Is Old Style a Rose Tinted World?

Lillibet_2

Hello All

I have a small confession to make....I don't "sell" old style to all & sundary:eek: . I'm actually quite picky who I talk to about the old style way of living & even more picky who I talk to about this forum (apart for anything else I post some personal stuff on here & wouldn't necessarily want someone I know reading it!) I think people are free to live their lives the way they choose & if they want to spend every penny they have, go into debt, live in a throw away society or whatever then I don't brate them for it but let them make their own choices. I guess that doesn't make me a great advert for Martin, not because I don't think he is a God but because I am quite a private person. I just quietly get on with my life & my way of life. Not that you'll believe it judging by some of my rants & tirades on here but I promise you it's true.......!:p

So when I was talking to colleagues this morning about my forthcomming bundle of joy (33 1/2 weeks and counting....will this pregnancy never end?!) they were horrified that I don't have a cupboard full of Johnson & Johnson products ready to go..."Water? What, just plain water? Will thet work? Is it safe?". They went through the normal shock/horror routine over my hope to use washable nappies....."We'll give you 2 weeks"...."You'll never keep it up"...."You'll never even get started"...."You've wasted your money buying them, just get Pampers"....etc.
Many (most?) colleagues where further astounded that I propose to bring a baby into the world without the aid of a tumble dryer!! I have never had a tumble dryer, I detest them on ecological grounds & they just seem such an utter waste to me....why invest in a piece of equipment that then costs more money to run & maintain when fresh air...FRESH AIR! does exactly the same thing at no cost to the environment or the pocket? Don't get me wrong. I have nothing against tumble dryer-users before I get a barrage of PM's, for some people they are an essential part of their lives & I don't want to start a revolution here! But personally I don't want or see the need for one! My mother brought me up with washable nappies, no washing machine or tumble dryer & only very limited outside drying space yet she managed just fine. So did generations before her. I mentioned this to my colleagues who immediately said that we live different lifestyles these days, babies are too demanding to spend time on laundry (from at least 2 childless people), it's more important that I concentrate on devleoping my childs skills etc. You get the gist. I was obviolusy preaching to the unconvertable:rolleyes: .

But did they have a point? Our lives & lifestyles have evolved & we can never re-capture many ways of times gone by. I guess my rather rambling point is, are we deceiving ourselves that our lives are really enriched for all the old style effort we put it? Actually I don't find old style an effort , it seems to come naturally, but would we sometimes be better off embracing consumerisum at a higher level?

Cheers;)
Lillibet
Confused : Possibly?
Hormonal : Probably.
In need of firm direction : Definitely!

bethscott1970

Lillibet, do you have a birth plan? Will things happen just the way it's written on there? Most probably not, you take things as they come. Raising children is just the same, you plan to use washable nappies, water and all the rest but if for whatever reason things change you just accept it and move on. People over prepare for babies these days, my neighbours 2 children are due to become parents again (they both have children about 10ish already) in a few months and you wouldn't believe the rubbish these "experienced" parents have bought.
I agree with you, I had 3 children within 13 months, I had disposable nappies (I couldn't cope with that much washing) but I didn't buy all these fancy bits people think that babies can't do without. I even had midwives muttering that there was no way I could ever breastfeed twins.... I did without any problems.

..."Water? What, just plain water? Will thet work? Is it safe?"

lmao what did they think their grandparents and great grandparents were washed with?

Yes we do live different lifestyles these days but babies aren't born with a lifestyle. They are exactly the same as all babies have been throughout time.

r.mac_2

Lillibet,

I understand what you mean. I use this forum loads and have picked up tonnes of tips - some of which I pass onto others. But this is usually when they come up in conversation. For example a friend was complaining about a blocked drain. She asked what I use (product wise), so of course I suggested bicarb and vinegar. She responded with 'oh, I have heard that before - will it work?'

However, I don't really publicise the site a lot. My family know it exsists and have all signed up to the e-mail, but aren't big internet users. They do make use of my frugal money saving skills to find them cheap flights and the best deal on items etc....

It is not percieved to be 'cool' (according to my 14 year old sister it is no longer 'cool' to use the word 'cool' :rotfl: ) to be 24 and concerned about the cheapest and most environmentally freindly way to clean your kitchen. Likewise Baking appears to be a lost art form amonst my friends and peers. Mind you..........it does make me and my skills all the more popular lol :jumping with joy:

So no, it's not just you lillibet, and don't feel too guity about it. Oh, and I agree with your comments on tumble driers!

r.mac x

apprentice_tycoon

You made some very good points Lillibet but just on the baby side of it, ours were brought up on washables, we didn't have a dryer then either - but if we had been given one I wouldn't have refused, it's great for emergencies.

I have immense regret that car boot sales weren't around when they were young, I go pale and shaky when I think about how much money we could have saved if we had bought all their stuff at boot sales.
We weren't extravagant by any means and cots etc. were bought second hand but I was never comfortable going to peoples houses and inspecting their stuff in front of them, and then trying to tactfully say that it wasn't what you were looking for. At boot sales it's accepted that you look things over and smile and walk away if it isn't what you want.
You stick to your principles and bring your little one up to appreciate that not everything comes from a shop and a little bit of effort brings rewards greater than the work involved

Galtizz

In a word, NO

Have a look at THIS thread and see how many peoples lives are enriched by Old Style.

Lillibet wrote:

Our lives & lifestyles have evolved & we can never re-capture many ways of times gone by

This is true, lives have evolved, we will never get back the lifestyle of our Parents and Grandparents because lives have changed, more women go out to work so there is less time and people are less neighbourly (probably because the women don't share a coffee and HM cake with each other in an afternoon at least once a week).

BUT, I think what we have is an improvement on times gone by, we can still be the same type of people; we share coffee and cake on the internet instead and learn more because it is a broader range of people who contribute. You can still use washable nappies but you have the benefit of a washing machine instead of having to wash by hand :eek:

Us on old style see 'new' inventions such as breadmakers, slow cookers and washing machines as a necessary improvement to our lives, other people in the real world see it as a 'must have' new accessory.

Old style is an attitude the same as keeping up the with the Jones's attitude. We CAN be old style and we ARE old style, as Judi once put it we're Old style with a new style flare, each and every person on here is proof that it is possible :T

So grab a :coffee: , pull up a chair and ignore the real world and the hormones for a bit

P.S. I'm selective about who I talk to about old style too, but if a friend has a problem with something I have no qualms about suggesting an old style solution which normal gets into a conversation about it and they are usually amazed but always come to me for tips now when they have a problem, so far 2 of my friends have slow cookers and one is waiting for me to get a breadmaker but if Argos have a sale he'll be beating down the door to get one

catznine

Lillibet I bought up my 2 using washable terry squares (the disposible nappies available then were pretty dire) Water surely the safest option, no tumble dryer (with the first anyway) and still coped just fine.

In the end you do what you feel is best and what you can cope with. If you find yourself exhausted at times them maybe the odd disposible might help but overall the terry option is the cheapest I think and certainly the more environmentally friendly.

I too wish that charity shops and car boot sales had been around when my children were small.

Ticklemouse

I have to admit that I used washables on DS2 - but having done it wrong and bought all the same sort in stead of finding which ones suited him - they never fitted and I was changing him 3 or 4 times a day, so was washing too many clothes! At least it was summer and I could line dry them In fact, when I took him for his 6 week check, my GP said "what are those?" When I told him, he basically told me to go back to disposibles I have gone onto disposibles now out of sheer laziness, but I'm hoping for the magic day to come soon when hel'll be potty trained (if it ever comes !) Mind you, I did sell them all on ebay to a very appreciative buyer.

I do tell my friends about MSE. They laugh at me for my old fashioned ways, but will come and ask me how I did this or how I cooked that and a couple want a slow cooker.:) However, there is a downside to being an Old Styler - isn't it getting hard when you go to people's houses and they feed you packet stuff. My MIL is fab at ruining perfectly good food by adding in one of those packets of dried flavours and MSG at the end 'because it makes it taste nice' ('scuse me, pass the bucket....only a small portion for me, MIL, I'm on a diet ) Even Mr TM has realised how well he is fed now.

Loadsabob

Lillibet wrote:

But did they have a point? Our lives & lifestyles have evolved & we can never re-capture many ways of times gone by. I guess my rather rambling point is, are we deceiving ourselves that our lives are really enriched for all the old style effort we put it? Actually I don't find old style an effort , it seems to come naturally, but would we sometimes be better off embracing consumerisum at a higher level?

Hi Lillibet,

I understand what you're saying there. I'm like you, though, I don't find Old Style a effort. Most of the things are a pleasure. The cleaning just makes sense - if you use "Flash wipes" or whatever, doesn't mean you have to clean less than if you use a dishcloth with essential oils and vinegar.

People say "we live a different way of life these days", and to a degree that's true. BUT, personally I think people are just too easily sold to. They think they have no time to do anything, so anything sold to them as time saving, they lap up (Flash wipes, dishwashers, readymeals).

In fact, a lot of people DO have time on their hands. The people I know who don't have time to cook, have HOURS to spend in front of the TV. The people who don't have time to was a few plates and pots after a meal have time to fill the dishwasher with every dish they own (not running it before it's full), and then put away an absolute mountain of dishes at one go!

I think people are tricked into labour-saving things, because they believe they are saving time, and it's not always the case. And when I get to the rott of it sometimes, I find that people aren't really not cooking or washing dishes because they don't have the time, it's because they don't think they should have to do "that sort of thing" if it can be done for them in the shape of a readymeal or dishwasher. It's a case of priorities. I think there's room in everyone's life for Old Style, to varying degrees.

So no, I don't think it's at ALL rose-tinted to practice an Old Style way of life. I think our lives are definitely enriched by it. I find it very easy, practical and satisfying, and though I don't have children, I work full time and only see my boyfriend at weekends, so I'm not chained to the house. But I still find time to bake and cook etc...

I wish more people would live this way; I think it would honestly make society a nicer place to be. I'm sick of the selfishness, the "gimme more" culture, the waste, the demand for new products, the ease of media manipulation...

Old Style is my way of retaining the sanity of an older way of life.

eyeopener

Hi.

First post on Old Style but i'm here on a daily basis for recipes and tips.

Regarding lack of time to do anything apart from watch TV, this is something we have been sold by the multi nationals who sell us all this stuff! OK, some people may leave the house at 4 am and return at midnight but thats their choice and more fool them. Most people have more than enough time to cook a meal every night. Exercise a few times a week and still have time to sit down a destroy your mind with soap operas.

Our first child will be born in August and we (with the help of another Old Styler who has more money than she needs but will not waste a dime) have kept our "stuff" to a minimum. We will be using proper nappies and we refuse to have a tumble dryer when , as has been said, we have free, fresh air!

I wish more people could see past the "right here, right now" modern culture. The Bigger, better,faster,stronger,more polluting,slave producing culture.

Think I will lie down now.

Hope this makes sense and thanks for all the tips guys!

johanne

r.mac wrote:

Lillibet,

It is not percieved to be 'cool' (according to my 14 year old sister it is no longer 'cool' to use the word 'cool' :rotfl: ) to be 24 and concerned about the cheapest and most environmentally freindly way to clean your kitchen. Likewise Baking appears to be a lost art form amonst my friends and peers. Mind you..........it does make me and my skills all the more popular lol :jumping with joy:

Got to agree and admit here that i thought my big sis ("nicki" on here)was "sad" for being "tight" and "boring" when she first started all the oldstyle stuff ... BUT now ive looked into it a bit more i actually am converted! hehe


Im made up with some the tips here and think the oldstyle way is fab! Cant wait to get my own house and live the MSE and oldstyle way. :T


I dont discuss this site with my friends or collegues as their discussions are about how much ale they can drink on night out and having the "latest" stuff.. I got a "ribbing" every day for nearly 2 months for having a 3 year old mobile phone - it did what i needed it to do why spend hundred on a new one? In the end i gave in though because it did start playing up and no-where was able to fix it :rolleyes: I got a newish one.. but not a top of the range one.. just one that had the functions i wanted.. and now i get a "ribbing" cos its not THE latest shiny does-everything-you'll-never-need one


Of the 8 people on my table at lunchtime.. i am the ONLY one without debt. My friend whos 19 like me.. has 15k of debt (and a baby and a girlfriend to look after) but he has a sports car and goes out at least once a week and wears designer clothes. :rolleyes: One the other girls whos 28 has the designer clothes, nights out and a new car..... also has 26K of debt from shopping alone though!! :eek: They are always skint at the end of the month and moaning they cant buy anythign or go out.

I sit quietly in the corner cos learnt the hard way its best not to comment cos i got laughed at for thinking £50 was alot for a night out.. and also revealing i bought clothes second hand on ebay and that sometimes id prefer to sit "vegging" infront of an ITV drama with a cuppa and a biccy rather than going out for a slap up meal then going and getting "trashed".

So i just let them moan and complain and feel slightly smug that i know i have money in the bank and its all mine not on loan from mr bank manager.

My boyfriend is just rubbish with money too! He currently owes me money where its been 2 weeks after pay day and ive had to bail him out cos he has no ciggy money or bus fare :rolleyes: Ive been waiting for it back for near 3 months now.. Hes 22 and in a brilliant paid job working nights as a security guard and actually pulls home at LEAST £850 a month. He spends it all on rubbish he doesnt need (a 50" widescreen plasma was a "must" :eek: ) ciggies and going the pub on his days off though... he cant even get an overdraft the bank think hes that bad! ..... Thats the only worry i have about moving in with him.. being landed with his rubbish money skills and problems _pale_

So after all that waffling ( :rotfl: )... id say it IS possible to be old-style these days.. and personally i think its pretty cool to be careful with your money.. and be buying stuff with YOUR money not the bank managers... i can afford little "modern" luxuries because of my oldstyle and "careful" ways. I just dont tell many people about it.... especially people around my age because they dont understand and mock me. But when im 30 and own my own house, have a nice car and no debt... living healthily on good homemade food.. and with my liver and lungs in a decent state... then i'll be smug even more! :rotfl:

scorpio_biker

Fascinating thread and how true are the responses.

From my perspective I see Old Style as a way of improving the quality of my life given the times I live in. As someone who works in IT I'm part of the modern world we live in, but I have the "luxury" of choosing how I live my life within that modern world.

I agree with Galtizz, things like breadmakers (for example) allow us to make our own bread (like our parents/grandparents) but without the labour that was required. As I work full-time the time saving that brings is worthwhile.

I think those of us who use the Old Style tips/methods are the kinds of people who can look more objectively on the consumer society and decide which areas suit us and which don't. Because we have alternatives we can make our decisions based on our personal preferences about how we want to live our lives. I can't really comment on the nappy issue as I don't have kids, but I'd like to think that if I did have any (:eek: at that thought!!) I'd use washable nappies.

I think those people that Lillibet encountered are the ones who have a more rose tinted outlook on their lives. They think their lives are good because they have this labour saving device or that disposable item when in reality they are just slaves of the "right here, right now" modern culture (as eyeopener so beautifully puts it).

And a final comment before I go :- I'm really really really really really really really sorry but I have a tumble dryer