tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post2092409176391153292..comments2024-03-19T08:35:01.699+00:00Comments on Love my life: Stepping back from MSE ForumMeanqueenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02705837426373680532noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-6584998055038552232019-02-20T07:20:46.343+00:002019-02-20T07:20:46.343+00:00I love reading your blog and I feel like I am amon...I love reading your blog and I feel like I am among friends. This is the only one I read frequently. I used to love Frugal Queen but bless her, she had such awful trolling when her life took an upturn. I was glad that she stepped away for her own sake. I think you are so sensible in your views and also hilarious at times too. I hope you stay with us as I personally love the conversations. xxalicesavhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04395878787684950096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-3092545373756228502019-02-17T20:50:53.220+00:002019-02-17T20:50:53.220+00:00Probably a good thing to step away....after a whil...Probably a good thing to step away....after a while people tend to get to dogmati and are not prepared to engage in a dialogue or debates thingsWinter from Norfolknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-21692593094878926222019-02-17T19:55:49.914+00:002019-02-17T19:55:49.914+00:00I love reading your blog and I really appreciate t...I love reading your blog and I really appreciate the time and care you give us all with your wisdom. For me I need the no nonsense approach and you have giving me loads of tips over the years. I used to watch you in super scrimpers, watering down fruit juice was the start to my frugal journey. So thank you iona xxTH lewins https://www.blogger.com/profile/13155012678676467275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-73005618671864905262019-02-17T16:57:09.885+00:002019-02-17T16:57:09.885+00:00I know what you mean, my husband has a friend who ...I know what you mean, my husband has a friend who is constantly moaning about having no money, meanwhile he calls in 4 coffee shops in one day for a large coffee and then out to lunch, five days a week...when we say eat at home, sell something he shrugs and says it's not worth it. He always says to us " How come you guys have so much money ?" Umm let me think..years of money saving tips and doing without trips to Costa Rico etc haha <br /> Dawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04625442059004522947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-49240700196667942462019-02-16T21:34:53.408+00:002019-02-16T21:34:53.408+00:00I'm glad you are keeping your blog.. I have le...I'm glad you are keeping your blog.. I have learned so much from you about being thifty and the English countryside up close and personal...kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02779214730910867764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-26631961374685441372019-02-16T20:30:50.101+00:002019-02-16T20:30:50.101+00:00Many thanks xMany thanks xJomohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01840124016075277807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-35392215017260006172019-02-16T19:18:07.813+00:002019-02-16T19:18:07.813+00:00Hi Ilona, I have been following your blog a while ...Hi Ilona, I have been following your blog a while now and love to read it. I was thinking about you yesterday in Mr T's and wondering what time the Yellow Stickers went on. I find your creativity inspiring and your advice very sensible. I work on the drip drip method of giving advice sometimes. Sometimes the time isn't right to receive wise words but they still sometimes go in. You have no idea how many people you have helped so don't give up just yet. Youd od a great job. :D<br />bitbybithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03157615234781528433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-35949941363679662032019-02-16T19:00:12.678+00:002019-02-16T19:00:12.678+00:00Here in Leicester,when we feel something is a wast...Here in Leicester,when we feel something is a waste of time we say,Its like pissing in wind!,xxDebinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-30500204388398018412019-02-16T18:24:32.071+00:002019-02-16T18:24:32.071+00:00It's a version of what my mum used to say. Eve...It's a version of what my mum used to say. Every little helps says the old lady who peed in the sea. Meanqueenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02705837426373680532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-2559209723858502212019-02-16T18:22:51.436+00:002019-02-16T18:22:51.436+00:00Your plan sounds fantastic, and with your dedicati...Your plan sounds fantastic, and with your dedication it can become a reality. Well done. Meanqueenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02705837426373680532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-28495596801479650732019-02-16T18:21:35.771+00:002019-02-16T18:21:35.771+00:00Your comment has made me feel all warm and fuzzy. ...Your comment has made me feel all warm and fuzzy. There is absolutely nothing to worry about if you haven't got loads of money. As long as you have enough to keep a roof over your head, put food on the table, and pay your essential bills, that's the main thing. Meanqueenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02705837426373680532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-43042580937672797932019-02-16T18:16:32.443+00:002019-02-16T18:16:32.443+00:00I've just had an email from a reader who is al...I've just had an email from a reader who is also having difficulty commenting. I don't know what causes it. When I comment on other blogs I seem to get through ok. Meanqueenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02705837426373680532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-44249175704454465842019-02-16T18:14:29.824+00:002019-02-16T18:14:29.824+00:00Oh lordy!!! People want a quick easy solution, and...Oh lordy!!! People want a quick easy solution, and there isn't one. I have told someone I know to get help from Stepchange, whether they will or not is a different matter. Meanqueenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02705837426373680532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-30104878223768988842019-02-16T18:11:08.101+00:002019-02-16T18:11:08.101+00:00That sounds like a real success story. Enjoy your ...That sounds like a real success story. Enjoy your holidays when you can. Meanqueenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02705837426373680532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-51568868556767480172019-02-16T12:03:10.310+00:002019-02-16T12:03:10.310+00:00Hello Ilona, I been on MSE for years that's ho...Hello Ilona, I been on MSE for years that's how I discovered you and you made a lot of good sensible comments, I the discovered your blog. You gave me the idea of living off ys foods and cutting back on wants rather than needs. I did it for a year at reduced spending and I then had the confidence to walk away from a well paid job in the NHS at 60 take my pension and live within our means for the 6 years to DWP pension kicks in. I've got 2 more years to go come July. I've had 4 wonderful years of cheap holidays via the news papers, we've got 10 booked for this year all for a grand total of £597. I walked away from MSE about 2 years ago, I still have a look but don't post anymore. I do hope you don't stop blogging xxWendyTnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-67622688701655736752019-02-16T11:02:04.253+00:002019-02-16T11:02:04.253+00:00I tried to help someone the other year, they were ...I tried to help someone the other year, they were in a mess with credit cards, rent/ gas arrears etc anyway I recommended step change as they have helped us in the past but the first question my friend asked was " do I need to tell them about all the credit cards? " ... Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11307151386938476266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-66744878184118071562019-02-16T09:06:04.461+00:002019-02-16T09:06:04.461+00:00Computers are brilliant when they work but my rage...Computers are brilliant when they work but my rage level rapidly increases when the sites start being temperamental!<br />I'm writing this in the hope that I can manage to post it. Google has been causing me great trouble lately and many of my comments on blogs have failed to post for no apparent reason.<br />Enjoy your extra free time. SueBeachcombernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-76900793991511726782019-02-16T08:43:41.214+00:002019-02-16T08:43:41.214+00:00You and me are old fashioned. I use cash too. I al...You and me are old fashioned. I use cash too. I also save up for things that I need . Can't say that I actually want anything. I need less stuff anyway since moving into my " old folks " flat last year. Best thing I've done. (70 now.)Caz.P.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11206843820602358144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-27517792153835378812019-02-16T07:34:54.187+00:002019-02-16T07:34:54.187+00:00I gave up on the MSE forum because it took me ages...I gave up on the MSE forum because it took me ages to try and find the topic I wanted, and I rarely did. I still consider myself a thrifty 'novice'and have been going down the 'thrifty-learning' path and changing my spending-lifestyle accordingly for past 4or5 years. I really enjoy the blogs I follow but cannot stand being bombarded by those who see us 'thrifty folk' as a means of making money for themselves through their online 'courses', most of which preach what used to be called common sense. Too easy to get sucked into the vortex. So I too have become much more selective in my internet usage and limit my online time so I can get out into the real world more. I actually physically close down & unplug my laptop when not in use so the temptation for a quick browse is not there all the time... a bit weak but it does break the browsing habit! (btw, I am not ashamed to confess that I also use cash sometimes!!) Gilliannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-51375213558313156642019-02-16T04:20:07.991+00:002019-02-16T04:20:07.991+00:00Hi Ilona
I want to say thank you for your blog an...Hi Ilona <br />I want to say thank you for your blog and to tell you how much I appreciate the time you take to write it and all the videos you bother to make. Let me say again you are an inspiration to me and I thank you from my heart. I came to live in my new place last November and was depressed by having to live on such a small budget to be honest with you I didn't think I could do it.Yes I can because I know I am not alone you and many other people are with me. Can't afford to pay for swimming anymore so the new swimming is walking which is free how amazing is that. A friend came today to help me get rid of a single bed which I couldn't remove. To cut a long story short a neighbour came for the wood from the bed and I kept all the material as it will come in handy when I start gardening and growing some food.Due to you and your excellent advice I am determined to embrace the new challenge of my small income and see how free I am free from the constant worry about money.<br />I did two hours of gardening yesterday and felt great after it even with a few aches and pains.<br />I want to say again thank you for my new mind set and and your constant encouragment I am utterly grateful that you give your time so freely and unselfishly. I look at all things now that I would have previously discarded and think right how can I reuse you! <br />Jomohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01840124016075277807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-9961810512953058482019-02-15T23:20:03.908+00:002019-02-15T23:20:03.908+00:00You helped me years ago along with Tania Retiree w...You helped me years ago along with Tania Retiree wanabee. Now mortgage free 1.5 years ago. squirelling the pennies under a year until retirement at 55 and goal to live half the year in Greece is becoming reality. No i,m not rich a nurse but frugality and examining where every penny goes has made my dream almost a reality. Has not been easy lodger, charity shop clothes lots of yellow sticker food. A huge learning curve!. Thank you Ilona and Tania. Cant comment on Tanias blog as have no google account. Some people do listen Ilona!. I did. For that iyhank you!.x Kirrie xAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-38834413554473497032019-02-15T22:31:16.126+00:002019-02-15T22:31:16.126+00:00I understand exactly! With my interest in living ...I understand exactly! With my interest in living below my means, I once applied for a job with a credit counseling service here in the US...once I started thinking about who I would talk to all days, folks with debt completely out of control, and the main goal of the service was debt consolidation, I decided that I would be wasting my time. The solution is to spend less, not look for a quick fix to get more credit....sigh. I also think I reached my limit of trying to help folks that really didn’t want to change or learn. Good for you to reclaim your time!Traveling Oltmanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15703550588711913428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-20373593780358400812019-02-15T21:56:10.395+00:002019-02-15T21:56:10.395+00:00I had to chuckle at ‘ pissing in the sea ‘ :-) xx...I had to chuckle at ‘ pissing in the sea ‘ :-) xxShelly Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17849461150570092349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-49588351679881726392019-02-15T19:27:32.218+00:002019-02-15T19:27:32.218+00:00Fair enough Ilona. But I hope you will keep on w...Fair enough Ilona. But I hope you will keep on with your blog from time to time. I have been really inspired by your Joie de Vivre and good sense. Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08554874389968864826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3556657999892839298.post-77351796613264384542019-02-15T19:15:26.343+00:002019-02-15T19:15:26.343+00:00Same here, Deborah w. I gave it up the day I real...Same here, Deborah w. I gave it up the day I realised that it was actually making me miserable reading all the nastiness. Life is just too short!Tracynoreply@blogger.com