What OS habits you can't stop once you are better off?

Slinky

Whilst I applaud all the thriftiness, I wish my darling dad had spent a bit more and saved a bit less. He could have enjoyed life so much more than he did if he'd had simple things like central heating and travelled the world which he'd wanted to do when he was young but didn't because of his parents.

We inherited his money, I intend to make very good use of it enjoying myself and doing some of the things I wish he'd been able to do. Whatever is left when we're gone will go to charity.

Whilst I buy YS stuff, I am mindful that I can afford to pay more, am I denying somebody who can't afford it?

chirpycheap

I was a young housewife and mum in the 1960s and rarely if ever saw food reduced at all. But like most hard-up Mums at that time, my late friend and I searched for our bargains .
When you have a limited income with two small children luxuries come quite a way down the priority list.
Luckily, having been brought up by a thrifty Mum and rationing helped no end, and street markets were far more common than today.
We walked everywhere pushing our prams with children in them and toddlers perched on the back.

Interesting point Jackie. My memory of eating in the Sixties was that there was a lot less choice and that whilst mum didn't menu plan you sort of knew that fish was on Friday, liver on Tuesday etc. Not that food was boring but expectations were lower in terms of what was available and that made life a little simpler. Shopping was done daily and as most women with young children didn't work and there was time to shop and cook from scratch. My mum also had in her head the cost to a penny of everything that she bought in her grocery basket. I am totally unable to do that partly because I buy so many more different items and partly because I pay with a card so unlike my mum I don't need to be adding it up in my head to avoid the embarrassment of arriving at the till with insufficient funds!

DH and I really love to make a lot out very little, the simple joy of a flask of tea and cheese sandwich at the allotment, or sit side by side, me knitting and he with a nice glass of wine in hand, watching a film on TV or a DVD borrowed from the library, a walk on the riverfront, the occasional fish and chips outing, sometimes followed by cinema (2 for 1 meerkat tickets to the seniors show, grand total £5.50 for 2, including tea and biscuits!). We don't much like going out in the evening as we are rather tired, except for his Thursday martial arts class and sometimes our local church has a social event. That's nice and easy as it is just across the road.

We feel the same Caterina. We are blessed in so many ways and appreciating those simpler pleasures is better than always being dissatisfied because you are hankering after the next, new thing or experience!

Whilst I applaud all the thriftiness, I wish my darling dad had spent a bit more and saved a bit less. He could have enjoyed life so much more than he did if he'd had simple things like central heating and travelled the world which he'd wanted to do when he was young but didn't because of his parents.

We inherited his money, I intend to make very good use of it enjoying myself and doing some of the things I wish he'd been able to do. Whatever is left when we're gone will go to charity.

I know what you mean Slinky. The trickiest bit of getting older is that you are never quite sure how long that pension pot is going to need to last and whether you should spend it or put it away or that 'rainy day'!
I guess the whole thing is about finding the balance between spending it all and being frugal. I'm still working on getting it right!

Caterina

Slinky I think the way to go about YS shopping in a way which does not deprive others is to do it in moderation, cooperatively (instead of elbowing out the competition) and sensibly, just getting what you need and not more.

Sadly in a lot of shops it's the case that if you don't pick it, it goes to the landfill, not everybody is OS minded and I know plenty of people, even not so well off, who turn their nose to the YS stuff and waste food by throwing out every "best before" item past their date.

HOWMUCH

I think because most of us are of the same mind set, it's hard to change perhaps we may have little luxuries that we've not previously enjoyed or had to save hard to have. But most of us agree we're not changing much, I will only pay a certain price for a hotel room, meal out, train tickets etc. I have managed to finish work 6 years before state pension age because of the way we live and its funding this. So I'm OS through and through and my dear friend is still working bless her and maxed out on her credit cards. She often says I wish I'd listen to you. x

[Deleted User]

I think a lot of us OSers have found that lovely balance point where we know we have 'enough', where we are content with our lives and feel that we live well and don't NEED more and more in them because we're content with where we are now. We must be a merchandisers nightmare because we don't respond to the hype and advertising that persuades buying the next and 'better' thing as it comes on to the market. The Swedish have a word for this place it is 'LAGOM' and means sufficient, enough, plenty, having enough and not needing excess of that a good word to know.

Icey77

Hi Caterina :wave:

We are in the very lucky position to be able to have me at home with the kids whilst DH is at work. It's balancing act being on one income but I've learnt loads.

I menu plan religiously and only buy what we need to complete the plan, I've also just started attempting to grow some bits - raspberries, blackberries, potatoes and rhubarb - we shall see how it goes this summer!! Could be entertaining. It certainly won't be enough to keep us from the supermarket but will supplement what I do buy and the kids will enjoy stripping the plants to second the fruit is ripe! :rotfl:

I think if we were to win the lottery (not that we play) but I doubt we'd move or change our practices that much. I might persuade DH that a cleaner can do a better job than I can while running after 2 small kids

We're a long way from retirement but hopefully we'll be comfortable when we get there. If we are it will all be down to DH who was sat down by a sergeant when he started and told to sign here, here and here and not to question him. He'll thank him in the long run. We most certainly will, that pension will pay off the mortgage and allow us a reasonable income which will be added to by another job as DH is unlikely to just sit down and get under my feet!

Caterina

Hi Icey! How are you and the kids? Still not seen baby boy, we gotta arrange a meet!

Lovely seeing you on this thread. I am sure that you will be fine in the long term, a stalwart OSer like you! Just one point, if you can stretch to a couple of hours a week of a cleaner, it is really money well spent, it frees you up to be with the children and get a bit of rest. That's always been my first luxury when I had a bit of spare money and the last to go when I didn't. And think it like this, you are giving someone a bit of work, who probably needs the income very much.

See you soon, I hope! xx

Susan1962

JackieO wrote: »

My housekeeping for two adults and two small children was £8.10.00 (£8.50p)and we ate pretty well on it with careful budgeting [/QUOTE
Thanks for the reminder Jackie O - you've reminded me that, even though I'm not getting housekeeping money from a husband, it doesn't mean that I shouldn't be getting it from myself, if that makes sense?
I'm going to use an old purse to keep my "housekeeping money" in. When it's gone, it's gone. Somehow having it in cash makes it more real for me and if there's a specific amount put aside I'm less likely to overspend.

scottishminnie

Great thread OP. I'm pleased, if not entirely surprised, at the general responses.

I can't bring myself to throw away food. I learned from 2 grandmothers who had coped through WW2 how to turn leftover/extra/unused food into all sorts of things. I get really upset at people wasting food - I grew up on a farm and my parents still farm. I have vivid memories of "shawing" turnips in snow storms with hands so cold you thought the would never be painted again and hand picking potatoes out of cold muddy fields not to mention daily 3 am starts when we had a dairy. it's maybe irrational but I feel that food being thrown out is an insult to the people who have worked so hard to produce it, deliver it and bring it to the public. Anyway, off my soapbox now:o

I tend to buy in bulk, batch cook and then freeze in single/double portions. I work stupidly long hours sometimes so it's easier to do this and makes sure hubby has a decent meal available even if I'm held up at work. I find it saves money too - if I buy a pack of mince from Costco it will be made into batches of chilli, bolognese sauce, cottage pie and sometimes just mince. We used to joke my grandmother could write a book - 999 recipes with mince. she may not be with us now but her teachings live on!

I also cut up any clothing/towels/bed linen which can't be donated to charity shops. The dusters get used in the house and garden and by hubby and father in the truck and farm workshops.

I like to grow my own fruit and veg. That's mostly because it tastes better and I get real satisfaction from success (and hugely frustrated by the failures) rather than to save money.

I left school and started work in the 80's and was married at the start of the 90's. When I look back in the excesses of that time I'm utterly mortified and I really hope we've turned a corner now as a society. sometimes I'm not so sure tho....

Pollycat

scottishminnie wrote: »

I grew up on a farm and my parents still farm. I have vivid memories of "shawing" turnips in snow storms with hands so cold you thought the would never be painted again and hand picking potatoes out of cold muddy fields not to mention daily 3 am starts when we had a dairy.

To me, the autumn school half-term will always be 'potato-picking holiday'.

I used to go with my Grandma to the local farm to hand pick potatoes.
She used to get 25 shillings a day and I got 12 shillings and sixpence.
Was very pleased one year when I'd done a a full stint and the farmer gave me adult rates!