Normally I go all out for Christmas, but this year I'm scaling back. Money is tight for most of us these days, and Christmas time brings with it the potential for all kinds of stress. I've spent years trying to find just the right gift, or the most interesting way to package a gift. I've given expensive gifts that often end up in the trash, on the floor or at the Goodwill.
I'm opting out of all that this year. The gifts we give will be small and practical. I'm hoping the gifts we receive will be small and practical as well. I would much rather spend some quality time with those I love. I'd like to have a bushel basket full of sweet memories this year.
That said, I still love this time of year!
Showing posts with label money. Show all posts
Showing posts with label money. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Monday, April 13, 2009
Living Frugally
Well, it has been awhile since I posted here. Things have been very busy. With warm weather approaching, I have been into spring cleaning and fix-up. My hope is to get things ship-shape inside and then concentrate my free time and energy on some yard work and a small backyard garden.(yum!)
With the economy in it's current state, it seems prudent to me to start cutting back in areas where I can. Being a hands on, project oriented person, this has become my new past-time.
I started with cutting costs in the laundry room. Rather than use the clothes dryer, I began hanging clothes out to dry whenever it is not raining. I guesstimate that this will save us around $30 a month on our electricity bill. I still use the dryer briefly for fluffing a few things and for our permanent press items. (I'm not particularly fond of ironing.) I also purchased a folding wooden drying rack for drying smaller items indoors on rainy or very cold days. And a couple of lines put up in my back utility room help with larger items if I can't hang them outdoors.
Next I searched the web for a recipe for making my own laundry detergent. With just a few basic ingredients and a few minutes of time I had approximately 2 gallons of liquid laundry detergent for an average cost of 5 cents a load. After using this for about 3 weeks, I have found it to be as effective as the Tide I formerly used.
Fabric softener was my next goal. Hanging clothes out does leave some of them feeling rough and stiff. Too bad we're such pampered folks. Our ancestors never gave such things a second thought. But I do like my laundry to be soft and cozy. My daughter gave me the solution to the fabric softener, though. She read somewhere that white vinegar in the rinse cycle would do the trick. I was afraid that this would make my laundry smell like vinegar, but had to give it a try. I am still experimenting with how much to use, but at this point I am filling my Downy ball with it and it is making my clothes much softer. And it leaves my laundry with no odor at all! What a great thing for those with allergies to fragrances.
So my quest begins. I will keep you all updated from time to time as I come across more ways to live frugally. Now in case you are thinking that I must be building up a fantastic savings account, the answer is 'no'. My main agenda is to have money for the things I want by cutting back in other areas that don't matter to me that much. I consider it a challenge, and I believe we all need a challenge routinely.
I am searching the web and blogs for more thrifty ideas. If you have any, I welcome your comments and your help.
With the economy in it's current state, it seems prudent to me to start cutting back in areas where I can. Being a hands on, project oriented person, this has become my new past-time.
I started with cutting costs in the laundry room. Rather than use the clothes dryer, I began hanging clothes out to dry whenever it is not raining. I guesstimate that this will save us around $30 a month on our electricity bill. I still use the dryer briefly for fluffing a few things and for our permanent press items. (I'm not particularly fond of ironing.) I also purchased a folding wooden drying rack for drying smaller items indoors on rainy or very cold days. And a couple of lines put up in my back utility room help with larger items if I can't hang them outdoors.
Next I searched the web for a recipe for making my own laundry detergent. With just a few basic ingredients and a few minutes of time I had approximately 2 gallons of liquid laundry detergent for an average cost of 5 cents a load. After using this for about 3 weeks, I have found it to be as effective as the Tide I formerly used.
Fabric softener was my next goal. Hanging clothes out does leave some of them feeling rough and stiff. Too bad we're such pampered folks. Our ancestors never gave such things a second thought. But I do like my laundry to be soft and cozy. My daughter gave me the solution to the fabric softener, though. She read somewhere that white vinegar in the rinse cycle would do the trick. I was afraid that this would make my laundry smell like vinegar, but had to give it a try. I am still experimenting with how much to use, but at this point I am filling my Downy ball with it and it is making my clothes much softer. And it leaves my laundry with no odor at all! What a great thing for those with allergies to fragrances.
So my quest begins. I will keep you all updated from time to time as I come across more ways to live frugally. Now in case you are thinking that I must be building up a fantastic savings account, the answer is 'no'. My main agenda is to have money for the things I want by cutting back in other areas that don't matter to me that much. I consider it a challenge, and I believe we all need a challenge routinely.
I am searching the web and blogs for more thrifty ideas. If you have any, I welcome your comments and your help.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Easy Christmas Gifts
So, all these marvelous handmade cards I am now collecting are serving as my packaging for my 'non-clutter Christmas'. Yes folks, at the risk of shocking all you Christmas giving traditionalists, I am giving cash this year. These beautiful cards will be the package and gift wrap for my gifts. And for those who feel the need to have a memento of the gift, the card will serve the purpose. It can be framed, scrap-booked, stashed or just scraped. Whatever suits the recipient is fine with me. They can then use the cash for whatever they would really like to have. No more unwanted and disappointing gifts and no more useless clutter.
And for me, no more giving anxiety. No more searching for the perfect item just to find it in the charity box in a few months. In today's economy, I have no desire to waste my money on something that may or may not be the right thing. And as I grow older, I find that the simple life suits me much better. The chaos of Christmas shopping no longer appeals to me. And I no longer feel the need to do things just because that's the commonly accepted way.
So, call me Scrooge, or the Grinch if you like. Or even rebellious. But I think it's time to live life a little differently. I'm done competing with the 'Jones's".
That said, I do have plans for a wonderful holiday celebration with my family and friends. But that will be another post.
And for me, no more giving anxiety. No more searching for the perfect item just to find it in the charity box in a few months. In today's economy, I have no desire to waste my money on something that may or may not be the right thing. And as I grow older, I find that the simple life suits me much better. The chaos of Christmas shopping no longer appeals to me. And I no longer feel the need to do things just because that's the commonly accepted way.
So, call me Scrooge, or the Grinch if you like. Or even rebellious. But I think it's time to live life a little differently. I'm done competing with the 'Jones's".
That said, I do have plans for a wonderful holiday celebration with my family and friends. But that will be another post.
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