what do I need to be proper OS?

Lillibet_2

My key 3 Old style recommendations are

a) A little creative energy
b) An open mind
C) A sense of humour

If you can permenantly get into this mind set then between these 3 you'll think outside your usual comfort zone, be really good at it & laugh if it goes wrong! It doesn't matter what you apply it to, you'll be a million times happier & better at it if you can get into this mindset!

Gingham_Ribbon

My husband is fairly frugal but I never imagined he'd become an OS'er himself. But recently I've caught him enthusing about stardrops (but look how SHINY the taps are!) and doing his own storecupboard challenges and sorting out his own recipes for home baked things. It wasn't anything he bought to get him on board, and it wasn't me. It was just tapping into a particular way of thinking.

Rikki

Lillibet wrote:

My key 3 Old style recommendations are

a) A little creative energy
b) An open mind
C) A sense of humour

If you can permenantly get into this mind set then between these 3 you'll think outside your usual comfort zone, be really good at it & laugh if it goes wrong! It doesn't matter what you apply it to, you'll be a million times happier & better at it if you can get into this mindset!

I think thats very well put. :T

Although I tend to rely on c) the most.:o

lil_me

Lillibet you hit the nail on the head. A lot of things can be done without any extra gadgets etc but I wouldn't be without my slow cooker now. I don't do the bread yet so haven't bought a breadmaker, baby steps as some might say.

Pens, and whatever paper is going spare.

What I would add to Lillibets

The guts to try something new and experiment. Taken me a while. Oh and persistance, good yorkshires have taken me weeks of trying but I got there

Instead of buying lots of freezer boxes which I don't have room for, I reuse tubs, anything from margarine to icecream, put a freezer bag in them and fill that up then pop it out when frozen. Saves space in freezer, cupboard and money.

good knives are handy if just starting home cooking from scratch, I found mine were pathetic. Mixing bowl which I got fort 50p. Oh and if you have a little one a stick blender will probably come in very handy.

[Deleted User]

An infinite amount of patience helps as well, as Rome wasn't built in a day. Plus of couse all of us here to help you out when things go belly-up, and you find you have tooooo much month left until the end of the month:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

elona

I saved a lot by using terry nappies for my four daughters and using warm water and cotton wool to cleanse bottoms rather than wipes all the time when they were babies.

Charity shops can be great for mixing bowls and utensils - not only cheaper but stuff that you cannot find in the shops.

Bexstars

lil_me wrote:

Lillibet you hit the nail on the head. A lot of things can be done without any extra gadgets etc but I wouldn't be without my slow cooker now. I don't do the bread yet so haven't bought a breadmaker, baby steps as some might say.

Pens, and whatever paper is going spare.

What I would add to Lillibets

The guts to try something new and experiment. Taken me a while. Oh and persistance, good yorkshires have taken me weeks of trying but I got there

Instead of buying lots of freezer boxes which I don't have room for, I reuse tubs, anything from margarine to icecream, put a freezer bag in them and fill that up then pop it out when frozen. Saves space in freezer, cupboard and money.

good knives are handy if just starting home cooking from scratch, I found mine were pathetic. Mixing bowl which I got fort 50p. Oh and if you have a little one a stick blender will probably come in very handy.

Thats a fab idea for the freezer bags! I have so many freezer tubs but only a small intergrated freezer, I shall be trying that one out when my next big tub of marge is empty

tankgirl1

one of the best tips i have got off here, is to use soda crystals for laundry. I now have a big tub, in which i mix together one bag of soda crystals, and 1kg washing powder. Use a couple of tblespns in each wash, with a dash of vinegar in place of softener, and hey presto! :T

lovely clean clothes at a fraction of the price!

Toxic_Lemon

tankgirl1 wrote:

one of the best tips i have got off here, is to use soda crystals for laundry. I now have a big tub, in which i mix together one bag of soda crystals, and 1kg washing powder. Use a couple of tblespns in each wash, with a dash of vinegar in place of softener, and hey presto! :T

lovely clean clothes at a fraction of the price!

Why do you bother putting in the soap powder at all?

groatie_queen

Please feel free to move this reply if there's a more suitable home for it.

This is a light bulb moment for me re the soap powder - Toxic Lemon, thanks a million - you reckon soda crystals will do the biz on their own? I usually wash at 40 degrees, my machine doesn't have a 30 setting.

The last box of powder I bought has lasted 8 months, I use so little per wash (1 tablespoon) and as I live solo at the mo, I only do two or three washes per week. Have been on MSE for a very short while and I'm learning fast, thanks to all you wonderful people!

Haven't yet opened my next box of Mr T's non-bio, so if I can find the receipt, back it goes!

Best wishes to all for a happy and peaceful Christmas

Groatie Queen