Is Old Style a Rose Tinted World?

squeaky

nicki wrote:

Edited to say : Last night I asked OH what type of OS I was (I was reading yesterdays OS thread at the time). I explained what the options where and he said "There's LML, then there's half-OS, then OS and then there's the place where I come" Apparently I OVER OS sometimes

Oh dear

Comfort level is the thing.

Being OS shouldn't be painful. It's not about being mean with yourself and never treating yourself - it's about doing your best with what you have in ways that you are comfortable doing.

So if your OH grumps at you just bake him a chocolate cake or something

Loadsabob

I'm still really enjoying this thread.

What really gets me about the spendthrift three-car, five-TV families is their absolute disregard for their childrens' future. I don't have children, but if I did, my OS ways would make me feel I was doing my bit to preserve the planet they're going to grow up in, and teaching them things that will give them a good quality of life and good values.

Yet so many of the "types" we've identified on here, have children! And not only are they teaching them that posessions are the most important thing and debt is a way of life, but their mad consuming habits are really wrecking the planet for their descendants. I really can't get my head around how there are parents who don't think about that...it bewilders me, honestly. I don't even HAVE children, and I STILL want to preserve the planet!!

My 60 year old boss has a massive Landrover Discovery. It's usually just him in it, sometimes his wife, driving between town and village (where he has a sit-and-ride lawnmower because it makes him look important), and never goes off-road! He has grand-children - how can he think it's okay to have no regard for their future environment? The vehicle is just one typical expression of his regard for others and the environment.

So, from this point of view, I think the spendthrift way of life is the rose-tinted one. All these people thinking they can have it all now, and pay later. Well, they can, and their children will pay later too, and their children, and their children...

eyeopener

With our first due in August (as I've already said) I couldn't agree more with Loadsabob.

We come to Os from an ethical/ecological standpoint. The money saving is a bonus to be quite honest, but a very welcome one! Especially when I realised just what effect my spending has on the planet and other people.

We know, generally, where our food comes from and EXACTLY what goes into the meals we eat. Can anybody really say that shop bought is better than homemade? I know many do but is that because advertising tells them so? I wonder sometimes.

Going OS we noticed something about the amount of rubish we threw away. From having a large wheelie bin absolutely full to the brimm every week the same is now half of that. All that waste came from packaging! Terrible really.

its obvious we all try OS for different reasons, wether its money or organic food or whatever(ran out of ideas then ahem).

One final point. Due to OS and MSE in general I have for the first time in living memory NOT PAID ANY BANK CHARGES FOR 3 MONTHS. Yesssssssssssssss.

apprentice_tycoon

squeaky wrote:

I don't adopt every strategem available from MSE - for instance the thought of wearing somebody else's clothes makes my skin crawl, so Oxfam seldom gets my custom - I've just gradually absorbed more as I've tried most things and then settled for the ones that work for me.

It's about comfort level.

Just a query for Squeaky - it's all about comfort level, I understand this - out of all the old style followers no 2 famillies will adopt the same strategies.

I am curious about you not wanting to wear 'someone else's clothes' is this a 'man thing'? my husband is a bit squeamish about this too but I'm more than happy to wear second hand stuff, in fact I only ever buy undies brand new, all the rest of my well stuffed wardrobe is pre-owned.

Did you or do you ever stay in hotels, B&B etc, someone else was in that bed, in those (newly laundered) sheets the previous night, same thing or different?

squeaky

It's just clothes. In exactly the same way that you wouldn't consider wearing someone else'a undies - but for me it's all clothes. Just the thought of it. I tried it once, with a jacket. Never ever felt comfortable in it.

Hotel beds (hopefully) have clean sheets, but yes, I'd kick up a fuss and get them changed if they weren't.

I suspect it's mostly me, not a man thing. Personal comfort level.

badgermonkey

I am all about the second-hand clothes. I'm wearing a second-hand skirt right now! Also I got five pairs of summer shoes from eBay for the price of one mid-range new pair.

sarahmelita

Really like this thread!
As with most on here I'm finding that OS is saving me so much money, I now kick myself thinking about the years I bought lunch instead of making it to take to work (£4 a day!). And the times I went out with friends and spent £40 on a night out, last time my friends and I went out we spent around £10 each.
It's really nice that my friends are into OS too - we're all 24 and often spend our time talking about new recipes we've discovered or new ways we've found to save money!
I'm now using the money I'm saving to save for a deposit for somewhere to live.
Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who contributes to the site as I find it a really nice place to come and find out things without any b1tchyness or condescension that can be found on some forums, so thanks, you're all fab! :T

Aril

I think this one is about ploughing your own furrow and doing what feels comfortable for you. I'll openly admit I cherry pick through the hints and tips and use what I feel I can realistically fit into my busy lifestyle so yes I do bake cakes every week but I also buy some shop stuff but without the guilt!!
For a long time I suffered from trying to conform [ you know the old round peg in a square peg syndrome] but once I had my child whom I adore and stuck my neck out and decided to only stick with just the one despite enormous pressure to have a 2nd it gave me the confidence to go against the crowd if I felt it was appropriate.[including an old style lifestyle]. I frankly don't really care what others think of me- I accept people for what they are and expect them to do the same. If they can't then that's their problem!! My son was diagnosed with Aspergers at Christmas and at the time I was reading a book about it which had the following quote which perhaps is relevant here- "those people who mind don't matter and those people who matter don't mind" That is my personal mantra.
Gosh I can't half waffle sometimes!!
Aril

squeaky

Exactly. Anybody who can't just take me for who I am (and not what I have) just ain't worth the time and effort

arkonite_babe

Thanks to OS, I have now converted my Mum and my Gran to the virtues of cleaning with vinegar and bicarb etc. I'm going to make more of a concerted effort to do more the OS way when I move house. Mainly becuase I will be on such a tight budget. But on the other hand I will have a garden and a washing line to utilise I look forward to seeing many more fantastic ideas in OS, long may it continue!

Obtw, if it wasn't for OS I would NEVER have found the benefits of a slow cooker! Keep up the good work all you dedicated Old Stylers, You have my admiration:T