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2026 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD - our Year of Redistribution
To use Guineapigsqueaks/Sa1sysoo words “A new thread for declutterbugs in (2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025) 2026!" My 2025 has been another washout on the decluttering & decorating fronts as my Decluttering Mojo went ‘walkabout’ presumably as a reminder that I should Plan Ahead 😔 A better year…
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2026 Frugal Living Challenge
Welcome to the all new 2026 Frugal Living Challenge Challenge yourself to live a frugal lifestyle so you can afford the freedom to enjoy life. This is about household budgeting, simple living and being creative with your money. Frugality can be a fabulous lifestyle choice for debtbusting, boosting savings or investing in…
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New to the Old Style MoneySaving board? Start here
💬 Some classic Old Style threads * Share your charity shop bargains * Cooking for one * Meal plan thread * Sneaky Ways to Save the Pennies and Lots more Sneaky Ways to Save the Pennies * Vinegar - 1001 uses! * The Old Style Starter Pack * What are you making for dinner? * Reverse meal planning Plus keep an eye on the…
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March 2026 Grocery Challenge
Welcome to the 3rd Grocery Challenge of 2026! As always this challenge is to reduce your own grocery budget to levels that you will be pleased with, not forgetting that we always recommend that you stay inside your own comfort levels and take things gently one step at a time. Remember that this is not a competition....it's…
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February 2026 Grocery Challenge
Welcome to the 2nd Grocery Challenge of 2026! As always this challenge is to reduce your own grocery budget to levels that you will be pleased with, not forgetting that we always recommend that you stay inside your own comfort levels and take things gently one step at a time. Remember that this is not a competition....it's…
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I'm Back
Hi Chums, I have bowed to pressure from various members who remember this daft old woman who likes to save cash I had to rejoin with a different name but I'm still the same JackieO underneath, just a bit older. Glad to see you are all jogging along OK Hope this year is better than the past two Cheers chums JackieO xx
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Thank you for all your good wishes
Good morning chums, it only little old me popping in today thank you for all your good wishes. I am wired up to various machines at the moment and can just about tap this out on my phone, certainly different from my trusty laptop I’ve been poked and prodded and have wire coming from various uncomfortable places. Laying…
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La Dolce Vita (The Sweet Life) - on a tiny budget.
As the title suggests.......how to live a sweet life on a budget..... Travel, going out, fashion, food, home decor and just having fun times and getting the most out of each day......living our best lives ever. All tips and hacks gratefully received. 😂🤣 So a bit of background. I am 71 and feeling somewhat worse for wear.…
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2025 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD - The Joy of Decluttering
To use Guineapigsqueaks/Sa1sysoo words “A new thread for declutterbugs in (2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024) 2025 !" My 2024 was another washout on the decluttering & decorating fronts. That is what happens when I don’t plan ahead 😔 Neither DH nor I have managed to summon up any enthusiasm for anything…
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I'm back! Trying to spend less on food!
Last October I started a thread to see how long i could last on the £187.15 that i had left of my shopping budget for the year. I did this mainly to keep myself accountable. I didn't think anyone would read it. It ran in the end to 27 pages and had over 55000 views. @Floss asked of i was doing the same this year. So here I…
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Slow Living - Doing It Old Style!
It's a bit early to be starting this thread but it's the last day of 2023 that I will have the time so I'm doing it now! I have decided that 2024 is going to be the opportunity to put into practice all the things that I have thought about, wanted to do and dabbled with in 2023. I have a few diaries on the forum which touch…
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Prepping: the new world...
Thought it was about time for a new Prepping thread... Please keep it on topic, friendly and realistic for life in the UK (i.e. no hurricane basements, no guns, no politics). For those that don't know, the Guides & Scouts among us will be prepared, but are the rest of us ready? IMPORTANT NOTE: this thread is a resource for…
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No Buy Year
I’m planning a no buy year. My disdain for consumerism has been building for a long time, but this year has been the final nail in the coffin. I don’t need anymore stuff. The environment needs me to stop adding to the rubbish tip. I watched my nieces and nephews, with playrooms filled with toys receive more and more, with…
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Reasons to be Cheerful
Hi ,I have been listening to the radio this morning while baking and to be honest its seems to be nothing but doom and gloom and despondency around at the moment I know times are tough and people are struggling, but at coffee morning yesterday we were all saying how people seem to have lost being cheerful. I have been…
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Message from JackieO
Hi all, I "spoke" to JackieO a few days ago, via email. She asked me to let you all know she is still alive and kicking. She does read along on here sometimes. Mumtoomany.
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No buying until I’ve used up ALL my stashes
I have realised that I have accumulated large quantities of various items, so I plan to reduce my spending in 2023 by using up what I have already accumulated first before buying any more, this should also free up some space and help with the decluttering! These ‘stashes’ have accumulated by me bulk buying when I see…
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A sadness that so many OS stalwarts aren't here now isn't it?
These OS threads are looking so sparse since the new format came into being and I can't be the only one missing our friends like JackieO who has given up posting and many others who were the backbone of the OS ethos. Who else is missing? It's such a pity as they are the holders of knowledge and sensible views that are…
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Do you have a secret trick?
Do you have a way of doing something that makes it easier or more efficient? Something that you do but you’re not sure if everybody knows about it? If so, share it on this thread 🙂 Here’s mine. When you’re putting up a washing line, make sure it’s good and long. Then you can do a double string, and use it to split your…
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2023 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD
To use Guineapigsqueaks/Sa1sysoo words “A new thread for declutterbugs in (2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021, 2022) 2023 !" My 2022 was another washout on the decluttering & decorating fronts. Neither DH nor I have managed to summon up any enthusiasm for anything. Of course, we did have our TWO big holidays - the American…
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Reverse Meal Planning
Not sure if many of you will have tried the reverse-meal plan idea. Rather than buying all the ingredients you need to support your meal-plan, you look at your fridge, freezer and store-cupboard and meal plan from that, minimising what you shop for. Based initially on the fresh produce that would be wasted if it is not…
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2024 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN MrsSD
To use Guineapigsqueaks/Sa1sysoo words “A new thread for declutterbugs in (2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021, 2022, 2023) 2024 !" My 2023 was another washout on the decluttering & decorating fronts. Neither DH nor I have managed to summon up any enthusiasm for anything. Not helped by DH’s health scare in March 😔 Our…
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Alternatives for when the supermarkets sell out....
Hi,I know a lot of people are worried at the moment because they are unable to get what they need from the supermarkets. It would seem that more and more products are becoming unavailable, with either no stock or just expensive brands left. I thought it would be good to start a thread where we could help each other by…
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A Very MSE Advent 2025
Welcome old and new faces to A Very MSE Advent 🎄 Our advent runs from the 1st December to the 24th I originally set this diary up because while pleased for my friends, I was envious of their fancy advent calendars and wanted to appreciate what I did have- and save a few quid! Your advent can be anything you like, such as…
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2021 MISSION DECLUTTER and CLEAN
To use Guineapigsqueaks/Sa1sysoo words “A new thread for declutterbugs in (2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020) 2021 !" 2020 had a great start - we went on holiday to the Dominican Republic - just a week but we decluttered stress & thought we were setting ourselves up for a productive year 😆 How wrong can one person be 😂 You…
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2022 Frugal Living Challenge
Welcome to the all new 2022 Frugal Living Challenge Join us here for year 15 of the Frugaldom challenge on MSE - our CRYSTAL Anniversary It's that time of year again, the time when we all need to start thinking ahead into the new year and how we are going to organise our frugal lifestyles, be it to tackle debts, generate…
