It's getting tough out there. Feeling the pinch?

Longwalker

I kind of guessed most of us were from the era of make do and mend, home made and hand me downs

Re the school uniform, I was bought my school coat for secondary school when I was 10 - big enough to grow into - I was still wearing it too big at 14 lol. Then it got stolen and there was no money for a new one, we weren't allowed to wear anything other then the official uniform so I had to make do with the blazer -all through winter - thick snow, 4 mile walk to and from school

My two older grandchildren now have to make their own way to school, I so dont want them to feel the cold I did - and the wet feet 

Florenceem

No spending here today but I have booked a hair appointment for Saturday. I haven't been to the hairdresser since mid August.

ladyholly

Re clothes I think my most embarrassing item was the hand knitted vests in the mid 1960s when everyone else had fancy M & S ones. The other thing wasnt the clothes but my dear Mum. The back story briefly we lived Bristol which is a fairly mild part of the country and went to London for a few days which was much colder (November). My coat while adequate for Bristol was not in London. Weproceeded to search for a reasonably priced winter coat for me so I didnt freeze. We went into one shop and were shown a grey tweedy looking thick coat. My Mother " certainly not it looks like a horse blanket". I was so embarrassed at her outburst. I ended up with a bright green coat that I loathed but had to wear it for a couplr of years until i grew out of it.

Like many others born in the 1950s most of my clothes were home sewn, knitted or passed on from other people fortunately my sister was a tomboy so there wasnt much left to pass down.

I have made the first batch of mince pies today mainly for a friend who pops in regularly. There will be more for gifts for friends and family.

Floss

I remember the ignominy of wearing my older brothers' cast-offs... my primary school uniform was grey skirt, pinafore or trousers, with a bottle green jumper. In my last year that was an outgrown Cub Scout jumper. Complete with stitch marks where badges had been removed.

RobM99

Luxury! At the boy's school I went to, I had to wear - hand-me-down uniform. Problem was, it was my sister's! (Not really). 

Siebrie

My Mum was 10 when the war ended, and relatives in Canada sent clothes parcels to help her and her 2 older sisters. These parcels contained girl's trousers [shockhorror, clutching pearls]! My grandma allowed Mum and her sisters to wear them, but only underneath a skirt or a dress Grandma's sister in law, who lived with them, was dead against it.

tooldle

Ah Siebrie, your post brings back memories. My mum was 8 when the war ended. She wore trousers for the first time in her 60's. The no trousers for women vibe, is deeply ingrained. Mum is dressed by carers these days, and it is far easier to get her into trousers and a top than it is to get her into a dress. Despite considerable coaxing she is still rarely seen in trousers. Jeans are even more of a no no. Workers trousers apparently.
I on the other hand am rarely seen in a skirt/dress.

neveah

I was the oldest so my poor sisters had to have mine lol 

Brambling

 I remember my mum coming home with her first pair of trousers It would have been in the mid 1970's so she would have been in her mid 50's TBH i'm not sure if she ever felt comfortable in them and they weren't worn if she went out i thinks she only wore them for about 10 years and she never wore jeans.  She then went back to dresses and skirts she always said it was because she had sparrow legs! 

Slinky

My dad who was born in the 1930s never wore a pair of jeans in his life, whereas I practically live in them!