What changes have you made to become OS?

melt71

Hi all,

As most of you regulars will know, I'm quite new here, I've only been Oldstyling since late Feb and started for real at the beginning of March. For me it was because I had a bit of a lightbulb moment when I realised exactly how skint I was going to be for the next couple of months so I started thinking how I could cut back - then I ventured into this forum and felt better knowing that I could help myself with a bit of effort!

So far I've changed;

Mealplanning, cooking from scratch, batch cooking and freezing, careful budgeting and shopping with a shopping list. Shopping in Lidl and Aldi and also buying Tesco's value range. I've also just become a convert to microfibre cloths WOW!! I've already told my mum about them and she is going to try them soon. Also, I've been making an effort to apply for more freebies lately and to try to make a bit of money I've listed some things on Ebay every week (gets rid of my old stuff and makes a few pennies).

My next aim is to try doing the Boots thing, I've read the thread and it's very confusing but I want to give it a go soon.

What changes have you made to become OS? Or have you always been OS?

moggins

I think I've always been a little OS. The biggest thing for me since coming here is baking, I was completely useless at it but thanks to OS I have persevered and am really pleased with what I have achieved.

I meal plan more regularly now and grow more of my own produce which is something I would never have attempted as I didn't think I was a gardener.

What I've learned from Old Style is that everything can be learned, you should never say I can't do that. There is always a way and it's just practice and patience that turns us into "Can Do's"

Queenie

Always been OS one way or another (without realising just how much! ) :laugh:

I was extremely fortunate to have been born to a natural OS'er with a wealth of knowledge who led by example (albeit through necessity! LOL ) I wouldn't say my early adulthood put me in the "extremely fortunate" category, because I was having to utilise all my Mum had taught me in circumstances I wouldn't have preferred and learning yet more along the way. However, nowadays, I *do* feel extremely fortunate, once again, because I feel that the knowledge and experiences I've gained are now coming into their own when it comes to passing it on.

ladywood

I've only been doing this since Christmas - we needed to make major cutbacks because we bought a house that needs renovation and still have to pay rent where we are until we can move in (now it is even worse as renovations have gone over budget but that is another story )).

Changes:
Meal planning
Shopping with a list
Buying value brands
Making all meals from scratch
Taking lunches to work
Looking for bargains
Checking/comparing prices (now I even know where the cheapest petrol is and how much it is a litre - wouldn't have had a clue 2 months ago!)
Using the slow cooker to avoid having to rev up our very inefficient electric aga
Taking part in Grocery and Pin money challenges

Once we move to the new place I am planning a vegetable garden and we will have a freezer and a decent cooker! Can't wait!

My partner says changes have been revolutionary! And not only is it so much cheaper, I have lost over a stone in weight through eating lots of fruit and vegetables instead of processed junk!

Three cheers for OS and MSE! :T

Rachie_B

well its early days for me but i suppose the biggest changes so far are :

shopping about instead of just sticking to the same 1 shop
making full use of whats in the freezer / cupboard etc to plan the weekly meals instead of just buying the same shopping list week in week out regardless

ive always loved cooking / baking but im trying out new things all the time now and freezing leftovers / reusing them to make a different meal the next day etc ,whereas before it would have prob gone to waste : )

ive stopped buying cleaning stuff and use bicarb/ vinegar and the fabby microfibre cloths :T

also finally got round to putting things on ebay,half my bedroom is full of stuff i need to list !

ladygrey_2

early days for me too and spending a lot of time reading through this forum for ideas

one thing I have been doing is going through my cupboards and trying to use things up before buying more

so will need some new ideas for foods I don't use everyday

MrsTinks

I've always been fairly OS I think... my mum taught me well, but on the other hand I am also a bit of a food lover so there are some things I won't compromise on... I'm happy to buy budget but it must retain the quality!
I think trying more value products is something I have been good about recently. If I am not sure then I'll buy ONE and try it before deciding on buying it again (like my tinned spaghetti in tomato sauce... 12p value vs 40p for Weightwatchers cos I like the taste...)
I have bought a SC and used it for the first time last night and it was a roaring success!!! Some is in the freezer and some is sat next to me ready to be microwaved for lunch

I have always loved making home made meals and now it's so much easier than it was before with both of us working and getting home late I often didn't have the energy to cook a full meal and I think it will really help us eat healthier and probably more economically too

pickle

I've also been quite cost-conscious since I was a student (it never wore off). The main things I do are:

- meal plan (but not religiously - could do better)
- use bicarb and vinegar for cleaning and use other detergents sparingly
- shop mainly at LIDL and Netto
- have a good and honest cheap mechanic who keeps my old car on the road and regularly maintains it and use it as little as possible
- make lunches
- buy in charity shops rather than retail shops - better to go regularly to get what you need.
- use cash only to purchase things (makes you aware of what you spend). I take out a set amount at the beginning of the month and try to stick to it.
- hang out all my washing (very rarely use the dryer)
- use energy efficient lightbulbs
- don't use a dishwasher
- use cold water to wash clothes
- turn off lights not being used
- cook meals from scratch
- tried growing veges but failed miserably

It's not too hard once you get going. Sometimes I relent and get the odd takeaway (it does help to freeze a meal instead when you're feeling lazy). The best thing is the charity shops which I've really become obsessed with as I've picked up really great bargains.

Heth_2

In the cooking all meals from scratch thing I have definitely been brought up 'old style'. My mother has always cooked things from scratch and never fed us the rubbish processed stuff you find in the shops here. We lived in Italy, where we would have fresh bread every day, ham fresh from the deli (and not in plastic packets), a local veg shop, and my mother rarely shopped in supermarkets.
My husband and I now do all our cooking from scratch, and whenever we have cakes (not too often) we make them. We try to meal plan, but it's flexible as I never know when I will get home from work and if its late I'll often do something mroe simple like pasta, but would never buy ready made sauces.
I don't do all the vinegar cleaning stuff, we don't clean alot, so don't buy many products anyway. When we move into our own house next month we'll start a veg patch. We don't have a slow cooker though!

[Deleted User]

I think I have always been os but have made a pantry inventory and now go shopping with a list

Linda32

We've only been doing it for about three weeks, but have stopped using the tumble dryer, re-use bread / sandwich bags, buy economy ranges, (you only have to try it once if you don't like it) I've mended socks rather than throw them away :eek:

We can certainly do more :T