It is tough NOW. So how are we coping

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

I've never been happier since I stopped spending for a hobby and got back to basics.Something I can thank you ladies for.
I have cut down on everything and don't miss anything at all.Infact we have a much better life all in all.
I have a huge stock cupboard and my weekly shop has halved as well,yet we eat better than ever.
I have everything under control and unless something terrible happens I feel we'll survive this recession like we did the others.
I think knowing that we are all here supporting and spurring each other on has encouraged me so much.Thanks everyone.

maman

I also invested in a great big snuggly blanket which has given the OH and I some really good quality time.

Good on you!!!

painted_lady

I am loving this thread (I did used to skim read the old one).
I discovered MSE properly in Sept 2006 when I became pregnant. I was on a good wage, lived with partner, had a small mortgage and some debt. I used to spend silly money on silly things.
I had gradually got more and more into the old style, although really it is how I was brought up, mum always cooked from scratch,used left overs, we had hand me downs, all our clothes/blankets were knitted, walked everywhere etc. They simply couldnt afford to be bringin 4 of us up any other way on one small wage in an era before tax credits etc.
I have made some significant changes to my lifestyle but feel better for it. I am going to list my tips below in the hope they help someone. i know some of them have been included here already, but here we go

WARMTH
- sounds simple, but we shut the internal doors on an evening, keeps the heat in, didnt used ot be so good at this, but really makes a difference
- sit on a microwavable wheatbag, stays warm for hours, keeps heating off
- DS wakes up if CH comes on in morning, so forces us to keep it off
- He goes to bed in jumpers, baby grows, vests, fleece babygrow etc, you get the picture
- plan when to open the windows. i try to open them everyday to help the circulation of air (we suffer allergies and asthma and need to do this) but I now give more thought as to when the best time to do it is, it is often when the house is cold and no heat can escape) then the heating might go on.

ENERGY
- again sounds silly, but open the curtains more for light, I used to put light on, keep it on and find it had got light. Open curtains in dark and you will know when there is enough day light
- obviously turnlights etc off when not in use
- I have a solar charger for ipod and phone etc, nto as brill this time of year but saves in summer and is great if your going away, only need one charger, no electrical plug adapters etc. I have found the power monkey best after trying a few

FOOD
- grown some of my own, potatoes etc in large pots, got plans for next year and even some seed left over
- buy reduced items and freeze them, peel and chop fruit and veg that looks like its seen better days and might not get used
- I dont meal plan as such as I find it restrictive, but I might look at what needs using and then plan a meal around that
- started getting annoyed with myself if I only have one item in cooker, so I tend to batch cook and freeze
- take lunch to work, often make an extra portion of tea night before for this purpose
- get free blackberries etc in september, neighbour also grows herbs and lets me pick some when I want
- invest in decent tupperware for batch cooking, freezing portions, left overs, lunches for work etc, put it on christmas list if you dont have any or need some more

GENERAL
- I only ever bulk buy items like washing powder and only use a small amount (a table spoon) never noticed difference
- use washable nappies on DS, not exclusively, but it helps
- use washable sanitary protection on me, saves a fortune and they feel so much nicer
- have invested in a sewing machine, need to learn how to use it properly, but will save a fortune on clothing alterations (used to pay £7a time for trousers taking up, only cost me £20 for machine)
- freecycle (give and receive) and ebay (buy and sell)
- walk instead of car for small journeys (I am disabled so sometimes find this hard)
- only have about 3 inch of bath water and we all wash in this (me, OH and DS age 19month)
- make the most of hand me downs, often more personal. I currently have a coffee table my grandad made from old bits of wood, he died in 1983. I have a microwave a friend gave me in 2000 because it was a big 1980s model, it still works and I am proud of it. DS wears some clothes that were passed on to him, I rarely buy new clothes, but when I do I go for quality that will last and stay in fashion
- I wash at 30 unless its bedding or got bodily fluids on, need to kill germs and bed bugs
- when planning driving I think where else I might need to go in that direction and try to do it all in one trip to save petrol
- cow and gate works out cheaper than cows milk for my DS and we find our milk goes off a lot so no problem there
-use washable wipes on DS (muslin squares, use them for nappy wipes, bibs, face wipes,cleaning up cloths)
- I try to wear clothes a bit longer too so they dont need washing as often, dont get me wrong, they dont smell, but before I used to wear something once, or before the smoking ban I would wash them if I could smell smoke (I hate that smell). I dont always wait for a full wash or I can never keep on top of it, but machine does have a half load button.
- No longer have tumble drier, but invested £7 in an additional indoor airer
- I have 4 19p washable cloths from wilko's. They clean my laminate kitchen floor nicely. I used to use disposable floor cloths and found this a very expensive way to clean, I been using the washable ones so long now i dont even think about it. I wash them regularyl and havent even needed replacing in 2 years. I often use firy liquid to wash the floor too.


Sure I have loads more tips, but will post them when I think of them, its getting late now. I am not over worried about the credit crunch. I wasnt well last week and bought 2 microwave meals for £4, I could normally make these meals for a lot less, or make more portions for that price, but I wasnt well. It has changed my way of thinking, my mindset.Thats what matters. Its making companies work for me, not me working for them.

Thanks to OP and to everyone who posted their story.

moanymoany

bellaquidsin wrote: »

Great new thread, thanks kittie.

Well, I've really always been OS. It enabled me to be a SAHM and later to help our elderly parents in their declining years.

In recent years times have been easier for us and I was able to relax my frugality a little. However, about a year ago I realised that we would need to do some belt tightening if we were to survive when DH retires next year.

I have found OS tips invaluable for getting me motivated to do this and I have seriously reduced our spending so that it will be in line with our income in retirement. Any money saved now is being stashed away into a rainy day fund.

What has helped me more than anything is the camaraderie in threads like this one which has made me realise that I am not alone in this journey.

Thanks to OSers one and all.:T With your encouragement I will cope.

Bella

We are in the same position as you re the retirement. The money I have saved through being OS I have banked. Over the past five years it has come to a nice tidy sum. That also included three years of overpaying the mortgage as the wretched endowments didn't cover - even with compensation! If I had had the LBM 10 years ago we could have paid it off and the endowments could have gone straight into our retirement pot. :mad:

However, better to learn late than not learn at all.

I love what Tightwad Gazette Amy says about being frugal. It means you don't spend where it isn't important to you - so that you can spend where it is!

BigMummaF

I'm in two minds as to whether I'm coping I've always had to cope & so, as others say, a lot of what I do is automatic. A lot of the tips I use now have come from here & I wonder why I didn't do them long ago : doh :

Now I use liquid soap dispensers for diluted washing up liquid at the sink; diluted 10p shower stuff as hand cleaner in the downstairs loo; stardrops; white vinegar & bicarb combos [that are soooo much better for my health too--most prep cleaners cause my allergies to kick in ]; add pulses to casseroles, cottage pies, etc; make stock from all sorts of bones, particularly for Pup cuz we don't buy dog food ; have spates of meal-planning; seriously review what things can be taken off stand-by & the timings for hot water.

Heating has still not gone on, but with the cold spell forecast for the weekend that could well change.

My issue is with the raising food prices; we are on the value range now for the biggest part of the grocery shop, so where is there left to go Whatever we can have that is cheaper, I'll use it..but if we really don't like taste/texture/allergic reaction I cannot do much about it can I? Surely it would be a bigger waste to buy economy loo paper for example, but have to use half a roll in one go :eek: But I refuse to let the buglers get me down :mad:

catznine

Well we are still here! Dh still has his job although there have been mutterings about cut backs!:eek: It won't be too bad as he has a pension but it will be tight as we still have the mortgage to pay and a family wedding approaching. In the meantime we have invested some savings into more add on courses for his next career move, hate to see our small pot of savings going down but hopefully it will pay off later. It is difficult thinking long term at the moment isn't it?

Homewise we have put off some necessary work around the house but can't hold off that any longer, shower leaking upstairs so kitchen ceiling will need fixing as well.:rolleyes: I think for now it is a case of looking after what we have and not being too ambitious.

I have a dh who views anything coming into the house with suspicion but recently (after some small power cuts) he had to admit the wind up torch and lantern were a sensible buy. Actually he is fairly easy going so long as I can prove I have budgeted for the spends (which I do). I have put by a box with candles in and another with torches, batteries, hot water bottles and rice warmers. Just lighting a couple of candles in the evening and putting the halogen heater on one bar (400w) means we can turn the lights off while we watch tv, lovely and cosy! We have throws and 2 home made lap quilts (from an old double duvet) and I wrap up in those during the day if I feel chilly (or do some ironing)

I found a huge container of cheap shampoo a while back (sorting out airing cupboard) and use it to fill up the soap dispensers, also using soapnuts if the washing is not too bad.

We have a freezer full of home grown produce, mostly runner beans, courgettes and tomatoes and a store of tins,flour, oats and rice which will last us a while if there are any problems. Still have some spinach in the garden.

Our dd moved back in last month and so far we are coping on the same housekeeping (less at the moment as we are doing the storecupboard challenge) we just eat a bit less which is good for our diets! I cook a lot of meals using leftovers - our bin stays emptier and the costs have come down.

I found that I was still buying a few more presents than I planned, as there are great bargains to be had on ebay and at places like TK Maxx but have put some aside so birthdays are sorted now!:j

I find staying positive and taking part in some of the great old style challenges keep me focused and happy.

Catz x

rockie4

I had my ‘lightbulb moment’ many years ago when I got into serious debt:eek: and went to CCCS for help. Debts were cleared earlier this year BUT OH is not working, he is awaiting a mental health assessment for a long term problem, unfortunately he has gaps in his NI record so we get no sick benefit or any other benefits and have to live on my wage.!:doh:
I picked up a lot of OS tips from my dear old Mum, when she died I found a notebook with hints and tips in but have got loads more off here.

Heating – we have throws on all the chairs to snuggle under, microwavable beanbags to keep the old back warm, extra warm quilt on the bed with a thin one as a mattress topper. Curtains/door curtains shut at dusk to keep the warmth in.Heating goes on for an hour or so in the evening and perhaps a couple of hours at the weekend to help get the washing dry. OH does the cleaning for me, I introduced him to Flylady:D , that keeps him warm in the day!!!

I batch cook for the freezer .I’m veggie and OH eats whatever I put in front of him! We hardly ever have takeaway, I keep a couple of Asda pizza’s and a bag of spicy wedges for nights I’m out and OH needs to feed himself and so far have had a takeout curry twice this year.
We have an allotment and grow allsorts! It kept us going all summer and I’ve only just run out of onions and potatoes – next years plan is to try and have something all the year round.
OH bakes bread by hand, he won’t have a breadmaker, we still buy value white thick sliced for toast though.:o

I drive to work,:o I tried public transport but it added 2 hours to my working day and I was exhausted, I also prefer to shop on the way home rather than make a separate journey. I tried online shopping but I prefer to do my list on My Supermarket then shop on the way home, I pass all the main supermarkets on my way so can shop wherever is cheapest.
I’m lucky that I get hugely subsidised parking in the city centre through work and can use it at weekends if I want, I also get subsidised swim/gym use at the leisure centre next to work which saves me a lot.
OH has a bike or walks.:D

We manage quite well, I'm not worried about the 'credit crunch' having survived the last recession by the skin of my teeth:eek: I do get a bit fed up some times but that's usually resolved with a glass (or 2) of wine That's something which I won't give up!!

rosieben

A shiny new thread :j

Well, I've made so many changes since finding OS. I’ve built up a good store cupboard and made lots of prep for winter thanks to the prompting and advice on the threads here.

I’ve given up my car and the TD; I read books from the library instead of buying; I buy secondhand wherever possible; I eat good simple food. I’m out of debt now and for the first time ever I feel have control over my money and although I’m on basic benefits I have more spare cash than ever before.

Thanks to all the information and advice we find here, we OS’ers are in a stronger position to withstand whatever the recession brings.

Caterina

moanymoany wrote: »

I love what Tightwad Gazette Amy says about being frugal. It means you don't spend where it isn't important to you - so that you can spend where it is!

Hey moanymoany, great, another Amy and Tightwad Gazette fan! :T Fabulous book in case anyone has not yet read it - but some of the stuff is US related so not useful for UK OSers. However, a great read, I keep dipping into it when I need a boost.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Tightwad-Gazette-Amy-Dacyczyn/dp/0375752250


Caterina

BB1984

Hello! Haven't posted on OS for a while, have been keeping an eye on posts, but have mostly been pre-occupied with DIY - I'm in the process of renovating my first ever house bought with my fiance (have been posting on my thread on the DIY board).

RE the recession, we've been very lucky in one sense because we've been living with parents (rent and bill free) whilst we sort our house out. Poor parents weren't expecting it to take 4 months...!:eek:) This has enabled us to save a lot of money, which goes a small way towards counter-acting the vast amounts we are spending on the house!

I've always been fairly frugal, but I've got some great tips from here that have really helped. Main ones are:

- bulk stews/mince/chillis etc with lentils and/or oats
- use discount vouchers - got 2 books for £5.99 today, for xmas pressies, that were £25.99 RRP.
- use Quidco - no payments yet but one day!
- use OnePoll - again, no payment yet but am up to £13 and every little counts.
- reducing washing powder by half
- freezing portions of sauces etc in plastic bags, inside marg tubs - makes them rectangular so they fit in the freezer better! :T

Really looking forward to moving into my new house. I'm planning on having a stock cupboard full of spares (bought on special offer of course!), also I hope to make my own curtains - although I've never used a sewing machine before...that'll be interesting!

I am also thinking of asking for a Remoska as a wedding present (getting married next year - and yes, it is an expensive 12 months...!)

All in all, we're doing pretty well. I work in the construction industry so redundancy is a threat, although I'm safe for a while, I think. Saving up an emergency fund for the mortgage, just in case. OH is a civil servant, so he's unlikely to (EVER) lose his job....!

Thanks all for the many tips

bb