Does being OS get you down?

DUKE

What's OS - over sexed? :eek: Sorry, I know it's money saving but I just can't think when I'm menstrual :rolleyes:

I great joy out of saving, but I do worry about myself at times as I think very carefuly about spending every penny

DUKE

Old Style - of course I'm on that thread Just browsing and looking for cooking meals from scratch and have all sorts of thought racing through me head

thriftlady_2

No matter how much money I had I would always cook from scratch including baking my bread and making preserves. I just can't contemplate doing it any other way and I'm constantly amazed that 'cooking from scratch' is seen as a thing you choose to do.

maypole

nixinix wrote: »

I understand that - I also enjoy the satisfaction of homemade meals - but I suppose I mean more the stretching food and having to be OS to save money and survive.

I am grateful to be OS by choice, I hate waste, but I don't skimp on things, I just like to get good value out of our hard earned money and I love home cooking.
I think I might be older than you and there was a time when we were younger that we sometimes struggled and I used to wish we had more money. You are obviously doing all you can and you can only do your best in a given situation, but it's natural to feel fed up from time to time.

maypole

thriftlady wrote: »

No matter how much money I had I would always cook from scratch including baking my bread and making preserves. I just can't contemplate doing it any other way and I'm constantly amazed that 'cooking from scratch' is seen as a thing you choose to do.

I agree, if I run out of homemade jam, I won't buy it, I just wait until the next fruit season comes. No amount of money can make up for home cooking and a loving, homely home. However, I know that is easy to say when not having to cope on a tight budget.

[Deleted User]

We're OS thru choice - we're trying for a baby and the aim is to be able to live on DH's wages. We have saved so much money living this way (I love this OS board - its full of good ideas). As pigpen said (not sure how to do quotes ) I as well see it as a challenge getting things for the best price.

Sometimes I think 'Oh I cant be bothered' but I normally keep a few meals in the freezer to just heat up for tea. When I get tempted to waste loadsa money I try to think of the things that I could do with the money instead.

But I have also learn theres no point in trying to tell other people what you are doing (they dont understand and just think that you're mean) - My nan called me a Miser!! So I'm keeping my thoughts to myself (and to share in here) Misers together!!

Pitlanepiglet

I'm really fed up of being skint....been this way for years, everytime we take a step forward everything else goes up and we're back where we started. We moved into rented accommodation four years ago as a temporary measure but we're still here and it's all really quite depressing. I'd love just every now and again to be able to go our for dinner without feeling guilty

I've only been reading the OS board for a little while but I've always been kinda OS, I have some food intolerances so I've cooked from scratch for the last 18 years rather than buying packed food. I don't mind cooking, it's not something I especially enjoy and after working 12 hours a day I don't enjoy putting a meal together. Mostly OH cooks though as he is self employed so is usually home before me. Sometimes I enjoy the challenge of tracking down cheap things, it's easier if you've got more time to do that stuff I guess...

So yes, to the OP - I know exactly how you feel...<<<<hugs>>>>

nixinix

Thank you everyone for taking the time to reply.

I am a SAHM mom with two pre-schoolers and I love being able to put homemade food on the table - though I am not OS enough to attempt homemade jam I just sometimes wish I had someone to do it for me LOL!

I have recently started meal planning and can find that hard sometimes, but my biggest change is because until really recently I would only use the breast of a roast chicken and throw away the remainder without a moments thought (I now know that was a huge waste). Now I enjoy the challenge of getting three meals from one chicken which I also thought would help save me money however I seem to spend as much as ever and this can really get me down as I still spend nearly £400 a month to feed the four of us, (aaarg)though I do eat mainly organic...

teedy23

I dont think of myself as O/S, I think of myself as a revivalist (is that a word? it is now). I was left in deep doo-doo by an ex and am really proud to be surviving well on my own wits (with the help of you lot). Yes it gets us all down sometimes but everything gets you down SOMETIMES. I,ll bet being incredibly wealthy gets some people down sometimes. Any of you on here? I can help. The thing is , your doing your best to do the best you can, you should be proud of yourself, your doing a lot better than a lot of other people, and your doing it on your own. You have a computer for a start, and you have a community here you can get your gripes out to. Take a look at my GC, it,s not all the money I have, I know I wont starve, I have plenty of clothes to wear, not the greatest but they're mine, I paid for them. I have a home and friends and family jeez I,m going to start singing "count your blessings" in a minute ( no I,m not, I dont know the words)

maypole

Deleted_User wrote: »

We're OS thru choice - we're trying for a baby and the aim is to be able to live on DH's wages. We have saved so much money living this way (I love this OS board - its full of good ideas). As pigpen said (not sure how to do quotes ) I as well see it as a challenge getting things for the best price.

Sometimes I think 'Oh I cant be bothered' but I normally keep a few meals in the freezer to just heat up for tea. When I get tempted to waste loadsa money I try to think of the things that I could do with the money instead.

But I have also learn theres no point in trying to tell other people what you are doing (they dont understand and just think that you're mean) - My nan called me a Miser!! So I'm keeping my thoughts to myself (and to share in here) Misers together!!

At the bottom right hand corner of the message or post you will see "quote" just click on and a new page will come up for you to write your message, then just submit your reply. Easy as homemade pie;)