What changes have you made to become OS?

Julie67

I used to

• Buy a book every week, now I go to the library or borrow from family
• Spend a fortune on prepackaged rubbish- now I nearly always cook from scratch
• Throw leftovers away without a second thought, now you would not believe what I can do with a big chicken:cool:
• waste money on expensive brands- not anymore

There is loads of other stuff and I am still learning but as others have said I find magazines almost impossible to resist:o oh well nobodies perfect

salski

Julie67 wrote: »

I used to


[*]Throw leftovers away without a second thought, now you would not believe what I can do with a big chicken:cool:

ROFL - love it!

bargainbetty

I used to spend a fortune on Clarins! I would watch out for the freebie bags, but buy way too much. Now, two and a half years after being made redundant (and two years after I found full time work again) I am just finishing up all the body lotions and gels that I bought.

I used to use expensive detergents and cleaners - now I use white vinegar and bicarb for lots of cleaning, buy everything I can on BOGOFS and don't get tempted by 'New and Improved' versions of what I already use.

I used to spend a fortune on takeaways, now I cook more.

I used to waste money on retail therapy. Now I struggle to find anything I can be bothered to buy, and spend time with mates instead.

I do still spend money on red wine on a night out with the girls. And I'm not giving that one up, because it's a lot cheaper than a therapist, and they'll tell me if I'm being an idiot about something.

DansMum_2

This is brilliant

I used to be 2 stone heavier :j
Now I'm back in my proper clothes again.

I used to be a complete sucker for the '2 for £7' on books in supermarkets. I read a book a week
Now I've joined the library and trying to sell the huge pile of books I have

I used to impulse buy at the supermarket and chuck loads out
I now have an inventory of the freezer and cupboards and have loads of food left

I used to have a lovely newish car with a lovely loan
I now have an old banger and no loan

I used to buy lunch everyday. For me and OH.
I now havent bought lunch at work for 3 years.

I used to have a bigger mortgage than I do today thanks to the MFW peeps

slbhill

Fascinating thread - some definite food for thought from what other people do!

I used to... have no idea where my money went & constantly feel guilty for not budgeting or keeping track of things.
NOW I... sit down straight after work every Wednesday & pull it all together, and I'm getting the hang of budgeting properly.

I used to... intend to take a packed lunch to work but run out of time most mornings & end up buying sandwiches, or chips :eek:
NOW I... get off the sofa at 10pm and make tomorrow's lunch for both me and OH :A

I used to... buy books all the time (at discounter or charity shop - but still!), and occasionally get books from the library only to pay more in fines than I would have done in buying them :eek:
Now I use the library, and carefully enter the dates in my diary - so if nothing else I can renew them online before the fines come due

GetRealBabe

Hi

I used to...buy vegetarian ready meals
Now I cook from scratch

I used... buy shop bought bread
Now I bake my own bread

I used.... to buy expensive soya milk
I now buy value soya milk

Like other posters I used to buy loads of books. I now walk 5 minutes to my local library.

codemonkey

I used to spend £3-4 on lunch everyday. Now I make sandwiches and take them instead.

I used to live on ready meals and takeaways. Now I cook and put the leftovers in the freezer for homemade ready meals. (I've slipped a bit with this because H2B is such a fussy eater and turns his nose up at a lot of my homemade food and it wont occur to him to eat dinner if it's not made for him - so there's been a small return to things like kievs just to make sure he does actually eat, but I'm aiming to sneak a few more home made dishes in.)

I used to throw out huge amounts of food, then ignore it and eat junk instead. Now I cringe at how much money I wasted.

I used to buy gossip magazines every week. Now I don't know what weight Kerry Katona is and I don't care.

I used to have a maxed out credit card and a huge overdraft. Now I clear my card every month (only used for large purchases) and haven't been overdrawn for 5 years, have saved a house deposit and would have "proper" savings if we weren't paying for our wedding.

I used to buy loads of cleaning products. Now I have a skooshy bottle with a mixture of stardrops, water and vinegar and a bottle of bleach.


Things I'm working on:

Converting OH to the joys of homecooking and convincing him that some things are still edible after the best-before date. I went a bit mad at him for throwing out a block of cheddar for having a teensy bit of mould on it.

Not buying techy things because "I want them".

Fruball

I used to use the recommended amounts on shampoo/conditioner/washing powder
NOW - I use half or a third of those amounts

I used to go out a LOT
NOW I stay in a LOT!

I used to drive most days
NOW I drive when its necessary and walk when I can

I used to owe money
NOW I still owe some money but its one heck of a lot less thanks to you guys

I used to wish I could go on holidays abroad
NOW - I DO go on holidays abroad as I have more money than ever before on lesser income!

I used to think I was badly off
NOW - I am less well off financially but MUCH better off emotionally AND have spare cash!

I used to do a horrible job that I hated because I thought I needed the money
NOW - I do a job I love, for less money, and a lot more satisfaction and it makes me happy and I am helping others

traceya89

i used to buy things in Tesco and Boots just for points. Now i dont!!!

i used to buy a load of magazines, flick through and never read thoroughly. Now I dont buy any

i used to waste a load of food. Now i give it to the OH if it is going "off"

I used to buy loads of cds and dvds when they first came out. now i wait until they have been out for ages and at a greatly reduced price.

i used to go shopping nearly every day. now i have cured my shopping addiction.

InaPickle

I used to buy lots of books when I saw them on offer/in a second-hand bookshop that I wasn't likely to pass again.

Now I read what I have already bought and go to the library. (I started a thread about it: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2263095 )

I used to buy lots of lunches and soft drinks at work.
Now I buy many fewer, although I still haven't quite cured the addiction.

I used to think I was good with money.
Now I realise that I have a lot left to learn, although I am happy to do so.