Welcome to Dana's blog!

Katiecake's frugal post

I just read it and have to say taht I agree w/most of it!

My DH is a reforming spendthrift and I used to be so tight I squeaked! We have accomplished alot of things financially and when we were first married, we lived like you posted. But as we have aged, DH has insisted we 'live a little'. So not all of our tax refund (or his bonus) go to savings or debt. But the only debt we have is this house and he refuses to let me expedite our paying it off any earlier than we already are (I have a plan for less than 4 years and he won't budge). Plus I figure it's sort of a built in savings plan since we do get our meat and lots of produce from here.

But I remember being made fun of for our lifestyle. I rode my bike to work (weather permitting--I worked in a bank and had to be presentable), ate a can of something for lunch (ignoring my health then!LOL), I took on extra jobs. But sitting where we are financially now, I wouldn't trade it for the world. I knew our goals then and that we'd be so much less stressed if we stuck to them and we  have and we are less stressed.

Just the past 1-2 years, I have done lots of 'spendthrifty' things. I have a new serger AND sewing machine (my 30yo machine died beyond repair), I sprung for a teeth bleachign kit from the dentist, we did a few 'weekend' trips (some w/my entire family--WHAT WHERE WE THINKING?LOL), we are going to a waterpark hotel in 2 weeks, etc.

But we pay cash for everything and if we can't, we don't do it. It's pretty simple for us and just a way of life.

It took me a long time to be comfortable w/this balance tho. My parents STILL don't tend to do fun things. We went on one vacation when I was a child. BUT my parents have true servants hearts. They'll give $1000 to someone who needs it,b ut won't spend $10 to fix the drain in their bathtub taht's been propped up w/a bottle for 10 years. My mom drives older ladies to their doctor appts, sends cards to everyone on the planet (in our church bulletin), she recently paid for several ppl to attend our church's Vday dinner cuz she knew they wouldn't go otherwise, just things like that.

In case you are wondering, I got my frugality from them.;)

Lastly, I forget how frugal I am alot of times. But as I told someone, I make CERTAIN some things are cheap (like our grocery budget) so that we CAN do fun things and have certain things.

I think nothing of making my own laundry detergent, using vinegar and baking soda to clean, grinding my own peanuts for peanut butter. I cut paper towel rolls in half (when we do use them) cuz you don't typically need a whole sheet. Almost all our clothes are hung up to dry year round (sheets aren't in the winter). We bought a front loading washer and it uses less (of my homemade) detergent and decreases drying time. I don't have lots of 'gadgets' in my kitchen cuz i don't want the clutter and I probalby wouldn't use the 'gadget' enuf to justify my having it (you won't make me part w/my KitchenAid stand mixer tho!LOL).

It's all about choices. Some ppl choose to live constantly in the here and now, others choose to save for a rainy day. We have tried to stike a balance that works for our family. We certainly don't live outside of our means and I hope that we never do.

Untitled Comment

06:05, 2006-Feb-13 .. Posted by Dini

Someday I would like your recipe for laundry detgt that works in the front loader. I worry about making any from the book I have, because I am not sure how it would work in an HE washer.