Memorygirls - The Matrix Reloaded

Lara44

Sorry I'm a bit late but.......

Congratulations Fantastia :j

Congratulations Mr Cheri! :beer:

Memory_Girl

Late on this morning - I have been sitting in the garden with a pot of coffee and a copy of "The Complete Tightwas Gazette" that Clootiesmum left for me to read yesterday.

I thought I was good with our limited resources - but OMG!!! this lady make Aberdonians look profligate.(Joke - I'm an Aberdonian Quine myself rememeber)

There are however some fantastic hints and tips.

She has got me thinking that my "mortgage free before I die" may actually work. But that it is a marathon and not a sprint.

One thing I am putting in place today is to talk to Dad - he is fantastic at finding clothes for the littlie - in fact he has probably single handedly kitted him last year for about £20 incl coats.

I am going to tell him to "keep shopping" - I will create a cash reserve for him to dip into and he can buy any "bargains" that he finds for he boys with one condition - it must be in a size they haven't reached yet.

I can then create storage boxes for, say DS2 - sizes 3-4, 4-5, 5-6, 6-7 etc. I figure buying basics now and storing away in the loft is cheaper than having to go out and replace clothes in the next size because they have had a growth spurt.

I can then take my time and knit "proper" sweaters in "proper wool" as I come across it and file it in the right box - along with handmade jammies and knited socks in the right sizes IYSWIM.

So time to start saying "yes please" to anyone with boys older than mine who can "pass along" any clothes - those that I can't use I am certain I can find homes for (theres a local Womans Aid group and I know clothes that are cleaned, ironed and bundled into appropriate age packs will always be welcome).

SO I feel a "stock control" spreadsheet coming up - LOL

Memorygirl

maryb

MG

you already do her approach to food - which is to buy at the lowest price and then cook from your stores

She is inspiring in many ways but I felt sorry for her kids at times. I know with 6 children there isn't a lot of room in the budget for spontaneous generosity but you get the impression sometimes there isn't room in her philosophy for spontaneous generosity and that frugality means NEVER having exactly what you want, when you want it.

Remember that what you actually want and deserve is abundance. So take from it what will work for you but never lose sight of why you are doing it

Craftyscholar

Memory_Girl wrote: »

Late on this morning - I have been sitting in the garden with a pot of coffee and a copy of "The Complete Tightwas Gazette" that Clootiesmum left for me to read yesterday.

I thought I was good with our limited resources - but OMG!!! this lady make Aberdonians look profligate.(Joke - I'm an Aberdonian Quine myself rememeber)

Memorygirl

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Aberdonians aren't mean - just 'careful' - didn't realise you were one MG, but it does explain how good you are at the budgeting.

greenbee

maryb wrote: »

MG

you already do her approach to food - which is to buy at the lowest price and then cook from your stores

She is inspiring in many ways but I felt sorry for her kids at times. I know with 6 children there isn't a lot of room in the budget for spontaneous generosity but you get the impression sometimes there isn't room in her philosophy for spontaneous generosity and that frugality means NEVER having exactly what you want, when you want it.

Remember that what you actually want and deserve is abundance. So take from it what will work for you but never lose sight of why you are doing it

Well said... you need to aim for a balance between frugality and profligacy. Be frugal where it is appropriate, ethically and morally acceptabale, so that you can indulge occasionally in what may be luxuries but make the hard work elsewhere worthwhile. You need to be rewarded for your efforts!

Karmacat

greenbee wrote: »

I've made 4 batches of ganache for filling chocolates. Need to think about flavourings tonight (and what colour/shape/decoration I'll use for each flavour) so I can make and fill the chocolates over the next few days.

Ooh.... excuse my slobbering

I've also pretty much completed the tidying upstairs. I'm itching to do the cleaning, but I don't have time to do it properly now and it will end it chaos! Anyway, my spare bed is covered in clothes (it was nice to see some of them... I'd forgotten I had them ), and my wardrobe contains a pinstripe suit, a pair of black trousers I might wear on Tuesday night if I can find a suitable top and shoes (otherwise I'll wear a cling black lace dress) and the shoes I KNOW I wear regularly. Nothing else is going back in the bedroom unless it has been worn and washed, and I'm going to go through the piles regularly to make sure I know what's there. Hopefully I won't have too many people to stay in the immediate future, as they'll have to stay on the sofabed or the airbed in the study!

That sounds *brilliant*, greenbee!

Firewalker wrote: »

Calling all Matrix members! Mr F needs your help and has posted under the Nursery. Please have a look.

Firewalker

Heading on over there now ....

maryb wrote: »

MG

you already do her approach to food - which is to buy at the lowest price and then cook from your stores

She is inspiring in many ways but I felt sorry for her kids at times. I know with 6 children there isn't a lot of room in the budget for spontaneous generosity but you get the impression sometimes there isn't room in her philosophy for spontaneous generosity and that frugality means NEVER having exactly what you want, when you want it.

Remember that what you actually want and deserve is abundance. So take from it what will work for you but never lose sight of why you are doing it

Some thoughtful points there, mary ...

Firewalker

MG, on this one I am with Maryb. You are porojecting your present into your future thus affirming a present you are trying to change. Focusing too much on the frugality side take your eye off the 'expand your income' side.

Firewalker

maryb

Don't get me wrong - I'm all for her techniques. I just have reservations about her philosophy

Karmacat

I think its about the balance that FW refers to - I'm *all* for frugality, absolutely, but abundance is more than that. It includes it, but isn't limited to it.

Memory_Girl

Don't worry - I'm not about to embrace the "hair shirt" mentality. Its more about getting the very best value from every pound I have - about "choosing" where to spend it.:D

I want to choose to spend my money giving the boys experiences and educational opportunities - to travel and to meet with great people, most of all I want to spend time with these really interesting little people who are in my life. In exchange for that I am prepared to "store-cupbard" and plan ahead and make-do-and-mend and rent out rooms.

Its all a trade off - and if I wanted to solely concentrate on earning the big bucks - I would be back in London, the kids would have nanny and I would be in the city as a "strategic thinker" - instead today we are working together on the garden, making curtains for DS2's new room and deciding what to have for dinner (DS1 is fancing a curry - and as his favourite is potato and chickpea and costs pennies to make a pressure cooker full, well he can fill his boots.)

I guess its about bringing the bits you can work with into your life - and I like using Martins "demotivator" in reverse - looking at how little changes can make a big difference.

I estimate that my little freezer has saved me about £200 in the year I have had it (slightly under a year) - being able to buy at the right price, freeze leftovers and harvest things.

So my freezer paid for my car tax, come to think of it, my breadmaker paid for my insurance premiums - just goes to show, baby steps.

Off to finish digging the raised beds.

MG