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

bellaquidsin

I have always been more or less frugal, think I was born that way as I was a war baby.

Over the past 15months or so I have really been tightening up to get us finacially fit ready for DH's retirement this year.

I find this forum a great encouragement as I used to feel quite isolated in my OS way of life as you don't meet many people in RL doing the same thing. It's just so good to know there are so many of you out there flying the flag.

I did well in the sales this year too. Just four items bought for presents for specific friends and all half price:T :T :T

I'm out later this morning and time was when I would have treated myself to a scone and coffee. Today I will have a hm scone at home and a cappucino - so much nicer.

Nowadays I put £1 per week in my very OS cash box (inherited from my father) in the slot marked coffee. When there is enough money in there I have a treat, the rest of the time it's scone at home.

Keep up the good work folk.

Bella.

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

tessie_bear wrote: »

i now often go to a shop to buy something and think blimey im not paying that and go home without it

Me too.I just can't believe how much my attitude's changed these days.I've turned into a right old tightwad and I don't care who knows it.
The thing is I don't feel like I miss anything out,in fact I feel like we have more of everything nowadays.

HockeyDuo8083

I can't say I am totally frugal (but well on the way), my moment was when I 'only' had £100 to do me for a month. I had to sit down cos I was so shocked that I was panicking when there are folks out there who on manage on a lot less.
That was about a year ago and every month is a new challange but I have to credit this site and the people on it cos they help you get the best out of everything. I WANNA BE A TIGHTWAD!lol

Larumbelle

It strikes me that quite a few people are saying that they're not quite there - yet - or maybe aren't contributing because they feel that they aren't there. It's a good thing, so don't worry about it!

It's a good thing because:

1) You have started to look at your life more carefully and to make changes. That is where we all have to start! You can't make changes unless you are aware of what you need to change!

2) You are making gradual, sustainable changes to your life. There's no point going all out OS if it's just another fad you're going to get bored of in a month's time. Some of us make the leap quickly and stick to it, and some of us like bellaquidsin are kind of born to it, but for the rest of us, it's a case of taking things down a level, making sure we're comfortable, then making the next change.

3) You're recognising that OS isn't just a list of rules to follow and as long as you do them, you're okay. There is no 'there'. Everybody here, no matter how much of an expert they are or how long they've been doing it, adapts and refines their way of doing things, and finds new ones. That's kind of the point!

So all of you nearly OS'ers, give yourselves a pat on the back, you're doing great!

canidothis

canidothis wrote: »

HI All
I was absolutely gobsmacked to have to pay £1.75 :eek:

In a way Im happy this happened to me, its made me think really hard about why I felt so gutted, I realised that its a far better feeling saving money than overspending unnecessarily, and I worked out that my hm lunches are probably only costing around 50p a day if that. :j

Penelope_Penguin

Well done to everyone who is or is striving to be Old Style

I'll ad this to the existing thread on why you're OS.

Penny. x

KarrieBee

silvercharming wrote: »

There is no 'there'. Everybody here, no matter how much of an expert they are or how long they've been doing it, adapts and refines their way of doing things, and finds new ones. That's kind of the point!

So all of you nearly OS'ers, give yourselves a pat on the back, you're doing great!

I really liked this point sc. I feel like on a day to day basis OS is becoming a totally natural way of life - i actively enjoy planning and batch cooking, making things and not consuming. But there are parts of my life where I'm not as willing to be frugal i.e. DH and I still enjoy weekends away and holidays and we eat very well on mostly local organic food and like a nice glass of wine. I think they key is the balance and when you've found that you're "there"!

FrenchMaid_2

I was raised that way, went a bit wild after uni had a well paid job but suddenly found that I actually hated the fact that ALL my money went on stuff that just evaporated like meals out, drinks, clubs. And changed my way... I was single then, travelling loads for work but it changed me...

I love being creative, love being inventive to save some money. I will fall off the wagon now and then, mainly when we go on holiday (oh dear) or will think I have to buy pumpkin patch new for my daughter, because all my friends do. It never gets me into trouble as such but after a few weeks I will stupid and wasteful.

I enjoy it and I think this is what is the most important thing about it... I know we eat well, we live well, we go on holiday three times a year, we don't need to worry and I am rather smug that I can put money away each month!

freebiequennie

I love being able to save money and have for a long time brought gifts in the sales and had a present drawer and my husband didnt take to long to train into that way of thinking!!

We both hate waste so food has always been saved for another meal and when saving for our wedding we found having meals frozen in the freezer really stopped us having take-aways.

we dont really even enjoy take aways now.

we also want to live as cheaply as possible to pay off our mortgage as soon as possible we were made to take out a 35yr mortgage as were told we didnt earn enough to make the larger payments for a 25yr mortgage!! we could however make overpayments upto 10%. We have been making double payments and in 2yrs are at the stage we should be for 10yrs into our mortgage obv over the time the extra payments wont make such a huge difference but for this first 5yrs over paying to the max we are allowed.

Reverbe

I have to say I came to OS via the freebies section which became a bit of a hobby. I have always lived a relatively green/OS lifestyle but it is something I am getting into more and more both as a hobby/pastime and as a necessity as I have been made redundant twice during December so obviously need to cut down. While I was still working however I was always on the lookout for freebies/bargains/ways to cut down on spending inspired by a spreadsheet for recording finances given to me by a colleague. I began to note more all I spent and I would try to cut down all I can and make it a kind of goal to make my spending less than the previous months. I have been told I will not get much of a state handout once I reach retirement and as I get older and older with not much income relative to my age and experience, I feel it crucial to scrimp and save in order to make my old age a little better. Sadly even if I was on £50K a year I would still have to watch every penny.

my scores...

economy = 10
ecology = 8
healthy living = 5
creativity = 8