a tiny gas geyser so I couldn't have a washing machine as I had no access to hot running water anyway

Didn't have throw away nappies either in those days it was terry toweling ones and a big old black pot on the stove that covered two gas rings that I boiled stuff up in.The rest I scrubbed on a glass wash board

How times have changed in the past 50 plus years I never felt deprived as what you didn't have you didn't miss.I have always streetched my food out and virtually everything I make if I don't have the left overs the next day then it will be frozen for another day

I only use cash to buy food stuff and when its gone thats it, until the next 1st of the month. I live fairly easily on my monthly budget, and would rather spend what I have saved on other things, like my family holidays with my grandchildren.
Growing up with rationing made you frugal by nature and its always stuck. I hate waste of any sort, food is far too expensive to buy and throw away Just as well throw a tenner in the bin as food.

I recycle as much as I can and can usually find a use for most things

Snowy_Owl · 18 July 2016 at 11:20PM

This thread seems to have come at the right time for me! I too have kinda lost my way a bit on the moneysaving. although we are coping, we have just had a "proper holiday" which we saved up the spending money and had it paid for before we left. However, we now have to "be careful" - we have expected bills (and one for the cat as, being a roe, has been in the cattery for 9 nights, went out today and come home with a limp. Guess what he's been up to! ;-) ). Think we're just enjoying spending

milasavesmoney · 19 July 2016 at 2:15AM

My biggest lesson from both Ilona's blog and Jackie is to use up what you have bought to eat. That one thing has saved me so much money! I used to eat out a lot with OH. Now I'm back to cooking thrifty meals (Jackie) I look at what I have in the fridge all the time to use it up (Ilona), reinvent my leftovers, not duplicate what I already have (unless it's a fantastic sale and something I use all the time) and to NOT WASTE FOOD. That's like throwing money in the trash.

I have followed both their examples of cooking from what I have in my pantry/freezer/fridge. Money saver!!!! I'm quite proud of myself actually and it has become fun for me.

I also don't usually use my CC unless I can pay it off that month. Big savings! Christmas is the exception because of online shopping but it was paid in two months so not too bad.
This year I joined the Christmas challenge and have the money saved for 2016 so it can be paid off same month. :j :beer:

[Deleted User] · 19 July 2016 at 7:08AM

Brilliant mila :T it gives you such a buzz doesn't it when you can produce something that not only looks good, but is tasty and inexpensive as well.

If, when I am at the supermarket (not that often far more interesting things to do

) I always have a look and see what is selling apparently well, and think Hmm I could make that for half the price

and I usually do

.

Simple cooking is what we usually all had when we were small, and to my mind is the easiest thing in the world.

I can, but don't do fancy stuff ,mainly because I just think its OK for a treat perhaps, but not to eat every day, or it wouldn't be a treat would it .

I am happy with plain normal stuff which perhaps my late Mum wouldn't have cooked as she would never have had the ingredients because of wartime rationing for one thing.

I enjoy the fact I can use herbs and spices, and curries,chilli's and pasta dishes can be jazzed up a bit with a few dollops of this, and sprinkles of that, (technical terms

:)).

Yesterday my friend has made the most delicious beef stew and dumplings, which bearing in mind the temperatures had soared to over 29c sounded a bit odd.but in fact it was gorgeous just as a change from salad stuff,we had a fresh fruit salad to follow and I came home absolutely stuffed

Today I will have the last of my tuna and sweetcorn salad for lunch and tonight I am out at a pub quiz night so I haven't a clue what the meal will be Last week it was a jacket potato with a chicken and mayo stuffing which was gorgeous.

But simple food, well cooked, is a great way to save the cash.I certainly don't slave over a hot stove all day far too busy for one thing

I watch the celebrity chef programmes with interest,but no way would I want to cook or eat some of the stuff they make.

I like to get as much for my pennies as I can, and with the cost of food rising all the time, I think we will all be going back to basic simple cooking to help keep the costs down

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Please help me get BACK TO THE BASICS of os moneysaving

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