OS Daily thread - Wednesday 8 April 2009

bargainbird

Morning All,

TRU- OS to me means, 'doing what nan used to do'. Ie Baking, HM dinners from scratch, not using new fandangled lotions and potions for cleaning and most of all running/maintianing the home as cheaply as possible . I do use Hoover, WM because with 3 kids and 3 dogs and a very mucky :D DH it would never be clean:rolleyes:. I am miles away from where i was 2years ago buying/eating rubbish, along with a cupboard under the sink full of bottles :rolleyes:, I use the tips on laundry ie soda crystals and vinegar (even started writing on the washing powder when i opened it to see how long it lasts :D). I can't remember the last time i used my TD either :T.I used to throw huge amounts of stuff out whether it be clothes or food, but now they get sold or made into something else (the food that is). The only thing i wish i could do wash use a sewing machine (not much emphasis on it when i was at school)

HESTER - hugs for you

NIC1 - ' a sixpence in her shoe' by Frances Mcneil

LADYMAY - OOOOH exciting

Today - I've done a freezer inventry (blimey didn't realise there was that much in there :rolleyes::T, Meal Planned :T, WM just finished and going on line. 1/2 way through shopping list. just got to hoover through then DD's and DS to park .....

Hope you all have a good day x

ravylesley

Tru whilst I agree with the sentiments of your post on doing things OS style properly I cannot and will not be participating.I remember far too well the first few years of my first marriage when I washed everything by hand for three of us and I thoroughly loathed it and the clothes were not as clean either so now there are six of us I wont be handwashing and sticking firmly to my washer.I do though use the line on dry days,make my own bread,jams,yoghurts,soft cheeses,sausages,burgers,bake all the cakes and biscuits.I also cook 99.9% of all our meals from scratch so in the whole scheme of things I reckon I'm pretty OS in our lifestyle.This post is not intended in any way shape or form as an attack on the original post by Tru its just to highlight that being OS is dependant on each persons interpretation of it and as long as we all try our best to do what we can then surely its got to provide a better and healthier life for our families and help the enviroment too.Phew that sounded like preaching but it wasnt meant that way.I'll scuttle off back under my rock now!By the way has anyone else got problems with the smilies not working?

Lesleyxx

nimbo

i have to say that i'm one of the baddies that views all house work as OS.... i went to uni and work with people who never do any house wrok, either because thay live with their parents/ or they just live in messy houses!!!! (i actually have a friend who asked how to use their hoover the other day when thay first went out to buy one the other day, after having lived in their house for nearly 8 weeks...)

i know that using the hoover might not be how my great grandmother did it, but this page helps me focus on the things that i need to get done around the house.... (the flylady thread is WAY to intimidating as it's always reams longer so if i ask a question i can never find answers quickly...)

it's nice to hear what people are doing with their days, and good inspiration for me, as i can get very lazy when it come to OS... i work full time, and am also trying to finish my degree so just the though of washing all of my clothes by hand makes me shudder...

so today i have to,
get the (hopefully) dry washing in,
sort out the master bedroom as my two neices are staying tonight,
swish down the kitchen beofre making homemade pizzas for tea...

as well as making a list of what to pack for my holiday...

Money_saving_Diva_2

Had to just jump in and respond to this very sensible comment..

tru wrote: »

I meant to say earlier - The reason I included being green as being OS (for me) is that it happened automatically when I started OSing. Everyone would reuse in the olden days So I think a lot of topics cross each other naturally, IYSWIM :think:

I quite agree honey and if I had to edit my posts on here and move family or neighbourly stuff to another thread or talk about my gardening on another one, and nip to flylady to discuss housework, then I would never get off the computer!

To me, trying hard to be more OS as I am, things do naturally over-lap - growing your veg and then cooking with it for instance, and then maybe sharing some home made pickle with a neighbour... That is all OS to me.

Being more OS (even if only in a small way) encompasses most of the areas of my life I guess.

Sorry, will shut up now...:rotfl::rotfl:

Back with my normal post shortly...

Diva.x

wannabe_sybil

It's amazing how expensive a good clean can be.

It was finally worth scraping all the yeurk off the washing machine now it is next to a lovely new sink unit (using stardrops ). And I found out exactly how much that tiny rust spot on the rim of the door had spread...

Now, don't get me wrong, I am not in a hurry to replace for the sake of it. However the heating element has been repaired twice, it is a washer dryer bought @ 2001 for around £175 and it has been extremely inefficient from the start. I can't even get the filter out. I only tumble dry socks/undies and sheets as I either line dry or put it all on the airer. So I am considering getting a washer only.

Also, when it comes to energy efficiency the washer is probably around about an R. For rubbish.

Now I wouldn't even have needed to think about it if I had been properly old style and kept on top of things. But I didn't. So I am off to browse what washing machines are available through quidco.

Continuing the fascinating discussion about 'what is Old Style' when it comes to washing. For me, Old style is making sure your family have clean, ironed clothes that have got to that state with the minimum of unnecessary effort on your part, the minimum of expense and the minimum of damage to the environment. Also, washing and ironing clothes Old Style includes washing appropriately so that clothes last and look good for longer, thus saving money and the environment because you do not need to replace the clothes. I said 'unnecessary' because it can make sense to make your own laundry soap, which takes effort, but can save you a considerable sum in some circumstances. I haven't got there yet. Also pre-treating clothes. Also mocking Vanish adverts. Also avoiding dry clean only.

tru

Me again

I want to make it clear that I didn't post with the intention of changing anybody's housework routine, or get anyone to join in with my way of doing things

And it's mostly just coincidence that my way of doing things happens to affect other money-saving topics for me with no extra (or very little) effort from me The bold, italic parts are to highlight that it's what suits me, not that I think everyone should do the same

I wanted people to post their OS things - as and when they were going to post anyway, not expecting extra posts or anything - so I could steal their ideas and get back on track :rotfl:

LameWolf

I'm beginning to wonder if I really have any business to be on this board. I apsire to being OS, but I'm not a lot of good at it. There is no way on this earth I could do all the washing without the WM - I can't physically lift a wet bedsheet!

I do manage a lot of cooking/baking - ready meals and shop bought cakes, biscuits and jam are never seen in our house, but meal planning doesn't work for me. I tried it for a bit, but my health is so unstable that I can't know on Monday whether I'm going to be able to sit at the stove on Tuesday (f'r instance).

I'd regarded OS as living with common sense, and with regard to the wellbeing of those you look after (just Mr LW in my case) and the wellbeing of the planet in general, not buying things for the sake of buying, re-using and repairing rather than replacing where possible, but perhaps I'm missing the point.

LOL I've been reading the Daily while using my exercise gadget - it's an electric "mini-walker", so I guess that's not very OS, but I'm not strong enough to use an ordinary exercise bike thingy. I feel I have to try and get back to using it regularly, as just getting the few feet from the lounge to the front door on two sticks is now taking several minutes and costing me big-time in terms of pain.

Anyway, I'm off now to sit in the corner and chew a slipper!:o

wannabe_sybil

Tru - sorry, but I think you've started a fascinating discussion. Also for me Old style is about making choices and not blindly going along with 'what everyone else does'. I think it is fascinating that we all make different choices in our own ways. I am more a wannabe than an actual Old Styler, but routinely now use white vinegar instead of fabric conditioner (with great results), and thanks to all the wonderful people on here I am getting closer to what I consider is right for me and the wonderful men in my life.

Also, it is about whether keeping house well is valued or not. Often it is not. Also it is beating the big brands with their advertising to simplify things down and save ourselves some pennies. Also I think that going with 'needs' rather than 'wants' is better for the soul.

Now I am confessing that little bear is currently eating a bought snack lunch, but it will be the last for a long while now I need to save for a washing machine. But baked potatoes and chilli con charlie for tea. Potatoes in the Remoska of course.

snoozer

Hi all,

Just thought I'd join in the debate of the day. As many of you know I consider myself a bit of an OS fraud at the moment because I can't do as much as I would like and a lot of weeks it's limited to cooking and baking. When I was a SAHM I did much more in the sewing and diy line and hope to again if I manage to retire before I'm too decrepit.

However, the reason I lurk here and post is that I feel most of you are kindred spirits. We are all committed to a lifestyle which tries not to depend too much on convenience items and also have a family centred life, whether it's an extended family or just two people. I don't mean that people who aren't OS aren't or can't be family centred but it seems to go hand in hand with an OS philosophy IYSWIM.

I hope I've managed to explain this properly - it made sense in my head.

Sue

Rowan9

Enjoying this thread today of people's views of OS. Being on here does make me think a bit more carefull, from menu planning to shopping to whether I really need to do a load of washing. BTW Sybil - I got a new WM a couple of years ago and it has made my itches flare up now and again because it is so energy efficient I don't think it takes in enough water to properly rinse. Even with little wahing liquid or powder, there are suds when it spins. I usually do an extra rinse which kind of defeats the purpose because the extra rinse only spins at 900, then I have to do a 1500 again (dry outside or on airers). Anyway, just watch out!

Off upstairs to put the final roller coat of paint on then it's the fiddly paintbrush job after that. Hope to get back into my own bed tonight. Oh yes, that's another thing - I made the choice of buying my paint in the small shop so maybe that's a bit OS, supporting local business
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