The Compact Challenge 2010 (formally "Need help for a challenge")

415SanFran

Hardest thing? Ow gosh this is going to make me sound awful.

But I think it will be the clothes/handbags/ lotions/lotions/ jewelry/ potions personal stuff.
i came back to the UK with literally nothing *I was deported when my husband died very suddenly I could have fought I found out later this is a standard letter,it as my children are US citizens, but I was in a state of utter and complete shock at the time was given 28 days to leave*
So we came back here with just 3 suitcases, and a laptop, one of my boys had never even worn long pants in his life, :rolleyes: and because we were in California we did not posses a coat or anything for the winter at all mainly just shorts and tee's *and who wears tie die in the UK:rotfl:*
So that was when I found ebay, freecycle, and BOOTS THE CHEMIST.

I think also the other horror would be if the computer died as i still have a daughter in SF and my grandchildren this and the phone is the only way to keep up with them. Also do not have a TV/radio so use this far keeping up with the news/music and all the other stuff that one does

But, in case you were wondering, Yes, I was just as bad back then but I had a much larger house to house all the stuff, one of my sons swears he is being made to sleep in a closet!!

hardpressed

Can somebody tell me what sun and moon jars are please? I can't remember when I last bought anything new, clothes wise that is, apart from underwear. Don't you just occasionally crave a new jumper or something?

pink_numbers

OMG that is AWFUL, I am so sorry you had such a terrible time

How old are your children with you? Is there anything I can help you with? Is there anything you need?

I don't miss buying clothes, in fact, I found it all very overwhelming and scary when I went to go buy clothes after my first year was over. I wanted to just crawl back into my non-buying cubby hole and hide. I was so happy to find that when I stopped buying clothes, I felt relieved - relieved from the pressure to buy. Unfortunately, that has so far only applied to clothes, nothing else!!

415SanFran

OMG that is AWFUL, I am so sorry you had such a terrible time

Ow You are sweet, thank you for asking :lovethougbut, no we are fine now.
I think a lot of my shopping mania was a bit of depression to be honest, I am hoping that watching my saving start to pick up will give me the same high as spending used to. :rolleyes:

The two that are with me are now 16 just, they both lift weights and do the American style wrestling *anyone that thinks all vegans are pasty white and stick thin really need to see these two strapping young men* Or try to feed them for a day :eek: I'm use you have heard that all teenage boys have hollow legs.

I have just told someone about this on the phone, and they preceded to tell me about half price vacuums. :mad: I don't even need a vacuum i have hard floors. AAArgh I hope they will not feel they have to be this helpful for the rest of the year. A few months ago of course I would have run out and got one so that I did not have to brush up anymore....Nothing wrong with my broom.:T

pink_numbers

Well, I don't think anyone can blame you for having a shopping mania after what happened to you, but it's really good that you're getting back in control again

I have to admit, I was one of those people that thought all vegans were pasty white and stick thin!! What do they eat as their main protein? I hardly ever eat meat (my stomach can't digest it) but I can't possibly give up fish!

How did the person on the phone related this challenge with a VACUUM? lol maybe it's the most important thing in their life (which is fair enough). I've had mixed reactions when I tell people about my challenge. Most people, those who know me well, have seen how my attitude has changed in the last couple of years, and so I have had far more support about this challenge than when I went on the not-buying-clothes challenge last year.

I am worrying though that as hard as I try, me being on this challenge may affect the people around me in any negative way. I'm not sure exactly how that would occur, but I am worried all the same! Does that make sense? Like limited what friends do because of my challenge, or not doing something with family because of the challenge?

Are you going to be on this challenge on your own or are your boys (I assume twins?) going to be joining you?

ONE MORE DAY OF RETAIL THERAPY!

I've started a new crochet blanket, and I have realised that I need a couple balls of the white (it's going to be all pastel colours, trimmed in the white), so I may go out and buy this before tomorrow... Is that cheating?

415SanFran

protein, yes that is the question on everyones lips.
My boys eat Almonds like they are going out of fashion. In lots of things from crushed up and used in a topping, to just out the bag, eated as sweets, seeweed as well is a good source a handful thrown into a stirfry tends to go un noticed, also all the beans and pulses that we eat helps, but I do cheat and buy the power shakes and bars for them as well, especially if they are coming up to a tournament, or a big show.

But I know what you mean I have a niece that eats nothing but peanut butter/chips on toast/bread and is pasty and ill looking, and all her friends look much the same. On the other hand her brother, my nephew, is built like my two and does ju ditsu. It all depends

when I told them about this they just sat there and in unison said. Are you SURE Mother, I hate it when they talk in unison it really *creeps* me out, but the, *Are you SURE Mother* is a family joke, started by my eldest daughter, they say that whenever they think I am being quirky or unreasonable * I know MIO unreasonable NEVER, unthinkable,:rotfl:*

I know what you mean about it affecting your frindship and only today it happened. I met up with a friend and we went for coffee, I told her it was the last time that I would be doing this because of the challenge, her first thought was to say "well, I can stand you a coffee, its not like we do this every day"
Then I explained this was about me addressing my spending rather than *mooching* for the next year.
She left it for a while then her eyes light up and she said" You remember that rosehip cordial you made last year and gave to me when they kids had a cold, If you have anymore hanging around" thats more than worth a couple of coffees a year" Ok so that is one person that I have *bartered* with.
And as the rosehips were free, I do hate to see the countryside laden with *free food* just going bad, I collected loads of fuit last year. I will also give her a blackcurrent ice cream/yogart topping that I made. Actually it was supposed to be a jam but it never set.:rotfl:

415SanFran

I say, you are not cheating so long as you only buy enough for this project, and not 20 balls.

I had to spend today as well, I opened my umbrella, and the darn thing was all over the place, inside out and bent, have a sneaky feeling either it has been stood on at some point or someone has been using it at a lethal weapon. :rolleyes:

This challenge of course will teach me to look after things better, just because it came from poundland in the first place does not make it disposable. Yanno?

pink_numbers

I think my OH would actually kill me if I banned coffee!! We don't "do" coffees much any more though, we tend to make them at home, with the good old coffee grinder. A bag that costs the same as a grande latte will last us 2 weeks, drinking few cups a day! Amongst my friends, meeting up for coffee has changed for us anyway, as our favourite hang out (starbucks at Borders) has now gone thanks to Borders going under So in a way, it has done me a favour in that I don't feel like I'm going to be depriving myself (just deprived...)

I make roasted flavoured seeds (pumpkin, sesame and sunflower, roasted in soy, celery salt, black pepper and paprika) for protein, as I am allergic to nuts. It's rather yummy and OH is addicted to it! I should eat more legumes, I have couple of bags of mung beans sitting up in the stock room.

Bartering with your friend is such a great idea! That, I think is totally allowed, it's perfect with the spirit of the challenge. How do you make the rosehip syrup? I can't eat sugar (yes, I have a list of foods I can't eat as long as my arms, both of them!), and I really miss jams and syrups, my gran used to make this fabulous Japanese plum syrup.

Wooooo one more day of shopping... I am going to pop in to the yarn shop tomorrow to pick up that white ball of yarn, and that will be IT! I actually have NO idea how I am going to cope with this challenge, it's so beyond anything I've ever done before that I still can't comprehend the influence it's going to have on my life (can you tell I am deep in panic mode now?)

Will you be rushing off to the shops tomorrow?

415SanFran

Hey that seed thing sounds really nice will have a try at that, I did roast the pumpkins seed from Halloween *yes we celebrate big style for this* but we just eat them as candy nothing exciting.

With the rosehip syrup you just boil the fruit with a cup of water to a cup of fruit, let it boild for about 10 mins then use a potao masher on the fruit. boil for about another 5 mins. Strain it really well. *I use a old pop sock other wise you get the little hairs* then you add a cup of sugar for every cup of liquid and boil up again till you have the right consistency. Perhaps about 20 mins at fast boil.

Not sure if you could use a sugar substitute or not. I guess if you can bake with it then it should be OK but not sure.

Not shopping tomorrow but I am going to London, am I crazy or what? An American friend of mine is itching to go, we do not know how much longer he will be in the UK so he wants to do it this year.
I hate crowds. And hoping not to spend much more than the odd glass of wine, that said I can put that down to food. Right?

Alison_Funnell

Wow, you guys are amazing! I am in awe. I look forward to hearing how things go and being inspired by you.