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

vij

stocktake
mealplan
plan a treat every week/month - whatever suits to help you stick to things

check out the budget meal threads on here and think of the saving you make by not going to work eg petrol, parking, lunch. maybe reduce nursery to 1 day a week and do some fun interactive stuff with children eg swimming, or clubs with th money you were spending on nursery.

also check if you are entitled to benefits now you are not working or do something workwise from home to make up a little extra like party plan, avon, usborne books, partylite, anne summers etc so you only work up to 10 hr (or whatever suits) a week.

Good luck, enjoy it and try not to panic

Olliebeak

Have to echo what vij has said!

Do a cupboard and freezer inventory!

Make a weekly mealplan (but leave some space for flexibility in case of any whoopsies that turn up in shopping).

Build treats into your spending plans, for the children and yourselves - so you don't feel 'deprived'.

Plan your car usage - maybe on a weekly basis - so that every journey 'earns its keep'. Make a list of all the things that you have to use it for during the week and decide what jobs can be done on the same day - shopping, dry-cleaning, library, bank etc., even if it means a slightly roundabout way of getting back home to save a separate journey.

There are lots of work-related expenses that you will save on - lunches, tea/coffee breaks, work-style clothes, staff collections, birthday/christmas do's, daily travelling expenses, sponsored this&that's etc.

Good Luck in your new lifestyle .

Penelope_Penguin

Nicky_NutJob wrote: »

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

Good luck with the changes :beer: You could do worse than Start Here I'll add this thread to that one later.

Penny. x

InfamyInfamy

My advise is don't view it as a challenge, view it as an adventure.

I worked full time whilst both my kids were young (OH was House Husband) and missed out on so much. Now I am Self Employed & choose to work part time I get to spend loads of time with them, particularly since we decided to Home Educate the youngest (11).

Take a look at https://www.remoteemployment.com for vacancies for Home Workers. I did consider the Jamie At Home parties but I haven't got enough time left at the moment!!

Good luck!

Butterfly_Brain

Being a SAHM is the best thing that you can ever do believe me
They grow up so quickly and you would regret not spending the time with them.
Take time to build memories for you and the children - so what if you have to cut back a little, my two loved it when we had no money because I would make the effort to bake with them and go for walks foraging.

Snowy_Owl

I've not read the replies but the end of your message smacks of all the motivation you will need.

You have the chance to spend 10 months or so with your boys.

TAKE IT WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT!!!! Some of the best things on life are free so they say - walks in the park, etc. 10/15moniuntes a day indulgence on this site to give you ideas. YOU WILL FIND A WAY!!!!!!!

Snowy - Enjoy it!!!

Nicky_NutJob

Thank you all so much for your replies, you are all right and deep down I know that the answer is that we will make it work! I'm not very good at making decisions and always seem to need somebody to make me see I am making the right decisions!



I already plan our meals and intend on making inventories of the cupboards but we are having building work done at the moment and I can't see the cupboards through the dust at the moment, it will be my next job when the builders have gone.

I'll just keep lurking on the boards to help us out.

Thanks again.

Nikkei

Hi Everyone

I'm loving the O/S forum and have been made to feel extremely welcome here so thank you all so much. However there is sooooooo much information in this sections of the forum that I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed and thought it would be good to ask:

What is the best plan of action for a new o/ser?

What do you think is the most important/beneficial advice that someone who is new should do?

I really don't think i've phrased this is the best way but i'm trying to ask where to begin??

Would love to hear your ideas and views and hopefully thie information will prove invaluable to us newbies!!!

Many Thanks
Nikkei

tabitha67

Hi Nikkei

I think menu planning is the first and best thing. This has saved me so much, and means I don't waste food.
I now do a big weekly shop, and use the freezer for any bargains I find. I even freeze bread and milk so I'm not tempted to go shopping mid week.
We use up the more perishable fruit/veg/salad ingredients at the beginning of the week, and menu plan so that fruit and veg which last longer are used towards the end of the week.


We also use the slow cooker a lot more now, and bake biscuits/cakes rather than buying them.

Edinburghlass_2

Great thread here for newbies...

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1826625&highlight=