New to OS

bizzy_lizzie

I have been taking leftovers for lunch since Christmas & made myself quite ashamed of how much I wasted before. Also now there is ready brek, dried milk & value sultanas in the top drawer of my filing cabinet so I dont miss out on breakfaast before leaving in the morning & detour for a mcwhatever. Car sharing in the other new thing for this year, makes a car full of petrol last 3 weeks instead of one, plus there is always a space so dont pay for parking (we have one space forevery two that need it) and lastly no car at work means cant nip out lumchtime & spent money without forward planning.

baby steps !

Bizzy

roversbabe

Hiya :wave: ,

I'm fairly new to OS too - with baby coming along in July I definitely want to cut back so I can take extended mat leave (no pay_pale_ ). We could both do with eating a little healthier too and although I do enjoy cooking, I find after a full day @ work, I can't be bothered so I'm also hoping for a bit of motivation too.:rolleyes:

The mega index is great and I'm loving the OS baby thread.:T

rb x

Rikki

If Mr Badexample can cook a stew in a slow cooker and show the pictures, there is hope for everybody. Makes good reading too. :rotfl:

apple_mint

Welcome everyone ... we were all newbies once

I started by working out how much we were spending each year and then dramatically cut back when I saw how much was going out of the house :eek:

2 contract phones went and we now have PAYG

Sky went ... and we found the box picked up the freeview chanels

We cook everything from scratch, eat better and cheaper (and the recipes on OS keep providing variety)

I have well stocked storecupboards (coucous, rice, flour, pasta, herbs & spices etc) ... so I'm never tempted to rush out and buy something midweek

We buy milk once a week and freeze (again no popping to the shop)

With our savings on shopping we bought a breadmaker - the initial cost has well and truely been recouped

I make 3 packed lunches a day (HM soups, coucous salads, leftovers from meals etc) ... imagine the savings each month on this

We make our own laundry powder and vinegar is under the sink as well as in the pantry.

We've just done these things a bit at a time over the last year ... a gradual change that has become a habit (for a lifetime).

pickle

Hi there, welcome!

The changes I've made are:

* I take out the grocery money for the month in one go and put in a tin (to stop me getting money out in dribs and drabs). It makes me more conscious of how much I spend.

* Cook everything from scratch, but still have occasional treat. Never buy ready made dinners.

* Use a fortnightly meal plan and work out what I need to buy before I go shopping to avoid buying things unnecessarily or on impulse.

* Don't buy cleaning products - use bicarb and vinegar.

* Buy from Netto, LIDL and Asda (but try to mainly from first two) and buy own brand products. You can also find these at Boots etc. which are much cheaper and the same as more expensive products. Rice and pasta are great for saving money.

* Reuse dish cloths by buying washable ones.

* Make sandwiches for lunch.

* Have cut sky to bare minimum (we have no reception otherwise). Use the cheapest possible gas/electricity supplier for the area. Use the cheapest calls for international calls.

* Hang all our washing on indoor line.

* Use low energy lightbulbs where possible and switch off lights.

* Use half the amt of washing powder in the wash as recommended.

* Try to have showers rather than baths.

* Have a monthly savings goal. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't.

* Look in the charity shops if you feel like a shopping splurge. I get more satisfaction finding nice things there than paying full price. Also get so much more for your money and helps the environment by recycling. You'd be amazed what you can pick up if you go on a regular basis.

* Cut your husbands hair if he normally goes for the shaved look. I wouldn't try it the other way around. I've learnt from bitter experience. Dye your own hair (if needed).

* Pay cash for purchases where possible so you know how much you're spending (except if you want a warranty on a product as credit cards provide some protection).

* Don't bother washing car - it rains anyway.

Lillibet_2

pickle wrote:

* Reuse dish cloths by buying washable ones.

Erm...what other types of dishcloth are there then? Or are you talking about J cloths? 'Cos I wash them too!:p

in*the*red_6

Hi

Thanks OP for asking this question, this is exactly how I've been feeling. I've been using the forums for a couple of months now and have become really comfortable with the debt-free wannabe board but have only dipped into Oldstlye because TBH I've found it a bit daunting. There is soooo much information on here and many questions seem to get at least 50 or 60 answers to read! However, if I don't start I'm never gonna get through it all am I? So this morning I've been having a read of the mega index and I've decided to start on some of the cleaning tips (because we already do the majority of cooking from scratch and I'm working on cutting that budget). I'm going to give the laundry gloop a go, use vinegar instead of softener, make my own kitchen cleaner and try the ammonia oven cleaner suggestion. Not bad for starters.
Best of luck to everyone else who's just starting out like me.
P.S. I'm making my own notes so I've got them handy.

ITR

pickle

Lillibet - if I knew what a J-cloth was then I would answer the question. What I mean is don't bother with sponges because they don't last.