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

Sweet_Pea_2

My mum is very OS and I was bought up in an O/S way, she is excellent at budgeting. She bought me up never to get into debt and I havent. OH was bought up in a very similar way. His parents are now comfortbaly off but they are still very O/S.
I found this board quite by chance and became fascinated. We are not well off but we are comfortable and not in debt (apart from the mortgage!) so I dont "need" to O/S but I really enjoy it. It has completely changed my life over the last year. Our garden is full of flowers and veggies, all home grown, the kids wardrobes are bursting with clothes from ebay/charity shops which cost me peanuts but they still look really smart. We have never eaten so well, my freezers/pantry are bursting and Im spending less on food that I ever have. I have been ebaying ready for new school uniforms/shoes in August and have the money in place ready for this. We have savings in place for: Xmas/change the cars/ car insurance tax/servicing/holidays/replace the bathroom/decorate and refurnish the bedroom and we also have a (small)amount of long term savings and we are making small overpayments on the mortgage.
We are also recycling and composting and trying to be as green as we can.
My dad said to me the other day "when are you going to get rid of that old telly and get a widescreen one" and I said "never!" Im proud of the fact that everything in our home we own and can afford, Im proud being different enough not to want to get into debt to buy a tv when Ive got a perfectly good one.
Basically I like to O/S because it makes me happy! I get a huge sense of satisfaction out of it.

tr3mor

Sweet_Pea wrote:

My dad said to me the other day "when are you going to get rid of that old telly and get a widescreen one" and I said "never!" Im proud of the fact that everything in our home we own and can afford, Im proud being different enough not to want to get into debt to buy a tv when Ive got a perfectly good one.

Fantastic, I don't know why people go out and spend thousands on new TVs, it's still the same rubbish they show on them!

[Deleted User]

I have been OS all my life and am just about retired now so I`m a baby boomer.

The oldest of 7 children, parents poor but with high standards. I learnt to make-do at a very young age. All spotless, well-mannered and happy and all got good jobs and all still married to their original spouse. The example rubbed off on us.

I joined a wholefood coop 35 years ago and that kept the OS ball rolling as well as a developing interest in healthy lifestyle

35 years later and almost 60, I do not take any medication. I am not thin but I can ride a bike 12 miles and up several hills without getting more than a bit puffed on the steepest hills

My children have followed my OS style so my example has rubbed off on them

Moral: keep going folks it is definitely worth it and will teach the next generation on the way

reasons for me:
health 10
economy 9
environmental 8

results:
health 10
debt none
savings 10
environment a drop in the ocean, but every little helps
satisfaction 10

PS: very important.
OS didn`t stop at house,food and possessions. It carried on through household finances and taking charge of what went into the savings pot. Then it developed into taking charge of the pension and I now manage the sipp which will be the main pension.
OS can stretch your knowledge and empower you. It is about taking charge of your life

Gingham_Ribbon

I left home unable to cook or organise myself. I drifted for years thinking, 'I'll learn how to do that.' But never really knew HOW to learn.

When I found OS, I was already on my way, after finding the Tightwad Gazette at a friend's house. I had also learned a few recipes from my Rose Elliot books. But this board had everything in it I wanted to ask about keeping house and being a housewife and mum. (I was a year into the job when I found it.)

It's health reasons mainly for me. I don't want to eat food with 'flavourings' added. I want to eat food with actual FLAVOUR. And I want my son to eat food that is natural and healthy. And I didn't want to have an overflowing wheelie bin every week from all the packaging and explain to him that we should care for the environment but not really do anything about it.

So in order of importance:

Health
Environment
Financial
Creativity

And because I was yearning for a simpler way of life. That's not something I can put my finger on. Just a feeling that I didn't want to be such a big part of the consumer conveyor belt any more. (I have my sights set on being a bit of a Ma Walton.:o )

thriftlady_2

My reasons are exactly the same as Gingham's. I hadn't reaslised until I read it that creativity is an important factor for me too.

I was very arty at school and then went on to art college before deciding to teach (those art college types weren't really me). My mum has always felt that I've wasted what creative talent I had by not pursuing the art route. I've always mantained that my creative outlet is the kitchen. But it isn't just the kitchen, an OS way of life is very creative,Tightwad Gazette fans will know this. It's about finding solutions for problems that don't involve throwing money at them.

catkins

For me, there are a variety of reasons. Even when first married I cooked most things from scratch and now (27 years on) I make literally everything from scratch. This is because I like to know exactly what I am eating and know that it is without additives, colourings, preservatives etc but also to me homemade food is so much nicer and tastier. People rave about M&S food and yes, it probably is nicer than Tesco or whoever but I still don't think it is as nice as I can make (yes I have tasted M&S food cos my parents in law and sister buy loads of it). I really eat out because to be honest I am not prepared to pay for food that I can make cheaper and nicer. I only really eat indian because although I can make pretty good curries the proper ones do taste that bit better.

I have never been materialistic - I just don't get the thing about designer labels. I buy most of my clothes from charity shops or shops like Primark, Matalan etc. A lot of my furniture is from charity shops (a lovely oak dining table I paid £20 for in a charity shop which OH stripped down and waxed and now looks beautiful). I have leather settees which are secondhand (although only 4 months old I got them for a third of the price they cost originally). I also have been lucky enough to get items from freecycle - a really good stereo which the owner got rid of because it was big and bulky and he wanted a modern small one! My gain because the sound is brilliant. Also got a lovely glass computer desk from freecycle. I don't bother telling my friends or family about my "bargains" because they cannot understand why when I can afford to buy new I don't. Have also got a lovely large wooden storage unit with drawers which OH found in a skip. Definitely keeping quiet about that as they would be horrified!!!

In the last 3 years things have been much tighter moneywise as I stopped working full time in an office earning £28,000 a year to working part time in a shop earning £5,000 a year. This site has been invaluable in giving me tips on cleaning (I now hardly spend any money on cleaning materials), new ideas on cooking etc etc. Have also got things like car insurance far cheaper because of this site.

I can honestly say that even if I won millions on the lottery I would still live my life the way I do now. I would spend money on travelling but certainly would not be buying designer labels, large t.v.'s etc etc.

needmoney

I've only just found this thread too and have so enjoyed reading it.

Queenie you always speak so wisely.

I am not as old style as I'd like to be and I suppose my mian reason these days is finance, I have to be careful since finishing work, but I also enjoy it . i used to be far more creative years ago and I must revive some skills.

I don't post often as most of you have more/better/cleverer tips than I do but I always enjoy reading.

apprentice_tycoon

catkins wrote:

I can honestly say that even if I won millions on the lottery I would still live my life the way I do now. I would spend money on travelling but certainly would not be buying designer labels, large t.v.'s etc etc.

It's nice to see this old thread back and read other peoples take on Old Style.

This last comment by catkins is exactly the thing I was thinking of when I started this thread about if you had won £5 million on the lottery would you still be Old Style? we had fun with that one, MATH's post sticks out in my mind :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Mint1955

apple_mint wrote:

It started off as a bit economy and a bit health. Found that we can't even afford to buy even an entry level home with our current commitments and that we both have high cholestoral.

Soooo ... a big change in lifestyle and for the better I have to say.

OH has lost over 1 1/2 stone and his cholesterol is now normal - still working on mine but feeling better. Starting to pay off debts (a little at a time but every little helps). The big thing is, we are both enjoying life more. Old Style cuts out stress. We have fun working out what to create for our meals (and are forward planning through preserving). We know we can make a lovely meal from very little. We know exactly what we are putting into our bodies. We know we are cutting down on the evironmental cost. The bin has very little in it nowadays - most of our waste is in the composter!

It is such a creative lifestyle ...

Economy 9
Ecology 7
Feel Good Factor 100%
Creativity 10
Health 10

I have been told to get my cholesterol down before I have it tested again in Sept as its 6.9 or doc will put me back on tablets and last time I put on a load of weight. Do you have any money saving pointers. Or for that matter cholesterol reducing pointers.
Sheila

Rad

I'm relatively new to MSE but have been brought up quite OS having been taught by my mother and grandmother. When I was a student I used to get teased for being old fashioned but most people stoped when I turn up with home made cake and find I can make proper food rather than just pasta or take away.

I do it for enjoyment, money saving and enviromental concern.