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Hello Forumites! However well-intentioned, for the safety of other users we ask that you refrain from seeking or offering medical advice. This includes recommendations for medicines, procedures or over-the-counter remedies. Posts or threads found to be in breach of this rule will be removed.2023 Fashion on the Ration Challenge




Welcome to the village hall of Much Mending on the Borrow, where it is perpetually 1942. We’ve just finished the village Fun Run and the runners are discussing their times. There’s a fire in the wood-stove, tea brewing in the pot and cakes to share. Don’t mind Scruffy-dog on the hearth rug, or Jess, the cat, on the window-seat. They promise not to shed all over your knitting and, if you’re feeling down, they’ll come over and give you a cuddle.
We’re quite a busy little village. There’s a cricket club, @CraftyLittleLisa’s haberdashery shop, a weekly market where @thriftwizard has a stall, a half-timbered pub called The Make Do and Mend, the Norman church with its choir, and the nearby USAF airbase where @TwibbleDee lives. @Cherryfudge is captain of the Athletics Club, while @Laura_Elsewhere organises the Ramblers. Up the hill is Much Mending On The Rise, home of Margot Leadbetter, that horribly patronising Lucia woman (of Mapp & Lucia fame) and the railway station.
The talk turns to the new tranche of 66 clothing coupons for the year. Who has any left from last year? What are your plans to spend them? Would you like to join us? Last year’s Fashion On The Ration Challenge can be found here. The challenge is based on the original 1941 coupons.
To break it down into Women's clothing only:-
Lined mackintosh or coat over 28" - 14 coupons
Under 28" short coat or jacket - 11 coupons
Frock, gown or dress of wool - 11 coupons
Frock, gown or dress of other fabric - 7 coupons
Bodice with girls skirt or gym tunic - 8 coupons
Pyjamas - 8 coupons
Divided skirt or skirt – 7 coupons
Nightdress - 6 coupons
Dungarees or overalls - 6 coupons
Blouse, shirt, sports top, cardigan or jumper - 5 coupons
Pair of slippers, boots or shoes – 5 coupons
Other garments including corsets - 3 coupons
Petticoat or slip, cami-knickers or combinations - 4 coupons
Apron or pinafore - 3 coupons
Scarf, gloves, mittens or muff - 2 coupons
Stockings per pair - 2 coupons
Ankle socks per pair – 1 coupon
1 yard wool cloth 36"wide – 3 coupons, non-woollen cloth is 2 coupons
2 ounces of wool knitting yarn – 1 coupon
Assumptions for the Challenge:-
- 1 yard of fabric equals 1 modern metre. No penalty for width.
- 2 ounces of wool knitting yarn equals 50g of any knitting yarn containing natural fibres. Note: according to a display I once saw at the Imperial War Museum, there was a different coupon cost for man-made fibre, but I've never found out what so let's assume acrylic is half the coupon cost of wool, i.e. 100g acrylic equals 1 coupon.
- Based on the quantity of fabric and work involved, a "corset" is the equivalent of two bras, therefore each bra is 1.5 coupons.
- Ditto one pair of Cami-knickers would equal two pairs of modern bikini-style knickers or thongs, making each pair of modern knickers 2 coupons.
- Bodice with skirt = shirt/blouse/t-shirt purchased at the same time as a matching or co-ordinating skirt or trousers = 8 coupons in total.
- Dungarees = jeans = 6 coupons.
- Ditto trousers.
- Oodies = siren suits and cost the same as a dressing gown, i.e. 8 coupons for a man and 6 for a woman.
- Leggings count as 2 coupons, the same as thermal tights.
- Second-hand clothing is exempt.
- Leather handbags aren't mentioned anywhere in the clothing coupon data. The assumption is that they weren't made once the war was in full swing. Ditto leather wallets and purses. I assume a leather handbag involves the same effort and leather as a pair of shoes at 5 coupons. A new wallet/purse can be 2 coupons.
- Stockings/tights. At 2 coupons a pair, stockings are really expensive in coupon-terms. Because of your connection to the armed forces, you have been given 6 special vouchers for those 4-pair value packs, which will not require coupons to redeem. Each voucher can also be swapped for a pair of thermal tights or leggings.
- Face masks are coupon free.
- If something isn't listed under women's clothing, but is listed under men's, assume its the same coupon cost as men's , e.g. shorts aren’t mentioned in the list of women’s clothing, so ladies shorts cost the same as the men’s - 5 coupons.
- Hats are listed in the fine print. They are coupon free.
- Leather and cotton belts are coupon free.
- Swimsuits cost 3 coupons and fall into the category of "Other Under Garments including Corsets".
Some posts you might find useful:-
The sock knitting pattern: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/76693555/#Comment_76693555
@Laura_Elsewhere’s advice for making a face mask: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/77193632/#Comment_77193632
@Nonnadiluca’s broccoli and pasta au gratin: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/77197230/#Comment_77197230
The free knickers pattern used by @thriftwizard to turn old t-shirts into undies: https://indigorchid.wordpress.com/2011/11/06/sewing-underwear-the-free-pattern/
Website for printing PDF'd sewing patterns onto A0 pattern paper: https://www.patternsy.com/
The Wartime Recipes thread: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6409173/war-time-recipes#latest
@Gem-gem's recipes for crochet stars and crochet granny squares: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6322521/2022-fashion-on-the-ration-challenge/p217
@Grouchy's thread regarding 1950's ladies dressing habits: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6483561/50s-question/p1
It ain’t what you do, it’s the way that you do it - that’s what gets results!
2025 Fashion on the Ration Challenge 66 coupons - 8 spent.
4 - Thermal Socks from L!dl
4 - 1 pair of "combinations" (Merino wool thermal top & leggings)
Comments
-
2023 participants
@PipneyJane
@Laura_Elsewhere
@Cherryfudge
@PollyWollyDoodle
@MrsCD
@Diane1276
@wit40iwtwan
@Gem-gem
@MrsCatz
@mumtoomany
@Fizz2015
@SecondStar
@LLM2018
@Baileys_Babe
@DrCarrie
@Nonnadiluca
@diminua
@Liverpool_Anne
@maryb
@CapricornLass
@Wraithlady
@2Scratters
@florianatwobob
@Landgirlinthelittlecity
@pennywisesheeb
@cowboymum
@Madbat60
@thriftwizard
@keepcalmandcraft
@skogar
@CAFCGirl
@frostie101
@borscht
@Hodgepodge
@Nelliegrace"Be the type of woman that when you get out of bed in the morning, the devil says 'Oh crap. She's up.' "
It ain’t what you do, it’s the way that you do it - that’s what gets results!
2025 Fashion on the Ration Challenge 66 coupons - 8 spent.
4 - Thermal Socks from L!dl
4 - 1 pair of "combinations" (Merino wool thermal top & leggings)4 -
I am definitely "in"!
Here's to 2023 being the year we all keep our buying down to what is sensible...
And @PipneyJane - you did say "no yarn this year" for you, so we shall be looking at you over the top of our specs if you buy any!2025 remaining: 37 coupons from 66:
January (29): winter boots, green trainers, canvas swimming-shoes (15); t-shirt x2 (8); 3m cotton twill (6);
.
2025 second-hand acquisitions (no coupons): None thus far
.
2025 needlework- *Reverse-couponing*:11 coupons :
January: teddybear-lined velvet jacket (11) & hat (0); velvet sleep-mask (0);4 -
Laura_Elsewhere said:I am definitely "in"!
Here's to 2023 being the year we all keep our buying down to what is sensible...
And @PipneyJane - you did say "no yarn this year" for you, so we shall be looking at you over the top of our specs if you buy any!
- Pip"Be the type of woman that when you get out of bed in the morning, the devil says 'Oh crap. She's up.' "
It ain’t what you do, it’s the way that you do it - that’s what gets results!
2025 Fashion on the Ration Challenge 66 coupons - 8 spent.
4 - Thermal Socks from L!dl
4 - 1 pair of "combinations" (Merino wool thermal top & leggings)4 -
I'm here too - Flash Harry told me you get extra coupons for using stashed yarn and there's a coupon amnesty till the New Year - but I have a feeling it was a dream, wasn't it?I think a bit of sunshine is good for frugal living. (Cranky40)
The sun's been out and I think I’m solar powered (Onebrokelady)
Fashion on the Ration challenge, 2025: Fabric 2, men's socks 3, Duvet set 7.5= 12.5/68
2024: Trainers 5, dress 7, slippers 5, 2 prs socks (gift) 2, 3 prs white socks 3, tee shirts x 2 10, 6 prs socks: mostly gifts 6, duvet set 7.5 = 45.5/68 coupons
20.5 coupons used in 2020. 62.5 used in 2021. 94.5 remaining as of 21/3/223 -
Cherryfudge said:I'm here too - Flash Harry told me you get extra coupons for using stashed yarn and there's a coupon amnesty till the New Year - but I have a feeling it was a dream, wasn't it?
More cake? Tea?
Sadly, yes, it was a dream, but we don't carry forward overspends, so if you go wild, the slate will be wiped clean at midnight on New Year's Eve and nobody will notice.
- Pip"Be the type of woman that when you get out of bed in the morning, the devil says 'Oh crap. She's up.' "
It ain’t what you do, it’s the way that you do it - that’s what gets results!
2025 Fashion on the Ration Challenge 66 coupons - 8 spent.
4 - Thermal Socks from L!dl
4 - 1 pair of "combinations" (Merino wool thermal top & leggings)4 -
I'm in! I'm excited to try this 😁A small, orange, enamel teapot sort of person apparently...
2025 Fashion on the Ration Challenge: 28/66 coupons
2 Jumpers - 5 coupons each
4 small scarves - 2 coupons
1 waistcoat - 5 coupons
short coat or jacket - 11 coupons4 -
I'm back again, too, if that's ok!2025 Fashion on the ration
150g sock yarn = 3 coupons3 -
Diane1276 said:I'm in! I'm excited to try this 😁
(@Laura_Elsewhere - where did you hide the cake tin from the dog? I'd swear it was here a minute ago and now can't find it.)
- Pip"Be the type of woman that when you get out of bed in the morning, the devil says 'Oh crap. She's up.' "
It ain’t what you do, it’s the way that you do it - that’s what gets results!
2025 Fashion on the Ration Challenge 66 coupons - 8 spent.
4 - Thermal Socks from L!dl
4 - 1 pair of "combinations" (Merino wool thermal top & leggings)4 -
Count me in!! This I’m so up for doing and starting on the correct date! 😂Well lets see - I dip in and out of MSE all the time but I still come back - have done since 2007!!! 2023 - Fashion on a ration - 5/66 2023 - 1p Chalenge - £18 in Monzo pot (cannot do pennies so am rounding up)2023 - Frugal Living - Budget still to be finalised - ambition is to cut my food budget by 20% by shopping smarter and meal planning 2023 - January - NSD 15/20 February - NSD 3/154
-
PipneyJane said:Diane1276 said:I'm in! I'm excited to try this 😁
(@Laura_Elsewhere - where did you hide the cake tin from the dog? I'd swear it was here a minute ago and now can't find it.)
- Pip
I'm also on a yarn-ban!
I'm sure I saw a very waggy tail under a bush on my way in... There was a suspicious clanging too. I'm afraid the dog may have found the cake tin...
A small, orange, enamel teapot sort of person apparently...
2025 Fashion on the Ration Challenge: 28/66 coupons
2 Jumpers - 5 coupons each
4 small scarves - 2 coupons
1 waistcoat - 5 coupons
short coat or jacket - 11 coupons8
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