2022 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

MrsCD

I had to leave work a few years ago for health reasons, and I wondered how we would manage without my part time wage. I needn't have worried. We are careful what we buy, keep track of everything, don't go into debt, and think twice before splurging. We manage ok on DH's state pension and his work pension. We're not eligible for benefits and I can't have my state pension yet. If the energy costs go too high we'll cut back on something else, probably sky.
If you're worried, then as suggested, make a list of ins and outs and see how things stand.
 For what it's worth, I gave up my first job when we had our first daughter and even though money was tight, I wouldn't have swapped it for anything. IMO children thrive better with their parents, in their early years, if that's an option. For some it's just not possible though. 

CapricornLass

I think much might depend on your housing situation, and how much personal debt you have, white-rabbit.  If a house has been bought and the mortgage paid off, then I personally would feel much more confident about leaving a job, because I would know that whatever happened I still had a roof over my head.  In these days of rocketing mortgage and interest rates, you would have to take into account those bills which your husband is paying for now, as well as those bills you would pick up at present, and also how any personal debt is going to be repaid. Unfortunately I think things are going to remain volatile for the foreseeable future.

I do understand that feelings about jobs change over time, though.  If giving up completely is not feasible in the immediate future, would finding some part time work/working evenings be an option?

florianatwobob

Not quite the same but I took 18 months out of the rat race at 39 and re entered it in Dec 2019

Before I made that decision I had been squirrelling money away to ensure that there was enough to pay the bills and for me to have some fun. It wasn’t easy but it did allow me the head space I needed at that time. 

We can’t live without money, especially with everything going up but you can weigh the pros and cons of the situation and come up with a solution that works for you. 

PollyWollyDoodle

I gave up a well-paid job to pursue a freelance/self-employed career seven years ago. My circumstances are different, I have no dependants and I'd paid off my mortgage but it did mean a significant reduction in income, I earn about 1/3 of what I used to get. 

I've never looked back, there have been some lean times especially at the beginning and some more recently since I moved area, but having more time has meant huge savings. I can seek out better deals on insurance, utilities etc.  I cook from scratch most days. I can clothe myself from charity shops because I've got time to browse, and I make some of my own clothes (and gifts). And I'm not paying inordinate sums to commute in horrendous conditions (Central Line, anyone?) and then buying expensive coffee to make myself feel better. 

It's not an option for everyone, but if you've got the chance, give it a try. What's the worst that can happen?  

Laura_Elsewhere

we assumed that I would have to work but in fact it turned out that careful housekeeping meant we saved more each month than my non-standard cv could have earnt- I do a month or so part-time work each year (non-pandemic ones anyway!) and that brings in enough to allow for treats, extras or emergencies… might that be an option?

thriftwizard

I stepped off my career path (computing) back in 1989, after discovering I was expecting DS2 whilst still on maternity leave with DS1,  and never stepped back again! When DD2 (child no. 5) went to playgroup, I started a series of very PT jobs I could fit around playgroup, school etc. but after a while a) I was earning more from Ebay sales than from my job, and b) it became apparent that DD2 was - well, rather more than different, and wasn't able to cope with mainstream school - so she became home-educated & I set up my own little pin-money enterprise selling vintage fabrics & haberdashery that's fallen off the back of a lorry (all right, mostly from auctions) from a variety of old suitcases - quite literally! - at slightly specialist "vintage" markets. I have no pension but I'm having far too much fun to give up anyway. Interestingly my regular trading companions include an ex-buyer for a top-notch jewellery company, several ex-headteachers & senior social workers, a top model from the 70s, very-talented artists & craftspeople of all sorts, one or two young "alternative" types, also generally very talented & thoughtful people, often with first-class degrees. Most of us don't earn a lot, but I generally manage to keep pace with my good friend who is a PT university tutor, & it's paid for umpteen rent deposits, holidays, assorted offsprings' cash-flow emergencies, expensive academic books, my dance classes etc. over the years.

My Other Half has a decent 9-5ish  job and a reasonable pension from 33 years plodding the beat, & the mortgage was paid off years ago. But we're still in a biggish old & leaky house with biggish bills, as DD2 is still with us at 27 and DD1 & her boyfriend will be returning to the fold in mid-November, unable to afford a home of their own down here near the South Coast despite good academic qualifications & good jobs. So not much chance to save, even now, but we have always been able to keep our heads above water because I had time to budget, shop around, seek out genuine bargains, cook from scratch, grow my own & generally paddle my own canoe!  Time is the key - and why should our own time be considered less valuable than time that someone else pays us for? Use it wisely & it's amazing how much money you don't need to spend...

PipneyJane

freshmayres said:

Hi everyone,

 I know it's nearly close to the end of the year but I would really like to join please. I had made a pact with myself to only shop secondhand following a 2.5st weight loss and I have absolutely loved going around the charity shops and finding my style which has been hidden under over-sized clothes for the last few years. I have a sewing machine and am an 'enthusiastic' beginner with sewing dreams that do not match my skill set. I also loom knit which I love. I also like tea and biscuits. And sherry..

Welcome @freshmayres.  I see Laura’s already given you a cuppa.  I’m just brewing a fresh pot; can I top up your tea?  You have 17 coupons to see you through to the end of the year.

Talking of sewing machines, this happened last Sunday:



Yes, I dug my sewing machine out of the spot where it has been hiding, moved my keyboard out of the way and took over the “work desk” to do some mending.  I re-hemmed my 23-year-old great coat and mended the split seams in some pockets.  Got a bit more to do this weekend: mend DH’s cargo shorts (he caught the pocket on something); and another pocket, this time in a pair of trousers. (One thing that they never tell you is that polyester lining fabric is far more friable than silk.  It “dies” more quickly and will tear/break down, while the natural fibre it’s lining keeps going strong.)

I haven’t had a sewing place in this house for years, so setting up on my “desk” - aka my great aunt’s dining table, that we had when I was a child - made me really happy.  I did put “sew-y” back in its corner afterwards, but I’m tempted to now store it under the table.  (It has a case.) 

- Pip

dreamyd

HI everyone
Delurking again - been a bit hectic this side.
Think I've blown my coupon stash on replacing the contents of my underwear drawer (how is it that all my pants grew holes at the same time?) and my socks as my ankle joints are swelling at every opportunity. Two pairs of Primani converses  from the sale threw themselves at me at the same time, (one  pair silver, one  pair lilac fake leather) ,so who was I to complain?
But.. I've managed to repair two pairs of jeans after they gave way at the same point on the inner thighs with a combination of darning an weaving   some softer slightly chunky acrylic on the inside of the fabric.
I do need to do something on my black (smarter) work jeans once they come out of the wash, to stop them getting worse. I'm very attached to my jeans as i find it hard to replace them (Being of the v tall and curvy brigade).
I have been quite fortunate in the charity shops - got a lovely Seasalt shirt/tunic dress in a teal floral corded material and a White Stuff tunic (would be a mini dress on a soul of more average height, but it's mid thigh at best on me). I can see me wearing them with thick leggings and the  Primani converses whilst at the screenface...

flamingo747

Pip, always good to get things fixed at home my machine is a vintage singer from the 1970s given to me by my aunt  took ages to work out how to thread it. Thank goodness for my Reader's Digest Sewing Bible from the same era!

Charity shop today for gloves,  hat, two jumpers, a long sleeved shirt, a back brush and hand wash pump bottle, more cutlery, a cute pink tin pot for my kitchen windowsill plants,  a big cardigan for DH  and some jeans for my rapidly growing boy. Thank goodness 2nd hand isnt couponed!

florianatwobob

I aspire to be able to do invisible mending however I’m quite happy with these pictures

before 

 and after (stretched) 

 

unstretched 



Also quite chuffed to find a close
match in my odds and ands of embroidery thread.