Learning to Live on Less!

White_Iris

Thank you Flee. Having the children really has focused us. We weren't really bothered about living on credit until a year or two ago - now it's not fair on them to have to grow up with the consequences of our greed and stupidity. Luckily we've had a huge mega-watt LBM and we will be able to clear it by the time they start school. A settled, stable family home is the most important gift we can give them.

White_Iris

I LOVE Freecycle! I've given away so much stuff over the last few weeks, it feels really lightening. We started to de-clutter in preparation for our house move (we can live in hope LOL) and now everywhere I look I see things to get rid of. I'm taken by the idea of minimalism but with two children, two dogs and a husband to deal with I've accepted that I'll never be completely minimalist, so I'm following the William Morris quote in my signature. The amount of stuff we had accumulated was embarrassing and what's worse is we're probably still paying for most of it in one way or another. So one room at a time I've been purging our house of ugly or useless things - some of it I've been ebaying but some I've given away. Freecycling might not be so good for the bank balance but I think it's better for the soul! I believe in karma - what goes around, comes around - we were given so much stuff for the twins that we need to keep things in balance.

calleyw

White_Iris wrote: »

I noticed that my DD had worn a hole in the bottom of a pair of dungarees she was wearing the other day.

Could they not be turned up and stitched if you have no sewing machine then use that iron-on hemming to make half mast dungrees if you know what I mean.

Means you could get a little bit more wear out of them.

Also pop over to see us at the oldstyle moneysaving board, Always room for one more. Loads of hints and tips about making stuff go further.

Take care and all the best.

Yours

Calley

White_Iris

Hi Calley, the dungarees can and will be mended. The hole is actually on the bottom - she's a bum-shuffler not a crawler! I'm a big fan of "make do and mend", I just need to wait until the weekend so DH can corral the children and I can use the sewing machine in peace! I use to lurk on the Old Style board a lot and I definitely should get back over there - you old-stylers are so knowledgeable. Ooh - that reminds me about a saucepan I need to resuscitate after burning pasta to the bottom of it. I bet someone on that board will know how to fix it!

White_Iris

Well it's been a lovely weekend in terms of catching up with family and friends but not so great where spending is concerned. We bought takeaway for everyone on Saturday then we had to buy an unexpected birthday present on Sunday and while we were out we had coffee and cakes - probably spend about $50 in total which wasn't budgeted for and we don't have, so it went on the credit card :-( I did sell some things on ebay and all but one of my buyers paid straight away but this has been wiped out by our unplanned spends. I also got rid of some stuff on freecycle and scanned and then shredded a big pile of old photos, so we now have a bit more breathing space at home.

LianneH

Hi White Iris,
Just like you I have been lurking on this website for years and just started a diary too!

A lot of what you have posted is similar to me - ie cut down lots already, ebay, survey websites, no child tax credits as they think we earn too much!

I had a look at your SOA and nothing sticks out to me, however, I will pop back if I get any other handy hints!

I just wanted to pop by and say Hi and good luck.
(btw, for a while i thought you were from the states "$" and then realised your post of "pound sign not working" - lol)
L x

White_Iris

Hi Lianne, it's nice to know we're not the only ones in this position. That's the best thing about this site - if you read enough posts you soon realise you're not alone. Oh and I've fixed the pound sign problem now - £££££££ - Hooray! Off now to track down your diary!

LianneH

glad your £ sign is now working!! yes, track me down, would be nice to have some company!

I like the idea of freecycle, as I hate the thought of throwing anything away - is it easy to use?

January20

LianneH wrote: »

glad your £ sign is now working!! yes, track me down, would be nice to have some company!

I like the idea of freecycle, as I hate the thought of throwing anything away - is it easy to use?

Freecycle is really easy to use. You have to locate your freecycle website, then you have to register. In my area, they asked that the first post should be to offer something rather than request. When you have something to [STRIKE]get rid of [/STRIKE] donate, you write the description in an email, it's moderated and quickly added to the daily digest. Soon you will have people emailing you to take whatever you are offering.

I've used it mostly to donate unwanted stuff, and I have come accross some really nice people mostly.

White_Iris

Once you get the hang of it , Freecycle is easy to use but the website is quite basic and the one for our area is prone to crashing. I've only been a member for a few weeks but DH has used it quite a bit in the past. I usually check out the wanted pages (the offers pages can be too tempting when you're trying to de-clutter!) and I do have to laugh at the optimism of some posts e.g. "Full HD flat screen TV" or "working Sky+ HD box" or "Wi Fit and balance board"...if you don't ask, you don't get I suppose!