A New to Me Blog

Ilona

Mr_Singleton wrote: »

Dear Ilona,
made me sad..... where does 'quality of life' come into your thinking?

10 minutes in the shower enjoying the steaming hot water. Later before bed I made a cup of camomile tea using a quality TeaPigs teabag. woke up fresh and ready for the day.

I could have zipped in and out of a warm shower, I could have skipped the TeaPigs tea and gone to bed in week old bedding but how would that have improved my life? The savings would have been minimal yet it would have made me feel miserable.

My grandmother lived a miserable life. The money she saved depriving herself

As I said reading your tips mostly made me sad.

Dear Mr Singleton.
Don't feel sad for me, I actually feel sad for you. A warm shower, no posh tea, and sheets that have been on your bed for a week, how awful, my heart bleeds for you. Some people are actually homeless and have none of those things, it's them that you should feel sad for, not me.

I prefer a 30 minute soak in the bath once a week, it is my choice. I've just had a mug of hot chocolate the cheapest variety, my choice. I am not deprived of anything at all. Everything I do is my choice.

My quality of life is not having to go to work, I've done my 45 years, it's not being in any debt at all, my house is my own, no rent, no mortgage. I get up in the morning and feel alive because the day is mine to do what I like. I never have to rush anywhere, I never have to keep up appearances, put on a show, or keep up with anyone. My quality of life is about my spiritual well being, recognizing that the things that make me happy are not necessarily those that cost money.

So don't be sad for me, because I am having the time of my life.

Ilona

PS, Great post Jackie O.

JIL

Ilona,I have just read your blog for the day before I read the latest on this thread.
As I read your blog entry for the day, I realised I was smiling as I read about your cats and dogs. I was very much of the opinion that you live your life just the way you want to, content and happy, you are very much in a good place. Something I think we all strive for and perhaps not many of us truly achieve?

Ilona

Hi JIL. You are correct, I do live my life just the way I want to. Maybe I was a bit harsh in my reply to Mr Singleton, I shouldn't post late at night as my brain starts going into snooze mode at around 10pm. If he is living the life that he wants then good for him. If he is debt free and can afford his little luxuries that make him feel good, then that's fine. He can spend his money in whatever way he likes, but it is wrong to assume everyone else is suffering and leading a sad and miserable life if they don't do the same.

I am of the opinion that anyone can change the parts of their life that they are not happy about. I started making decisions about how I wanted my life to pan out from an early age. I realized that my destiny was in my own hands, that my time on this earth was precious and I had choices.

Individuality and creativity should be encouraged. I was a sheep for the first 20 something years, trying to fit in with everyone else, then I found a better way, I became me.

Now I'm off outside, I have a garden to play in.
Ilona

Goldiegirl

Callie22 wrote: »

To be fair, that happens on both sides of the frugal debate. I read quite a few 'frugal living' blogs and there are some I just don't bother with because (to me) the writers are just so sanctimonious and judgmental about what they see as 'non-frugal' lifestyles, they are just as bad as the people who lambaste others for living a frugal lifestyle. Being frugal means different things to different people, it's such a broad church and it's just pointless to criticise a life that you're not living, whatever kind of life that is (ok, within reason but you get my point ...)

I think this is a very good point.

In the 'frugal world', there always seems to be an undercurrent that the only people who can live a 'full' life are the frugal people.

Sometimes, there's an air of disapproval about people who enjoy spending money, that their life is somehow empty, because they 'need' to spend money for entertainment.

Both these views might be true of some people.

But on the other hand there's frugal people who are unhappy and resentful because they make all these economies and still can't achieve the things they would really want to do.

Or there's the ones whose ingrained frugal habits make themselves unhappy - they now have money, but are literally unable to spend it, as they feel it's 'wrong' to use the money to enjoy themselves.

Or there's the people who've worked hard all their life's, and are now spending liberally on travel, holidays etc - not only for themselves, but for their family - I don't think that can be described as an 'empty' life?


If we don't want to feel judged, we should always remember not to judge others who may have a different life to us.

Live and let live, eh!