Tips and Quick Questions on “How To Start Being Old Style”

missymoo81

ooooh noooo not the soda stream... it actually made yummy cherryade........well ish

marmalize

missymoo81 wrote: »

ooooh noooo not the soda stream... it actually made yummy cherryade........well ish

quick...do i need to fish it out the bin??they get emptied in the morning..the soda stream came complete with gas bottle and about 10 little fancy screwtop bottles...going...going................gone:eek:
p.s..i have 'done' the bottom cupboards:j..all nice and clean/clear...got a friend coming round tomorrow but will try to do the top cupboards and the worst one which is a tall larder cupboard full of 'crafty type stuff..eek.._pale_.......
then got to start on the upstairs(i told you i have a lot of cupboards:eek:

missymoo81

omg how many cupboards??!!! I dont envy you, I'm still putting off the cupboard under the stairs!!!!!!!

marmalize

missymoo81 wrote: »

omg how many cupboards??!!! I dont envy you, I'm still putting off the cupboard under the stairs!!!!!!!

weeeell...the kitchen alone has 17 cupbards, 7 drawers and a floor to ceiling larder type cupboard...eek indeed.....
huge understairs cupboard..(i already sorted that one)
my bedroom has 4 built in cupboards(as well as wardrobes) other bedrooms each have 2 built in cupboards....:eek::eek::eek::eek:

this may take longer than 3 days.....!!!

missymoo81

oh my word!!! that is a task and a half, I applaud you at being so organised and unlike me actually getting off your behind and doing it:T

keep up the good work.

Kaz2904

The trick with cupboards is to keep doing them because they do breed!
I tiled my sink the other morning in the end while I was waiting for the WM to finish so I could chuck it in the drier and go to bed. Now to get on with the grouting!

missymoo81

hmmm went to wilko today but no onions to get me started on my "the good life" path, nevermind, hopefully have a lovely lady who is helping me out with some other seeds. Am so keen to try and become self sufficient ish... I wonder how much money it would save me growing all my veg instead of buying it.

Reboiled my jam this morning, still didn't set, don't think it is really desting to, how annoying. Picked some blackberries at my dads today, going to try and make some apple and blackberry jam yum yum...oh and I still need to make chutney. Anyone have a super simple recipe?

Missy

Nicky_NutJob

Morning all,

Think this may turn into a long one in order to explain but I'll try to keep it short (may not even be in the right place but I lurk on the OS board the most!).

Bit of background: 31, married, two sons (3 and 1 - eldest son goes to nursery 3 full days a week, mum has youngest.), I work part-time in a law firm as secretary, started back to work in March after maternity leave and put into a dept which I don't know or like and have been miserable since starting back there. The money is quite good, especially considering that some days all i do is fold a piece of paper into an envelope (yes, one piece of paper!) or photocopy for about 2 minutes :mad: I have been offered redundancy which I have taken and finish work this week

I am planning a change of career - have applied to Uni for next Sept to study nursing, so I was more than happy to get out of the law firm and do anything until next sept.

Obviously there aren't many jobs around at the moment but I have been looking and applying for anything and everything part-time and local.

We have worked out that if I can't get a job or don't get a job (we are also toying with me being a SAHM until next sept) job we can use £500 a month of the redundancy until I start uni (we lived on less when I was on stat mat pay).

Our biggest problem is the food shopping (my love of full cupboards/fridge/freezer making me feel safe), we usually spend about £100 a week (sometimes less but usually more). Nappies aren't included as we get them from costco, as we do with persil and comfort.

I think I am asking a piece of string question but want reassurance that we CAN do this. Yes I wouldn't mind a job but it would also be lovely to be able to spend the next 10 months or so with my boys before I start a crazy 3 years at Uni.

Where do I start and can anyone offer any advice/help?

Thanks in advance
Nicky

Fozz

Yes I'm sure you can!! If you have survived on your maternity pay then you know you can carry on. You just have to be careful with your money, no unnecessary spending and stick to a budget.
The good thing is being with your boys, you won't regret it I'm sure. My daughters are now 16 & 18 ,when they were young I worked part time so I could spend lots of time with them and loved it! We have always had to watch the pennies, it just becomes second nature and I don't worry about money half as much as I used to, being happy with my lifestyle is much more important.

missychrissy

£100 per week should be more than enough to live on. I spend approx £10 per week at the supermarket, though I don't go shopping every week, but averages out about that. I live on my own with visiting sons and girlfriends. It is possible to eat really well for a small amount of money.

I went to Morrisons yeaterday and bought several reduced items such as a large loaf of wholemeal bread for 45p and a pack of 8 crumpets for 25p. I keep them in the freezer and just take out one or two as required and no wastage. I cook in bulk usually using my slow cooker so that I can take advantage of reduced cheaper cuts of meat. I freeze one person sized portions that I can take out of the freezer on my way to work. You could freeze family sized portions if it would suit you better. I never waste leftovers and always use up or freeze any left over dinners.

Hope you enjoy your course. Lots of money saving ideas on this site so I'm sure you will get lots of help and advice.

I too am a nurse. I work for an agency doing night shifts (pays better than days).