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

ally18

laineyc wrote: »

This year I am growing my own veg and I get real sense of satisfaction from it.

I have tried this for the first time this year and tbh, not with any success. I had to throw away my radishes because they were like bullets and could not be eaten so have had to buy them.

I've had two very small lettuces though which didn't have any taste to them and my spring onions, well, put it this way, they don't look like spring onions.

Three tomato plants may work, I don't know and I had one very tiny strawberry so ....... all in all not much luck so far but its the first time and I've loved doing it. Again all just for satisfaction.

Angel_Jenny

Is it through choice or necessity? Or even choice that became a necessity?

Would you go back?

I know people who have always tried to live very frugally even when they could afford to have more but they didn't want the luxuries in life. Their lifestyle hasn't changed that much at all compared to others I know who were more used to having treats and just expecting to be able to afford things. Even the basics are expensive now!

Living in the old style way is a skill! All the planning and organising and budgeting and that is even before you count craft type skills and gardening for food. It reminds me of the books about the 1940's and the television shows about that time. When I think about my Gran's make do and mend attitude it is so different to many modern attitudes. Nothing was thrown away.

Perhaps society will move back to these older and simpler ways.

The Waltons (love!!) and John Boy said something like:

"I’ve always thought that this family was rich and we’ve never had any money."

I like that - I remember family days out and things we did rather than presents.

Pink.

Hi Angel_Jenny,

We have a current thread on this very subject that should interest you:

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

I'll add your thread to that one later to keep the replies together.

Pink

GreyQueen

I was raised OS by people who had no choice in the matter. The money simply wasn't there, and that was the norm for most working-class families like ours. People didn't feel particularly poor as almost everyone they came across was in the same boat.

These were OS values formed before the welfare state and the national health service. Where, if you weren't prudent and capable, you and your family went from hardship into utter destitution. Apart from some limited and often highly-judgemental charitable help, you were on your own and, if your parents were inadequate or reckless, you suffered greatly. As you would've done if they or you were chronically sick or disabled.

That's a level of poverty which is thankfully unknown to most people alive today in Western countries, although some of the oldest generation (the 80 and 90 somethings) may have an inkling of it.

My Dad is just below the age to have missed out on National Service; one of his mates recalls his disbelief when he went into NS; he got issued with a pile of clothing and this was the first time in his life he'd ever owned underwear. He couldn't believe that all this clothing was for him.

I can recall hearing a doctor who started practising at the inception of the National Health Service who described seeing women who'd had ulcerated legs for 30 years, because they couldn't afford to go to the doctor. People used to think it prudent to have all your teeth pulled as a young adult because you were going to lose them anyway and this would be less expensive and painful. All this is in living memory. I was born in a cottage with no bathroom and an outside privy, only cold water on tap and I'm not yet 50. They'd be a riot if you expected even the poorest council tenants to live like that now.

For me, these OS thrifty behaviours are ingrained and I can't imagine being profligate and wasteful. I certainly don't have sufficient income to throw money around, even if I wanted to. I live below the average by some measure but have ample for my needs, as long as I'm careful.

Wants, though, that's a whole other story......

[Deleted User]

well as I am old ( the wrong side of 65;):)) I suppose its because i know no other way to live .frugality as drummed into you at a very early age because of rationing which didn't stop until I was 12.My Mother's genreration recyled through necessity not because they thought they were being 'green' It was a different time in those days ,not always good and I never look back with rose-tinted glasses as I can also remember the privations that we lived with as 'normal' and not really seen as problems at all. There was perhaps more communal feeling than today as everyone was in the same boat so less 'keeping up with the Jones' and more of a helping your neighbour which sometimes seems to be lacking a bit today.But live through it we did and were none the worse for it.I like many of my generarion are perhaps more foresighted when it comes to bills as to be in debt was a thing that was shameful.I don't waste money and I enjoy myself and at my time of life why shouldn't I .Tough times came and went as these will do ,hopefully this generation will learn to be better managers and less in debt ,but I doubt it

Farway

I am with Grey Queen & Jackie, on this, similar situations, but being a soft Southerner we did have an indoor bath & toilet, all the other items described were the same for us

Never wasted money as there was never enough to start with

I do admit to sometimes buying a ready meal when I can't be bothered to cook one, but it is from Lidl, and there is only me

lickylonglips

i try to do some os things as i like to save my money to spend on holidays, which i also like to save money on..... staying in cheaper hotels, using public transport to get around, etc.

Rebob

I live frugally so that we can have a better life even though we are on a very small income. We have friends that cannot believe how well we have done on such a small income. The way I shop and cook means we eat well and there is always plenty to eat in the house. The savings I make in our day to day life mean that my son can go to scouts and participate in most extra activities such as training for his Duke of Edinburugh. My son has had a statement of special needs for a most of his school life and being a scout from 6years old has helped him to reach a level we were told never to expect.
x

Hovel_lady

We're only recently started living like this so we can pay off our debts.
But the things I am learning (especially on here) are things I intend to carry on doing even when we are debt free.
Today we had raspberries and strawberries from the garden. Zero cost as plants have been there for a few years. Just had to pick them. Fantastic!
I am surprising myself with how much I am enjoying some of it.
I got very excited recently when I got a perfect but reduced cucumber for 23p! Full price 80p.
Sorry to ramble a bit.

meritaten

I'm 57 and was brought up with my grandparents and parents in a semi with an indoor bathroom! that was the hieght of luxury in those early years. my nan still scrimped and saved though - but she 'never bought cheap' as she would term it. quality lasts and lasts in those days.
Food was still in rather short supply and variety depended on the seasons! No fridge either - most women would do a weekly shop for 'store cupboard' and a daily shop for fresh produce.

Perhaps its ingrained in me now (though going through two miners strikes did teach me a helluva lot about stretching pennies till they squeeked) but I cannot bear waste! I dont take it to extremes but have learned to eat well and live well within my means and to have a little savings behind us!
I wouldnt say we were anything but working class - but as Nan would say 'Respectable'!
Not being chased for debt, comfortable, and not trying to keep up with the chavs!
Designer anything means nothing today - in years gone by it meant quality and it lasted forever - now its cheap tatt with a designer label which is chucked after one season!