really old style living?

Julie67

That's the plan. We are going to try that for 6 mnths and see how it goes. I know it is a big step and very scary but I am sure we would be much happier. I will be reading everything I can on self suffciency in the mean time.

We have a big garden and I think next year we will give the whole thing over to fruit and veg. I already bake a fair bit and make a lot of bread. I think meal planning seems really important so thats my first job.

ginnyknit

I agree with Mardatha, put your wage in a high interest account or such and live on one wage. Get organised, you are already half way there and just see how much stuff you can store, make and do without a few luxuries till you have a good idea then you have a great safety net. Because the first thing that will happen is a major appliance will break and you are stuck, or the car will suddenly fall apart - we had ours stolen and the gap payment didnt cover the car!!! Instant debt:eek: Hope it all goes well

Well my peaceful day worked, I stocked up at Lidle or whatever its called, oats 39p, bread mix 69p, sugar cheap and even bought an ice cream cone each for me and Dh. I wandered round the local shops and ventured into a couple of charity shops, book for Mum for Xmas and a top and a dress for me (buy 1 get 1 free!!!) 4.49 for the 2 - bargain Had a real O/S day, leftovers now cooking for tea.

csarina

I ha d some mince left from earlier in the week, it could not be frozen as it had been frozen before, ah ha lightbulb moment, I chopped up a small potato and a carrot mixed it with the mince and then made some short crust pastry, two pasties for supper......scrummy, we were to have had sausage and mash, so the sausage will go forward iinto next months menu plan.........

D&DD

csarina wrote: »

I ha d some mince left from earlier in the week, it could not be frozen as it had been frozen before, ah ha lightbulb moment, I chopped up a small potato and a carrot mixed it with the mince and then made some short crust pastry, two pasties for supper......scrummy, we were to have had sausage and mash, so the sausage will go forward iinto next months menu plan.........

ooh now you're making me fancy a pasty

I must get the snack maker and pie maker out this week and do some batches..has anyone got any good pie/pasty recipes for ones using courgettes or do you think they're too wet ??
My patty pans are as big as heads this year and although I've had loads baked with stuffing,pepper and chorizo (which is lush!) they're coming in faster than I can eat/pickle/dehydrate/cook them :eek:

I've inundated my mum and neighbours too..they hide when they see me coming with anything green or yellow now:rotfl:

NualaBuala

Me too - would love a pasty now!

D&DD

Julie67 wrote: »

What a great thread. Everyone seems very friendly. I try to be old style but some of you put me to shame:o

The thing is I am seriously thinking of giving up my well paid job as I so love being a mum and a homemaker. To be honest with all the money we waist on convenience foods and loads of other stuff I think we could manage really well on DH wage. I realise it would be a big change. We already grow lots of veg (although some of it has gone to waste this year as I just haven't had time to pick it:ohangs head in shame)

Has anyone else made this change and how did things work out? I am really excited but scared to take the next step

Julie I made the change about 5 years ago..not great timing on my part as we were up to our eyes in debt at that time!
My advice would be
1/ get rid of any outstanding debt as this will up your monthly income/decrease outgoings

2/set a date and work towards stocking up the pantry,toiletries etc (bogof deals etc)

3/Save at least 3 months money as an emergency fund

4/If you have any spare after this might be worth throwing it at the mortgage if you can..again decreasing outgoings

In my experience we actually ended up no worse off because I paid the childminder over half my wages and then was too tired to cook when I was home so spent heaps of needless money on fast food and takeaways( ooh the shame they'll disown me now!;) )

Its hard to know what to do for the best isn't it but as others have said do think carefully before you leap

Is your OH's job secure??

Best of luck whatever you decide

Primrose

julie67 - I too would be a little fearful for you if you gave up your job at the moment. I don't know what your OH does for a living, but after the Coalition has announced where the spending cuts are going to fall in the Autumn, it could take days, weeks or even months for jobs in all kinds of subsidiary industries and job sectors to start being axed, and even jobs which seem secure at the moment may find that they become unexpected subsidiary victims to government cuts. So it's sensible to try and live on your OH's income and save yours. However much you would rather stay at home, giving up a job in the current economic circumstances might be flying in the face of wisdom. As Mardatha has said "a job is a job is a job" and if you gave it up and your OH then found himself unexpectedly made redundant, it would be S*d's law that one or both or you might find it almost impossible find work in the current circumstances. Hand on in there, and just keep stuffing the savings away until economic conditions improve.

dreaming

Julie67. Everyone on here is very friendly and knowledgeable. I am a long-time lurker/occasional poster but feel I can ask any questions and someone will have some good suggestions.
Re giving up work, could you cut down your hours? That might be better as if the worst happened and OH lost job (as so many are these days) you might then have the possibility to increase them again and cover the shortfall. For example, instead of working 5 days 9-5 (35hrs if you have an hour lunch) work 3 days 8.30 -5.30 with 30 mins lunch (25.5 hrs). That way you get some extra time at home, but don't drop too much money. Of course it might be difficult to re-arrange child care etc. but it might be worth considering.

seasalt_2

D&DD wrote: »

My patty pans are as big as heads this year and although I've had loads baked with stuffing,pepper and chorizo (which is lush!) they're coming in faster than I can eat/pickle/dehydrate/cook them :eek:

I think (but could be wrong - anyone else know for certain?) that if you let patty pan squashes get a bit bigger and older than you would normally harvest them, they will keep for quite a long while - like marrows or winter squash. I have certainly kept them for a month or so. Might be worth trying if you've got lots. Either on a slatted shelf or in nets or just somewhere the air can circulate that's not too hot or sunny.

Cheapskate

Hello everyone
I've managed to read thought the first 15 pages of this thread - fab, but need another stint tomorrow to nearly catch up! :rotfl: There are some wonderful ideas & stories, which I really need for inspiration. I've been trying to scale down what I spend in all areas - doing grocery challenge (not very well! ), NSDs, etc. I've grown spuds again this year in tubs on the path, have a monster bramble (& loads more in the village), offers from friends to decimate their fruit trees, so think I'm doing OK for free or nearly-free food this year.
I don't think I could do all the things I want immediately, so am aiming to do a bit more each month or year. Next door are altering their back garden a bit, so it's a good time to assess what I want to grow where, for next year. Also 2 friends have allotments & have offered to share - with DH, 18 yr old DS, a 3 yr old & a 10 month baby, I don't have TOO much spare time! :eek:
Don't know if we'll have a really bad winter again, but I always have a bit of a siege mentality in the run-up to winter & Christmas, & stock up on all sorts - e.g. £ shop near me has 1.5kg bags of sugar for £1, works out cheaper weight for weight than those huge plastic bags from supermarket, so have got a few.
Sorry lot of waffle for a first timer on here! Mardatha - thanks for starting this thread, even if we don't all become Tom & Barbara Good the ideas & warmth from everyone are amazing! :T Hope to keep up & join in more!
A xo