Money Saving gone TOO far?

Justamum

WASHER wrote: »

I would consider myself more OS than not, I still have alot to learn, especially on the batch cooking front etc.

My friend at work (same age as me) cannot understand why I have no interest in celeb mags, fashion or spending my weekends clothes shopping, she was physically horrified to find out that I bought my "timberland" boots at Help the Aged for £4.99, she said she had never been into a charity shop and certainly wouldn't buy shoes, I have to make do I told her, I do not own a credit card, if I have little money in the bank, my children are priority not my feet fashion. (although I have got to say they are really comfortable).

I wish I could of painted a picture of her face when I told her I didn't have a credit card, she looked at me as though I was odd! (odd maybe, but I can sleep at night knowing I don't owe thousands).

I don't have a credit card either (or debt card as I prefer to call them). I had one years and years ago (over 20) and realised just how easy it was to let them get out of control. I'm also not interested in 'celeb' mags - I've picked the odd one up in waiting rooms and haven't recognised a single person! Clothes shopping is something I loathe (even if I could afford to buy anything). On the odd occasion I do get some money given to me to buy myself something I get in a panic at all the choice - so end up buying something for the children/husband/house instead :rotfl:.

Somebody on another thread mentioned someone she works with who has maxed out credit cards and wouldn't have anything second hand - and feels sorry for 'poor' people who have to make do with second hand. She's the poor person if she owes thousands of pounds - I might not have much, but like you I can sleep at night knowing I don't own thousands (I'm determined to get the bank overdraft to zero this year - it's £300 at the moment, but was £500 :eek:)

carrieon

I dont have a credit card either. Just a debit card so i no i can never overspend.
I have a very dear friend, who spends about £120 per week on groceries each week for just herself and DH. The amount of food she wastes is unbelievable. I dont think she eats any better than us.And there are 3 in my family. She also commented on her DD who has 3 young children and how living on JSA is affecting her badly as she needs £250 a week to feed the 4 of them.
Her face when i told her my groceries came to rougly £40 per week was a picture.
She constantly moans about beeing hard up. Yet she goes out 3 or 4 nights a week and has take aways at least twice a week.
I may not have a beautiful house without all the latest and best furniture but its clean and comfortable and we never go without.
Some of my friends owe thousands of pounds but have beautiful homes.
I've been in debt once. NEVER again.

Margaret54

Hi everyone. I have really enjoyed reading all your posts today. I grew up with a make do and mend attitude, and carried it on throughout my life. I do love O.S such a lot. I use charity shops and have picked up wonderful bargains from them. My dh and I have no debt now, and are very careful with what we spend, and don't waste money, but have a really nice life. I too love to knit and want to learn to sew and make clothes etc. I just love to know there are like minded people out there. I love this site

Justamum

carrieon wrote: »

She also commented on her DD who has 3 young children and how living on JSA is affecting her badly as she needs £250 a week to feed the 4 of them.

:eek::eek: My groceries last month came to just under £300 for a month for 5 of us. Who on earth can eat £1,000 worth of food in a month?

carrieon wrote: »

She constantly moans about beeing hard up. Yet she goes out 3 or 4 nights a week and has take aways at least twice a week.

She's got her priorities all upside down. I'm putting the odd change at the end of each week in a tin, and when we have enough saved we are going to treat ourselves to a takeaway from the local Indian restaurant. It could be a few months yet though, but boy will we enjoy it

carrieon

She's got her priorities all upside down. I'm putting the odd change at the end of each week in a tin, and when we have enough saved we are going to treat ourselves to a takeaway from the local Indian restaurant. It could be a few months yet though, but boy will we enjoy it

That sounds like a good idea. I'm saving on the £365 in 365 days, but thats for christmas. But putting the odd change in a tin sounds good. I love a take away but cant really afford that. So if you dont mind i'l borrow your idea.
You do well for 5 of you and i thought i was beeing clever. Well done to you.:T

jennihen

I thank heaven I can cook -thats got to be one of the biggest areas you can save money. I posted earlier on the Slow cooking thread about my bargain turkey drumstick I did yesterday. Tonight's dinner was Turtle pie! - layers of potato, onion, leek, bacon and sweetcorn with cheese on top. Obviously delicious as its all gone - none left for me to take to work tomorrow!!

nannaC

Even treatments for wounds is going back to good old basics. When a wound on my leg needed debriding (sp) we used magotts (lungs are shot so could not have surgery) to clean the wound - their excreations are also antibacterial. After they had done their job the dressings were pure menuka honey, the whole cleaning and healing took only 4 months. It was fantastic.

Justamum wrote: »

Apparently leeches are also used in some surgery :eek:

yes to both, when I was in hospital [extensive burns] 13 years ago, the ward I was on used both. They used maggot bandages to clean up ulcerated/infected wounds, and leeches to clear post op blood circulation probs [I think that was it]. It took 6 months for my burns to heal, [they had to be redressed every 2 days] and although in the end I did not need it I would have been quite prepared to have the wriggly bandage.

nannaC

carrieon wrote: »

I dont have a credit card either. Just a debit card so i no i can never overspend.
I have a very dear friend, who spends about £120 per week on groceries each week for just herself and DH. The amount of food she wastes is unbelievable. I dont think she eats any better than us. Her face when i told her my groceries came to rougly £40 per week was a picture.
QUOTE]
Snap Grumpy and I too have a friend whose OH spends the same a week for the 2 of them. They are addicted to shopping spending a fortune each week on clothes they do not need. He would not believe me when I too said that our weekly groceries were about £40, nor would he believe when a few years ago I got a brand new Barbour/backhouse full length waxed coat for £10 at a local boot fair [its still going strong and to my mind looks even better now that it is going a bit shiny in places, sort of posh shabby chic:rotfl:].

nannaC

SORRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY forgot to add what a brilliant thread this is. Have been a seriously dedicated Os'er since the 1960's when I thought it really cool to wear my mums old stage costumes [they were from the 1930's and silk sigh wish I still had them but i literally wore them out]. Mum taught me how to sew, and unpick/remake clothes, [I still haunt jumble sales, for beautiful materials]. I also used to buy cheap white undies and dye them, so they looked like expensive designer ones. My cooking skills were self taught out of nessecity, as mum bless her had many skills she could play 15 instruments, design beautful clothes, interior design on miniscule budget, but could NOT cook to save her life, so before I reached double figures I was already a dab hand at cooking/baking on a budget, a skill I have never tired of.

carrieon

Strange how different we all are and what makes us happy. I get such pleasure in making a chicken do for 3 meals, getting a bargain (on something i really need) saving a few pennies here and there. A charity shop bargain. etc.
Yet most of my friends wouldn't be seen dead in a charity shop or heard to mention that they got a bargain anywhere.
I've even got my DIL into Martin now. And everyone takes the mick when i mention a good deal someplace or a saving to be had. They all say "hello she's been on Martin Lewis again. I dont care, its only done in jest and i'm not the one in debt.