Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally

Onebrokelady

Well done on the decluttering Hairy:beer:

[Deleted User]

elizabethhull wrote: »

I love that you have your little routines, and I can see things get done in your house, like the rabbit being taken care of as well as your laundry. Me and routines are as far apart as it's possible to be, although I operate well with lists before visitors come. But that is 'crisis cleaning' not day-to-day stuff. When I think that my mother had her days for doing everything, and they would never stay over till Monday when they came for a weekend because she 'always did the washing on Monday'. I think I've carried on rebelling against rigid household routines for a ridiculous number of years !! When does one 'put away childish things' ?

Another one here who's experienced in 'crisis cleaning':o


My Mum had set days for the big household chores too. I think people of that generation had to as with no or very little labour-saving equipment they had to be super-organised. I remember washing days when I was a young child. No washing machine in those days, just a boiler, tub and mangle. It must have been such hard work, especially towels and sheets. Everything seemed to be washed and dried outdoors on that one day. The whole process started as soon as my brother and I went to school, although I recall the water being heated as soon as we got up. I also remember the smell of lots of damp washing drying on racks suspended from the kitchen ceiling or on clothes horses all over the place. No central heating in the 1950s of course, just a roaring coal fire in one room (and the sitting room too if we had 'company').


Our evening meal on washing day was always cold meat from the Sunday roast with left over potatoes fried up. Probably something else with it but I can't remember what. There was always some of Mum's own pickles though, red cabbage mainly. I think we had a slice of cake afterwards instead of the usual hot pudding and custard. Tuesdays was ironing day and it took hours because things like sheets, shirts etc were all made of cotton then, no synthetics, and everything needed ironing.


Nowadays we can just pop a load in the washing machine whenever we like. The need for weekly routines is far less important. My Mum never had a job outside the home but now working women need to fit the chores into their busy lives as and when they can.

HairyHandofDartmoor

It sounds awful doesn't it? I would have hated to be a woman and to have children in those days, as your life would have been sheer drudgery, with no chance to use your brain and no chance of a job without labour saving devices.

Sun_Addict

I can remember my mum having a twin tub washing machine, she used to boil everything to death I think this was on a Monday. If I had anything nice I had to wash it by hand if I didn't want it to end up half its original size. Although my mum didn't work after she married my dad, she was never a domestic goddess, as an ex ballerina her interests lay elsewhere

Hope the VAT is sorted soon.

HairyHandofDartmoor

I don't blame your mum for being interested in other things than housework.

I remember twin tubs, they must have seemed amazing in their day :rotfl:. DH and I used to have a seperate spin dryer years ago, as it was really useful for things that got hand washed. I can't remember the last time I handwashed something. It all goes in the machine now even wool and if it shrinks it shrinks :rotfl:.

[Deleted User]

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

It sounds awful doesn't it? I would have hated to be a woman and to have children in those days, as your life would have been sheer drudgery, with no chance to use your brain and no chance of a job without labour saving devices.

I agree. It wasn't really all that long ago really, less than 70 years.


I remember when Mum got her first washing machine and spin dryer. It wasn't an automatic though, she still had to hoist the wet washing out of the washing machine and either put it through the mangle or transfer it to the spin dryer which just spun the water out and had to be emptied through a tap at the bottom. There was no heat involved like with a modern tumble dryer. I remember the kitchen lino was always awash with water when Mum was doing the washing, transferring soaking wet washing from one place to another.

HairyHandofDartmoor

It must have been backbreaking work, I'm so glad I live now. Although things aren't perfect there's never been a better time to be a woman .

System

I remember the excitement when we got an automatic washing machine and the cycle took about 2 hours my mum was horrified. When she read the book she realised this was for a very hot wash. I also recall in the kitchen our terraced house the rack near the ceiling. The clothes must have stunk of cooking smells when they were drying ! Good days though .

HH do you already know how much your tax rebate is or is it a surprise? Hope it turns up on Monday .

please-let-me-be-lucky

I have a vague memory of my grandma spinning some hand washing in a lettuce/salad spinner to get as much water out as possible :rotfl: Xx

beanielou

please-let-me-be-lucky wrote: »

I have a vague memory of my grandma spinning some hand washing in a lettuce/salad spinner to get as much water out as possible :rotfl: Xx

I tried to do that once too :rotfl: xx