Preparedness for when

short_bird

GQ mentioned Alan Weismann's A World Without Us a couple of pages back... it is a really good book.

savingqueen

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

I know I've said it before but we were lucky enough to be able to pay off the mortgage when we were made redundant after our stint abroad, the feeling of walking out of the building society with the deeds in our hands and walking through our own front door with them was one of the most amazing I've ever had. Life is about choices, we have chosen to use our earnings one way and many other of us have chosen that same path and are of a mindset to rescue and refurbish what we need rather than just rush out and buy new, we wait for what we need to turn up and it usually does, sooner or later. I've always got a mental list of things I think will be useful additions and finding an item off that list gives me more pleasure than buying in anything decorative ever will. We fade into the background as 'little old people' (well maybe little isn't strictly accurate!) a bit down at heel perhaps, certainly shabbyish and not likely to attract a second glance from anyone. I'ts an art in itself but we make sure our footware is of the best quality we can afford, also good but durable jackets and waterproofs are much more use than 'fashion' items. We just try not to be too visible and the home is like that too, I always feel that a burglar might just leave us something as my treasures are usually made of cast iron!!! We own nothing worth much money but we live a good life and are set up to continue living that good life, without too many changes in most futures I can envisage. I'll sit in my scruffy window and watch the clothes horses covered in bling with a small feeling of amusement over the next few months, trying to hang on to the tatters of a dream lifestyle that was never ever anything but a soap bubble in the first place.

Just peeping out from lurkdom to say YES, YES, YES to your post Mrs Lyn. We are of exactly the same mindset. I actually like the comfort of old, familiar, scruffy, well-loved and used homes, cars, furnishings, clothes and so on. We find the money for essential repairs, safety, have decent beds, shoes and diet but the cosmetic side of things are generally left. Our car is 12 years and very scruffy, our cats 14 years and ditto. DH well is one of the most laid back, adorable scruffs I have the pleasure to share my scruffy life with. LONG LIVE SCRUFFY!

I went to a birthday do a little while back and conversation turned to gadgets. Look of surprise, amusement and mild horror when I said I don't iron. Didn't mention I don't dye my hair any longer, visit the hairdresser, use a tumbledryer, our dishwasher and shower remain unfixed.....and am on a slow and winding road to more OS lifestyle and early stages of SHTF
thank you Lyn :A


sq:)

Frugalsod

I have not bothered ironing for years, I prefer the "designer creased" look. I still like my gadgets but some are not really worth the effort. My Kenwood Chef gets used all the time but I am thinking about getting a hand mixer as well for smaller amounts. Though I suspect I could use the food processor as an option. I must try that next time.

[Deleted User]

SQ m'dear beauty is only in the eye of the beholder isn't it? It's a much more tranquil existance when you can find a life that satisfies and gladdens your heart with the things you already have in it. To value and appreciate what you have and to feel satisfied and not envious of other folks posessions or accessories is really to LIVE and not just exist to aquire more and more posessions to make the rest of the population think you are a better person. To me the better person is the one who has enough and knows it and doesn't distress themselves about appearances or what anyone else thinks of them, good kid you, you're there already!!!

fuddle

Oi you lot You can be perfectly frugal and OS without being scruffy you know I point you to the scrubbing brush and door step mentality

Taking pride in what you have, looking after it and appreciating it is all part and parcel of OS don't ya think?

RAS

I do iron - clothes for work.

But I love the things that unwrinkle without help.

I am just relegating a lovely T-shirt given as a pressie because it is fading and has acquired a small hole.

Wash, dry and wear. Even if dragged squashed flat out of a rucsac, 10 minutes later it looks like it was ironed that morning and is gently easing into the day.

charlies-aunt

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

m'dear beauty is only in the eye of the beholder isn't it? It's a much more tranquil existance when you can find a life that satisfies and gladdens your heart with the things you already have in it. To value and appreciate what you have and to feel satisfied and not envious of other folks posessions or accessories is really to LIVE and not just exist to aquire more and more posessions to make the rest of the population think you are a better person. To me the better person is the one who has enough and knows it and doesn't distress themselves about appearances or what anyone else thinks of them.

Spot on Mrs LW! and I'd also apply this to relationships I strongly believe that its very important to love, look after and cherish your family, pets and close friends.

GreyQueen

I iron work stuff because I'm required to look semi-smart. Otherwise, I'm all for not ironing. It's a virtuous circle, non-ironing; you save your personal energy (which comes from food), plus the electricity to power the iron (which is almost certainly from a non-renewable source), plus you save wear and tear on an iron, which is made from plastics (oil) and steel (made using energy) and other bits and bobs of materiel.

So it's a Good Thing, isn't is? Plus there's a fabulous fabric called seersucker, which comes woven with pre-wrinkles, and I'm buying some clothes in it when I see them in the chazzer.

We presently have the kind of rainstorm which tends to lead to surface water flooding. I will have to keep an eye on the plimsoll line outside the flat as it can start to top over. My last flat was below street-level and in this kind of weather, a waterfall would run down the steps, fill up a small area and start to come under my door. Had many a fun time in the pelting rain bailing water into a bucket with a dustpan, hiking it up to street level and slinging it into the gulley drain.

Fuddle, I'm all for looking after stuff. It's very OS. I've mended several things yesterday and will do some more mending in a minute. Got to maximise the utility and minimalise the waste, plus keep self and home looking tidy(ish).

I can scrub up fairly well, but my true authentic self is the version which is scruffing around in her gardening duds. I tend to revert from tidy to scruffy pretty easily.;)

the_cake

I'm another one not ironing ...... and I'm proud to report that the sum total of new clothes (excluding underwear!) bought in the last ten years is one pair of jeans, and some winter boots. Everything else from the chazzers, including a designer (LOL) suit in a subtle shade of grey-green, which I'll wear to my godson's wedding next month: £12 from our lovely local hospice shop. AND I've found some shoes to go with it for £4 (Red Cross). Win win.
We've just had a fearsome storm, with hail (??), and I've watched the big rain butt I bought last week fill to the brim in less than 10 minutes.....

mardatha

And I was moaning because we had 11C and drizzle all morning! Didn't know the weather down south was that bad