In a better place.

Hello. It had slipped my mind that this blog has an anniversary coming up, in fact the anniversary has now passed. I wrote the first post on the 2nd of January 2009. I sometimes look back and read my own blog, and can see consistencies throughout the nine years I have been writing it. Although I am not a fan of routine, it stifles creativity, I am still running my life more or less the same way as I always have done. That is living within my means, cutting back on my day to day living expenses so I have more cash left over for pleasures. Working out my priorities have always been at the forefront of my budgeting. There is a slight change there, in the beginning I was dead skint, having cut my working hours giving me a smaller income. Getting the work/life balance was important. I now find that by being strict with myself has put me in a good place, I can ease off a little bit because I now have the confidence and skills needed to maintain my present lifestyle.

So, let's have a look at my first post all those years ago.

Hi there, thanks for taking a look at my blog, this is my first attempt at blogging, so I hope you find something of interest. The main theme for the blog will be frugal living, because that is what I have been aspiring to for the last ten years. I decided to reduce my time at work, so reducing my income, and creating a whole new challenge, I now work at how to make ends meet. That may sound daunting to some people but it's easy, as long as you can differentiate between what you need and what you want. Making ends meet gives the impression that you are scrimping and saving worrying about where your next meal will come from, that is not true. For me it means making the most out of the money you have, getting the best value, the most food from the supermarket, and the challenge of surviving by your own means. I have never been in debt, always paying my way, so perhaps I am used to living within my means, luckily my mother taught me all about it. 

I have been a lorry driver for 32 years, something I am immensely proud of, in total I have worked for 44 years, and now it is time to slow down. All my hard work has almost paid for a house, still a bit to go so not completely debt free, but I am working on it. I am now looking forward to a fabulous retirement, but of course I will never fully retire because I like work. But from now on, any work I do will be on my terms, it will be something I want to do, and I will do it when I want to do it. There, a bit bolshie maybe but that's how I am, I know my own mind. Life is too short to be a slave, and by that I mean a slave to money. I have realised that I am perfectly happy with just enough, a simple life for me means less worries. Do I worry about money, of course not because I haven't got any. 

Please join me on my frugal journey, I am going to record just how I live my life on very little money. I'm not setting any targets, or making any rash statements like living on a £1 a day, it will be a true story of how it really is. Don't expect me to be complaining about how expensive the cost of living is, or how fed up I am of having no money, that won't happen. Instead I want to open your eyes to the pleasures of a simple life, the enjoyment you can have out of life's free gifts, and how I wake up each day looking forward to the day ahead. See you later. Ilona

Two people commented on this one, Norfolk boy and Dancewriter, both from the USA. I was thrilled that someone had found me. I wonder where they are now. I can't find a blog for Dancewriter, and Norfolk Boy stopped blogging in 2012. I hope they are both alright and have a good life. 

So, What has happened to you over the last eight years? Are you in a better place, or about the same place. Have you moved forward one step. or taken two steps back? Thank you to everyone who has traveled with me along this road, here's heading for year nine. 

It's snowing here, a couple of quick walks to see Tina cat is all I will do today if it keeps on. Thanks for popping in, we'll catch up soon. Enjoy your Sunday.
Toodle pip