2026 Fashion On The Ration Challenge

pixtotts

Gosh it does move quick in here! 

The talk of 'bodies' I blumin love the things! I will admit I do have a short torso, so no discomfort, infact I sometimes have the other problem and have to make adjustments.... But I find them great for warmth!  We have had no heating, since the big freeze in winter of 2010 (I will admit I had to google I didn't realise it had been that long!) the coldest recorded temp was just up the road from us at -19.5 and it made the oil go gloopy in the pipes and the boiler has never worked since. So yeah bodies are my top tip for keeping warm! 


I have yet to make any move on sorting the stuff that needs sorting, 2026 so far has been a blumin nightmare, my phone broke, my laptop had a wobbly, I slipped on ice and bruised my tailbone, and today a dog has gotten into our chickens and had all but one (we only had 4), thankfully she got away unscathed. But overall I'm done with this month already, and I still have  my tax return to do! 


My pile of surplus clothes is still waiting to be listed online - it's all a bit of a muddle so I'm not sure how to approach it really does anyone know if it is best to list similar things at the same time, or does it not matter? I'm sure there has to be some secret tactic I'm missing... There are some bits we inherited from a lady up the road - mainly fancy coats that you feel should be kept but don't fit any of us, lovely vintage Liberty and Harrods. But then also childrens bits my mum has bought in the sale for some family twins then she forgot about when we got round to the next season or never found a similar item for the other twin so they got put away and now we've missed the ages. 

I actually sold a pair of Jeans this week so I have officially earnt my first coupon! I'm making myself earn my coupons before spending, as well as trying to spend wisely x

Floss

pixtotts said:

My pile of surplus clothes is still waiting to be listed online - it's all a bit of a muddle so I'm not sure how to approach it really does anyone know if it is best to list similar things at the same time, or does it not matter? I'm sure there has to be some secret tactic I'm missing...

I tend to list in batches, in blocks of items (jumpers, shoes etc). If you list regularly you will stay in their algorithms for showcasing 😉 Also keeping within their suggested price range, and be willing to accept offers of 90% 😊

weenancyinAmerica

@pixtotts - Sounds like you are having a really bad month. Sending you hugs.

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, 
Never worn a body so I can't comment 😂

Watching ration book Rebecca who is now Rebecca at railway cottage, she found a book called wartime shop assistant in a cs and said even though the ration system was supposed to guarantee certain things in reality it didn't work as shopkeepers had real problems getting stuff. She also explained that whereas civilians had to register with a shop service people didn't so could just turn up in a shop and buy their ration meaning what ever stock they had for the registered people could be wiped out by a group of squaddies suddenly being posted to the area. I have had a quick look online and the book is available to buy but the cheapest I found it at was £39 so might be worth a trip to the library to see if they can get a copy if people are interested 😁

@pixtotts I really can't imagine how you have coped with no heating for 15 years. Do you have other sources for heating and hot water?

Take care everyone

pixtotts

Floss said:

I tend to list in batches, in blocks of items (jumpers, shoes etc). If you list regularly you will stay in their algorithms for showcasing 😉 Also keeping within their suggested price range, and be willing to accept offers of 90% 😊

Thank you! That's interesting, maybe I'll split it into sections and tackle one a day to spread them out a bit too

@Liverpool_Anne we used an immersion heater for the hot water anyway, so hot water hasn't been a problem. We have a log burner in the lounge, but unfortunately it's also a bungalow so none of the benefit of hot air rising, and when it's working we have an aga in the Kitchen. But the aga is also oil fed, and also went off that super cold winter, but hasn't been great since either, I think we've been 2 or 3 winters without that working too now. We replaced the oil tank, but think we need to replace all the pipes under ground to actually properly sort it all. But I did get a 15 tog quilt for Christmas! So that is very lovely and squishy.

You really do get used to it though, I find other peoples houses like saunas now

Gem-gem

One pair of black long boots purchased. Discount received. 5 coupons. 

Total used 7 coupons ( incl the pair of socks purchased earlier this month).
Left 59 coupons. 

Cherryfudge

Is it one of these books @Liverpool_Anne? They are available on Open Library - looks interesting.

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all,

@Cherryfudge it's the second book you have linked that Rebecca had but they both look interesting 😁.

Off to meet my friend from Paris for lunch as she is over for a few days. I haven't seen her for over a year so lots to catch up with 😁

Take care everyone

Nelliegrace

6 coupons used on thick, non-woollen socks in the sales at Aldi. Such an extravagance! I didn’t need them, my socks last for years, but they were reduced in price by half and then three quarters, and I forgot completely about ration coupons and no unnecessary clothes buying. £4.97 spent.

I think I wanted cheering up because of the wretched virus and the weather.

Dirty days hath September,
April, June, and November. 
From January up to May,
The rain it raineth every day.
All the rest have thirty-one, 
Without a blessed gleam of sun. 
And if any of them had two-and-thirty,
They'd be just as wet and twice as dirty.

Floss

Cherryfudge said:

Is it one of these books @Liverpool_Anne? They are available on Open Library - looks interesting.

I've read the first one of those books, it's quite interesting.