I have lost my OS ways, help!

IrisViolet

Hi Caterina and everyone else! I've been following this thread ( not caught up on all of it!) and think its great.
I definitely need this. Used to be way more Oldstyle ( no choice but I did really enjoy it) but when we had more money come in things just slipped. No excuse because just realised how much is getting wasted its unbelievable, luckily DH has realised too, he's a bit harder to get on board with some things, but I'm definitely going to try!

We went on holiday last week, Haven, and it cost an absolute fortune, makes you wonder when you think your getting a cheap caravan deal, its everything else that adds up, like amusements and mithering children.

Im going to do a proper budget after for next month, starting 30th when DH gets paid, We stupidly went into our overdraft on holiday but im pretty sure we can pay that back next month. So that's todays plans. Im hoping I can come up with enough meals to keep us going until Tuesday when my online order comes. Im also trying to teach DH to step away from the tumble dryer.

villagelife

IrisViolet - my DH wouldn't know how to use a tumble dryer/washing machine etc!!

Yesterday I made and froze some soup to take to work for lunch.
I also picked roses from the garden and am now looking at them in a vase.
The front garden is tidier - I should have done it weeks ago.

Today I must plant some fruit bushes and also tidy the kitchen.

Caterina

Welcome IrisViolet, I hope that you will enjoy the thread! Have you considered joining the October Grocery Challenge? The thread is already open, it might help with your budgeting.

Also it might help with your DH, I am finding that the family is more on board when I talk about a "challenge" instead of "savings"!

egon

Hi Caterina,

sounds like you had fun whilst away. I am so pleased for you.

Your thread came at just the right time for me. I have been off the OS wagon for a while too. And don't I just feel it. DH is quiet happy to go along with it, as long as I don't bother him with it....
Every now and then I have to reign him in.

I so feel for you regards the building work. It is the same in our house. Hopefully it will all be finished for you soon.

Have a nice sunday,
egon

IrisViolet

Yes im going to join the october challenge and try to stay within £300. A lot but im hoping to cut down gradually and if I have it too low first time I will just fail

Going to make some pasta bake for lunch, a chicken dinner for tea and hopefully make stock and then a soup. Ive never made my own stock before! Any tips?

Trying so hard not to waste anything as its just shocking, I was thinking about yjis during zero waste week and its surprising how much of our waste can be recycled / up cycled but just gets binned.

getting prepped for winter, need some clothes for baby,, shes ten months and so far weve barely spent a penny. Im gutted we gave most of my elder daughters stuff to charity but I will tryband get a bundle on ebay. She's only just started ro show and interest in food (Baby led weaning) and is breastfed on demand as well as wearing cloth nappies so really inexpensive but its as they get older it add up and she is close to walking so will need shoes!
I always buy Clarks as my eldest has a lot of feet problems (he has rolling feet and is hypermobile) so I think its a price worth paying but buying a 6yo and 4yo winter shoes last week cost me £80 and that was with one pair being reduced!!

Hope everyone is having a lovely day x

Caterina

Egon thank you for sympathy re. Building work. We sacked the builders as they were taking the mickey with the time it was taking them. So we are left to finish a few bits ourselves but it us almost done now.

IrisViolet, well done on demand breastfeeding and baby led weaning, a woman after my own heart! I used to be a doula and a breastfeding counsellor with the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers (but did not finish the qualification). All very good for you and baby and very OS too!

Just back from the foraging course, it was ok, did not learn much new stuff, just a bit as I have done a fair amount of foraging before, but it was pleasant, in the sunshine, and I stuffed my face with comfrey, stinging nettle and sage fritters (pakoras).

So tired, I am already in bed. Luckily DH is chucking a few veg in the pan ne will cook a soupy stew for dinner. I am nearly ready for sleep!

Good night all.

IrisViolet

Hi Caterina! Thank you re breastfeeding I couldnt imagine it any other way, Doulas are worth their weight in gold, mine was fantastic. For my baby (my third) I had my first home birth and my doula (and now good friend ) absolutely made it for me she was fantastic and id recommend her to anyone. I wish that kind of support was more affordable and even talked about as so many don't even know what a doula is! My doula was mentored at the time so luckily affordable but I know someone who paid £1500 for hers and though I think absolutely worth it and they deserve to be well paid most cannot afford. If only the nhs would see how valuable doulas are, if they encouraged and helped fund the medical intervention costs would drop rapidly.
Sorry on a tangents now!
Id love to be a breastfeeding peer supporter - hopeful in the future

your foraging day sounds fab id live to do similar, I dont know much about foraging but would love to give it a go!

Caterina

Good morning,

Villagelife I just re-read your post about roses and it has inspired me to buy some flowers for the house. Even if it is a mess at the moment I am going to try and make it look like a cheerful mess. Our local Marks often has YS flowers so I shall be popping in there later.

IrisViolet, I am glad that a doula helped you. Doula UK, the umbrella organisation I was associated with, has a register of doulas who work for expenses only for families in need. And a lot of doulas also are able to negotiate their price if the family cannot afford the full price.

I had a bad night, lots of sleepless times and nightmares when I slept, so I am feeling a bit fragile this morning. But I want to start doing something to tidy my environment, because it is getting me down.

There is not a single room in the house that is ok, tidy or clean. I think I shall start by spring cleaning the bathroom, removing the mouldy grout (a constant battle, to be repeated every 6 months) and spraying the anti mould. So tonight DH can put new silicone.

Then I want to pick up a new laundry basket, might pop into Mat-a-lan or order one online, depending how much time I have.

Then work with the boys, dinner and evening babysitting.

I hope to have an earlyish night, as I come back from babysitting just before 9.

Have a good OS day.

villagelife

Caterina - flowers cheer up a room and make me able to cope with the mess better.

Yesterday I achieved most of what I planned and also persuaded DH that an omelette was sufficient for tea and that putting a jumper on was better than putting yhe heating on. He was then warm enough.

Managed to get home at a reasonable time and put compost out and picked up some more cobnuts.

Caterina

Good evening,

Update on today:

Did not have a chance to buy flowers but gave the bathroom a beginning of cleaning. Toilet descaled with vinegar so looking good again, sink cleaned, skanky manky mouldy silicone removed and grout sprayed to an inch of its life. Now drying and DH will put new silicone tonight, so tomorrow I can wash the bathtub, tiles and floor.

Also started putting stuff I don't want in bags and boxes, for CS pick up, there is one locally that picks up furniture, bric a brac, books etc..., saves me from driving the stuff there.

Off to second babysit now, good night.