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

lucylema

Thank you guys for posting already. I shall definitely be taking you advice and read, re-read threads and make notes.
:j

Penelope_Penguin

Sorry to hear of your redundancies

You could look at this thread on starting out Old Style; I'll merge this later to keep ideas together

rosieben

I'd suggest maybe reading up and joining the Grocery Challenge, new thread every month.

Batch cooking, meal planning and shopping to a list are 3 ways I've cut my spends.

also list what you have in your cupboards and freezer and check the list before you shop.

There are so many threads here it can be a bit daunting. Maybe decide on one thing to concentrate on at a time. If you want links to threads on anything in particular just ask

You might find some useful links in the Complete Getting Started Collection'

In_Martin_We_Trust

sassie-lassie wrote: »

"are the packs of bacon and chicken fillets frozen or fresh ones?"

They are fresh ones, but the bacon was BOGOF.. I take the point about the chicken - you are quite right that I ought to buy a whole one and, ahem, deal with it. However, there are a couple of issues:
1. Don't laugh, but I am so squeamish that I've been known to don rubber gloves before handing a whole, raw bird
2. I've no idea about how to joint the thing - but perhaps now is the time for me to learn, if I can overcome 1. above...

My Country Soup mixture is soaking pending being made into some sort of soup with the chicken fillets and leeks tomorrow! If I make enough soup for say 4x generous helpings, do you think I'll need one or two breast fillets??

Your not the only one who doesn't like to handle raw meat at all and is quite squeamish. I also haven't the faintest idea how to joint a chicken. Roasts are not a thing I do as its just too much effect and lots of food that i would be eating until i was ill and beyond.

In_Martin_We_Trust

cant be bothered to harvest fruit and veg? thats the good bit.

ILoveEoin

Hello Lovely MSE ppl

quick question What advice would you give someone young/new, no money/hundreds in bank if they were setting up an new home what they need, dont buy, how clean os etc


in the kitchen what the basis they should have in terms of cooking stuff, pans, do need mixing machine? bread machine? slow cooker?

best advice on cleaning?

cooking?

and y does someone put vinger in there washing machine??

Pink.

Hi ILoveEoin

These threads are desgined for people who are new to Old Style and you'll find lots of links and advice in them to help you get started.

Getting Started

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

I'll add your thread to the second one later to keep the suggestions together. Good luck!

Pink

eleanor73

Hey!!! :j

For me I feel safer and more comfortable with a well stocked store cupboard (I am a bit strange though!!)

So I like to have rice (different types-basmati, long grain & risotto), pasta, cous cous, lentils.

THen I like different oils and vinegars and obvs herbs and spices.

Also my most important storecupboard ingredient-tins of tomatoes.

Now I didn't get this all at once so what I did when I first started (and did it quite rarely due to not much money) was choose a cheapish recipe and get the stuff in for that. Then that was my storecupboard started.

I don't have a bread maker as I get my bread dead cheap on yellow labels and freeze. I also don't have a slow cooker as don't really have the space and am happy to slow cook things in my oven/on my hob (although I think this is a bit more expensive fuel-wise)

Good luck!

Purplekylie22

If you decide to get a bread maker or a Slow cooker, I absolutly recommend looking on E-bay for them or local paper adverts / freecycle. I live in Aberdeen and for some reason its really hard to find second hand stuff like that up here, but I see tons of adverts for in England. You are N.Ireland I think? So have a look and see what is near you before you decide to buy them new. Usually online or papers those things are a few quid rather than a relatively large chunk of cash for new. But they are absolutely not needed.

I always like to make sure I have in Pasta and Rice large bags of both, usually more than one type too. I have a couple of large asda bags of pasta and a huge 10kg bag of basmati rice as well as Risotto rice. I also make sure I keep a large bag of flour. Yorkishire puddings are a favorite of mine and a cup of flour, a cup of milk and two eggs doesn't cost much for a Very large meal for two (I eat just yorkies with a bowl of gravy!) Also Red lentils for padding out anything you make with mince.
Vinegar is great for everything, cleaning glass, helping remove stains, disinfectant. It really is a great item to use and not just for cooking. Unfortunately, my OH is allergic to vinegar so it never comes in the house, even for cooking I wont use it as the smell really bothers OH.
If you like beans, then beans or tinned spaghetti would probably be a big help too (not brand named of course!) its quick, quite cheap and easy.

Nargleblast

Starting completely from scratch, I would suggest you get back to basics. You need a decent bed with a good quality mattress, so get the best you can afford. You can get some bargains in bed linen in discount shops/Ponden Mill-type places. or charity shops sometimes can be a good source. For furniture, you can either get the cheap flat pack throw up kind of stuff, or go for good quality second hand stuff - no need to feel ashamed about that, retro/vintage stuff is all the rage now, and older stuff is often of better quality than the cheapo MDF stuff.
For things like washing machines, fridges etc have you tried freecycle? If there is a group in your area it's worth a try. Or look in your local paper's small ads section.
If finances are stretched, then just aim for the basics first, don't feel pressured to get everything you want all at once. A few bricks and a few planks of wood can make a temporary shelf unit until you find something nice that you can afford, for example.
Get into the habit of mooching round your local charity shops, you never know what in the way of household equipment and furnishings you may find.
The OS forum has a recipe collection that can help in meal planning and budgeting. If you have a garden then you could look into some basic vegetable growing. Even if you just have a window box, you can grow salad and herbs, which all helps.