my whole familys gone o/s!!!!!!

sammy_kaye18

Hi All

Some people may or not know about the hardship my little sister (little? - 19 years!!)has found herself in - she was in a very violent relationship at 18, got pregnant, had baby (still being physically abused) raised baby alone, and now has found herself pregnant again and her daughter is only 14 months.

Anyway her money was little to nothing and she was really struggling with unjustified spends basically. She has also been fretting about losing the house and not being able to support herself and the baby shes expecting (few weeks gone), small daughter and dog. So i sat down with her - went over her budget, made a bills file for her, etc and basically listed what she spends on. Then said id go back yesterday as most of her money came in yesterday (CTC then she gets Child Benefit and Income support weekly) and to see her to see how shes doing a week on - i didnt hold out much hope though - and i know we are hard for money but i still went with £10 in my pocket to 'lend' her.

Well you could have knocked me over with a feather.first thought was my god im in the wrong house

Went in baby was sat chewing on a homemade rusk in her high chair, oven was on with a shepherds pie in and there was my baby sister stood cutting up veg to batch make soup with!!!!!!! Anyway i lent her a hand and she asked if i had anymore cheap recipes/meals that her and her daughter T could eat - so ive been sat here all morning scanning the index. She also said her only problem was that the big main supermarket (Mr T) and she doesnt have internet access. So i suggested the local market for fruit and veg and she is lucky she has a small independent butcher in the little town near her - not even a mile - 20 minute walk so we went for a walk down there and she got a load of chicken breasts, mince and pork chops and the butchers wife took a shine to her and T she gave her some free sausages too!! so she said she will definatley be goign back there again.

Anyway also checked her bill file she has everything up to date - even a shoppign list ready to go if she can get to Tescos at some point!! Shes also given up smoking (20 a day) and had been 4 days without a cigarette when i saw her last - she put the money in a jar (what she used for meat) and still had some spare cash left. Shes also tryign to reduce her heating bills so shes dug out all her old jumpers and the babies, her dog now sleeps on the bed with her which she said is nice because they are bonding more (hes only young about 5/6 months old) and she has a fleece blanket on the bed. Think i might buy her a nice hot water bottle for her birthday - in march - might get her a little slow cooker too!

So i am super proud of my baby sister - but the biggest shock i had was when we went to see my mother - who lives basically the other end of the street from my sister - still about 5/10 minutes away - we walked in, there she is in a fleece jumper, slippers, and batch cooking soup too!!!!

Even my dad (lives in crewe) and my nan have announced they are going to be growing their own veg this year - like me! - my nans been gardening for years too so im going to be getting soem tips off her - might even get a few plant trades in! ive alredy been given free carrot seeds and pea seeds!!!!

AND even my in laws have invested in a slow cooker!!!!

My whole family has gone O/S!!!!!! :T :j

the_optimist

Do we need to call the doctor??? This is a highly infectious addiction:rotfl:

My addiciton has only rubbed off on DD, so well done sammy_kaye18 :j

dannahaz

Well done to your sister, doing all this AND giving up smoking at the same time.

And well done to you, how fantyastic that you have been able to make such a difference to her life!
{HUG}

TKP_3

That is great! Nice thing is you can all share/swap tips and ideas (espcially local sales and bargains)! My Mom and my eldest sister are OS, and always have been. My middle sister spends like there is no tomorrow.

MrsTinks

Mine has rubbed off on my little brother (21 :rollseyes:) too He has my old bread maker and his girlfriend nearly keeled over with shock when she realised he used it! I think HIS birthday pressie will be a slowcooker too teehee!

Linda32

Thats great, thanks for sharing. OS really does make a difference and becomes a way of life.

sammy_kaye18

sounds silly i knwo but i think we all seem and feel healthier too - i mean we have been using our local fruti and veg market stall adn eating properly (ie no junk food) since christmas really - allt eh junk went out before the new year and i find we are all much happier, healthier looking and more active.

mookybargirl

Sammy, that's a lovely story - really glad your sister is getting on well. Onwards and upwards

rach

that's so great sammy_kaye18, you must be so proud! be proud of yourself too, you inspired it!

weegie_2

Sammy-Kaye - being an OS'er yourself you probably already know about freecycle! Any way to sign your sister up for this and see if she can bag a slow cooker etc off this (and perhaps anything else she needs)?

I've seen a couple going in my local group in the past few months (I wasn't quick enough to bag one myself ands had to rely on my MIL to treat me to one!)

weegie
x

astonsmummy

Well done! i'm not fully OS but am getting there!
I went to my nans yesterday and nearly had a heart attack, she had spent £75 on a weeks worth of shopping, it's only her, my mum and a cat, i thought oldies were OS