tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post8095726393538237412..comments2024-03-19T08:35:01.699+00:00Comments on Love my life: Keeping on track, a reviewMeanqueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02705837426373680532noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-89598356678169548622016-10-21T13:12:32.817+01:002016-10-21T13:12:32.817+01:00Hi blogers, to make your bedding last longer and f...Hi blogers, to make your bedding last longer and fresher, turn pillow cases, sheets and duvet covers over every few days so that they are not always worn in the same place. I never buy white because it never washes white for very long. I have loads of woolens and do a wool wash once every 6 weeks or so, everything else goes in a coloured cold eco wash and it all looks fine. My extended family know what I'm like and they like making stuff, so I got a years supply of homemade washing powder in a jar in my christmas box last year, still using it reckon it'll do another 6 months. I used to buy duck pads to go on my duck handle to clean the toilet as I dont like toilet brushes, I think they are unhygienic. I stopped buying them and use pieces of rag now that go in the bin. Our wheelie bin rubbish goes to a power station to make electricity, best place for it. I buy a really cheap cleaning liquid from discount shops called Astonish, it is endorsed by the Vegan society, so no nasties there. yorkshire lassnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-1603827132975451202015-10-09T18:36:46.751+01:002015-10-09T18:36:46.751+01:00Hi. Yes, you are right, it was the era we were bro...Hi. Yes, you are right, it was the era we were brought up in. Back then we didn't know what everyone else was spending their money on apart from the relatives and close neighbours. Now, with the internet and TV, there is so much more temptation to have what other have. Meanqueenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02705837426373680532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-83821328078906651632015-10-09T15:35:24.954+01:002015-10-09T15:35:24.954+01:00Hi Ilona, I enjoyed your post about all the ways ...Hi Ilona, I enjoyed your post about all the ways you watch your money and make wise choices. I grew up in a household where my parents and grandfather lived together. My grandfather was very aware of what he spent money on. Whatever he had, he kept in excellent condition. He was a real good example for me. My parents were the same but not as careful as my grandfather. I think sometimes it's the era you grow up in too having to raise his family during the worst of the depression years. It teaches you to treasure what you have. Thanks for all the great tips as usual. Kearnygirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01429493116809940852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-78665510219815125872015-10-09T11:00:28.779+01:002015-10-09T11:00:28.779+01:00"I make my meals with whatever I have in"..."I make my meals with whatever I have in" - "No recipe books in my house" - very sensible, though for some things I definitely need recipes, e.g. baking, preserves. But for the main meal of the day I most certainly prefer to make up my own, using what is in season, what is cheap and what I think we need nutritionally. I think we would all be better off in many ways if we accepted what is AVAILABLE rather than thinking "I want this so I'll go here there and everywhere trying to find it", whether that is food or clothes or whatever. As we live out in the sticks and it's two buses (or an 18 miles bike ride, or wait until I can use husband's car) to get to a bigger town with choice of shops, I have always used mail order, and now the internet, a lot, and for some things it is still necessary, but I am tending more and more to accept what is available locally rather than going further afield, even if that means I don't get exactly what I would have liked. Not sure that that would have been easy when bringing up our four children though.LizzieLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00854229133345270816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-21403293077978326472015-10-08T14:39:32.324+01:002015-10-08T14:39:32.324+01:00i love this, no holier than thou preaching just th...i love this, no holier than thou preaching just this is what i do could you use/adapt it<br /><br />thankyou some good ideas all sensible not pie in the sky unachievable nonsense<br />tessaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-91017760508700854342015-10-08T09:22:04.204+01:002015-10-08T09:22:04.204+01:00Interesting to see you still do these things after...Interesting to see you still do these things after all these years. I think the moral of the story is make good money choices a habit - you do them consistently over time and before you know it you do it automatically. I have changed a few habits this year. I never leave the house without filling a water bottle, I can manage without food but I hate being thirsty and would buy a bottle of water! We park just on the outskirts of town for free and walk in, only takes 10 minutes - this must have saved me a fortune. Almost every item in my wardrobe is high end label. I only have good quality clothes, cashmere jumpers and wool skirts etc. 90% of my clothes came from our local charity shop where everything is £1.99 - even winter coats! It pains me to buy anything new because I see so many hardly used clothes crammed into charity shops. Yes you have to sift through some washed up primark clothes but the thrill of the chase is rewarding - even my teenage daughter loves going in for a rummage. DebbieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-49755901990705609282015-10-08T00:16:19.023+01:002015-10-08T00:16:19.023+01:00I love this!I love this!Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09690722786561637489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-51728949766969660322015-10-07T22:41:43.433+01:002015-10-07T22:41:43.433+01:00My best buy recently was in a charity shop (a rath...My best buy recently was in a charity shop (a rather up-market one in a posh area of town, I might add) ... a super Hobbs T-shirt for £4.50. It is one of the smartest T-shirts I've ever owned. Ditto, a few weeks ago in the same shop I found a heavy silk Jaeger scarf, the kind I'd seen in one of the town's dept. stores for around £90, and I snapped it up for £7. There are bargains to be had out there if you are prepared to look ... or rather, have hawk eyes! galanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14190356279359463949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-77573112380853201962015-10-07T21:54:29.788+01:002015-10-07T21:54:29.788+01:00Hi Ilona, great post, as always. I love waking up ...Hi Ilona, great post, as always. I love waking up to your wisdom and wit.<br />You mentioned choices... very important aspect of this discussion as is the idea of keeping up with the proverbial Jones and believing we need all that the advertisers and manufactures offer us. I believe simple, simple, simple. Mend, make do.. reduce, reuse recycle... upcycle, share, etc etc.<br />I am content with my lot...I am very fortunate that I grew up in a time when vital skills were taught at school and at home. I quietly thank my parents, grandparents and teachers almost daily, for the skills I have learned that enable me to live the life I choose and for the values instilled in my at a very early age. LOVE your attitude, your sharing, encouragement and your down to earth approach to life. Many, many thanks. Cheersjoinoznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-27496823530795125432015-10-07T19:31:15.105+01:002015-10-07T19:31:15.105+01:00totally agree- we all have different spending prio...totally agree- we all have different spending priorities but MUST keep in the black with a bit saved for emergencies and save for everything we need . recognise the difference between a need and a want,Brendaintheborohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15084623324970433935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-90140382491903452372015-10-07T18:34:02.714+01:002015-10-07T18:34:02.714+01:00Thanks so much for this update, I re-read your sav...Thanks so much for this update, I re-read your savings area yesterday so this was very timely! Your blog is really interesting and well written, thanks again for the time you spend!Traveling Oltmanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15703550588711913428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-13627400506798732352015-10-07T17:03:33.831+01:002015-10-07T17:03:33.831+01:00Very wise words. Once people realise they don...Very wise words. Once people realise they don't need all the things manufacturers are throwing at us and we can't all live the lives of the Chelsea set the better. We are too easily caught up with what others expect not what we can deliver Christmas being a prime example. People getting into serious debt to show off what they've bought. My father called credit "the never never" because it took so long before the item was ever yours. And you were probably bored with it before it was even paid for. The way people change their phones as a status symbol is stupid. Living Alone in Your 60'shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08848266282669835475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-23090003417945293112015-10-07T16:21:21.789+01:002015-10-07T16:21:21.789+01:00Hi.Yes!.We had "Home Ec"(home economics ...Hi.Yes!.We had "Home Ec"(home economics class) and learned everything from cooking nutritious cheap meals, to sewing clothing,baking from scratch and household budgeting at our high school.Also I think parents,grandparents,and caregivers need to try to instruct and guide children in finances and wise spending / saving practices so that they can mature into responsible adults.Personally I find that balancing that" fine line" when and if in a relationship of shared income is crucial.If a couple is not on the same page in that regard it can only lead to trouble.We review the household budget and our spending habits on a regular basis together.Financial serenity is ,I think,only a component of a happy life but it is one of the key stones in the foundation. Your blog and unique take on life and choices is always cheering,informative and inspiring,Ilona,thank you.Bye for now,D..Destemonanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-6328836805930943892015-10-07T15:00:41.609+01:002015-10-07T15:00:41.609+01:00Hi Linda. I haven't heard of a Local needs Cou...Hi Linda. I haven't heard of a Local needs Council before, it sounds like a good idea and there should be one in every town. Many people are not very good at prioritizing, therefore get themselves in a mess. Something along the lines of the Domestic Science lessons we used to have at school, with budgeting the household income as well. Meanqueenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02705837426373680532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-50866340501792657672015-10-07T14:56:38.839+01:002015-10-07T14:56:38.839+01:00Margaret, if you had the money to spare to pay for...Margaret, if you had the money to spare to pay for your breakfast, and it wasn't needed elsewhere, and you don't make a habit of it, then it's a treat. Meanqueenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02705837426373680532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-15511272053579668392015-10-07T14:24:01.231+01:002015-10-07T14:24:01.231+01:00I volunteer at a local Needs Council, where folks ...I volunteer at a local Needs Council, where folks come to us for money. We first have to sort out if they are druggies and used up their cash, but in many cases folks just don't know how to manage money when they have it. There is too much outside influence from the "haves", I guess. I need to send them to your website for ideas for saving money. I"m also very conscious of what is trashed....need to recycle as much as possible.Linda Kayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17237332954767037400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-23120879962528264292015-10-07T14:03:29.416+01:002015-10-07T14:03:29.416+01:00Yes, you cut your cloth accordingly. NatalieYes, you cut your cloth accordingly. NatalieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-28103193228985441342015-10-07T13:45:15.536+01:002015-10-07T13:45:15.536+01:00I buy a pair of toothbrushes in Lidl's for aro...I buy a pair of toothbrushes in Lidl's for around 99p, one for husband, one for myself. This way I can afford to change them regularly, and they do the job very well indeed. Although I do not have attractive teeth they are very clean. My dentist even complimented me on my teeth-cleaning regime which, just in case anyone wishes to follow this as I can assure you it works, I first brush my teeth with Sensodyne, then I give each tooth an individual floss, and then I brush again with Oral-B and rinse. Then a rinse with Listerine and, bingo, clean teeth, mouth and gums. It takes a few minutes to do this, but once a day a through clean is worth it. I should really do this last thing at night but because I'm tired I do it in the morning and my final brush of the day is simply a brush and rinse. No one needs an expensive gadget with which to clean their teeth, two brushes for 99p will last a couple of months at least, if rinsed and dried and put away between use. <br />But your careful spending habits put me to shame. Husband, son and grandson and I had our breakfast out this morning and I frivolously spent £30 I'd not planned to spend. Slapped wrists! But it was an excellent breakfast and, of course, one has to acknowledge that if I'd cooked it at home it wouldn't have been for free, I'd have bought eggs, sausages, tomatoes, bacon, bread, butter ...<br />Margaret Pgalanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14190356279359463949noreply@blogger.com