It isn`t tough for us. We are OS and we COPE

GreyQueen

ChocClare wrote: »

Thanks for this. We don't ever have more than two jerrycans of petrol (phew - we're legal!) but there isn't a limit on diesel, so we do store more than that.

Just wanted to add that EVERY TIME there is a film on where "diesel" bursts into flames I have to endure a long lecture from DH on why that doesn't happen. It's a bit like in the Simpsons where everything that crashes (deer, bicycles, wooden go-karts) go up in a mighty explosion whenever they crash We live in a thatched cottage so DH is our own little fire inspector about EVERYTHING. Mind you, our garage is several miles away from the house (or so it seems, when I slog out there early in the morning because the milk is in the fridge we keep out there)...

Your OH is right to be worried ChocClare. My grandparents lost their first home (rented) to a thatch fire which started in the chimney of the next door property. Homeless in WW2 with a baby and a toddler. Then they moved in with great-gran and a crippled Flying Fortress nearly landed on her house as it crashed into the field beyond. It's annoying about diesel being misrepresented as highly flammable when you can (don't try this at home, kids!) drop a lit match into a puddle of it and it'll go out. I was once giving First Aid at a two-car crash and car 1 was leaking it's fuel down the road towards car 2, which was on fire. Had to make a judgement call to move the driver of car 2 a second time as if the fuel was petrol we Good Samaritans would likely have been caught in an explosion/ flashover type thing. Scary. Driver was OK; just shocked and bruised.

FatVonD

I am making some inroads into my transition to OS! For lunch on Monday I had leftover colcannon with grated cheese melted over. Monday evening I cooked a roast dinner (with a full-size chicken this time!) and had leftover cauliflower cheese and sweetcorn for Tuesday's lunch then made a West African-style chicken curry (with sultanas, boiled eggs and sliced banana) with the leftover chicken.

Tonight I'm making pasta with a salami/courgette/mascarpone cheese sauce. My husband hates cheese so I'll divide it before I add the cheese and make a bolognese-type sauce for his. (I bought some Oxo bolognese stock cubes as they were on offer, not strictly OS but closer than Dolmio!)

Probably the most OS thing I've done is turn our bed the other way round. The centre support has split (contrary to my user name this was due to a knot in the wood, not the combined weight of myself and MrVonD!) and we were both getting backache from not lying flat. Hopefully this will extend the life of the bed for a while though having the tall end as a footboard has confused the hell out of the cats though does provide a better launch pad onto the top of the wardrobe!

Pitlanepiglet

I'm not sure about the title of the new thread, I don't know about others but it is fluffing tough. I am OS and I am coping but that doesn't mean that it isn't tough.

OS wise, the stew is in slow cooker, I've used up some veg that was on it's way out and the stew is full of lentils and pearl barley. We haven't shopped this month (other than a bit of veg from the farm shop) and I can just about see the back of the cupboards. Still not close enough to defrost a freezer but we're getting through the food.

Justamum

Pitlanepiglet wrote: »

I'm not sure about the title of the new thread, I don't know about others but it is fluffing tough. I am OS and I am coping but that doesn't mean that it isn't tough.

It is very tough. When I finalised last month's accounts yesterday I had averaged £2 a day on food for 5 of us! I don't know how much further I can pare that amount down, but I will have to make cuts somewhere. DH was paid yesterday and based on essential outgoings this month we will have just under £2.50 of our overdraft to play with:eek:

EstherH

Yes, I agree it's tough and looks like set to get tougher. How do we keep paying extra for petrol and food when we are already cooking from scratch, buying bargain brands etc. Need the car because I am disabled and can't walk far otherwise would walk more.

Lavandula

I'm really enjoying this thread and am really trying to embrace the whole OS way of living. I'm lucky that I have a well-paid job (for the moment) and I know how lucky I am, but I have always been frugal and will continue to be. I hate consumerism and today's throw away society. I am saving as much money as possible so we can move to a house with a bigger garden so we can becomes more self-sufficient in food.

I have a huge pile of toiletry samples that I managed to get free from a variety of companies. I reckon these will last a good year or 2!

I have plenty of clothes for this year (and next)...my jeans are 10 years old and still look good! I buy clothes and toys for my son from boot sales.

Will soon start planning what to grow in the garden this year....very excited about this:o

Pitlanepiglet

Justamum wrote: »

It is very tough. When I finalised last month's accounts yesterday I had averaged £2 a day on food for 5 of us! I don't know how much further I can pare that amount down, but I will have to make cuts somewhere. DH was paid yesterday and based on essential outgoings this month we will have just under £2.50 of our overdraft to play with:eek:

Well done on the food savings, that's a pretty impressive figure, you must have worked really hard at getting to that level.

I get my final pay packet this month and then I'm in the hands of the Benefits people as to whether they will give me JSA or sanction me for leaving my job (long story). OH is desperately trying to find work but there really is nothing in our area.

The news is all doom and gloom and there really does seem to be no light at the end of the tunnel and from where I'm sitting it's very tough and looks like it will continue to be so

Lavandula

I was looking on Amazon at books about frugality etc and noticed that they had some books that are reprints of advice given to housewives during WWII. Things like 'Make do and mend', 'Dig for Victory', and how to make your rations stretch further etc. Look like really interesting reading..

There were loads of really good tips on the TV prog 'The Wartime Kitchen and Garden' from the 90's. I recorded the series when it was repeated on 'Yesterday'....a brilliant series

zarazara

Our major monthly out going is diesel fuel for the cars. The cars are costing more to run than the house is costing, food is about the same as the house. We try to make journeys do twice, ie if driving to the supermarket or train station we also call in at the Agricultural suppliers for animal feed and also the recycling place. things like clothes I buy on line and have them delivered. We cant manage with 1 car unfortunately as I need our old 20 yr old landrover for the smallholding and also DS1 doesnt drive yet so he would be stuck. DH does 150 miles a week to and from work. its this thats the problem . it costs around £7 a day in fuel . maybe a motorbike would be the answer but we have no funds to buy one with and his old car is only worth about £500.

nu1isit?

Justamum wrote: »

It is very tough. When I finalised last month's accounts yesterday I had averaged £2 a day on food for 5 of us! :eek:

Hello Justamum...I know it's cheeky, but I'm going to ask you anyway (you don't ask, you'll never know). What sort of food/meals are you providing for £2 a day? The reason I ask is there's four of us...and we're looking for extra ideas .
Thanks for any help/advice in advance :beer:.