Does being OS get you down?

angelatgraceland

dolly_day_dream wrote: »

I am OS out of necessity but also inclincation. I have a food budget of less than £50 per month for myself. This is easily achievable with a vegan diet. I don't consider myself deprived at all. I have a freezer full of meals, plenty of clothes to wear - all from the charity shop or home made, a warm and peaceful home and I am lucky enough to have a garden as well. I was lucky enough many years ago to work as a nanny to a very wealthy family. Lucky because it helped me to realise that money just does not buy happiness just a different set of problems.

It may be an age thing - I am in the second half of my century -but I feel that not having money to spend frees me. I can laugh at the advertising and ploys by the shops to try and part me from my money when you have so little you are so much more discerning where you spend it. But I can honestly say that I don't feel deprived. I had a total of £3 to spend last weekend and magaged to buy food for a meal, a treat - some doughnuts:D - a book to read and a stamp to post a homemade birthday card. I had satisfied all of my needs and still had change.

Maybe I do suffer from an over active imagination but I frequently consider the millions of people all over the world and in this country who do not have what I have

Sorry I don't mean to sound preachy about this. OS is a choice that we make. Remember that we are proving that we don't have to spend lots of money to get good quality food (BTW having had a son work in the food industry it is really easy to avoid restaurants/ready meals) Likewise you do not have to spend lots of money to enjoy life - as a single parent there was very little money for my three children but they tell me that their childhood was good. When I look back our best memories are moments - not things.

One final thing before my divorce my ex would insist on steak and chips each Saturday. We became blase about it. After the divorce it was out of our budget, but somehow I had managed to get some one week. The kids thought that I had won the lottery! I thought that they would really enjoy it as a treat - they thought it was OK but were enjoying the more varied diet we were now eating.:o

I agree with you on so many things-especially the newfound "freedom". It is so good to be unaffected by the advertising
unaffected by what other people have or buy or want.
Its something akin to spirituality in a way-you get to see the deeper meanings of life instead of all the superficial nonsense.
I run a freecycle group and I was very excited last week at having started a trvelling audio/visual box. My 22 yr old daughter laughed at me and said, "mum, the simplest things in life excite you". I am so glad to have reached such a state of mind-if there were people were where I am, society would be happier indeed.
No, I don't mean to be preachy either but the feelings of desire over the latest gadgets and trends are not at all liberating. They cause discomfort, even pain, and can be addictive. Im no meanie though-I do believe in balance in all things. I do however, revel in the "freedom" I have now that I am no longer trapped by the trappings.
Sometimes, if we have little as a child as a result of necessity, it can make us want, want, want, as soon as we get money in our pockets. I got a little like that, so I do understand the feeling. Luckily it never got out of control and it never put me in debt. So many people are not so fortunate though. Learning to control our desires and our spending is a good thing though as I found out just over a year ago when was husband was very sick and off work for 10 months. We managed fine-as I knew how to painlessly tighten our belts.

Hardup_Hester

I don't count cooking from scratch as OS as I'd do it anyway, home made food is so much nicer than shop bought.
I used to be very resentful when I was married mainly because there was always money for the Ex to have the latest computer, flashest car, motorbike & any other carp he fancied, but never money for new clothes for me. Also I was working long hours and all the housework fell to me despite the fact that he was home all day.
Now I'm the one in charge of the money I'm very careful with it, there is also a world of difference between being with someone who has money & won't part with it & being with someone who will give me every penny he has to stop him wasting it!
Hester

Essex-girl_2

Bargain Rzl - I agree with you, I thought the other day how people would cope if there was a war and food rationing (some countries are having rationing now because of the shortage/cost of food). I think I would be ok but I know quite a few people who just wouldnt be able to cope.

I am being more os due to necessatiy (sp) but am enjoying it, I love the fact that 9 times out of 10 my children come home from school to a home cooked meal. Love it when they walk in the kitchen and tell me it smells wonderful and they cant wait for dinner.

Sweet_Pea_2

I originally started cooking from scratch and meal planning when I found this site a couple of years ago because I felt that our finances were doing OK but the one area that wasn't under control was the food budget. For some reason I had never been able to budget properly for food and couldn't really understand why.
Now I love it. I love being able to set a food budget and be able to stick to it, Im proud of the decent food we eat and that the cupboards and freezers are full, (but not with ready meals) no money is being wasted, we are eating so much better and on a much smaller budget. I'm even more thankful for O/S now that food prices are rising.
The saving in the food budget has made our entire budget easier. We could manage before but now we are managing better.
Its not just the kichen side of things either, I regularly hit the charity shops for bargains, which I never would have done before, although I bought things from ebay. Instead of lurking around I march in there quite happily and am proud of the things that I have bought.
I've also discovered a new hobby in gardening, I love wandering up the garden with a bowl and coming back with peas and runner beans, strawberries and raspberries.
I just love O/S, I think even if I won the lottery I would still O/S but on a larger scale, for example I could have room for a poly tunnel and chickens, and a real O/S pantry. All decorated in "shabby chic" of course..........

DenBo_4

maypole wrote: »

I have sent you a personal message with an easy recipe called Potted Raspberry jam. It is simple, no boiling this one and delicious.

Can you post the recipe on this thread please? I have never made jam in my life, but would love to try an easy recipe!

metherer

snap! if you could share, that would be great.

Metherer

purpleivy

scottish_lassy wrote: »

When my daughter was small and as a single parent, I HAD to OS. Now that I am working and better off I still find I OS as it allows me to prioritise where my money goes and get my money's worth out of a pound. I get better quality meals, allows for saving for treats, stops all the big conglomerates from milking MY purse! In fact I think it is my duty to OS as not to, would be wasteful.

My daughter is now on a restricted budget and her upbringing must have paid off, as she is now a budding OSer!!!!

My kids are learning about being thrifty and being extravagant. Often, one will allow the other. If you are thrifty on an everyday basis, then it allows you to have the chance to be extravagant in other respects if you so wish.

We went to town on Sunday (is that yesterday? Not sure, I haven't had a full night's sleep yet, so still feels like today!) and she got 2 nice zip up jacket things, BOGOF, but they had already been reduced to £3 each from about £15 each. She was so pleased at finding such a bargain! :rotfl:

bargainqueen_2

I've always been careful with money, as my Mum is a real OS'er and I guess I just became one by default.
My OH however is the result of 2 people who will only shop at M&S! So sometimes I can feel how much he resents that it takes me 2 extra minutes to compare all the prices of one product in the supermarket to make sure I get the best one (plus checking for calories lol).
But then I also tell him without this he would not be able to get guitar lessons, Yoga Lessons, and Archery Lessons whenever he wants... It's a pay off really isn't it.

hornetgirl

Love the idea that my "default setting" could be OS. It's made my day - thanks Bargain Rzl

Stephen_Leak

I love being OS and doing my own cooking, etc. I'm part Scottish and it really tickles the tartan bits of my DNA. I don't earn much money and my car needed a new clutch recently, but I was able to save the money for it from last month. I feel really happy stirring a nice big, bubbling batch of bolognese, chilli, curry or whatever in either my battered old saucepan or frying pan.