Simplifying Life - Mark II

KittyBoo_2

I love reading through all of your posts and find them very inspirational.
Some time ago I had to give up my job as a project manager on 30k a year and now live on Incapacity Benefit and a bit of board from my son who is staying with me.
I have never been happier.
My creditors have all agreed to me making minimum payments and I have had to totally change my lifestyle.
I grow alot of my own veg and have chickens and have given up spending on non essentials.
My time is spent reading blogs from like minded people and I have gained much knowledge and peace of mind from them.
I am tackling the debt that I accrued when I was working and I am only able to afford to pay the interest on my mortgage but once my credit card is paid off I will be able to use that money to start making repayments on the mortgage.
I bake my own bread and cook from scratch and enjoy going out for walks and visiting the library.
I have a wood burner and on the cold nights I sit and read your posts and always find something that enables me to simplify even more.
Now my health is improving I feel r
really contented and the simple things in life, that cost nothing, make my heart sing.

jexygirl

Zara Good job!

Igiveup, where abouts on west coast scotland? I am Argyll, we could arrange a Scottish contingent OS meet!

Chickens are settling in and getting feathers! Decided last week I wanted to "grow stuff" this year, went to the £ shop, got loads of seeds, herbs veg etc. lacking confidence having never grown before, and sensibility and edging my bets, bought ALOT!
Planted in propergators without much hope, and already have LOADS (hundreds!) of sprouting babies! window sill is struggling... I am thinking 3 of everything was a little extreme even for a restaurant! I now have monday and tuesday planned out (after cleaning out hens) to dig a veg patch for seeds I didnt buy as I didnt think I could grow things and that we could use the ground we have, but am now inspired to try even tho its very rocky( after scouring the outhouses and sheds for stuff to grow my seeds in and moving everything to the tub spot last monday and tuesday! Is it OS to use 2 belfast sinks to grow in rather than ebay! - ahhh days off!)
Also got the results from a "survey" to see if our burn (small waterfall for non scots!) can generate enough power to power the building. Seems it will cost around 15k to install, but as our leccy bill is around 13k it will soon pay for itself and Im told there are Eco buisness grants available - trouble is we built the hen house using the old generator room next to the burn, and my girls are happy in it! Such is life...
Jex

mary-op

Kitty - you're doing well..............keep at it -you're bound to feel better for it.

jexygirl - good luck with growing stuff..........we have to grow in containers (not much actual garden space) but usually its quite successful........runner beans, french beans, courgettes, all sorts of herbs, couple of years we've failed with carrots and last year potatos weren't as good as others -still, we soldier on.......least OH does and now foster daughters got a greenhouse we might do better with bringing stuff on -plus saves me having window sills everywhere full of little pots.
Me and seeds don't seem to get on.......I've tried but if I plant them they just don't want to know.

moemum

KittyBoo wrote: »

I love reading through all of your posts and find them very inspirational.
Some time ago I had to give up my job as a project manager on 30k a year and now live on Incapacity Benefit and a bit of board from my son who is staying with me.
I have never been happier.
My creditors have all agreed to me making minimum payments and I have had to totally change my lifestyle.
I grow alot of my own veg and have chickens and have given up spending on non essentials.
My time is spent reading blogs from like minded people and I have gained much knowledge and peace of mind from them.
I am tackling the debt that I accrued when I was working and I am only able to afford to pay the interest on my mortgage but once my credit card is paid off I will be able to use that money to start making repayments on the mortgage.
I bake my own bread and cook from scratch and enjoy going out for walks and visiting the library.
I have a wood burner and on the cold nights I sit and read your posts and always find something that enables me to simplify even more.
Now my health is improving I feel r
really contented and the simple things in life, that cost nothing, make my heart sing.

You sound such a lovely person:)!!
Like you I love reading through all these positive and encouraging posts, and found yours to be very uplifting:) thank you.

Life changes for us as a family have been difficult over the past (wow, almost a decade now!) and I try really hard to be frugal, though not to the point that I am mean or resent providing the things kids, mainly teenagers, seem to require.
I am so aware of how material we all are and how wasteful, it scares me sometimes!
When our kids are all able to live independent lives I look forward to a slower paced, less eventful existence, where dh and myself can just be ( with my allotment and some chickens) OH.. would you be allowed to keep chickens on an allotment? there are a Lot of cats all around where we live!

KittyBoo_2

moemum wrote: »

You sound such a lovely person:)!!
Like you I love reading through all these positive and encouraging posts, and found yours to be very uplifting:) thank you.

Life changes for us as a family have been difficult over the past (wow, almost a decade now!) and I try really hard to be frugal, though not to the point that I am mean or resent providing the things kids, mainly teenagers, seem to require.
I am so aware of how material we all are and how wasteful, it scares me sometimes!
When our kids are all able to live independent lives I look forward to a slower paced, less eventful existence, where dh and myself can just be ( with my allotment and some chickens) OH.. would you be allowed to keep chickens on an allotment? there are a Lot of cats all around where we live!

Thankyou for your kind comments.
I have changed my whole mindset about how I live my life.
When I was working I would dash into M&S and grab something for dinner (that would cost around £20).
I would bung it in the oven and feed my 2 young sons and then spend most of the evening working on the computer and preparing for the next day at work.
The weekend was spent on doing the shopping and housework and taking the lads for a walk in the Peak District.
I felt like a hamster on one of those wheels.
Pamper days and spa breaks, beauty salon appointments to get my nails, brows and feet done, did nothing to lift my spirirts.
Then I was stopped in my tracks by ill health and everything changed - for the better.
All the things I wanted to do such as making bread, homemade soups and meals and growing veg and keeping chickens were now an option.
I live on a very tight budget but trawl through this site and others for inspiration.
I love the challenge of finding recipes and suggestions that enables me to still pay my bills but have a simple and contented lifestyle.

mary-op

Kittyboo - ill health does make you to re-evaluate life...............just shows -out of bad can come good.
OH is still seeing the consultant and so not able to work but he can still cook (much better at it than me) and amazes me with what he produces from leftovers. Home made bread and soups are a must and enough for a meal on occassions.
He's waiting for some warmer weather before he ventures outside to sort out our veg in pots but is thrilled his garlic is growing.
I stick to trying to cut costs on christmas and birthday presents by recycling as much as I can and turning it into something else. Gives the teenage grandkids a giggle -they never know what they'll get.:rotfl:
Good luck Kitty

mary-op

Just an up-date to all simplifiers.............I'm at it again !
Had a good de-clutter last year but somehow 'stuff' seems to have bred since then........so with the help of a friend who's far more ruthless than me about chucking stuff out, I'm clearing out. My friends been quite excited about it all and even took some of my 'throwouts' home..........one mans rubbish another's treasure as they say.

Healthwise.........well, OH thinks he may have a chest infection so off to see GP tomorrow for antibiotics as advised by consultant and I've been suffering with a bad back yet again...........trapped nerve I think..........plus ear infection so I'm due back to see GP tomorrow as well.
Seems we've reached the stage (or age) when the only little trips out we have are to hospitals and doctors............lol
Moneys been very tight with OH not working but despite that we went off to see my son on the south coast last week -thank heavens for Travelodge special offers.
He's not been well and been off work since January -didn't seem too bad when we were there and he's been spending his time clearing out stuff in his flat he's had since he was a student so hes doing something positive with his time -little bit now and then.
Broke the journey at other sons to see little grandson. They've bought a Wii thing -why heaven knows -only grandson who seems to play with it. Oh well, they're life so its up to them. But they're growing their own veg this year .............has to be in containers bit like us but every bit helps.
Next week we're off on a coach trip to the Eden Project..........OH says it'll be nice not to have to drive and its somewhere we've both always wanted to go. Several other trips out while we're there all inclusive in the price and it makes a change for coaches to pick up in our little town. It's not costing a lot and I'm beginning to think I may as well use what mum left me for pleasure as well as practical.....she'd approve of that.
Hope you're all ok and getting on with a simplified life............;)

nattyt

Yesterday I was so stressed that I just thought I cannot go on! (very melodramatic!) But got me to thinking I need to simplify my life as i am sure that half the time I make life harder for myself. I am a single mum of 3 and I work for myself (nothing too demanding so not really an issue!) Anyway so last night i started to think about how i would like 2011 to be far less stressful and how i was going to go about it. I've already decluttered massively and think this will help me on the way. Have also made provision for new toys etc coming in. I already meal plan although need to make sure I have more quick meals in the freezer as its too tempting to grab takeaways. And i'm a fly lady and proud! Though this sometimes slips!
So what have you lovely people done/do to simplify life? I need tips please?! :)
(please forgive me if this topic is already on the forum elsewhere)

yelf

Make a big cook up and freeze meal size portions like you have already mentioned. Also havea pen and paper by the bed to write down thoughts that keep my brain buzzing at night.

MrsRogers

I dont have any......... but would greatly appreciate any tips too