Old Style Lent

thriftlady_2

I'm not what you'd call a comitted Christian, but the Christian year is part of my culture and my kids go to a catholic school so I've been thinking about lent this year which begins on Wednesday.

It is a good opportunity to either give something up, make a lifestyle change or do something that helps those in the world who have less than we do, or all 3!

I've been thinking of old style lenten commitments, things that will save money and help the environment.

The traditional one is to give up meat. I suggested this to my family at supper yesterday but DS2 said that we'd die if we gave up meat :rotfl: and besides I have a lot of meat in the freezer, we only eat it 2-3 times a week anyway.

Another (very fleeting) thought was to give up alcohol, but that really isn't going to happen:o

I thought of only buying local food, but then I remembered tea, coffee, tinned tomatoes and most of the flour I buy.

What I've settled on is something I set out to do at the beginning of the year but failed miserably at - no more unecessary shopping. For me this is mostly food shopping, but also books and DVDs.

I'm still going to buy; fruit and veg, milk, butter, eggs, cheese, juice, tea, coffee and wine (I know the last 3 aren't essential, but life's little pleasures and all that), flour and other baking supplies, loo paper and other personal necessaries, cleaning stuff if absolutely necessary.

Is anyone else doing anything for lent ? Here are some ideas;

Give up meat -either completely or if you eat meat every day what about giving up 2-3 meat meals a week ? You will certainly save money.

Give up plastic bags and unecessary packaging- reduce your rubbish

Give up using clingfilm and other disposables.
Give up non-nutritious foods -chocolate, sugar, tea, coffee, alcohol:eek: if you can do this you're a better person than me.

Cookfrom scratch -if this a new thing for you try giving up 2 ready meals a week.

Give up takeaways and fast food -good for your purse and your health.

Give up throwing away food -recycle those leftovers, use it up before it walks out of the fridge by itself;)

Replace one meal a week with a 'hunger meal'. Have bread and beans or something else frugal and simple. Put the money you save in an envelope and donate to a charity concerned wth hunger relief.

By Easter you may find you have formed a new habit, I hope I have.

Any other ideas?

D&DD

:whistle: Will this be including cookery books Thriftlady?? :eek:


I really need to stop buying ANY books as I now officially have no room whatsoever for anymore..at all...anywhere!!!

*I just need to convince everyone to stop recommending them now...*

glitterycloud

I have never given up something for lent but after looking up Lent/Easter/Palm Sunday I have decided to join you.
I want to challenge myself so I am giving up tea and coffee. I drink about 3-4 cups a day so I know it won't be easy.

Did you know that eggs were traditionally given up for Lent and given as a treat on Easter Sunday - hence Easter Eggs (feel free to correct if wrong!!)

Olliebeak

hmmmmm - maybe NOW is the time for me to really start cutting back on what I eat, improving the quality of what I DO eat and taking more exercise.

The 6 weeks of Lent should be enough of a kickstart for a life-changing habit! But why do we have to have Mother's Day during Lent ? They always get me chocolates :mad: :mad: .

Thanks thriftlady :j (that's me taking more exercise! :rotfl: )

squeaky

Olliebeak wrote: »

hmmmmm - maybe NOW is the time for me to really start cutting back on what I eat, improving the quality of what I DO eat and taking more exercise.

The 6 weeks of Lent should be enough of a kickstart for a life-changing habit! But why do we have to have Mother's Day during Lent ? They always get me chocolates :mad: :mad: .

Thanks thriftlady :j (that's me taking more exercise! :rotfl: )

How about doing a "Mother's Day present list"? You know - like the list of gifts they'd like that engaged couples hand out...

So... erm... A (chocolate) breadmaker, or a (chocolate) stick blender, or a set of (chocolate) american cups...

I'm sure you can think of something

ubamother

I'm thinking too - I gave up yeast last year - which took away all sorts of lovely things! Did my system no end of good though. I'm thinking of either meat or sugar this year. I don't give up things like chocolate, or cakes which are occasional treats - for me, if it's not something I have to work at every day, I don't really see the point. If you like knowing the 'rules' - Mothering Sunday is a Refreshment Sunday when the rules of lent are relaxed (as actually are all Sundays really) If you add up the days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Day it's something like 46 days - and Lent lasts for 40. Not that you need my permission!!!

Olliebeak

squeaky wrote: »

How about doing a "Mother's Day present list"? You know - like the list of gifts they'd like that engaged couples hand out...

So... erm... A (chocolate) breadmaker, or a (chocolate) stick blender, or a set of (chocolate) american cups...

I'm sure you can think of something

:rotfl: :rotfl:

Last year (about 5 months after moving here) I posted 'Mummy's to-do List' and stuck it to the kitchen door.

It was a 'spreadsheet style' chart listing jobs that I wanted doing, leaving space for the appropriate volunteer to put their name against whatever job they would do for me - also offered 'brownie points' per job. By fixing it to the door, of course, it introduced a competitive element to the whole thing (sneaky mother!).

Stephen brought his lawnmower down and did the side and back gardens for me - poor fella it took him literally all day (but he did get fed and watered for his efforts!). He also sorted the Internet wiring so I could have the whole set up moved into the dining area of the kitchen as I didn't want the comp stuck in the corner of the living room.

Michael put up the stainless steel shelving that I had bought for above the cooker, put up the clock in the living room and put together the coffee table that I'd bought from Ikea. He'd moved house himself so was already inundated with jobs for their own place - and he still bought me some lovely silver earrings.

Pregnant Helen helped me to assemble my hideaway computer desk - she's better at getting down on her knees than I am - that took all day as well and again she was fed and watered for her efforts plus she got all her baby stuff made for her.

thriftlady_2

Yep, Mothering Sunday is also known as Refreshment sunday and you are allowed all the Sundays in lent off, I'm not going to take days off though.

I had to bite my tongue in Thornton's the other day (I was just looking:whistle: )when the assistant told me that as well as Easter being early this year (it is) it was 'really close to mother's day this year'. Mothering Sunday is always the same Sunday in lent (middle one I think) so Easter is always the same distance from it.

Yes DD&D I am giving up buying cookery books:D

noonesperfect

The hardest thing to give up for Lent would be coming on here (that just ain't gonna happen :rolleyes: ).


I don't drink, smoke or eat processed food (much) and I don't think OH would want to give up "the other" :rotfl: :rotfl:

So it'll have to be chocolate and maybe red meat. (for my expanding waistline more than anything :eek: :eek: )

violetblue

I usually give up something for Lent too, it's normally something like chocolate and cakes, or one year I gave up coffee which was very very difficult! I find that giving up something that you enjoy, if only for a short while, helps you to stop taking things for granted and appreciate them much more when Easter comes round. And boy do I enjoy those Sundays off!!

Lat year I gave up television, much to the horror of my friends! How on earth could I live without tv?! :eek: Actually, I don't watch that much anyway, but flicking round the channels and watching nothing in particular was getting to be a bad habit. And it's amazing how much I got done when I denied myself tv completely - I read loads of books, did more craft stuff, and the house was tidy and clean for the first time in ages!!:A

Not sure what I'll be giving up this year - probably chocolate and cakes etc as I could do with losing few pounds!

Little_Chicken

I gave up meat for Lent about six years ago and haven't eaten any since. This year I'm giving up fish - hopefully with the same result. OH is totally unsuportive so I will be relying on you guys for support (again). :A