I have lost my OS ways, help!

bigmaz

maman wrote: »

Your dream could come true bigmaz and you don't need a fairy godmother either. Just read around the OS threads and ask for help if you need it. We all started somewhere!

Thanks maman,

I just struggle getting into a mind set. I can do it for maybe a week, but then forget to do it all and slip back in

mrsmortenharket

Bigmaz, start small.

For instance, your setting point could be to do a stock take of your food. Then menu plan from there. Maybe start with menu planning.

I used to be bad. And I have slipped off the wagon but am climbing back on a bit at a time.

bigmaz

Cheers guys for the tips

I better not say anymore, dont wanna hijack the OP's thread

LolaLemon

mrsmortenharket wrote: »

Bigmaz, start small.

For instance, your setting point could be to do a stock take of your food. Then menu plan from there. Maybe start with menu planning.

I used to be bad. And I have slipped off the wagon but am climbing back on a bit at a time.

I cant get with a menu plan - dont know why. i try but life just gets in the way for me.
for me it was splitting my money into the remianing weeks til next pay day. i just had to keep telling myself i only had £x each week. and ignore what the bank statement told me, cause that didnt show the balance after everything has came off.
I take it on the principle that if u tell yourself your useless then eventually u begin to believe it, so in this case im skint, im skint, im skint.
I've now got to a place where i can start to regularly save/pay a bit off the mortgage. but in my head im still skint.
Even though i do this, my son still gets to go to clubs and we both get treats, but because im skint, i hunt out those deals before i buy anything.

grandmasam

I have also slipped off the OS wagon and having had a proper look at my finances,need to get my act together ...again! :eek: There's no excuse for it, just floated along and not paid any attention.
The last day or so I am more mindful of what I want/need and sorting out what there is in the freezer and pantry is my next priority.
Costing the food for the chickens and the hound [ deerhound/lurcher! ] are fairly easy as they dont change much, and I have a good veg and soft fruit area together with a bramley apple tree so must make more use of these with preserving and freezing.

Thanks for starting this thread Caterina, needed the nudge :T

Caz

maman

bigmaz wrote: »

Cheers guys for the tips

I better not say anymore, dont wanna hijack the OP's thread

I'm sure caterina wouldn't mind one bit. She's got loads of OS ways tucked up her sleeve and would love to share them I'm certain.

[Deleted User]

I think the easiest way of changing your lifestyle to OS is to do it in bite sized pieces, start with just one thing, say buying only essentials baked beans, get used to that so it becomes second nature and then find another OS idea, say filling the oven when you cook and saving fuel. Get used to each idea over a little time period until they become second nature and you just do them without thinking and add in things one at a time along the way. In very little time (in the great plan of things) you've adapted your ways to OS methods. It's not as hard as it sounds you just have to crack the first thing completely before adding in the next one!!! Lyn xxx.

fuddle

Hi Caterina. When you have the finance/life balance at the right amount you will know. Personally I shy away from extra hours so I can enjoy family time.

Being an OSer at heart I dare suggest that maybe you would get more satisfaction from economising/making your money working harder than earning more to spend more? Maybe?

I got a job (that was far too long hours and that I hated) last year. I lasted 6 weeks and in that short time I dropped OS like a stone. It was because I was very time poor and deeply unhappy. I have been working in my current role for 8 months now and actually earn more than the previous position (due to not having to pay for childcare) and by gosh I am still OS as I ever have been. My money works hard because I have the time

Hope to help a little.

tootallulah

The Science Museum does special early bird days for children on the autistic spectrum they are a fantastic way to try museums with friendly knowledgeable staff and a much quieter experience.

Caterina

Bigmaz please feel free to contribute all you want, the more the merrier and we are all here to support each other's efforts and exchange ideas, this is the OS way! As maman says, I don't mind in the least. I am pleased to see that others have joined the effort to get back on the OS wagon.

Welcome also to grandmasam, we are all in the same boat, thank you for joining in!


LolaLemon I don't menu plan because my shopping is dictated by the offers and YSs on the shelves, by any leftovers and by what we fancy as a family. Having said that I always have a good idea of what's in cupboards and fridge so there is a modicum of planning. But nowhere near as organised as a weekly or monthly plan! Each to his/her own, and I agree with MrsLurcherwalker and mrsmortenharket, doing small actions, one step at a time, is the way to do it. For some it is menu planning, but it is not a must, just a guideline. For example I could never ever do the Flylady, it would drive me nuts. I tried, but am too scatty for that level of planning and organisation! But I do other things, am very good at budget management, can cook virtually anything (think: tofu, sourdough bread, baked beans, felafel, stuff that people normally buy) from scratch. Not now that I have no kitchen, but I can if I need to. Look for your skills and perfect them, try out other stuff, use what you need and discard what does not work.

Fuddle, I have already reached that conclusion, you are so right, and interestingly DH (who really used to push me into going to work in the past) totally agrees with me, that any money brought in by my extra work would be eaten up by the fact that, lacking in energy, I would take expensive shortcuts, as I used to when I worked longer hours.

tootallulah thank you for the suggestion, this is the sort of exchange of ideas that makes this forum so useful and friendly!

A quick update on my renewed OS ways: I moved some money to a better interest account, returned a shirt that I had ordered online (not a need, just a want), did a bit of much needed food shopping using vouchers, made DH a very good packed lunch that he loved, planted some salad plants in the allotment and last but not least, FINISHED ALL THE IRONING! Yippee!!! Am exhausted but happy.