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

EltonJohnFan

Sagz wrote: »

"if it's brown flush it down, if it's yellow let it mellow"

Lol, I was going to ask you to expand on this a little bit more, but on second thoughts? better not

GreyQueen

EltonJohnFan wrote: »

Hi all,

I'm relatively new to frugal living, but I've been listening to my grandparents who grew up in the 30s and lived through the Second World War. They tell me about what it was like for them, how hard it was for the ordinary person and how they thought up some rather extraordinary ways of doing things and my grandmother told me that you can make a meal out of nothing, if you're got a good imagination and plenty of potatoes, onions etc. I'm the sort of person that hates waste and I want to cut my outgoings and expenses to the bare minimum and live a simple, but happy life. I'd really appreciate some advice on shopping and dealing with money especially as they're the two main expenses in my life. I grew up hearing the phrases "waste not, want not" and "never a borrower or lender be" and I'm really keen to find out more about all of this. I know this might sound silly but the whole thing's actually quite exciting for me! I can't wait to get started on being more thrifty and reaping the rewards of not buying into a lifestyle or following consumerism, can you help?

Welcome in, EltonJohnFan, and you'll enjoy rising to the challenge of frugality. I was poor long before the credit crunch and was raised by people who were raised by people who were raised by Victorians, and they really knew how to make £1 do the work of two.

1. Top tip is PlanPlanPlan. Know where you are in the year, whose birthdays/anniversaries/weddings are coming up and buy ahead. Shop seasonally for veg. Plan your meals but be prepared for extreme flexibility when you see something on special.

2. Keep a card box of greetings cards, buy them cheap at charity shops. Cards cost a fortune and this way you'll have them handy. Keep you eyes peeled for books or folders of cards, often arty or floral, with blank insides. Typically £1.50 for 20 cards = 7.5p each. Shop off-season for the best buys on anything.

3. Beware food and drink bought "on the hoof" as it can easily blow the budget. Say to yourself, "If I'm going to be out for more than 2 hours, chances are I'll be thirsty and hungry." Take a re-filled water-bottle and a snack.

4. Buy the goods, not the store. Don't get sniffy about a certain chain of shops because you feel "people like me" don't shop there. Pre The Crunch making thrift fashionable, a friend of a friend who was a poundstore worker told us some terribly posh people shopped there but they wouldn't be seen dead with the carrier bags. Always try new places and brands, only one of anything you're not sure you'll like. I've heard some cut-glass accents in Lidl, believe me!

5. Social shame is a powerful force. Don't discount it. Do whatever you need to do to make yourself comfortable among your peers as long as it doesn't bust the budget or compromise your morality. You might want to decant cheapy toiletries into an empty premium brand container, for instance. Or hide value packaging from the groceries. Or look for premium brand clothing in jumblies and charity shops; it turns up.

6. Be aware of the 80/20 rule. This means that when anything is sorted acording to value, 80% of the value comes from 20% of the items. Normal people wear 20% of their clothes 80% of the time, listen to 20% of their music etc etc. Maybe you could sell some of the 80%?

7. Discuss well-ahead of time with your loved ones whether to do Xmas gifts for all, or limit them to the children, or set a low budget.

8. Join Freecycle to give away your unwanteds and hopefully receive what you need. I'm a firm believer in what goes around, comes around, in terms of luck.

9. Look after what you've got; keep stuff clean, serviced, brushed, mended, oiled, rubbed down, varnished, whatever is appropriate. Keep things out of bad weather and store them carefully. There are plenty of good housekeeping manuals about; check the library.

10. Look for hobbies and pastimes with a high ratio of enjoyment to money spent. You can get together with mates to go walking, to play board games, to eat simple meals in each others homes. Organise pot-luck meals, picnics, play kickabout in the park. If you can't afford to hang out in pubs and clubs, get over it, and do something different.

11. Learn to cook if you can't already. Loads of cookery books in the library. Aim for tasty, cheap and nourishing.

12. Do as much for yourself as possible but don't be afraid to ask for help. Be as ready to be helpful to others and it'll come back on ya!

13. Don't do debt. If you're there already, prioritise getting out from under. Lots of help out there online.

14. Heard of the spotlight effect? This is the psycological idea that others are watching everything we do. Youths are especially prone to this, as are some people with anxiety disorders. Most people are paying very little attention to us in reality, so as long as your activities aren't illegal, offensive or particularly overt, you can do pretty much what you like and others won't notice or care.

15. Lastly, read some social history. Read how utterly backbreaking life was for people in the West only a few generations ago. And still is in the underdeveloped parts of the planet. If you're fed, have a roof, a bed to sleep in and drinkable water, you are better-off than most of humanity, past or present. Count those blessings.

EltonJohnFan

Wow, Greyqueen, thank you so much!
I'm really going to enjoy reading through all of that

GreyQueen

EltonJohnFan wrote: »

Wow, Greyqueen, thank you so much!
I'm really going to enjoy reading through all of that

Plenty more where they came from, EltonJohnFan. Got any queries, stick 'em up here and the OS frugaleers will rush to your rescue. :rotfl:

Penelope_Penguin

EltonJohnFan wrote: »

I can't wait to get started on being more thrifty and reaping the rewards of not buying into a lifestyle or following consumerism, can you help?

Welcome :beer: Why not take a look at this thread which was started with people like you in mind I'll merge this later to keep ideas together.

rosieben

Hi EltonJohnFan

its difficult to know where you should start, its easy to be overwhelmed by all the info on here so decide on one thing that you want to do first

ie - the Grocery challenge will give you some ideas of how to get control on food spends, you don't need to join!

check out this link for tips to start menu planning

Can I suggest you take a look through squeaky's indexed collection too, loads of info there

if you have any specific questions please ask and someone will be along to offer advice. We're a friendly bunch on here!

EltonJohnFan

What a reallywonderful welcome you've given me, thank you very much!
I've got lots to keep me busy for a while, going to enjoy reading through everything.

Take care and best wishes everyone

Frugalista

Wow!! GreyQueen, what a fabulous post :T

taplady

Frugalista wrote: »

Wow!! GreyQueen, what a fabulous post :T

thats just what I thought too! some very helpful tips there GreyQueen:T

betterlife

another idea is to make your gifts for birthdays and christmas, pop over to the special occassions board there are plenty of threads there to give you idea`s and if your not very crafty there`s christmas threads to help you get organsized. hth