More good sense from Down To Earth

Atalanta

One thing I totally agree with is house size. Why do people want big houses? Most of my friends have houses with at least 4 bedrooms even if it is only the 2 of them. Also they say if they win the lottery they want a big house!!! Why? I have never wanted a big house. More to clean, more to keep warm and more to furnish. Okay if you won the lottery you would not be worrying about the cost of furnishing or heating but what is so great about a big house? I could think of a lot more worthwhile things to spend money on than a large house.[/quote]

Exactly! And I really liked your idea Thriftlady about swapping bedrooms to give your boys more room as they got older rather than moving. Sounds like a brilliant solution.

One thing that I have found since becoming more OS is that I actually don't want all things that we are "meant" to want any more because I've come to appreciate the alternatives...I'm thinking particulary of holidays. Since having children we have found it is actually much easier (as well as cheaper) to holiday in this country rather than abroad. We did go to Italy on holiday once with a 3 year old and a baby and it was the worst holiday we've ever had!! Such hard work...now we just load the car up (much easier than packing for a flight) and go somewhere in the UK and have had some fantastic holidays in the Lake District and Dorset for example.

jennybb

I'm with Thriftlady and others regarding house size. More rooms need more cleaning - no thanks. Living in a boat means that we are more thoughtful about how we use space. Only have one daughter, she has 2 very small cabins (rather than thriftlady's son's "cells" :rotfl: ), one for sleeping and some of her stuff - the other for her wardrobe and more stuff what this means is that she uses communal space more and we interact as a family more. She does like to go and read quietly - but some activities - computer and TV spring to mind, i'd rather were not things she went off to her room to do.

We are lucky that in a couple of years we will have paid off our loan and will be "homeowners" in the true sense of the word - unlike people who have mortgaged themselves to the hilt for a multi-bedroomed/ bathroomed/ reception roomed house.

Each to there own, of course - but I'd rather work less and spend more time in the allotment and kitchen

moanymoany

We have always taken OS style holidays. Our holiday last year was two weeks in Honfleur. We found a really cute little house on the internet. It cost us about £350. The trip through the tunnel was paid for by using Tesco vouchers. We ate in (I've a bit of a 'thing' about eating out ) but the whole thing was very cheap. It was also in April when we had lovely weather - lol - it was dh's 60'th birthday present.

For me. the problem with really expensive holidays is that it can never live up to the expectation of the price. A bit sad really, but that's how it is.

csarina

moanymoany wrote: »

We have always taken OS style holidays. Our holiday last year was two weeks in Honfleur. We found a really cute little house on the internet. It cost us about £350. The trip through the tunnel was paid for by using Tesco vouchers. We ate in (I've a bit of a 'thing' about eating out ) but the whole thing was very cheap. It was also in April when we had lovely weather - lol - it was dh's 60'th birthday present.

For me. the problem with really expensive holidays is that it can never live up to the expectation of the price. A bit sad really, but that's how it is.

We always take holidays 'out of season' because we are able to do so, even when we were at work.

This years holiday cost me £138.50 plus the tunnel thanks to Mr T's vouchers.....our most expensive things are the fuel and tolls for the trip down to the south of France, we take as much food as we can with us, so our spending money goes into the local economy Its a trip we have been wanting to make for a while.....it is special, in that as our passports will run out at the end of 2009, there are two trips we wanted to make, this one to see some friends who have been asking us to visit them for a while and our trip to the US in winter 2008/09, this will be an expensive trip, but like the French trip has been saved for.........once our passports run out we will be holidaying in the UK.

We have always tried to have a break of some sort, either in the spring or autumn, even if it is only a couple of days somewhere.........it is a break away from the hum drum of every day life.

We are fortunate in that we house sit for a friend who lives in the country. We love going there.........we look after the house, the dog, cat and horse and enjoy the fresh air and peace and quiet........................

moanymoany

csarina wrote: »

We alwsy take holidays 'out of season' because we are able to do so, even when we were at work.

This years holiday cost me £138.50 plus the tunnel thanks to Mr T's vouchers.....our most expenses are the fuel and tolls for the trip down to the south of FRance. Its a trip we have been wanting to make for a while

The first time I went abroad was in 1970 and it was a trip to Arles. We camped and I got bitten to death by mosquitos. We had a lovely time. Arles is such a lovely city. I remember the intense blue of the sky and the smell of the air.

Years later, on my first visit to Amsterdam, I went to the Van Gogh museum. The picture with the intensly blue sky reminded me of Arles.

Must go back - but this time I'll beware of the pesky mosquitos! :rolleyes: