I have lost my OS ways, help!

CyclingLondonSaver

Floss wrote: »

Whenever DH and I have duck, we generally have one breast between us, thinly sliced, as it makes it go further and being quite a rich meat you don't really need a lot when you have veg & a good jus from the juices.

That's a great idea. They are generally really big portions so if you do have good sides, it can be a very filling meal. I served mine with potatoes and okra fried in the duck fat with garlic and rosemary, and some steamed broccoli. Lush

Floss

CyclingLondonSaver wrote: »

That's a great idea. They are generally really big portions so if you do have good sides, it can be a very filling meal. I served mine with potatoes and okra fried in the duck fat with garlic and rosemary, and some steamed broccoli. Lush

Yes, we generally have duck-fat roasted cubed potatoes, with h/g broccoli. The jus will generally have h/m sloe or elderberry jelly in to give a great shine (and much nicer than shop bought redcurrant jelly).

Caterina

Good morning,

Brilliant stuff, gourmet OSers CyclingLondonSaver and Floss, you are the living proof that it is possible to live a frugal lifestyle in luxury! I find that when I am practicing my OS ways I eat (and feed my family) much better than when I am not bothered, as I make so much more effort to cook nice stuff, fresh and from scratch.

I have stopped talking to acquaintances about OS living and frugality etc. as I cannot be bothered to face their rolling eyes and negative comments, if only they knew what they are missing!

Here is my OS plan for today:

DH sorted with breakfast and packed lunch (leftover lovely soup from last night), but I was up at 6:30 and went to work with the little boy, only to find that the mum had cancelled today and I had forgotten to change my diary - my fault entirely! Ah well, it means I have had more time to sort a few things out this morning, claiming DH's dental costs from the insurance and sorting out the kitchen.

Bummer weather, I wanted to do a wash to hang outside but will hold on till tomorrow, the forecast is for a dry and sunny day, at least part of the day, so I shall just wash DH's shirts today, which I can hang from the banister on coat hangers. I might have a go at some ironing too, so the mountain does not grow too high.

I have a bit of leftover soup for my lunch but will have to feed the builder - in case anyone wonders why I feed the builder, he is a family friend and is giving me a really good rate for his work, so I feel ok about including him when I cook a hot meal, or let him make himself a sandwich when I am not around.

I might see if my friend wants to meet for a coffee in my house or hers, but if she wants to go out I shall turn it down even if she offers to buy, as it defeats the purpose (someone spending money on my behalf is like I was spending it myself).

There has been a planned spend today, dentist appointment for DH that was already booked ages ago and would not have been ideal to move so I don't feel bad about it (well, I feel bad for poor DH who is having to have root canal in a couple of weeks time, but that's another matter).

Late afternoon I have a yoga class, the really mild and gentle one I started last week. I look forward to that, only won't be able to attend it next week because the boys' mum has changed my day for that week, to work Weds instead of Thurs.

Nothing planned for tonight after dinner, probably just a quiet evening in, which is fine by me.

Have a good OS day.

moments_of_sanity

Good Morning All,

Caterina, I too don't talk to family about our OS ways as we get a similar reaction from them too. Not sure any of them could manage to pay bills, mortgage, etc and support 4 people on £14,000 per year!

DD1 is still with us and has found the commuting to be better than she expected so at the moment she has decided to stay with us and commute (but knowing how her mind works, things will change again). The house is slightly manic and we are all trying to readjust to her being here full time.....more noise, more washing, more demands (I love her dearly but she is quite high maintenance). I am sure it will all settle down soon enough though and we will all find our place in the house/family again.

I did some tidying up of my airing cupboard and found a few things to sell on our local FB pages so now have £25 towards the additional food costs incurred. :j

Not much planned for today as having a quiet one here so maybe a little housework, washing is finally up to date and the dishwasher is chugging away doing its thing.

Wishing you all a lovely OS day

CyclingLondonSaver

Evening all! Hope you have all had a lovely day.

Caterina, it's a shame that your acquaintances aren't interested in your OS lifestyle. They may well be jealous in a way that you're achieving so much from it. At least you have us to talk with! I'm fortunate in that I have a couple of good friends who are very on side with MSEing and OS and my boyfriend is also very supportive - he loves that we don't spend as much money any more! I was also talking to a chap at work yesterday who had used MSE to help change electricity provider - saving £170 a year!

My day has involved a bit of spending. I didn't have any breakfast in the house so had to pick up something at work. I went home via the supermarket and picked up a few breakfast bits and some veg for a chilli I'll be making for dinner tomorrow. Total spend - £8. I think the rest of the week till Sunday will be NSDs, though I may have to get some bits for stock. Completely forgot to take my cheque to pay in to the bank again though!

Quick rant about my housemates. They keep leaving the kitchen in an absolute state and it's really annoying me :mad: I appreciate that sometimes mess is made and can't be cleaned up straight away. But every day I go to the kitchen and it's just completely filthy! Pans and pots everywhere, crumbs on the surface and floor, sauces spilled but not wiped up - the list goes on! When I first moved in, I made the effort to keep the kitchen really clean but it seemed like within an hour of doing that, it had just become rank again! So now I'm giving up and am only going to clean up after myself. Fed up of going out of my way to clean up after them :mad:

Rant over I'm going to chill out for a bit then I have some work bits to get on with later.

amandaatnumber7

Thanks Caterina

I have one friend who is an OSer and my inlaws do a lot of OS things must of come from raising a family of four on a small income.

Some much welcomed rain here this morning giving the gardens a good drink.

I want to get some baking done this morning then we're off to the dr for DS3 (nothing serious) and after the doctors were visiting a girlfriend and the kids will have a play.

Really should fit some housework in somewhere too lol

I did my meal plan and my shop yesterday and feeling much better now I have enough food in the house, should stretch out for the fortnight with a little top up of milk, bread and fruit/veg - I have A few $ tucked away for that.
Have a great day x

Have a great OS day everyone

ginnyknit

My family dont even understand people who dress differently. In my circle people are individuals and choose their own style. At my sons marriage blessing (which was a laid back event and totally O/S) Hubby decided to wear black jeans/ shirt and waistcoat. Dd was pleased as she loves how he looked. My brother walked in and said to me 'I thought it was Johnny Cash' considering hubby is very ill and only managed to stay at the do' for a couple of hours I thought it ws tactless - luckily Hubs is deaf and didnt hear my M&S clad brother.

Things going well on the frugal side here and apart from fresh fruit and some cooking oil for baking I dont need anything for 2 weeks.

moments_of_sanity

Ginnyknit, my biological Dad (who left when I was 5) is terrible with comments he makes about all sorts of things, this is his description of people and certainly not my views, fat people, ethnic minorities, gays/lesbians......he has a view of them all and not very favourable! He lives in a beautiful house in a very good part of the country, spent £20,000 on a conservatory only to decide 18 months later that it really didn't work very well as it's too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter so ripped it down and has put an extension up (approx 30ft x 15ft) and is now having his kitchen replaced. He has always had money so really doesn't understand when I tell him i can't afford things, I remained living with my Mum and disabled Brother once he left, which in the 1970's was tough going, so we have never really had money.

DD1 has decided to give up her Uni room, she went to the Dr's yesterday and they have said she has anxiety issues which they have associated living in London (mainly her flat as the 6 other people are a clique which she isn't 'in' with). She has commuted this week which hasn't been as bad as she thought so will spend 75% of her time here and the other 25% with her boyfriend. The change in her yesterday was amazing, she seemed much calmer and less fraught so I really think she has made the right choice. Just the Uni to speak with now as she signed the contract for the whole year so hoping we can either re-let her room or get a reduction on rent so that she can come home.

A quiet day for me today with just a bit of housework to do and check the washing bins as when I turn my back they seem to fill up. Dinner tonight will be an easy spag bol as DD1 is in London tonight with her BF.

Wishing you all a lovely OS day.

Caterina

Good evening,

MOS i am very glad that your DDH is sorting out her issues with accommodation, I hope that the uni will be reasonable, especially with the doctors note. Best wishes to her!

CyclingLondonSaver your housemates' behaviour is really annoying, are they all like that or can you form alliances? Can you talk to the landlord? I hope you can resolve it in an amicable way but if not it might be worth thinking about moving, personally I would hate living in a dirty place and also could not be someone else's skivvy just because they are lazy.

Amandaatnumber7, nothing like a good meal plan to feel back in control, glad you did it and that you feel better about it all. Good for you!

Ginny and MOS I come from a family, and from a culture, that thinks nothing of criticising people for their behaviour, size, sexuality, you name it and they criticise it. I have learn to change myself since I came to the UK, DH and the kids taught me to stop being critical. Some people do it as a habit, without even realising the profound damage that criticism does to others.

Today was a looooooong day, started at 5:30, first thing got up, made DH breakfast and lunch, kneaded bread for baking later, then went to work with the morning family.

Then back home, breakfast and ready for tai chi, which was a bit of a drama today as the teacher is stopping teaching in the community centre, because they drive him (and a few of us) mad, with a loud DVD of tai chi moves, instead of letting him teach his stuff. Very disrespectful. Now he has invited a few of us to his home from now on, I hope it lasts because it is my mental health salvation!

Then lunch with a friend, and another popped in too, but I was so tired I could barely talk, when they went after 3 I had a short nap until 4 then went to work with the boys. Back home, cooked dinner and am now in bed and ready to fall asleep, but trying to force myself to stay awake until DH comes back from his martial arts or he will wake me up and I find it hard to go back to sleep when it happens.

Good night.

Icey77

Morning The Boy sleeps, well kinda anyway!!! :D

Last night was the first night since Monday where we've had a resemblance of sleep, I hope to think he's on an upward curve now, he even ate some breakfast which considering he had been refusing even milk most of the time was a huge leap forward. Soon will be nap time which will help again, fingers crossed.

After nap time I need to buy more paint for the decorator. He growing on me, just a little bit. I don't feel quite so negative towards him presently, perhaps because I can see a light at the end of the tunnel. Unfortunately I have to B&Q and Homebase and the high street to get everything we need, no one stop shop covers everything today :mad: lots of carting the kids around, ho hum.

Hopefully we may see my friend this afternoon, we successfully shared the chicken pox to her little girl - her mum wanted her to have dealt with it before she starts big school. But like Frog she has shared with her little sister, so perhaps I won't be as welcome after all :rotfl: