How do you keep up your Old Style motivation?

Angel_Jenny

Evie74 - I feel like I am playing at it sometimes. I love all the Good Life / frugal / crafty stuff but at the moment I don't have many outgoings so don't need to be super strict with my spending. I also love learning new skills although my knitting isn't improving at all.

Popperwell - I have always been someone to jump in and help others and I guess I just expected others to act the same way. Even though the riots weren't near me they were very scary. There is an unsettled feeling - like everyone is waiting for the next problem or next scandal! I buy quite a few magazines (on subscription to convince myself I am saving money!) mostly home / garden or craft related. I have a clippings folder!

Pavlovs_dog - Perfect 50s homemaker is my dream - my guilty secret! I find it hard to fit in things like gardening and baking around work and essential home tasks.

MrsLurcherwalker - I just ate a carrot that I grew from seed - it was tiny and a bit manky but I was so proud!! I hadn't thought of it before but it is security. Knowing that you have the skills to cope with what life throws at you.

SpikyHedgehog - I feel like I am cherry picking from the past - it felt a bit like viewing certain times (like the 1950s) through rose tinted glasses. I think you are right - it isn't all about ignoring the modern or making life as difficult as possible to be authentic - it is combining modern conveniences with old fashioned skills / knowledge with an attitude that makes the best of both! I have always been drawn to the past and feel like the old style skills and ideas are a more practical side to this - rather than just floating about doing random cross stitch.

Puddleglum - I need to get to the charity shops - I wandered around New Look today and didn't find anything I liked at all! I think it is a skill to be able to stick to a budget (not one that I am good at) as there are some people who just can't match their spending to their income.

Such fascinating answers! I always learn something from this section of the forum!

Wee_Pilsbury

For me it's been a mixture of having to be OS (when I had debts) and now choosing to be OS. I'll admit I don't go all out and I have spells where I fall off the wagon but that's a rare occurence now.

I'm also lucky enough to be able to choose the bits of the OS lifestyle that suit me but I appreciate that many others don't have that luxury.

In terms of motivation, well, that mostly comes from never wanting to go back to where I was previously in terms of finances (or should I say, lack of finances) but it's also the feeling of satisfaction I get in knowing that I don't have to be part of the buy, buy, buy culture that surrounds us.

I've always been able to cook (thanks mum) :T and I can bake or make just about anything, especially if it is bad for your teeth or your figure! I can also turn my hand to most things at home and again I have to say a thanks to mum for that.

Actually my mum calls anything OS "my Blue Peter skills" - making something out of nothing or making something else out of anything

marmiterulesok

I don't want to go back to my old ways when I didn't know the value of money and frittered away so much.

I've learnt to budget on a weekly and monthly basis and love it.It has given me so much freedom because I know exactly where my money is going.That's one of the things that motivates me to carry on.

HTH.

Angel_Jenny

How much is a reasonable amount to spend on yourself per week?

A daft question I know but I tend to fritter money away and don't really know how much "treat" money others have for things like books and magazines.

marmiterulesok

Angel_Jenny wrote: »

How much is a reasonable amount to spend on yourself per week?

A daft question I know but I tend to fritter money away and don't really know how much "treat" money others have for things like books and magazines.

Sorry,but I don't live in the UK,so my figures wouldn't be much help.Do you mean what is a reasonable amount per week as a 'treat'?I suppose it depends on how much you have left after paying your bills and any outgoings and also how you like to treat yourself.

I do like to have a day trip away every now and again,so put money aside each month to pay for the train journey and a snack.I also like to have a regular pedicure so put money aside every month for this.Having a nice coffee or a meal out doesn't interest me IYSWIM.

Sorry that I can't be more helpful.Hopefully somebody else'll be along soon.

Angel_Jenny

marmiterulesok wrote: »

Sorry,but I don't live in the UK,so my figures wouldn't be much help.Do you mean what is a reasonable amount per week as a 'treat'?I suppose it depends on how much you have left after paying your bills and any outgoings and also how you like to treat yourself.

I do like to have a day trip away every now and again,so put money aside each month to pay for the train journey and a snack.I also like to have a regular pedicure so put money aside every month for this.Having a nice coffee or a meal out doesn't interest me IYSWIM.

Sorry that I can't be more helpful.Hopefully somebody else'll be along soon.

I don't really have many outgoings at the moment - not earning much but not paying out much either.

I thought I would get better answers on here as most people I know in real life spend more than they earn!!

I like to buy books, magazines and craft stuff. I don't smoke or go out drinking ..... just buy a lot of books!

marmiterulesok

Angel_Jenny wrote: »

I don't really have many outgoings at the moment - not earning much but not paying out much either.

I thought I would get better answers on here as most people I know in real life spend more than they earn!!

I like to buy books, magazines and craft stuff. I don't smoke or go out drinking ..... just buy a lot of books!

I go through book buying phases,but I buy them second hand on @mazon,so often the postage is more than the book.It's still a really good deal and I don't mind getting second hand.

You could always set aside a certain amount each month and see how you do.

Mistral001

I can understand how the Op feels.

When I started to cut back on everything when my income shot down over two years ago I had quite a bit of resolve. I was quite proud of all the money-saving things I did. Now it is just everyday living. No novelty. Nothing clever or special. Nobody is going to praise me for doing it. In fact, if anything I get derision and tend now to hide my money saving ways as much as possible.

One thing I have noticed is that I tend to give more to others. Maybe this is just another way of trying to hide my lack of money and frugality, but I would also like to think it is also because my lack of money has made me appreciate other people's problems more.

SpikyHedgehog

I guess I'd say, work out your total budget of income & outgoings, then if you allocate some to save for fun stuff like craft fairs, & some to save for boring stuff like car repairs or new washing machine, then it will be easier to see what you've got for the magazines.

1 thing I find with craft books, I read them more than do the crafts... Do you get any from the library? Saving money on the books means more money for resources ;-)

pigpen

I love it.. every day is a challenge.. every bill paid is less money owed.. every penny is carefully placed...

'treat' money??? sod that.. my treat is the pursuit of penny saving. I learned a long time ago that the things you work to achieve are far more rewarding than buying a quick fix... So, the 'rewards' for my endeavours are the finished article, the happiness my hard work brings to others..

Cheesy.. lol