Do you miss anything from your "old life?"

juliapenguin

Me too, dreaming. I was so 'poor' after my divorce, yet so incredibly rich, because I was in control of what was spent in my household. I can't believe how I did it, looking back, but my little boy and I lived well on almost nothing - my ex had tricked me into various debts (he had no credit rating to speak of) and walked away laughing at me. However.... 14 years on, I'm married again to a much better man, and he's still miserable and making a mess of his life - just lost his job after a drink driving conviction, having bragged for years about never being caught.... I had a lucky escape, and am so thankful to be free of debt, other than the mortgage (but we've just accepted an offer on our house and are downsizing... so we might be mortgage-free within the next few years).

randomer

just to clarify when I say shoes I'm not talking £100 trainers ,but unlike clothes which can be sought out in charity shops, it's not really an area for economy.

larmy16

randomer wrote: »

just to clarify when I say shoes I'm not talking £100 trainers ,but unlike clothes which can be sought out in charity shops, it's not really an area for economy.

I know what you mean.

I have been lucky enough to find several pairs of brand new shoes, still with stickers on and unworn in my local charity shops.

Incidentally I still wear a pair of Doc Martens for work which have reached the grand old age of 32!

debtmuncher

i have loved os style cooking and just do it more now than i used to do years ago. not a fan of ready made meals and i would buy them in for the quick tea nights when we couldnt be bothered to cook. used to be a big fan of marks and spencers though which has been greatly cut down.

still buy some ready made meals but i dont specifically put them on the shopping list. they are kept for the days when i am working lates but i used to work alot of lates not now although that might change again.

for gas / elect i try and cut down to be "green" not to be os. there is nothing wrong with a few enjoyments in your life.

for us, because we are on a cccs plan, we have more money because scrimping and worrying about all money matters is hellish. i want to control my money not money controlling me.

Reverbe

HariboJunkie wrote: »

But maybe you need to see this as a blessing in disguise? I really dont see who becoming homeless is a blessing.

I know you've been doing it for years but sleeping on someone's floor while they sleep on a sofa just can't be good long term (or any longer than the years you have been doing it).

I have never found this a problem. It seems to be much more of a problem to other people who hear about it than the nothing it is to me.

You'll be entitled to help if you are made homeless #

Actually as I have said previously on MSE I have looked into this and our council will not do anything for you housing wise unless you fit one of the following categories - drug or alcohol dependent, single mother, pregnant or asylum seeker - none of which I fall into.Also Our council won't do anything for working people who become homeless as a jobcentre advisor with a daughter told me when I shared me personal concerns with her. (she is about to become homeless hereself)So no I won't be entitled to help.

Maybe you need to look on the bright side and see it as an opportunity to move

As I said before I really see no briught side in becoming homeless.

and be able to see the "OH" you say you haven't seen for at least a year because they live too far up the motorway?

I have not seen my OH for over 16 months and I have been clear on the reasons why and have always mentioned their job and working hours as being a huge part of why I havent seen them. I am rather offended by your use of quotation marks when referring to my OH as if I am not entitled to call them my other half seeing as we do not live together. We have been together 6 years now.They will not take me in if that is your implication as they will never live with anyone again after what happened in their marriage.And should I become homeless I will be even less likely to be able to afford to travel half way up the country not "too far up the motorway" as you trivially refer to it.This implies that I am merely being too lazy to travel several hours and not the reality which is that I simply cannot afford the astronomical fares. Everyone's relationships here are valid and I am very hurt by your implication that my relationship is trivial.

I know you say you have no friends or social life but you refer to friends and going out often in your posts

Erm no I either go out on my own which happens rarely OR I go the football and hang on the sidelines of friends of my flatmate. I have no friends of my own. Casual acquaintances of my flatmate are not likely to take me in etc - are they?..


You are confusing OS with poverty.
No I am quite clear about OS. I have seen enough people on the board who have a good income and do OS as a hobby while getting things like organic veg boxes etc and conversely people who are OS due to financial reasons. I have been on MSE for well over 18 months now.The OP's question was to all MSERs asking what they missed or didnt miss about the os lifestyle. I think that I am as entitled as anyone to post on this matter. We all have our own take on OS and why we do it and each is as valid as the next.

HariboJunkie

I'm sorry that you have taken offence at my post Reverbe but I think your perception of what I have written is deeply out of tune with the intent with which it was written. What I said was nothing I wouldn't have said to a friend in your situation. You have chosen to see offence where it wasn't intended.
I've also replied to your pm.

Reverbe

So you would refer to your friends partner as "partner" and tell them there is a bright side to becoming homeless? Ok I guess it takes allsorts to make a world..

HariboJunkie

Reverbe wrote: »

So you would refer to your friends partner as "partner" and tell them there is a bright side to becoming homeless? Ok I guess it takes allsorts to make a world..

Yes and yes.

gizmo111

I see OS as cutting costs but not quality of life. Since getting back in to cooking and shopping properly, I have cut my grocery bill down by around £250 per month, we are eating better and the extra is going on my mortgage. I've lost about 10lb and the kids seem to have more energy.

As my ex MIL pointed out to me last week I'm not doing anything I didn't do when the kids were little and if I had carried on with it post divorce instead of getting trapped into the consumer society I would have probably paid my mortgage off or have greatly reduced it instead of having 11 years left on it. :eek:

thriftlady_2

Reverbe wrote: »

I have seen enough people on the board who have a good income and do OS as a hobby while getting things like organic veg boxes etc .

Maybe their incomes are good precisely because of all the OS things they do. My household income is good but if I didn't have my 'hobby' as you put it we would be considerably worse off and looking at many more years of mortgage repayments instead of the few we have left.