It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

Rummer

As part of my programme of cutting back I have started to cook and bake from scratch again and I made pizza and muffins for tea. Then I potted up my first seeds of the year so I am feeling very chuffed with myself! One thing I have noticed is the more OS I get the less time I have just for me, does anyone else feel that way?

Allegra

Rummer wrote: »

One thing I have noticed is the more OS I get the less time I have just for me, does anyone else feel that way?

The only way around it, Rummer, is to view the time spending OS stuff as being the time just for you - in other words, it's gotta be a labour of love, not a drudge, or it'll get very, very tough, and we'll not be able to cope very well at all.

Thus, washing up and cooking becomes meditation time; cleaning and gardening a workout; we don't walk everywhere because we can't afford fuel or public transport - no, it's increasing the exercise in the interest of wellbeing. Organising the freezer and meal planning are a mental exercise (like a freeware version of one that Brain Training thing for Nintendo DS); stretching the mince an expression of creativity... Have I convinced anyone yet ?

Rummer

I have to say Allegra that your post made me smile, I have been looking at things in a negative way and been feeling a bit sorry for myself. Thank you for making me think about it differently, although washing dishes will always be a chore!

nannaC

carriebradshaw wrote: »

hiya hon, thanks for the tip, we live very remote area though so no use to me but will be to other folk I'm sure. Apologies if previous post sounded a bit ranty but I just wonder how are we supposed to support local producers when that's what we're up against in these economic times

Hi, just a thought but do you have any neighbours who keep hens, you could ask them if they would sell you some of their surplus. Our next door neighbours DS used to keep hens on his dads allotment and kept quite a few people in our village supplied with lovely eggs, what we paid for them went to help pay for the cost of keeping the hens. I also get mine from the local farmers market, they are always better priced than supermarkets and come in med, large and greedy pig size.

Edited to say that will teach nannaC to open her big mouth before reading ALL the posts:o . Will get my proper head on now, last thought have you got a WI locally. Also I totally agree re FARM SHOPS there is one near us and the price/quality is terrible.

Primrose

pawpurrs - nobody who hasn't been in your situation can really understand just how low you must be feeling right now. You must feel that the net is closing in around you. I do hope that another job comes along soon for your OH.

elizabunny

Rummer wrote: »

As part of my programme of cutting back I have started to cook and bake from scratch again and I made pizza and muffins for tea. Then I potted up my first seeds of the year so I am feeling very chuffed with myself! One thing I have noticed is the more OS I get the less time I have just for me, does anyone else feel that way?

Hi Rummer, I know just what you mean, I'm so busy since I became an OS, I don't know what I did before. Sometimes I look in the mirror and wonder if it really is me looking back at me and sometimes when I'm dashing out to the recycling bins or fiddling around in the garden, I think my neighbours might be wondering if it's still me. No time for pretty nails or make-up, but I do drag myself off to the hairdresser fairly regularly -to try and keep up appearances:D
I think DH prefers me to smell like home-baking rather than posh perfume anyway, which is just as well because I can't afford posh perfume. I do try to think of all this effort as a labour of love though and know that all my work is helping in some way in the bigger scheme of things.
Me time, I now spend reading -something I had forgotten I enjoyed so much. Retail therapy -is shopping for 'whoopsies' and other bargains. Meal planning and stock piling gives me a sense of control and security. I know we can't control what may happen to our jobs or our partners jobs, but we do have some control in how we let it affect our lives and being an OS helps us do that.

Maxjessdru -fingers crossed for you tomorrow and in advance, Happy Birthday!

pagangirl

Hi folks - playing catch-up as usual

CarrieBradshaw - do you have a local @ldi near you - their free-range egss were no more than £1.36 1/2 dozen last weekend coz I bought some !

Pawpurrs - really sorry about the job news - but something better might just be round the corner !

Rummer - welcome - nice to meet you :wave:

Maxjessdru - Happy Birthday for tomorrow :bdaycake: (Good Luck with the job too)

Allegra - that post about work was absolutely brilliant - hadn't quite thought about it like that - do you mind if I copy it and put it on a fridge magnet ? Will cheer me up every time I read it.:D

kidcat

I agree, I am now so busy I wonder whether I will meet myself arriving home one day. However I have recently left a voluntary position that took alot of time and had been worried whether I woudl simply vegitate or worse become a hermit. I find that I am now spending my time OS and it has proved a good distraction, having spent years being undervalued and unappreciated and worthless talentless etc, I am now excited and proud of my achievements, which to some may seem silly. But when I have a good day whoopsie hunting and cook a lovely meal from scratch, having baked and made a HM pudding, it does make me feel good.

Today I have spent organising a mortgage for my friend who after a horrible two year divorce and court battle is finally almost at the end. Having never held a mortgage I spent yesterday on here reading and then today sorted a great mortgage deal for her. The broker I dealt with asked had I ever been involved in the industry because I was so well versed in the stuff. Again another good moment.

All in all its exhausting though, but I now fall into bed satisfied that my hard work has achieved something and that makes it worthwhile.

bellaquidsin

Awww, tired OS'ers, I wondered when you'd own up to it. I have been OSing for more or less all of the 40years of my marriage, sometimes it has been easier than others but mostly quite exhausting.

One of my main diversions (pleasures) is whoopsi and bargain hunting, otherwise it's cooking, cleaning, knitting, sewing, gardening all the way.

It's too late to change now and I've had to do a fair bit of belt tightening lately which hass meant more work.

My salvation? That ultimate Old Style necessity - the afternoon nap. Grab it if you can.

Bella.

Maxjessdru

Thanks for the good wishes folks.

Allegra - I totally agree that you can't view it as a chore. Last recession when OH was out of work, I made it into a game - see what the least amount of money I could spend on anything! I decided that I would limit myself to not spending more than £5 on anything (other than complete essentials (broken kettle!) or food). With scouring markets, jumble sales and car boots (plus TK Maxx bargains) I managed to clothe/shoe us for about £15 for a year. Got to admit I really like cooking though - unless I'm really tired - so that doesn't ever seem like hard work. My worst chores are washing up and ironing - both preferably done with something interesting on TV.