Simplifying Life - Mark II

mardatha

Think the answer there Charis, is to only get a woodburner if you can get free wood!

Charis

mardatha wrote: »

Think the answer there Charis, is to only get a woodburner if you can get free wood!

Trouble is, round here it all belongs to someone. And I live in a farming county. Those who own the trees have realised there's money to be made even from kindling. Besides, I'm too set in my ways for all that chopping wood and grate cleaning. The simple life to me means turning the thermostat up in the morning and down at night

Pitlanepiglet

That's the point about a simple life though isn't it? What works for each of us, not necessarily what works for others. It's about working out the level at which the pleasure of living balances the chore of having to live.

I know people who get huge joy out of scavenging wood, picking up driftwood off the beach and generally heating their house for free - is that for me? No, not at all, so we have gas. For others though, it's a source of pleasure.

Ditto cooking, ditto living remotely, ditto everything - simplicity for each of us is something different but what it isn't is what others tell us it should be - that's the treadmill that many of us have tried to get off.

craigywv

i joined this forum last year as i was wanting to do just that...simplyfy my life declutter it rid of bills and debt and to be free......slowly acheiving that with help and support of strangers on here who would have thought it would have been that easy people here are so friendly and helpful xxx

Cheapskate

Today I took my 3 year old daughter for a walk and into the park (her brother went to another park with a friend), let her push her little dolls buggy, we dawdled by the railway to see if any trains were coming. 5 year old son has come home filthy but happy, they're getting even muckier and colder in our garden, but are happy. I've sat on t'interweb for half an hour, without clock-watching, have eaten a lovely crisp apple for the first time in months and DS' GF did my washing up whilst I was out, what a love! It's been so nice not to have to rush around and to have some sunshine at the same time - I'm so looking forward to having days like this on a regular basis when I finish work!

For me, simplifying life means not rushing around after everyone in the family, having the time to cook from scratch again, do my garden, slightly push away the more toxic friends and family, have more time for making my house into a home - sounds a bit twee, but all I want is to be content with my life and be at peace in my head - those simple things will help me no end!

A xo

flowertotmum

Hi all...wow what lovely days we have had..very cold but sunshine at last.
Have been out in the garden doing bits and bobs..girls have been playing on bikes and swings..looking all rosy cheeked and laughing their heads off at the crazy chickens we have.
I have made my own laundry powder and liquid this weekend..just nice to do it..the house always smells so nice when i have done it.
We did go to town but it was so relaxing and no rushing about..we had lunch and then went CS shopping...thats more about looking and poking through things to find a treasure.
Hoping your all well and slowing down..i love the mornings...i stand on the doorstep with my cuppa and just listen to the birds singing away..so uplifting.
love
ftm

[Deleted User]

I love reading this thread. Many years ago when my children lived at home/were at school, i was always running here there and everywhere and didnt always appreciate the small things. Now im older and theyve flown the nest and theres only me i now can afford to work less than full time. Im sitting here on a Monday, my day off, whilst others are moaning about that Monday Morning feeling, drinking some wine, (MSE of course, reduced with coupons on a 3 for £10, then costing £2.83 each), making my dinner from scratch and reading something i came across online called Zen Habits, Breathe. And its quite interesting.

Cottage_Economy

What a great thread and couldn't be more timely.

After a while feeling that my current job doesn't challenge me enough, this evening I was about to fill in an application for another one - £5k more a year and a bag load more stress. The words 'demanding workload' were repeated throughout the job ad, and three times it reiterated the need for someone who was 'cool, calm, collected and composed' as well as 'very flexible'.

Then I decided to click on the Old Style moneysaving board and surf around for 20 minutes before filling in the ad as I haven't been here for many months. I happened to spot this thread straight away.

I've decided to stay in my present job. It may not set me on fire, but the money is very good and the atmosphere is quite relaxed. I have autonomy and can set my own working day. I go home at the end of the day sometimes a bit bored, but not really stressed out at all. I have the time and energy to play around with a number of hobbies.

Not quite sure what I was thinking now actually :rotfl:

abailey54

I'd second what some people said about the cost of firewood - we've got an open fireplace and it's a real treat in the winter months, but pretty expensive. I've tried finding bargains but haven't been successful so far

Today was my first non-working Monday - I thought I'd spend some of the weekend making bread (haven't done it before) and failed miserably, with 4 inedible yeasty lumps :mad:. Have now dug out the bread machine that we inherited a few years back and am awaiting the result of my attempts

Goldiegirl

CurlyTop wrote: »

So glad that this thread has sprung back to life. Reading everyone's comments, its nice to know that I'm not alone.

I reduced my hours 18 months ago, only by one hour a day but it meant I didn't get caught up in the onslaught of rush hour traffic. Whilst that sounded ok, my m.e. and fibromyalgia were getting worse, so 9 months ago, decided to drop one day altogether. Okay, so I've had a drop in money, but it just makes you prioritise what you do and don't need.

I love the life I live, especially as DH (there are only the two of us) works the same 4 days as me. It's been great for our relationship as after over 15 years together, we are finally sending some time together. We don't do anything elaborate, just being together is enough. We're listening to the radio and reading more, which is nice. We've a roof over our head, food in our bellies, loads of hints and tips gained from the forums, our bills are paid on time (just 6 months of being on a Debt Management Plan to go and then we'll start paying more on the mortgage) and we've got each other, things are looking up? As for the health, ok its not ideal, but its manageable.

Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts, it's when reading these I know I'm doing the right thing. How true is that saying, love the life you live? Finally after 49 years, I can say that I am. :j

Having time together is so valuable.

I'm down to working two days a week, and my husband now works four days a week.

When we were both working five days a week, we used to try to do things at the weekend, but we were so tired from working all week, and then trying to get house maintenance stuff done at the weekend, it was difficult to actually relax together.

So we now have Wednesdays off together, and it's great to have time to go for a coffee together, or a walk, or to just relax at home.

We spent years rushing around all the time, at last we can take our time.

The plan is to stop work in about three years.

We'll have pension income and some savings. But as long as we can be comfortable, that's all we need.