Living on next to nought - is that the key?

Greying_Pilgrim

satchmo1 wrote: »

Hugs
Satchmo xxx

Hugs gratefully accepted satchmo - ta everso

Greying

Upsidedown_Bear

Greying_Pilgrim wrote: »

We're going on a bike ride, we're going on a bike ride.... :j

This...



Or this...




Night all

Greying_Pilgrim

In his head, DP is the top one (because of the flowing locks :rotfl:) I am the middle smillie and we're both the bottom smillie

Thanks UpsideDown Bear Good Night

Greying

Goldiegirl

I think we all like to hang out with people who we feel we have things in common with.

MSE is a very big playground, and if I stray into some areas, I feel like I don't belong.

So I always come 'home' to MFW and DFW, where I find people who share my values.

People who want to live a full life, both now and in the future, whilst getting the best possible value from their money.

It doesn't matter to me whether people have already cleared their debts or mortgage, or don't have a mortgage yet. The most important thing is that they are living a MFW or DFW lifestyle to achieve their goals, aims, hopes and dreams.

I genuinely love reading everybody's posts, and have picked up lots of ideas and tips.

On paper, maybe you and I aren't real DFW's or MFW's. But we chose to follow the lifestyle, so I think we fit in here.

I hope you get over your wobble!

liltdiddylilt

Hello GP

I think your dinner is absolutely spectacular tonight. You have posted some beautiful meals, some of them a couple of times over and you never fail to inspire me.

Yes, we all wish that MSE was real life, but in reality, we do not give RL folk the chance to be like MSE'ers because we do not sit and wholeheartedly throw every last little thought and part of our day at them for fear of boring them. It is also far easier to sit and type a coherent sentence than it is to throw it into conversation in the middle of a coffee morning. Part of the reason this works so well is because it is more our choice how people perceive us here. We can forget the fact that our nails are raggedy; we aren't hiding them in our lap when typing. I know you guys can't see that I haven't put any make-up on and my eyelids are reacting to some lovely but far too additive filled night cream my friend bought for me. I can tell you these things, but you aren't sat in front of me MAKING ME judge myself. Because I know the people in RL probably didn't notice my nails or my eyelids, BUT I felt it.

I am truly myself on here in a way I cannot be in real life because I am too worried what other people may or may not think of me to just say things. And regardless of how much I try not to be like that, I unfortunately still care. Less now than 10 years ago, admittedly, but still...

The times I have been more MSE in RL, have been to utterly un-MSE-like 'friends' who don't understand even when it is explained to them, why I do not want to afford to spend £30 a week visiting them and having coffee in a posh shop with cake. I would rather save the money for Christmas, and for a credit card wielding, Next account holder, that is a totally foreign concept. It was in fact taken so badly by said person I just have not bothered to speak to them since. And I do find myself increasingly at odds with those around me. I am continually frustrated by my colleagues dogged loyalty to a supermarket I know not to be the cheapest or the best quality. I am even more perplexed when they do not know how much their shopping cost, or the cost of a bag of potatoes. Because they needed it and that was that.

And if you wish to talk about repetitive meals GP, I can tell you my colleagues weekly meal plan. It never changes. Friday nights is frozen breaded fish, and oven chips. Tuesdays is a shepherd's pie and so on. This week she is excited because instead of a Sunday Roast they are going to be rebels and have casserole and dumplings.

I too have no debts, but as I have said before, I did when I started and it is this great website that keeps me in the black!

I would follow a blog you know, but I think it may be less interactive in a way.

little_sweetie

Dear GP,

I read your earlier post on a tablet so I just had to come and boot up the PC to respond. You are one of the most amazing, articulate and sensible people I have ever come across and your posts are never, ever, boring. This thread attracts amazing individuals who share an ethos, that of living their lives in the fullest way possible on what they have and not living for today and bunging everything on a CC. If people in RL cannot or will not see the sense in this then they should be avoided unless they accept you for what you are. We are not in debt, we have no mortgage and have enough to pay our bills but I still enjoy the companionship this thread brings. We don't holiday abroad, we don't need to as we see lovely things all around us. In a couple of weeks I will be 65 and have decided that I don't give a *toss* what anyone thinks of my way of life. In a way it's easier to do now that I don't work as I don't have to keep explaining why I do things. My family love me as I am! In my view, GP, you know exactly what you are doing. You and DP have a plan which is working. It's up to you whether or not you wish to carry on posting but we all adore you and I, for one, would be sad to see you stop. I have learned so much...

Enjoy your break, take care on that bike! And don't let the boogers get to you

PS tea looks gorgeous but I don't think I'll be trying the paneer it sounds a bit complicated :eek:

maddiemay

Dearest Greying,
I read your post this morning, just after you had published, I so wanted to reply, but was having a brain fog day, where the things running through my head just wouldn't translate into coherent sentences:(

Since then every post has said something that I wanted to say to you:D you are valued and loved here, you have helped so many people look at food in a different way and experiment for themselves (and don't forget that new people are dropping by all the time who won't have read that written before).

I feel a bit of a fraud hanging around here sometimes, same scenario as little_sweetie (except I am 3 months older :eek:), but money was unbelievably tight for our family when I was a child and OH and I had many lean years when we were young, the year we bought our first home together the interest rates rocketed and it really was a case of eat or heat for a couple of years (1 super ser gas heater and a heat and light in the bathroom in a 3 bedroom house:eek::eek:) the upside of this is that I have always known about being frugal, making meals from odds and ends, walking rather than driving etc. and I too feel really at home in the companionship of DFW's and one is never too old to learn new recipes and hints and tips.

If not continuing with your diary is the best thing for you and DP, then that is what you must do, but it is never boring and I would miss you very much.
MM

Busymumofthreeplusdog

Hey greying

We made cheese yesterday with a kit we were given last Christmas. It used a load of milk (6 pints!)but produced a lovely Crowdie. I scoured the Internet and there was various postings about using whey. Some said you couldn't use the whey to make ricotta as it was acid based, but then another said that they did. So I did, but I think I did something wrong as I only got a little tub of ricotta! So far the whey has made sauce for the fish pie and the liquid for mashing the tatties. OH is making nan breads today so will talk him into using whey instead of yoghurt. Might have to make some scones..... Still an awful lot of whey left . I hate waste so any other ideas will be gratefully received.

Busy....

supersaver1000

GP, I was driving through town yesterday afternoon and got stuck in traffic on the bridge. Will Young's lovely song was playing on the radio (the 'what do I do without your love' one I think). A couple of folk caught my eye on the left. Both probably in their 60s (I'm no good with ages or descriptions but I'll try). He had longish grey hair, sort of curly and he had a kind of biker waistcoat on but, comfortable with it and she had shortish hair and was in a purpley waterproof padded coat jacket (more ordinary attire I guess), they didn't radiate money (that wasn't what I thought but probably important for the next bit). I don't know why but as I looked at them I thought 'I wonder if they are a couple?' As I watched them they spoke to each other and slipped their hands together and carried on walking, talking so comfortably. It really really made me smile and my heart warm - they looked so happy.

Meanwhile on the right in the lane coming towards me a small sports car with the top down drew up and got stuck in traffic just slightly in front of me, the couple inside were 10 or so years younger than those who were walking on the left and they were dressed very smartly, she was made up, he looked dapper etc. The thing that had caught my eye about them was that as he drove up he was clearly having a very big vocal moan about something. The way that the car was when it stopped, I couldn't see his face but I could see the woman at his side and she looked very uncomfortable. I don't know what he was saying or whether he carried on his rant (and it could have been about anything). But there was I looking at this lovely happy couple walking (who were obviously comfortable in their own skins and happy in their lives) and opposite was a couple who looked like they had all the trappings but were obviously not at that moment happy in the slightest.

It was slightly bizarre to say the least, especially as I was grinning like a fool at how much happiness was being radiated on the left, Will Young playing on the radio and then on the right all the trappings, but unhappiness (trapped is definitely the word). I couldn't put into words what I thought, but I was grinning all the way home at the lovely happy couple. (They are probably telling people about the mad grinning woman in the car!). :rotfl:

Oh well, more Ramblings over, job application to get on with. :A

Hopefuljoy

Hello everyone. So I woke up this morning to CHAOS! I've read your posts GP and all the replies and pondered hard about what I might contribute. I agree with absolutely everything everyone else has said. I know that you need to make a personal decision but without this thread I also know there would be a piece missing from my life that I would miss tremendously.

Even when I don't post I am still taking part by reading avidly. Everyone here is important to me and we all share the same outlook and values which is an absolute blessing to me! Like many of you I also work with lovely people who have a blind spot when it comes to living life within their means. I am resolutely optimistic and positive to them about the money choices I make and they are grudgingly impressed. However, there's one lady of about my age who seems determined to undermine me.

According to her My hair is too aging and I should get it dyed at huge expense with honey blond highlights to cover the grey and then have to do it forever to cover the roots. I tell her that DNA, God and evolution together ensure that my grey hair totally suits me!

I should apparently join a dating agency and go and find a man as I cAnnot possibly be happy. I tell her that she needn't worry, if I'm supposed to have a man it'll happen. Also were getting a Yorkshire terrier so I am okay for companionship for the next fifteen years!

Apparently though my biggest sins are that I don't go on expensive shopping expeditions for clothes and, wait for it,,,,, I never wear makeup!!!!!!

This lady is irritating but she is also stuck in a marriage she won't leave and describes herself as disappointed with her life. She's just projecting her unhappiness onto me and all her jibes are saying "I'm sad and bitter and I don't know how to handle it". She's confused so I tolerate it.

You and DP have a relationship which inspires me GP. I will not settle for less than what you have in my future. Together you are ploughing your own furrow through life and through this thread I am privileged to share it with you and gain insight into what a decent loving relationship is. After my experiences that is such a tremendous thing and its helped my healing. If you do leave us then good wishes to you both and if you start a bog I will be there cheering you on. Love to you both and have a wonderful holiday. Xx