Tips on how to become an OS Moneysaver

Madaboutmoney_3

I have recently been made redundant and my husband is now the only one bringing in an income. So I am hoping to become an OS Moneysaver. There are two adults and two children at home, one still in nappies.

It would be lovely to hear from anyone that has any tips for me. Where I should start. I am sure there are lots and lots of things I could be doing.

Thanks in advance
Mad

Smashing

Spend about 5 minutes in this forum. This OS lark is infectious, I swear.

Horasio

I have been trying to reduce our outgoings so we could save more money. My husband has just taken a lower paid job so should be OK.

Now how do you cope with a lazy teenager who won't work so he can run his car for uni?

CAFCGirl

It'd be great to hear how some regular OS-ers would suggest getting into the swing of things, I've often wondered how so many people seem to be so good at it!

Will be reading this post with great enthusiasm xx

Pink.

For me Old Style was something I learned from my mother....although I didn't realise it had a name until I came to this board.

For anyone new to the Old Style board, a good place to begin is the Getting Started section of the Mega Index thread. Also have a look under Shopping for help on budgeting.

Good luck!

Pink

moggins

Pink-winged has sent you all in some good directions, we would probably be better off if I went back to work but the house would be a lot more stressful and nobody would enjoy themselves very much. So I choose to stay at home.

I think the main trick is to get some routines in place. Both for the children and for yourselves so housework and stuff doesn't take over. You have more free time to actually shop around for the bargains and cheaper prices. More time to cook from scratch. Take babysteps, only try one new thing at a time until you are comfortable. If you take on too much you will only get discouraged and give up.

Good luck, it can be done and is so worthwhile.

p.s. ignore any sarcastic comments from so called friends - the thought of change brings out strange behaviour from some people.

FrugalJo

The biggest foodie tip that is saving me a packet so far is the buying a sack of potatoes from a farm shop rather than the range of frozen potato products that used to fill my freezer. 2kg of pots from the typical supermarket costs £1.50ish ?
Frozen chips/hash browns/waffles/potato salad are all favourites in this house so 10kg for £3 local farmshop (and I'm led to believe that's the expensive side !).

After reading the mega recipe thread on here I have recipes for potato bread potato cakes/hash browns/dauphinoise (sp?) are stuck on the fridge, must be saving an easy £10 a week. Not including the odd jacket potato for lunch.

And of course a rubber chicken is a must have.

I'm a little scared of the bread thing but that is my next challenge

Not sure if that's what you are looking for but hope it helps.

Julieboo

FrugalJo wrote:

The biggest foodie tip that is saving me a packet so far is the buying a sack of potatoes from a farm shop rather than the range of frozen potato products that used to fill my freezer. 2kg of pots from the typical supermarket costs £1.50ish ?
Frozen chips/hash browns/waffles/potato salad are all favourites in this house so 10kg for £3 local farmshop (and I'm led to believe that's the expensive side !).

After reading the mega recipe thread on here I have recipes for potato bread potato cakes/hash browns/dauphinoise (sp?) are stuck on the fridge, must be saving an easy £10 a week. Not including the odd jacket potato for lunch.

And of course a rubber chicken is a must have.

I'm a little scared of the bread thing but that is my next challenge

Not sure if that's what you are looking for but hope it helps.

Would you please send me the recipes for the potato 'stuff'
Cheers

Madaboutmoney_3

Thanks Pink-winged, great info there. It is only my 1st week without working, but it would be lovely if we could cope on my husbands wages. I can totally see your point Moggins, when I was working the house was more stressful, it seems so much more laid back even after only a few days.

Routine, thats the hardest part. Housework has tended to take over, which I don't want to happen. I will take babysteps, I have a breadmaker and will try to use that as much as I can to start with.

Thanks FrugalJo, great tip on the potatoes.

jcr16

what is rubber chicken please ?

i've heard it talked about but always been to shy to ask

moggins

Madaboutmoney wrote:

Routine, thats the hardest part. Housework has tended to take over, which I don't want to happen. I will take babysteps, I have a breadmaker and will try to use that as much as I can to start with.
.

We start the Flylady challenge on 12th September, if you want to join that you are more than welcome, after that putting some small routines in place will ensure that you actually spend very little time on housework and will leave you more time to do the things you enjoy and spend more time with the children.

If you have any questions don't be afraid to ask, there is no such thing as a stupid question here.



Rubber chicken is a chicken that stretches to make more than one meal.