Is frugal the new normal?

tuskel

kittie wrote: »

Each to their own. I just bought a new TV, LED with internet access, only 32" but it was a modern replacement for my fully working flatscreen with freeview. It consumes far less power and pleases me. I gave my old tv away to the county re cycling people, they came and collected it and it is probably helping someone in need right now

Like I said, each to their own and there is no one size fits all. I like handing things on

OK, yes, you didn't put it in the bin, but still, why buy a new one if the old one is fine? Because, think about the resources that were used to make it (materials, electricity, fuel, water, also someone's time to make it and fly/drive it to you; time is definitely a resource! etc), so if it saves you a few pennies on your bill, how long does it actually take to pay for itself? You have to look at the bigger picture too. Also, now that it has internet access, are you going to use your computer/other devices less? Do you pay money for a subscription? Are you using your telly more, so that in the end the electricity consumption rises?

I know no-one likes to be lectured, but this is how I think every day. Every morning I take my daughter to school I see the endless (almost) flow of cars going to schools and work and I really think of global warming. And that is just in the fairly small town where I live! I have not gone on a holiday abroad in eight years because I don't want to fly - it really pollutes the world, although it is still better than a cruise, which is the worst kind of holiday for the environment.

Y'see?

But I'm sure I do stuff too that would make you shake your head in disbelief and mutter "She's totally mad!" to yourself.

tuskel,
sincerely

[Deleted User]

tuskel wrote: »

I know no-one likes to be lectured, but this is how I think every day. Every morning I take my daughter to school I see the endless (almost) flow of cars going to schools and work and I really think of global warming. And that is just in the fairly small town where I live! I have not gone on a holiday abroad in eight years because I don't want to fly - it really pollutes the world, although it is still better than a cruise, which is the worst kind of holiday for the environment.

Oh I do like a paragon lecture says granny while sucking eggs

Just having a break now after driving to the tip with a full load in my sparkling yeti, anything suitable went into the re-use area and no doubt will be taken by now. . After my break I will drive another 18 mile round trip to get more things into the cs shop

This granny remembers all the days of making do, the painted second hand furniture, the home made everything, the wholefood suma cooperative that she helped develop. My time now, time to enjoy the fruits of my labour, before I join the other egg sucking grannies in the sky

:rotfl:

Living_proof

kittie wrote: »

This granny remembers all the days of making do, the painted second hand furniture, the home made everything, the wholefood suma cooperative that she helped develop.
:rotfl:

I have just googled Suma Kittie and it looks really interesting. I will have to delve into the site this evening.

Is Frugal the new Normal? I think you only have to look at the array of very posh new vehicles in Aldi and Lidl car parks. I'm sure that once people are introduced to really good value they will keep going back for more. Sometimes a low price means mediocre quality but my thoughts are that if you can shop around for the best price of your everyday items, don't perpetually fall for brand names, use less, re-use whenever possible, buy second-hand when applicable, then those savings will build up quite quickly, enabling you to buy the top of the range, best value product on a one-off purchase with which you will get lasting satisfaction.

Goldiegirl

tuskel wrote: »

OK, yes, you didn't put it in the bin, but still, why buy a new one if the old one is fine? Because, think about the resources that were used to make it (materials, electricity, fuel, water, also someone's time to make it and fly/drive it to you; time is definitely a resource! etc), so if it saves you a few pennies on your bill, how long does it actually take to pay for itself? You have to look at the bigger picture too. Also, now that it has internet access, are you going to use your computer/other devices less? Do you pay money for a subscription? Are you using your telly more, so that in the end the electricity consumption rises?

I know no-one likes to be lectured, but this is how I think every day. Every morning I take my daughter to school I see the endless (almost) flow of cars going to schools and work and I really think of global warming. And that is just in the fairly small town where I live! I have not gone on a holiday abroad in eight years because I don't want to fly - it really pollutes the world, although it is still better than a cruise, which is the worst kind of holiday for the environment.

The thing is, people spend a lifetime living reasonably and carefully, which means when they get older they have some money put by, for comfort and enjoyment.


Even though us older people have the money put by, we still continue to live carefully and mindfully, doing what that can to keep our daily costs low, and keeping waste to a minimum.


BUT, we've also learned that life is short, and sometimes it's nice to treat ourselves to something NEW, not because it's a need, but just because we want too.


We're not going to beat ourselves up about these treats - we've paid our dues and we've earned them.


In the next two years I have some long cruises and long haul air travel planned.


Do I


A) enjoy seeing the world while I am fit and healthy


cancel to save the planet and forever regret I didn't see the things I've dreamed about for my entire life.


I'll choose A)


The ships and planes will go anyway, so I might as well be on them.


In the meantime, I'll carry on living modestly - but life would be dull if you had to have an internal debate about every expenditure.

GreyQueen

I agree with Goldiegirl. I'm past the half-way mark of my life expectancy, and have always had to live frugally, but have chosen to do some carefully planned and long-saved for things which involved major destruction of hydrocarbons, such as flying around to the opposite hemisphere.

Probably better on the ecological scales if I had forgone four planetary circumnavigations and not bothered to recycle at home, instead of the other way around. But I don't regret a minute of it, and I will treasure those memories forever.

And I can exactly see the point of wanting to do stuff whilst you're well enough to do it, lots of people aren't so well in retirement, even as young as their early seventies, and wanting to whoop it up a bit before having to sit in an armchair waiting to die is very understanable.

:beer: Goldiegirl; give it hell; dance til your feet fall off and drink enough cocktails to float the darned cruiseliner, you're only here once.

lessonlearned

I am not sure if I have mentioned this but i shall be heading off on a 33 day cruise around the Carribean in 3 weeks time.

In my defence........

1. Sailing from and returning to Tilbury, no flying.

2. 10 years without a holiday, 9 of them caring for my husband who died last year.

Without being disloyal to my husband's memory I think ive earned my holiday.

and, as a new "singleton" I think cruising offers me a safe way to see a bit of the world.

Perhaps when I'm a bit more confident about my new single status then I will be able to travel independently. Even then I wont be roughing it. I'm too old and decrepit and I appreciate my creature comforts.

Tents and backpacks are soooo not my style, Dahlings.

I recycle and reuse with the best of them. I live a simple and thrifty life but I am now at an age where comfort, health and wellbeing are important to me, especially when I travel.

Goldiegirl

GreyQueen wrote: »

:beer: Goldiegirl; give it hell; dance til your feet fall off and drink enough cocktails to float the darned cruiseliner, you're only here once.

:beer: Thank you


These cruises have been 50 years in the planning..... I will enjoy every last minute of it!

lessonlearned wrote: »

I am not sure if I have mentioned this but i shall be heading off on a 33 day cruise around the Carribean in 3 weeks time.
.

I think you'll be on Magellan? I had a short cruise on her at the start of September, just 3 nights, and thought she was a lovely friendly ship. She's a nice size too, not one of these mega ships where you can get lost. I'm sure you'll have a lovely time:)

lessonlearned

Goldiegirl wrote: »

:beer: Thank you


These cruises have been 50 years in the planning..... I will enjoy every last minute of it!







I think you'll be on Magellan? I had a short cruise on her at the start of September, just 3 nights, and thought she was a lovely friendly ship. She's a nice size too, not one of these mega ships where you can get lost. I'm sure you'll have a lovely time:)

Thanks for that. _Always nice to hear from someone who has first hand experience.

Yes it's the Magellan. I agree she looks a nice cosy friendly ship. I think I might feel abit lost on a mega ship.

Apparently they reserve 150 places for singletons so I shouldn't feel too out of place.

pelirocco

tuskel wrote: »

OK, yes, you didn't put it in the bin, but still, why buy a new one if the old one is fine? Because, think about the resources that were used to make it (materials, electricity, fuel, water, also someone's time to make it and fly/drive it to you; time is definitely a resource! etc), so if it saves you a few pennies on your bill, how long does it actually take to pay for itself? You have to look at the bigger picture too. Also, now that it has internet access, are you going to use your computer/other devices less? Do you pay money for a subscription? Are you using your telly more, so that in the end the electricity consumption rises?

I know no-one likes to be lectured, but this is how I think every day. Every morning I take my daughter to school I see the endless (almost) flow of cars going to schools and work and I really think of global warming. And that is just in the fairly small town where I live! I have not gone on a holiday abroad in eight years because I don't want to fly - it really pollutes the world, although it is still better than a cruise, which is the worst kind of holiday for the environment.

Y'see?

But I'm sure I do stuff too that would make you shake your head in disbelief and mutter "She's totally mad!" to yourself.

tuskel,
sincerely

Of course on the flip side , our economy is built on consumerism , of those who are posting on here who has a job dependent on people buying 'stuff' Id be hard pushed to think of a job that didn't

GreyQueen

It's not possible to be alive without consuming. At the very least we're consuming air, water, food and energy. We're also consuming foodstuffs, basic toiletries, clothing and footwear. We use appliances and they eventually wear out.

I own one pair of trainers at a time and use them for all my non-work footwear needs, but they wear out every 2.5 to 3 years, as just one example. I am a serial consumer of trainers, undies, socks, pasta, and any number of other items.

Today I have purchased a bag of books for £1 from a charity shop. Ten super books in lovely condition for £1 only. They will sustain an infestimal amount of wear and tear in my keeping as I read them, share them with family and then they will be re-donated to another charity shop for other people to purchase and enjoy. Hopefully, barring accidents and wanton carelessness, these books might have several more decades of useful life in them, and go on to entertain and educate many more people, generating modest amounts of money as they circulate.

Of course, I could just keep them on the shelf, fading and festering and becoming unpopular for 30-40 years until I die and someone else has to clear them out.............:rotfl: