Being old-stylers when others aren't

lobbyludd

honestly I don't care if other people think I am stingy, and I really don't care how other people spend their money, it is none of my business.I've never known anyone comment about lunches etc except an "ooh that looks nice", or " I must start doing that", because most people I work with don't seem to be that bothered about what other people do either? or if they thought I was doing it because I was poor, there is no way they would draw attention to it/make fun of me because of it.

it's different if they are wasting your money, but I guess with things like someone else doing the shopping for me, even if it's only a few bits, they would be doing me a favour and saving me the time so I'd just be grateful, unless it was a long standing arrangement. We can't expect people to know how we'd do things automatically, because there is no one right way (I know people would be annoyed with receiving a BOGOF because they don't like to have too many things stored for example - no I don't get it either, but that's their choice!)

with the fare - if someone asked me - shall we wait 3 mins and save 90p? I might say yes or no, depending on whether my brain was in gear enough to realise that if they'd mentioned it - it was important to them, however if someone said do you mind if we wait three mins, so I can save the 90p - then of course I'd say yes, because the phrasing makes it more clear.

I don't think we need to be defensive about our life choices, but we can't expect everyone else to automatically know what they are or agree with them.

lobbyludd

lol - and no, I've never really got the point of kitchen roll. My late mother looked at me as if I was from another planet when I said I hadn't got any, and promptly bought me some, which sat in a cupboard until she next came to visit

[Deleted User]

candygirl wrote: »

Am I the only one who doesn't use kitchen roll?! :rotfl:e

Nope! I hadn't used it in years, instead making kitchen cloths from past-it bed sheets. I have recently bought some as it makes cleaning the glass on my woodburner easier. It is only used for that and lasts ages.

jackyann

Have loved reading this!

Most of my visitors are quite respectful. I would not, on the whole, confront them; but I would if they were frequent visitors, so that the cost of their behaviour added up.

As for the poster who wrote about their carer, I think that I would ask the carer if they are acting on agency / employer policy. It is appropriate for some carers to clear out fridges, and they have to be guided by the "use-by" date. I think that if you establish the guidelines with their employer (effectively saying that you are capable of making those decisions) then the carer will have to abide by them. You can make it a little easier on them by saying that you understand in some households this is a necessary task, but it is not in yours.

Like JackieO, I find that explaining my ways to guests, without criticising them is very effective.

lessonlearned

Thinking about it I only have two uses of kitchen roll so it does last ages.

I use It to scoop out the cats unwanted food from his bowl before i wash it or any unwanted food left on plates - very rare occurrence.. I used to use newspaper for that but I don't buy a newspaper these days. I probably save about £5 or £6 a week by not buying a newspaper any more, so in my case kitchen roll is quite a cheap alternative. Two rolls cost around £1 and will last at least a month.

I could of course just empty "wet" food scrapings down the loo like I used to in my old house but as I don't have a downstairs loo here I tend not too. Lazy I know - perhaps running upstairs would be a good free exercise.:rotfl:

I also use paper towel as "napkins". Of course if we have guests and want to appear all posh then I use proper napkins.:rotfl:

I am nonjudgemental too about other peoples spending habits. It's their money after all and I am certainly not defensive about my own little quirks. I will spend money to save time or energy. I can't see the point of being all "hair shirt" if it's not necessary.

I cheerfully admit to being a coffee snob. I like a decent cup of tea. I can't eat bread very often so when I do allow myself a bit then I buy really nice bread fresh from a good bakery (I can't make it myself, I'm hopeless). So yes I do have a few areas I could cut back even further if I had to but there's no need at present.

I think if you can cook from scratch then you can eat well and healthily without breaking the bank but it can be time consuming. Same as shopping around for the best bargains.

I think that being OS can be time consuming and maybe not everyone has as much time as I now have, and of course being OS does require a certain level of fitness and if you are ill or disabled some OS tasks might not be possible.

My back can "ping" out of place sometimes and then I can be out of action for several days. At such times I have to take short cuts and rely on easier options so I try to always have a few homemade "ready meals" in the freezer for emergencies.

Handbag59

Wow who knew Kitchen roll was so controversial LOL but it does show that what is acceptable for one person is quite unthinkable for another. I think OP has some valid point and if my sister went to the shop and didn't pick up a BOGOF I would suspect she might have won the lottery and not told me!

lessonlearned

Indeed kitchen roll does seem to be rather controversial.

I dont see it as all that "extravagant" - although I do see the argument that's it's probably not terribly environmentally friendly.

Just goes to show - one person's extravagance is another person's useful aid......

I just felt strangely compelled to justify my using it In the face of such strong opposition. :rotfl:

Just put it down to my "champagne tastes"

GreyQueen

candygirl wrote: »

Am I the only one who doesn't use kitchen roll?! :rotfl:e

I buy a twin pack of the cheapest kind and it lasts me 2-3 years. I keep it under the sink as if it's out, it's too easy to reach for it when a dishcloth is the appropriate item, IMO. There are a very few tasks which I use it for.

But my eminently sensible friend and neighbour SuperGran must be keeping the kitchen roll industry in business, she uses it for everything. Wiping counters, wiping dishes, you name it, she kitchen rolls it.

I hold my tongue, but I do think it's a terrible waste of resources and of cash, but that's her business not mine.

kboss2010

It's difficult because you don't want to make people feel unwelcome. I kind of take the approach that they're a guest in your house so whatever wasteful habits they bring with them, as long as they don't trash the place, I can deal with for a short time they're there. I've been on the receiving end of obsessive compulsive tellings off for things I wasn't to know (like clearing all of the vases off the side of the bath before I had a shower in case they got wet - apparently I almost started WW3 because heaven forbid a vase gets water in it ?!?) when staying at my OH's mum's house and it made me feel really unwelcome to the point I never wanted to stay there again at one point so I'm conscious of trying not to repeat that with my own guests.

Always makes me think of Scout Finch telling off her friend for putting syrup on his dinner and the maid giving her an earful about it lol!

My only thing is cups without coasters as we have a lot of nice wooden tables. I tend to just bring in cups of tea and set them down on a coaster, people usually continue to use it and it avoids ring marks.

moneyistooshorttomention

It's something that "Obvious isn't it!" category to me that a coaster gets put down first on a table before putting a mug or glass on it/

But I have been (unpleasantly) surprised over the years by just how many people don't.