OS living -a moment of self doubt

helenhugs

I am also self taught with cooking. I try to mend but I'm not so good at that lol a bit of practise though & i'll improve. I do it because it makes me happy. I feel proud to be able to say I made that, or It only cost me ..... People come to me for advice on where to get things cheaper or how to make something & I feel proud of that.
We are all different & there is no way my sister would be able to do things the way I do. it's not in her nature & she has no interest in it. I do feel horrified though at the things she wastes lol a visit to see her often means I leave with things she was about to throw out. I can always find a use for it though.

Hugs
Helen

Caterina

You know, people, reading this thread really makes me proud to be part of this community! So what if people of limited imagination laugh, we are having the last laugh!

I know for sure that my family and I have a much higher (and healthier!) standard of living than a lot of people on much higher incomes than ours, because I live by OS principles. That's good enough for me!

dreaming

I worry that people still haven't got the message about debt etc. especially as the papers keep sayng the economy is "on the road to recovery". A young woman I work with moved in with her b/f and they bought everything brand new (sofas/washing machine/dining table/tv/curtains - the works). When someone asked how they could afford to she just said "oh that's what credit cards are for". A few months later her b/f lost his job, and they couldn't even afford the minimum repayments, and ended up losing the lot (including the house), and splitting up. She has just moved in with new b/f and is doing exactly the same thing again - everything brand new, on credit. Apparently she was horrified when her mum said she could have her old sofa and chairs to start off with. When I told her that when I got married the only new thing we had was the bed she said she felt really sorry for "poor people", but she couldn't possiby have second hand. (some of the furniture we "borrowed" at the beginning was 3rd or 4th hand!).

ALIBOBSY

My Mum used to sew alot and cook from scratch as well as bake when I was younger, but she seems to have fallen hook line and sinker for the buy it now and chuck the old out and buys most stuff prepacked. Mr T must love her.

Last time I went shopping with her (it was a few years ago as I now tend to avoid a big shop at the big supermarkets-I use local farm shops/suppliers Aldi and Lidl with just odd bits from Morrisons) I was getting a weekly shop for 4 of us and she was getting a "few bits". She spent almost 3 times what I did for 2 of them!!!

She is obsessed with sell by dates and how it is "easier" to buy everything ready made and can't believe I would make even spag bol from scratch when "they do those jars". She doesn't even do roast or mash spuds anymore or yorkie puds.
Trouble is on boxing day the kids turned their noses up at the dinner she served up as "its not as nice as Mum's". I tried to cover up by saying I usually steam my veg so its al dente, but she informed me hers were steamed opps!! They were almost grey and soggy as anything yuck.
What is silly is they are on a pension so you would think they would want to save. Dad is obssessed with recycling all bits of card and paper, but they chuck stuff at the drop of the hat to buy new all the time.

I see OS as not being conned by the selfish, polluting, wasteful, unhealthy, consumerist obsessed industry, and choosing to live a cleaner, less polluting, cheaper, healthier, tastier, simplier, and in my opinion better lifestyle.

ali x

midnightraven3

i have never had any self doubts
with every new thing i have been spurned onwards to find or try the next
(i too do not fit a mould, as i am very goth)

i cook and bake everything from scratch, grow fruits & veggies, make jams, chutneys, relishes etc, make all my own cleaners, presents, soap, gosh i could go on all day
we all feel that warm inner glow of satisfaction

I have to say, whenever i have been met with "that" look, you know the one! i always give something, soaps, some chutney, whatever is relevant, and so many people have then understood why, of course there is the "where do you find the time?" " how do you find these things out?" questions, people dont realize that whislt a lot of us live this way as a lifestyle, there is so many things people can fit in no matter what time they have

I say more power to us all:j

LilacLillie

Well it seems you can't please all the people all the time.................PLEASE YOURSELF!
You are in the right place on this forum and if you need to be reminded of that just pop in and someone will tell you so.
Keep doing what you are doing and DO come along to the next meet up, we won't let you be shy and if you doubt your OS lifestyle you'll be :eek: by some of ours.
How about joing us at the war museum for that event in Feb:??
LL

Bitsy_Beans

dreaming wrote: »

I worry that people still haven't got the message about debt etc. especially as the papers keep sayng the economy is "on the road to recovery".

Every time I hear this I just think OMG does this mean people are just going back to spending money they don't have :eek: That's not recovery to me and when the taxes get hiked to pay back the Government borrowing everyone will end up in queer street again.

Sorry I'll get off my soapbox now

Anyway without the help of the fabulous OS board and MSE in general I would have never had the guts to quit my job and be at home with the kids - we took a massive pay cut for me to do this but with meal planning, learning how to cook better and actually enjoying the challenge of being OS we just about manage. I never thought in a million years I'd enjoy trying to be frugal - honestly I've had so much fun reading the Tightwad Gazette as it's inspired me to realise that "stuff" does not make me happy. Sure there are times when I'd like to buy something to be frivolous but I get over it

Oh and for the record I don't give a toss if people want to look down their nose at me or my OS ways. What people think of me is of no interest, it's what I think that counts (and of course my H and kids :rotfl:).

annie123

Purpleclutterbuck wrote: »

I checked out the OS photo for the get together in London - I really had wanted to go but was scared of not being accepted for who I am.

Well now you know you will be accepted for who you are, I expect to see you at the next one, feb 27th

moemum

Kazipoo wrote: »

It is because of people like you, who take the time to come on the forum and share your knowledge, that people like me (bored housewife), actually begin to find a purpose in life.

Since changing our habits to OS ways I now regularly bake, pre-prepare all of our meals, go shopping on a far lower budget than ever before, grow my own veggies, learn how to make and do things, including crochet, jewellery making and card making. You give us inspiration to keep going, and the occasional kick up the backside when needed.

Because of the OS way, we have surely lowered our carbon footprint, as we only put one bin out every two weeks now, and thats only half full!! I love it, you all do a cracking job, so please accept a huge thank you on behalf of me and my family, who are loving the homemade goodies and baking.

Can I just second everything you have said:).. can feel like Im going stir crazy staying at home so much, browsing on here gives me ideas (not to mention a few laughs:) )

Gingernutmeg

I really don't get why there's so much snobbery about being (or trying to be) OS. Quite frankly, I DON'T CARE if people make fun of me for making jam, or baking a cake, or making home-cooked meals, or saving up for things I want rather than getting into debt for them. It bothers me not a jot that I've got second-hand furniture and curtains - they're clean, tidy and better than what I could afford anyway. My OH jokes that he's never seen anyone so happy when they're cleaning as me lol and I get pleasure from having a clean and pleasant home that's the result of my own hard work and effort. To me, being OS means being taking a bit more responsibility for what I consume and how I consume it. I don't think that's so very unusual.