Oops! I've fallen off the OS wagon.....

nabowla

The last couple of months have been really tough for me and I've fallen off the OS wagon big time. I haven't made a packed lunch in ages, I've been buying convenience food from the supermarket, randomly buying things to cheer myself up and not planning my supermarket purchases. I could go on but I think you get the picture!

I really ought to resume my OS habits (I can't afford to carry on like this for much longer!) but my motivation's zilch right now. It requires so much less effort just to carry on spending. What I need is a rather large kick up the backside. Failing that, a few helpful hints for starting over again would be much appreciated. Has anyone else been through this situation? What did you do to kick-start your OS lifestyle? What one thing would you recommend as a good starting point? I've not got very much food in the fridge or freezer at the moment so I think I might have to do a big-ish shop before I can start cooking from scratch - any suggestions on how to keep the bills down, other than BOGOF?

mah_jong

Planning ahead is the best thing I could advise. Plan your menu a week in advance, but don't set it stone so you can take advantage of any sopecial offers!

So set your self a target..... either a financial (how little can you spend) or a reward (how much can you save for the holiday etc).

As a single I rarely buy BOGOF, except in things like toilet rolls. Fresh fruit and veg is a non starter! I would rather by single stuff and eat them than two of these huge bags of which half go off before using!!!

Ma

Chipps

any suggestions on how to keep the bills down, other than BOGOF?

One suggestion I would make is, instead of thinking about buying ie BOGOF etc, why not think about not buying. In other words, what can you get away without buying, or what can you live without.
Mah Jong is right about the planning, too. As you plan your menu, don't forget to factor in packed lunches etc.
What about using cash for shopping? That way you can't overspend.
Incidentally, I am saying these things to myself as well, as I have had a couple of weeks when my organisation has gone way out the window, and I need to get back on track, too.

Mado

Find your local market and stock up on fruit and veg for the next week.
For the rest make a list of essentials for a supermarket and THEN check out the bargains in what you NEED if any. If not just buy the best value/for your money (ie: if you are single avoid the 5kg of rice!!!).

Cook things in season and have fun!

Queenie

((nabola)) Don't worry about falling off, we all do sometimes - that's life!


Ok, in your shoes here's what I'd do.

Even though you say you don't have much in the fridge/freezer, *do not go out and get a big shop* Instead, take another look and list everything that you have in there; do the same with your pantry.

From that list, work out how many meals you could make and how long that would last you. Then how many days before payday! If it's another 21 days before payday and by being disciplined on what you already have you could stretch to say 5 meals then you only have 16days worth of meals to work out.

Draw up a menu plan using what you already have first and then fill in the rest of the meals right up until payday - write these on your calendar!. Search the recipe files on here and your cookery books to see what tasty, thrifty meals. From your menu plan, draw up your shopping list - but only include the items you *need*.

By putting your menu plan on your calendar, you can refer to it again next month (or however often you can manage to do it, could be weekly, fortnightly) which means most of the hard work is already done. You can refer to your till receipt from your shopping trip as a basis for setting yourself a firm budget too.

If thinking a week ahead, a month ahead is too daunting right now, then simply work out what you will be having for the next 2 days. Tomorrow, work out the 2 days after that.

Good luck.

rchddap1

Because of where I live and the lifestyle I lead I can only really do a decent shop every couple of weeks. This forces me to plan carefully and keep an eye on what is in the freezer and the cupboards. Usually when we get close to shopping day the fridge is completely bare. However, on the bright side we don't waste a lot of food and will only buy what we know we need....as space in the fridge is limited after we've stuffed it full of 2 weeks of fruit & veg. So I suppose one suggestion would be to simply force yourself not to go to the shops.

Another suggestion would be to put a grocery budget chart on the fridge (or somewhere else obvious), so that you can visually track your spending. You'll soon force yourself to do a packed lunch when you get up for breakfast and see how close you are to your budget.

Don't worry too much about falling off...its happens to everyone...the trick is to give yourself a sharp slap and tell yourself to stop it.

calleyw

Living an OS lifestyle takes weeks if not months to get in to the swing of it.

And we all have bad times I know we(meaning husband and me) are going through some emotionally and financially at the moment. And it makes you think what the hell. I will just buy this bottle of wine/ choccie biscuits etc to make me feel better.


Start again slowly. Make a plan for a week of meals as well as lunches and then go and shop for it. If you have the food in the fridge you are less likely to waste it.

And as each week goes by add another OS lifestyle tip in.

I have read that it takes 21 days to make something a routine. Keep at it will come together.

And don't beat yourself up about it. At least you have had your light bulb moment. So you know that something has to be done and things have to change. Knowing you have a problem is the first step.

And don't forget we are all here to give you a kick up the bum when you need it

Take care

Yours

Calley

squeaky

A motto I like to remember...

Failure is not getting knocked down . . .

Its not getting back up!

MATH

I will be stepping off the Ol'Style wagon for July & August and climbing aboard the holiday season, spend for ease express:eek: I've been sooo goood:A since Christmas and have decided to take a wee break while the kidz are off school. I've had these two months planned into me budget for a while now but we may not last the full time in the modern world:eek: . Oven chips and Tesco lasagne will be such a treat for the kidz but I bet after the first month they start asking for some Ol'Style HM stuff.

nabowla

Thanks to all for the great suggestions and encouragement! I think that I'll sit down this evening and start drawing up a menu plan and shopping list.

I really do need to buy some food as all I have in the house (apart from lots of spices/herbs, oils & vinegars) is rice, pasta, a pack of smoked salmon (in the freezer - BOGOF), one red onion, a couple of slightly ripe tomatoes, a bit of tapenade left over at the bottom of a jar and a bit of mushroom & truffle sauce (the teacher at our cookery class was going to throw it out because it was 'left over'!!!). This brings me to my next point.......anyone got any bright ideas what I can do with those ingredients so that I don't have to go shopping this evening? I really want to avoid going to the supermarket until I've got my list sorted as I just know I'll end up buying unnecessary rubbish if I don't have a list.

r.mac_2

I have fallen into this trap. May was not the best month for me and the start of June was horrendous! Anyway, as they say with many things, recognition is the first step to recovery lol!

I basically had a cleaning day to get myself motivated, then I ran myself a relaxing bath and curled up on the sofa with a notepad and a glass of wine (MATH's suggestion!). I then meal planned for the next few weeks.

Then I wrote myself a to do list into a diary. Each day I put a task i.e. plant seeds or make greetings cards. I also planned in birthdays and scheduled in time to make or buy the presents and cards. I also scheduled in my normal social activities and dates I was out with freinds etc.

If I had a 'free' evening (I live by myself) then I would organise to make cakes that night, or do a big freezer batch of cooking etc. I find that having portions of good filling food like chilli and lasagne int he freezer stops that take-away sensation creep in.

That way, if you have spare cash, save it for a treat. I actually find I enjoy a small treat more if I fee I have deserved it in some way (i.e. taken a packed lunch to work all week).

Also, don't be too over ambitious. When I started taking packed lunches and didn't manage it every day, I felt like I had failed. Now I try and do it at least 3 days a week. if I manage that then - success I have saved myself at least £7!

HTH