WHY are you old style?......

spaghetti_monster

Hi there! Enjoying reading this thread...

Siberia, I think I did experience some similar feelings when I was first a student away from home. My Mum is an original old-style-old-style! Everything mended and mended again, everything totally budgetted for, shopping bills calculated to precision, all leftovers used up etc etc.
Then there I was at university for the first time - in charge of my own money/bills/shopping, surrounded by richer friends with nicer clothes, going out all the time - this was definitely more fun and exciting.

What I failed to see at the time was that you have to find a balance between different attitudes/lifestyles that suits you. When we were kids (3 of us), my parents were very short of cash, also my Mum was brought up old-style - so I wouldn't say things were extreme, but they were definitely tight! A phrase of my Mum's that still rings in my head today is "£20 is a lot of money!!".
So as 19 year-old with all sorts of available cash and freedom I totally rebelled.
Now some 17 years later (:o ) I am almost debt free and feel I have reached quite a nice balance in life - including a lot of OS lessons I learned from Mum.
Like a lot of previous posters I like cooking properly from scratch and not wasting resources and this is my favourite board. Some old-style things can be more time-consuming - but like I said it's about balance and what fits with you.
For example - buy an expensive lipstick if you can afford it (if that's what you're into) - but don't buy one every week, buy one you really like, really enjoy and appreciate it.

My "light-bulb" moment was more of a slow awakening about 3 or 4 years ago - I realised that I was always in debt and not really in control of my money.
My main feeling was anger towards myself and the banks - I was their perfect customer. I was very good, paid things back, not always on time, but always in debt somewhere. Not fully informed about extra insurances/small print etc. I couldn't quite bring myself to calculate how much in charges and interest I had paid over the years - the idea (of the thousands it could be) made me feel furious.

Then I found this website, the ethos of which I really connected with; all these big companies - banks, credit cards, insurance, supermarkets - have professional experts dedicated to getting as much money out of you as possible. They depend on your ignorance.
So on this website (as of course Martin says) it's about being fully informed and fighting back!
I think the I like the OS board in particular because it's about the basics, the way you live, some of the most important stuff.

So - to conclude my ramble - please wise-up about the credit card spending. It really is worth it to avoid years of debt, but doesn't have to be at the expense of a fun life-style.

mouseymousey99

Another one enjoying this too. I'm drawn to what you say Siberia re the expensive comsmetics - what are you really buying??
Confession - I like Clinique stuff (buy most of it on e bay). I saw something the other day where a lady had become unstuck as she had splurges on the handy bendy. Often she would end up throwing things in the bin, unused and still in the wrappers. Its the sort of search for the 'perfect' item which will make you confident/thin whatever and it doesn't exist. (I should have known this years ago). Anyway, it helped me...The OS thing is of course subjective - I like good things - I won't eat rubbish or buy rubbish. If I put a little time and thought into this, we have a good lifestyle on a budget.
I used to say the same things - re not following my parents lifestyle - but you know what?They were right all along. Best wishes..

2cats1kid

I am an OS-er because I enjoy it. I don't need to be (at the moment - we've seen recently how quickly circumstances can change) for which I am grateful, but I do genuinely get a kick out of it.

I don't go round multiple supermarkets - I buy from Tesco and get it delivered, but I will bulk buy meat and make batches of stew, chilli, etc. and freeze, so when we get in from work the temptation to phone out for a takeaway (that's £20 right there) is less. And the food is way better too.

I make cards (people appreciate them way more), make jams, chutneys and pickles (my extended family are forever angling for donations LOL), my homemade wine is really nice for about 50-60p per bottle. I always have people wanting HM soap as even people with eczema etc. can use it as it is so gentle. I get a lot of exercise tending my veg plots (and my brand new fruit plot that I keep admiring out of the window).

I just think it is a healthier, more satisfying way of living than the rampant materialism we've seen over the last few years. I just simply don't understand that - I don't GET it. Why do you need a bigger faster car than the neighbours? When you have a game system with games you like and play, why then buy Game System Box 360 Fit and have to start all over again with new games etc. I'd sooner live more simply, keep the clutter out of my life and out of my head, and hopefully be happier and healthier.

[Deleted User]

Siberia wrote: »

Dear Old Schoolers,

<<A lot of the topics discussed remind me of things my mum has always done >>

probably by doing so, has helped in funding your 'student' lifestyle

<< one of the pleasures of moving out and living on my own was that I wouldn't have to live like that anymore.>>

Was it so tough living with your Mum then ??


<<I bought premium brand cosmetics, expensive food, and love the giddy thrill of throwing things in my basket and handing over my credit card without worrying about the cost. Basically, I've been living beyond my means for about four years, but enjoying it.>>

Here comes what we call your 'light bulb moment'

<<I can see that I really need to cut back, it's going to have to be on my 'basic' expenses.>>

basically you have overspent, and as my old mum would have said 'the chickens are coming home to roost'


<< I'm really just wondering whether its actually worth investing a lot of time in bulk cooking/ hunting out grocery bargains / mending>>

Its something that need to be started in slow baby steps, you can't suddenly turn into 'Mother Earth' overnight. True you have the cash/credit at the moment but you also have the debt as well. This is what a lot of us on here try to eliminate ,I'm not saying that credit is bad, only the ability to handle it can overcome you, and in todays market at the moment the best thing anyone can do is 'crunch their credit down to zero' and do their best to stay out of debt.


<<when I could spend that time earning money instead, >>

All being that you want to spend most of your precious time( and believe me time is very precious) working to pay for stuff that you can neither afford or need . .

<<why do you do things the OS way rather than taking on extra work? >>

In my case I am 67, and disabled and well past being able to work at all,but that doesn't stop me from being part of this great gang of people on here .I have always been fairly frugal as I was brought up during and after WW2 and my late Mum had grown up during and after WW1 and lived through the Depression, and to her, she passed on many things that I too have passed on to my children, who are in turn grown up themselves and now I suppose would be called middle-aged

One, Don't spend more than you have,quickest way to Carey Street
Two, split your cash into three,
one lot for expences, rent/mortgage/heating/food ect
one lot to save (rainy day money)
and one lot for 'happy cash' the last being for to spend on anything you might fancy.
There has been times in my life when my happy cash was very small, but I still enjoyed spending it on something daft that made me of my children feel better even if it was only a bag of doughnuts it made us all feel good for a little while

<<Is OS more of a mindset than a way to save up? >>

its a way of life that you just get used to and would feel odd if you did it any different

<<Is it a bit of a hobby? >>

its definitely not a hobby I have many hobbies that are funded by my OS ways , I do crafting, knit for a charity, enjoy my genealogy,Photography,
I also am doing a part-time history course at Uni.
I have seven smashing grandchildren to keep me busy as well

<<What OS tips do you have for a busy young person?>>

Well as a 'busy old lady ' I suggest you read through some of the simple labour and money saving tips given on here and I'm sure you will find something on here to suit your 'busy lifestyle' or failing that go and have a long chat to your Mum and ask her, as the best way to learn if from the 'horses mouth' so to speak.I'm sure your Mum will be able to advise you ,its really not 'rocket science' Its good old-fashioned commonsense .I think, like most of the old-style people on here, we do it for peace of mind and because we darned well want to .Why should be be slaves to big corporations who try to sell us stuff that we don't need or want .

<< So I'm especially interested in what motivates single OSers to do things the labour intensive way.>>

Well I am a 'single OSer through being widowed five years ago ,but I havn't really changed my lifestyle much at all. I was OS'ling when my husband was alive and althrough our 40 odd years of marriage.Even my children used to call me 'Frau Frugal' But I just couldn't think of living any other way.
I am not wealthy,but am comfortably off, but that has been through hard work and careful management of the finances. I own my own home, and have no debts whatsoever. If I want to go on holiday I can do so.I have a roof over my head and food in my cupboards .Life is pretty good for me at the moment. I have had a few health problems over the past 18 months but hopefully they are all over.
I do hope you have a go at being one of the gang ,you will be welcomed here, and no one will think any question is too daft or silly. I can almost guarantee that if you have a query someone on here can either tell you the answer of point you in the right direction .What have you got to lose ,have a go, you may find you actually might even enjoy yourself I know I do even at my great age:D :beer: Good luck in what ever you decide

Primrose

I think the answer to your question is that you should do both - have an "Old Style" lifestyle but also use your time and energy to improve your earning prospects. The world is changing fast. The longer term impact of global warming will have a drastic effect on peoples' lives. There is not enough food or energy to continue supplying the world's population at its current rate of consumption, so sooner or later, all the world's resources will become rationed (either by price or by rationing allocation) so it is well to be prepared and have a lifestyle that will be able to accomodate these changes more easily. I was a small child during the war so I grew up accepting rationing and "make do and mend" as a natural way of life, and that has instilled in me a hatred of waste of any kind. As an adult, I have lived through recessions and redundancies more than once, and learned that those who have a frugal and sensible way of life stand a better chance of being prepared for them, and surviving them. As Icewych has pointed out, some people have no option because of their circumstances, to use every resource and lifestyle process available to them to survive. Think of your life as Commando Training. Learn all the survival techniques. You may not always need them, but if you do and haven't learned them, you will find survival more difficult.

Zazen999

Top question...the responses are great.

I had probably the same experience as many people, once I left home I had the credit card and it saw me through alot of 'fun' times - that and the overdraft was always there each month to put a stop to the fun during the last 2 weeks of any month.

I had learnt lots of OS ways - but they weren't OS really they were just the way we did things. My mum and aunt taught me lots because my mum was divorced and my aunt was widowed; I had 3 male cousins and a brother so I also learnt alot of 'boy' stuff as well.

I went into engineering and construction and gosh, what a rotten salary for girls - for so many years. One day - I decided I had had enough and I would move to another country and start again. The very same day had a call from someone in the company offering me promotion - but it meant a move to the Midlands. I took it - and then when I had no parties to go to, I decided to use my time studying.

Long story short, those 7 years during my pre degree and degree, i had to go back to basics, as I wanted my degree [at long last] and all the time studying meant I got no overtime, it was the first year that students had to pay in full for their fees, no grants available, increased cost of petrol, books etc - I built up a hugh debt on the credit card [again], but relearnt the ways of the Old Style - surviving on really very low money indeed.

Halfway through I got a better job, moved [more debts but then again, more wages] but kept up the OSing and finally paid my last degree related debt off 3 years ago [I'm 41 now]. I got promoted after 2 years in the new place, then left 2 years ago to go to a £50k job, and now am a Director of our own little company.

I have more than ample wages, savings, we overpay the mortgage by the most amount possible and I love OSing. When we remortgage we will drastically reduce the mortgage amount and hope to be mortgage free in about 5 years [we bought this place 18 months ago].

I buy one bottle of Fairy Washing Liquid each year, and keep watering it down and cutting it with soda crystals and it lasts a year. I don't have to - but why not? I also run 2 allotments gardens, and we grow 90% of the veg we eat, just because we can.

Yes, I could work more hours to make more money and forget the OSing, gardening, and pay to go to a gym but to me - but I'm old enough now not to worry about looking cool or not.

I'd rather be working from home, doing what I do than go back to corporate life, working all the hours and paying over the odds interest on stuff that I didn't really see the need for in the first place.

ETA: we do have a cleaner though - mainly because I hate cleaning. 2 hours once a fortnight for a quick once through the house.

Gryfon

Well I'm not single and haven't been for years but I love doing some things the OS way. I suppose it's not only a way to save money, especially after my husband took a job he loved but also a pay cut, but it's seeing the children enjoy the bread/soup/cakes etc that I cook. Walking past all of the cleaners and knowing that my mixture of stardrops, vinegar, water and tea tree will do us fine. Also the enjoyment of sewing your own curtains, cushions etc out of things you've found in a charity shop and seeing the end product and getting the satisfaction that you've done that.

So for me it's not only something I need to do to save the pennies as I don't work, but I also enjoy the challenge most of the time!

Triggles

We also have spent more than we should have when we had two incomes. Now that I am a SAHM, with 5 people in the home, we have to watch what we spend. But it's worth it to us.

I don't think we do anything particularly drastic. We cook most things from scratch, with admittedly some shortcuts here and there for either cost or simplicity's sake. We try to keep unnecessary expenses to a minimum - we're not perfect, we do spend money but you can't slice everything to the bone, can you? But we're slowly working on the debt.

I think we all go through that "woohooo it's my money and I can spend it however I like" stage at some point. But like another poster said "then the chickens come home to roost" usually in the form of debt.

To a person that is young, possibly a student, I would say the same thing I tell my 22 year old daughter - one day you're going to want a house, a family, with a home life without a mountain of debt right along side it. Learn good habits now - save while you can - and when you reach that stage you'll have much better choices available to you. Yes, it is important to have a good career for earning potential. But to me, a job or career doesn't define you as a person - it's your home life with your family that gives you joy and comfort - and you're going to want to be home to enjoy it in the evenings and weekends, not at work 24/7 trying to finance it or pay off old debts. Sounds silly or old fashioned maybe to a young person, but that's just the way I feel.

ubamother

Love the thread. I'm OS partly because I simply object to being steered by corporations to consume what they want me to consume, be it white goods, food, loans etc. I want to be sure that what I want or need is based on reality, not seeped into my consciousness by slick advertising and corporate social engineering. I am slightly worried I now sound a bit 'life free or die' and paranoid! I don't think I mean it in that way, just that a non-OS lifestyle, and yes, I've been there, from the outside seems socially uniform and about buying certain things in a certain way that didn't seem to involve any individual thought process or reasoning on my part, just an internal reaction to an external stimulus!

EagerLearner

I thought the same way as OP when I joined MSE and saw the OS thread. However, I have found that even though I work full time and also freelence in my spare time, O/S saves us more on top of that. I am not 100% certified O/S though, maybe 40%... it's about recycling, re-using, not wasting food, buying intelligently for me. Plus self-reliance - having my own herbs, making my own soups, own bread etc has become a preference, so there are less preservatives and additives in what we eat...