Slow Living - Doing It Old Style!

CRANKY40

Hello, I'd like to join in too please. I've spent the last few days making a list of things that I want to incorporate into my life going forwards. I'm not working just now as I had an operation last year and I will be having another one this year, probably some time around the middle of the year. I have enough money coming in (for now) so that I don't claim any benefits but I'd like to be more careful using what I do have. 

I was thinking of joining the decluttering thread but that's just more pressure so I may record any triumphs on here too. This house is full of "things" which I'm not sure that we actually need all of....I have a garden which isn't huge but I do also have access to a friend's very big garden. Friend's garden was overgrown by brambles and weeds when we started working in it (we didn't find the pond for 6 months) but it's in slightly better shape now. We still have some areas to clear but it's looking more achievable. The biggest problem is stopping him from planting whole packets of seeds in little trays then having to repot them because there isn't any ground ready outside. By the time they've been repotted twice they are so far into their life cycle that they bolt as soon as they are planted out. 

I'm not a fast gardener, I stop for lots of rests as I have arthritis so I will be slow living and slow gardening. I want to clean up our diets too (mine and my 19 year old son). I used to pick up fast food for my son here and there when I ran out of time or was too tired to cook but then the nearest Maccies closed for refurbishment and we didn't miss it. We haven't been back since it opened. 

I hope that you feel better soon @nannygladys. I've had the cold too but yesterday was day 8 so I managed to cook Christmas dinner. I have asthma so if I don't use decongestants I end up on steroids after a cold. 

 

boultdj

Today is a forward planning day for me, a beef joint is in the slow cooker so I can prep the cheap veg for the freezer to make grab and go cooking bags to thrown in the slow cooker when other half has his hospital appointments in January and tea today is fry up as I had to get bacon out of the freezer to make room for the sliced cooked meat and veg to go in.

I_want_a_baby

Hello everyone,
I’m sat in front of the fire, logged onto the forum after a long absence and contemplating life. 

Read this above:
I used to be very mindful,frugal and old style ,until I got a very busy "well paid job" Ended up in debt,unwell,unhappy and anxious and alone

This is very much where I’m at. Had an extremely challenging year last year at work and lost myself completely in the process. I completely burned out. Luckily I reassessed and a couple of weeks ago I managed to negotiate a 4 day week on same hours. Meaning Christmas has been far less stressful. I however really want to get back to to the old me, the real me and this will take a bit of time.

I am very much hoping that the day I have when the kids are at school I can use for money saving, batch cooking, homemade gifts and all other old style things! These things make me happy, give me the good life and is truly living. 

I am going to start some preparations over the next few days by reviewing our monthly budget and financial goals for 2024 and writing “use up” lists for everything from
food stores, alcohol, cleaning products to books I’ve bought but haven’t read. 

Looking forward to a 2024 that is happy, healthy, good for us and the planet and homemade :-) 

Iwab x

nannygladys

Hello all, I've been looking in some boxes and found a couple of x-stitch kits I had forgotten about, so they are something I can have a go at. I think I should perhaps look in a few more boxes and do a bit of decluttering, but first I want to go through my seed boxes to see if I need to buy any new ones (before 1/1/24) and make a plan for the Lottie and the garden. I also have a self sufficiently book I bought a long time ago and I will go through it to see if it contains any home remedies in it. Starting to feel more positive.
Nannyg 

bamboo_socks

Hi everyone! I have already posted on the frugal living challenge about my year ahead so apologies if this is repetition for some of you. In short, leaving relatively well paid career in the summer for the sake of my mental health. I also think simplifying my life will support that, and I'm here to be inspired by (and maybe inspire?) others doing the same.

TheScarletPixie

I'd love to join you.  I've had a hard year and need to slow down for my own health but also so that I am not just working all the time.  I've been working out my budgets for next year and have identified areas where I can cut back.  I used to live the slow lane life in an old school way but fell off the waggon when I started working for myself.  I loved it and have missed it so much, but ready to get back into the saddle, thinking of myself first and my self care.  I'm scheduling in my yoga practice, meditation, self healing, creative space etc..  

I am excited about the coming year and the changes that I'm making to live a happier, healthier and more fulfilling life.

leftatthetrafficlights

Welcome @Four_Seasons, @twopenny, @RHemmings, @CRANKY40, @I_want_a_baby, @bamboo_socks and @TheScarletPixie 😁 

Hope everyone is well - I still have elderly relatives here so no time to respond/post properly!! Roll on Friday!! 😉😂

Smudgeismydog

So glad to hear you are starting to feel more positive Nannyg x
We have a quiet day, before heading to see family tomorrow. I’ve walked into town with the dog, it was a bit blowy and wet, but I feel better for getting out. Now settling down with a cup of herbal tea to start on my jigsaw.
This is much more like the uncomplicated, calmer life I want to lead 

look after yourselves 

twopenny

Not such a relaxing day as expected.

Downloding the hundreds of photos I took of coast during the storm. Lesson learned - again do this more frequently so not hundreds.

Of course that involved the tech I wanted to avoid but this should be for pleasure.

Planning a walk, a bath and a book for later.

I think this stuff takes practise.

savingmore

I love twixmas as a time for planning the following year, esp budgets and all things financial. With only 16 weeks left of work am beginning to get a bit wobbly that I am going to miss the routines, purpose and social connections although I am tired and want to slow.  Wondering how to get the balance between work and slowing so don’t get bored.  How do busy people slowly come off the adrenaline motivation?