Am i the youngest O/S money saver here?

lil_me

I'm 30 this year, not as young as some but do get comments that things I do don't reflect my age. I have 2 sons. I get comments from parents and grandparents asking 'why don't you just buy it at Tesco' when I mention about baking/breadmaking/cooking from scratch. I am more shocked that they don't do any cooking etc it would seem. It only came up in conversation about fitting in studying etc and I said I bake on weekends and study during the week. They looked stunned.

As for nights out etc, my partner and I went out 2 weeks ago for the first time in almost 2 years. I did have a drink, but that's only the third time in 3 years. People I know can't understand why it doesn't bother me. I do enjoy the occasional night out, but I had my fun in my teens etc when I was out 5 nights a week nightclubbing (or at least out as sometimes I was working, worked in that culture for a while) not interested now, I have very little patience with drunk people.

I was OS when the boys were little because I had to be, we had nothing. I made all their foods, they were in terry nappies when at home etc, I had massive debts before they were born (19 and £20k in debt thanks to an ex so that was a struggle!!). People still think I am mad now with the nappies etc, but it was cheaper and better for them. As they got older and finances became easier, DP got better job rather than being a student, I slipped into the way the rest of the world (apart from OSers) seem to do things, buying ready made/prepared foods, takeaways were frequent instead of a treat, I earned more Nectar points in Brewers Fayre than in Sainsburys. We slipped into debts as we were given more opportunities to get into debt like more credit cards etc, we became more extravagant.

Light bulb moment clicked in about 18 months ago, we were spending way too much and knew I didn't have to cut back but could do other things if we did. My first serious GC month was December 2006, I spent a third of what we previously spent and did dinner here (never done that before) months after that I have spent under half what we used to (we were spending at least £800 a month on groceries, eating out, toiletries etc) Waste is something I had to really creck down on. My spending was also excessive on clothes for the boys, no child needs over 50 tshirts.....just as an example.

Now I have managed to pay off several debts that my partner had (before and since we met but mainly on his luxuries) many others will be gone by the end of June 2007 then he'll just have one loan left and the car finance, my debts are gone, we live comfortably on what we have, I save up for things instead of sticking them on a card, have enough spare now for treats etc but I'm a lot more strict what we spend and when. For example we could afford to eat/drink out on a day out but I am too aware now to not take it with us instead. What does amaze me is when discussing holidays with a parent, she boasted of the many holidays they have had, when I asked how long it took to save up she looked shocked and said 'Oh I'm still paying for holidays from 2004 onwards, they all go on the cards' I mean, is this normal?

People seem to think we're poor because I cook from scratch, bake, make bread, make things etc etc........weird. We are OS now because we want to, not because we have to.

maypole

I think the Old style board is for anyone, I am 56, I don't think I am too young at all;)

purpleivy

It interests me to think that some of you feel like you're the only ones you know who are OS.

I'm in my 40s and have always been fairly well OS. More now than ever, but among my friends I still feel a bit weird because of the things that interest me. I have no crafting/sewing/OS buddies other than you lot here.

My aunt once said to me that my dad said to her that he didn't know how we made our ££ go so far. DH is on good income (but it will be reducing shortly as he is going back to staff rather than contract working) and I work PT. We don't smoke at all, don't drink (at all my case)much really. mend what we can. Do what we can for ourselves. I guess although we are sometimes extravagant, we are 'careful' a lot of the time and work hard to live within our means.

madge7

purpleivy wrote: »

It interests me to think that some of you feel like you're the only ones you know who are OS.

I'm in my 40s and have always been fairly well OS. More now than ever, but among my friends I still feel a bit weird because of the things that interest me. I have no crafting/sewing/OS buddies other than you lot here.

My aunt once said to me that my dad said to her that he didn't know how we made our ££ go so far. DH is on good income (but it will be reducing shortly as he is going back to staff rather than contract working) and I work PT. We don't smoke at all, don't drink (at all my case)much really. mend what we can. Do what we can for ourselves. I guess although we are sometimes extravagant, we are 'careful' a lot of the time and work hard to live within our means.

None of my friends are really OS, except maybe one. None of my friends craft/sew/make anything! Thats why I love it on here, so many fab ideas!! I am OS and proud at the age of 24!

JoeyEmma

I'm 27 and live with my OH and 3 cats. I love keeping a good home. My OH thinks its hilarious how I seem to know the price of everything in the supermarket

r.mac_2

I am 26 year old OS'er. I have always been quite OS without realising it as I just follow a lot of things my mum does/did - such as baking cakes rather than buying them, making things stretch and so on. However, I managed to take things to the next level when I found this site about 3 years ago. It's brilliant!

My biggest hurdle re: OS is my now husband - he has grown up with a very conveniece culture and when something is broken it gets thrown out. I am slowly re-educating him, but its taking ages

sammy_kaye18

Lol - so nice to know there are other young OS people out there who dont drink too - id much rather enjoy a hot bath, bar of choccie and a good film!

crawley_girl

Hiya

I am 29 and have been lurking on the OS forum for about a year and try to use as manay hints and tips as I can. I admit, I sometimes cheat and buy in, if there is no way that I can do what needs doing. I do hunt about for bargains and I do begrudge spending excessive money if I know that I can get it cheaper elsewhere. I used to not think about what I was spending on 'stuff' but since I realised that I needed to be more careful as I was wasting money.

There are some truely fab people on this site and I have learnt so much from them, thank you all xx

:heartpuls CG :heartpuls

weeping_river

sammy_kaye18 wrote: »

Lol - so nice to know there are other young OS people out there who dont drink too - id much rather enjoy a hot bath, bar of choccie and a good film!

I'd love a hot bath, but our place is a shower only:( ....choccie and a good film I can do though...hmmm, sounds like a plan for the afternoon, shame poirot is just finishing:D .

exlibris

I am in my sixties and TIGHT always was! My answer to getting drunk was - If I spend money I want to enjoy it. How can you know you have enjoyed yourself if you can't remember?