OS MSE ideas haven’t paid off for you?

liz545

Coupons - I just don't think it's worth the hassle remembering to bring them, then facing the shop assistants round here who act like it's coming out of their own pockets!

Meals out; I don't much care for takeaways but I eat out at least once a month, I don't go to particularly expensive places but I love to eat out!

Yogurt making - it just didn't seem to 'take', and since we don't use yogurt daily it doesn't seem worth the hassle.

Other than that, I think we're getting increasingly OS, and I'm really enjoying the challenge!

anniewoo

I really hate housework,so I couldn't do the Flylady thing,I just clean as and when it is needed or if I am expecting visitors....

I do use Stardrops and microfibre cloths for most things and vinegar/water solution for windows and glass,but I buy branded toilet cleaners.

I couldn't get on with vinegar in my wash,it didn't leave my clothes soft enough so I have gone back to fabric conditioner.
I do use the washing powder mix with soda crystals and I am happy with this.

I cook all my meals from scratch and I make my own cakes,but not pastry,I am rubbish at it.

I don't have a slow cooker and I hate yoghurt,so I have never been tempted to make that.
I love my breadmaker,one of the best things I have ever bought.

I have never tried growing my own vegetables,I have an organic veg box delivered every week.

belfastgirl23

I have a slowcooker slowly gathering dust (sigh) everything that comes out of it tastes like vegetable mush to me, I think you need to eat meat to get any real value out of it. Also of course i bought it too big so you have five b***y days worth of vegetable mush to eat and it's all the veg that doesn't freeze well like potatos so you can't even freeze it and pretend that some day you'll feel like eating vegetable mush. Rant over. Phew!

Given up on growing salad veg (hated having to pick thru every last leaf for greenfly).

Eating out at least once a week since DH says it gives us time to talk that we wouldn't take otherwise. It is a real treat though.

Bleach for the loo and the kitchen sink when it's really bad. Cheap cream cleaner for the bath if I use bath oil.

I am flying but a lot slower than some of others - I'm a big fan of fling boogies and night and morning time routines but don't like having a day for all the bigger jobs, sometimes I just don't feel like it and if I leave it long enough DH might be inspired

But I have embraced vinegar, bicarb, stardrops, microfibre, mealplanning, cooking from scratch, freezing, breadmaking, grocery challenges, full dishwasher and washing machine so I figure I'm a good bit of the way there

Softstuff

I've never owned a slow cooker, and it wouldn't be much use for us since I've never seen anything cooked in one that we eat. The breadmaker went back to a charity shop when I found doing it by hand was actually easier than the faff of cleaning that thing.

Oh, and flylady... I'm afraid I read that stuff the once, and it made me nauseous. The idea of "blessing" my family by cleaning something... so not me. I like a clean home, but the idea that it's somehow linked inextricably to our happiness is a bit far removed from reality. And if I ever judge my success by how shiny my sink is, shoot me.

Shortie

Hi everyone

My un-OS things are:

I use my tumble dryer in winter as I get fed up of wet washing all over the radiators
I don't make my own gravy so use granuals
I don't own a BM or SC
I've never been much good at cake making
I use dispoasble nappies as DH refuses to comtemplate cloth ones
I don't do stocks and soups

Oh my.....

I'm wondering what I do do that's OS :rotfl:

lil_me

Hmmm, Easiyo and breadmaker, just because of time been used less lately but intend to use it more, slow cooker is used often. Love it.

Stardrops works but makes floors slippy so gone back to previous product for that one job.

Use drier when I have to only

Cakes are still a disaster area, they taste nice but look awful

If anyone wants rid of the OS things they bought and haven't used or not used for ages, ebay half price listing day today.

Love the Flylady way Moggins did it (and the one I am covering at the mo) can't stand the American site, made me want to scream.

According to DP I make too many lists etc and am obsessed in saving money Never mind, doesn't moan with the amount I manage to save up to go on holiday/treat him for his boirthday etc

Spent a fortune on new fridge freezer because I love bulk cooking (usually in slow cooker), makes my life soooo much easier!

Have used vinegar for cleaning for ages, liking bicarb and borax now also. Zoflora still bought as I like that too.

Veg seed disaster, spent a fortune, ended up with loads of lettuce and basil growing, too much have given loads of seedlings away, but nothing else so far, have ordered proper strawberry plants instead!

I've made myself more work, that I sometimes think oh is all this time cooking worth it, but then I kno what difference it is making when it comes to my families health (DP lost a stone in 2 month and BP can down!)

Psykicpup

oh I feel better already !
I dont take lunch for work & I do sometimes buy oven chips etc - never tried making my own washing powder or soap - tho I like the idea of the soap

I do shop locally, I use stardrops & vinegar for glass & as a softener - that took a while, think there must have been a build up of product in my clothes!
I love my slow cooker & me & BM are talking again most of the time
I cook from scratch most of the time... there must be more I'm sure

Queenie

Home sewn clothing is no longer an os skill which is worth doing on a cost saving front - although, being able to make alterations is still a worthwhile skill. My mum bought me my first sewing machine when I was 18yo thinking it was a lifetime investment (which it still is for home furnishings) but not in the way she'd envisaged.

Rugmaking skills can still work out moneysaving, as can quilting/patchwork if you restrict yourself to old clothing/fabrics. But the time factor involved doesn't equate!!

Softstuff wrote:

The idea of "blessing" my family by cleaning something... so not me.

I'm more likely to give them a version of "blessing" at the mess they make ... "those blessed idle beggars have done it again!"

maow425

thriftlady wrote: »

I have never really got on with my slow cooker and only really use it to steam the Christmas pud in.
QUOTE]

Oh, please tell me the secret! Or is there one? I am going to do my own pudding this year, and dread using my steamer for that!
:eek:

Miss_Scarlett

I'm new here but... I will def not be using home made sanitary towels. However a friend told me to get a mooncup and that's great (So, I'm excused).

I have a slowcooker which hardly ever gets used, had a breadmaker but gave it away. But, Im going to try lots of the other tips from here to become more old style.