tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492903313028603031.post3495434821137601532..comments2024-03-19T19:33:25.643+10:00Comments on A Tray of Bliss: Motherly Advice.......Is Extreme Frugality for you?Mimihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12189100084557458199noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492903313028603031.post-77974375179100032062018-08-18T06:43:19.293+10:002018-08-18T06:43:19.293+10:00I am with you 100% except the deodorant crystal. ...I am with you 100% except the deodorant crystal. I had no choice but to switch to it because I was allergic to everything else 25 years ago. At the time we lived in Florida and I made the switch in the summer. I felt exactly like you said which was sweaty and stinky. But, it got better as time went on and 25 years later I would not switch. I have read since then that your underarms need to kind of detox from the aluminum and chemicals of commercial antiperspirants. So I spend about $4 a year for a crystal and I am good as long as I don't drop it and break it. Mainly this info is for anyone wanting a more natural alternative because you have to be patient with it. Hubby uses the crystal too and never stinks. One thing we really do like is since we travel a lot in the US and have a vacation house we can leave one in the travel toiletries bag for years and it never goes bad and we never have to pack one since it is already there. Lanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09380649410508372279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492903313028603031.post-3556823555935643712018-08-17T21:37:27.613+10:002018-08-17T21:37:27.613+10:00Really interesting post, Mimi and I LOVE your hone...Really interesting post, Mimi and I LOVE your honesty. It is so refreshing. I am trying to cut down our budget as much as we can, but I am learning about what works and what doesn't work for our family. It has to be fun and seen as a fun challenge, or it loses its appeal that's for sure. Thanks for a great post. Love, BridgeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492903313028603031.post-32039615264568104742018-08-17T13:32:47.514+10:002018-08-17T13:32:47.514+10:00Debbie, you are a sensible woman after my own hear...Debbie, you are a sensible woman after my own heart. I knew someone once who not only washed the ziplock bags, but also the tin foil. Whilst I admired her tenacity, I could not see what that was saving her in the long term. However, I did not know her financial situation intimately, so perhaps it was sheer necessity. I know what you mean about the fine line between 'pleasure' and 'work'. And yes. I could do Extreme if I had to. Thankfully those days are behind me. And you too, hopefully. Great comment Debbie. Mimi xxxMimihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12189100084557458199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492903313028603031.post-6964933117232406042018-08-17T13:15:09.486+10:002018-08-17T13:15:09.486+10:00Jen, that's the thing. I can only write about ...Jen, that's the thing. I can only write about my life and where I am NOW. I've done my hard yards, and lived my own version of Extreme Frugality, and thankfully, that's instilled some good habits in all of us here. But we are now at a stage where we can choose our battles and what is fun for me, may be torture for someone else. You'll find your own sweet spot Jen. Now. That soap is to die for. And I cannot vouch for its efficacy as far as eczema goes, but it can't hurt! I don't use goats milk powder, I use long life goats milk from the supermarket. My method is based on that. It's not that expensive for the result you get. This soap is great for everything including replacing expensive facial cleansers. Absolutely something worth a try. Good on you for baking and remembering to defrost the dinner for tomorrow night...lol! Love, Mimi xxxMimihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12189100084557458199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492903313028603031.post-77353453191161250892018-08-17T12:12:40.070+10:002018-08-17T12:12:40.070+10:00Vickie, this is a key point. We all have a finite ...Vickie, this is a key point. We all have a finite number of available hours, and we have to be selective in choosing how we spend them. There is not point in trying to do it all, as you say, and giving up because it's just. too. hard. I love that you said that your frugality is your fun. It is for me too. When it's not fun, life becomes a drudge and I think that's bad for your mindset, no matter what. Find joy in the task. That is the key :)<br />Mimihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12189100084557458199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492903313028603031.post-60344139369096980482018-08-17T12:07:16.661+10:002018-08-17T12:07:16.661+10:00Stephanie, that's an interesting take on it. I...Stephanie, that's an interesting take on it. Interesting to read, but not to enact. I understand that. A bit like reading a fictional novel. I like what you say about those blogs helping your priorities and making your more selective. That's a good lesson too. I too, have been down the path of starving the supermarket of our dollars by making EVERYTHING from scratch. Some things worked, others, like your crackers, were a no from me as well. I think many things are a 'stage of life' choice too. Maybe when I have nothing else to do, I'll go back to making my own crackers. Yes, sustainability is key. You're spot on there. Mimi xxxMimihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12189100084557458199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492903313028603031.post-10683441883853306512018-08-17T12:02:50.730+10:002018-08-17T12:02:50.730+10:00Janie, your best comment there was 'I feel ric...Janie, your best comment there was 'I feel richer for being resourceful'. Yes! Resourceful, I understand. Choosy, I understand. Using money wisely...that I understand. Unmitigated penny pinching for the sake of it...no thanks. We recently watched "All the Money in the World", the movie that tells the story of the John Paul Getty kidnapping. What an eye opener. I remembered the incident as I was about 14 at the time. Whilst on a practical level, I understood Getty's reasoning, on an emotional level he was beyond cruel. Likewise, I think Extreme Frugality just for the sake of it, to prove something, is worthless to the rest of us. I just wondered about some bloggers, who seem to have access to the internet, a computer, a good camera, and photo editing software, blogging about Extreme Frugality. Something doesn't gel there for me! Gotta laugh. The internet lets everyone have their say, doesn't it. Including me! Lol...Mimi xxxMimihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12189100084557458199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492903313028603031.post-33949386912038350392018-08-17T11:56:08.393+10:002018-08-17T11:56:08.393+10:00Dear Suzan, it sounds like it's a complex matt...Dear Suzan, it sounds like it's a complex matter there. I've been there, done that when my brother and his daughter lived with me for many years after her Mum passed away. There's no easy solution. I like that you've found your own frugal path, and I know that not everyone enjoys shopping at charity shops. Some are nicer than others that's for sure. If you've found a way to be frugal, and be content, that's a good solution. Mimi xxxMimihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12189100084557458199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492903313028603031.post-78636463396479176402018-08-17T11:48:39.564+10:002018-08-17T11:48:39.564+10:00Stacey, I like reading them sometimes. For me, tho...Stacey, I like reading them sometimes. For me, though, I'd prefer to read something inspiring and uplifting and reading about someone who eats from bins, or picks roadside weeds to supplement their diet (as much as one mans weed is another mans stir fry veg...lol), or eats nothing themselves so they can feed their husband well, makes no sense to me. I'm sad if that is the case, but cannot see the relevance to my life. I suppose you're right in saying it's good the information is there for those who need it. The world is made up of many different kinds, that's for sure. Mimi xxxMimihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12189100084557458199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492903313028603031.post-1615321681465914512018-08-17T11:44:58.519+10:002018-08-17T11:44:58.519+10:00Anne, I know what you mean. Becoming frugal is a g...Anne, I know what you mean. Becoming frugal is a great way of avoiding waste of any kind. I agree that many bloggers see it as a challenge. I just wondered how sustainable those measures really are. It's interesting. Thanks for the comment. Mimi xxx<br />Mimihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12189100084557458199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492903313028603031.post-62123750742967710802018-08-15T20:27:22.116+10:002018-08-15T20:27:22.116+10:00I consider myself to be frugal, but I do not pract...I consider myself to be frugal, but I do not practice extreme frugality. I weigh up the time a task will take, the energy it will take and the costs involved before deciding whether to make my own, buy readymade or go without. One thing I will not do is wash out bags like sandwich bags to reuse them. To me, the time taken to wash them and dry them out completely is not worth it. I have recently started baking bread again. I actually enjoy baking bread, like the taste of it and the family love it but I keep a loaf or two of ‘shop bread’ in the freezer in case I am sick or very busy and don’t have time to bake. This reduces my stress levels and bread making remains a pleasant task rather than feeling the pressure of ‘I must bake bread or we will have no bread to eat’ when it becomes just another task that needs doing.<br /><br />I had a break from making homemade washing detergent then went back to it. I can’t bear the smell of many commercial washing powders/liquids and I am really happy with the homemade powder, but once again, I do have a small box of commercial washing powder to use in emergencies in case I run out of the homemade and have not had a chance to make more. Once again, this reduces my stress levels considerably.<br /><br />I buy in bulk and shop specials and think hard about buying ‘stuff’ and bringing it in to the house. I think I do well caring for my home, garden and family frugally. I could practice more extreme frugality if I absolutely had to, but it would negatively impact my mental health, so I do not do it ordinarily. Balance is very important to our mental and physical health and well-being. Extreme frugality would put too much stress on me, plus would probably cause a mutiny amongst the troops at home!<br /><br />I really enjoy reading your blog posts Mimi. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts.Debbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02190558685951378227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492903313028603031.post-23550803265623457562018-08-15T19:21:20.362+10:002018-08-15T19:21:20.362+10:00Mimi you have written far better than I could the ...Mimi you have written far better than I could the reasons I love your blog! You are honest about when you take shortcuts, and what you are not willing to do even if it would save you money. <br /><br />I read a few money saving blogs, and what I appreciate most is feeling like what I'm reading is real. Like you saying that sometimes you forget to cook the rice for fried rice. Thank you! I sometimes forget to take meat out of the freezer, and we don't have a microwave so I can't thaw it quickly. At which point baked beans on toast becomes dinner. And although my kids are quite excited to have that for dinner, I feel disappointed in myself for not being organised. Reading your blog reminds me that it's ok to sometimes just accept a situation for what it is, and not get too hung up on it. <br /><br />I haven't made soap before and would love to make goats milk soap as I gather it is good for eczema sufferers. Do you buy goats milk powder in bulk? I have only found it available online in NZ, and it is around $30/kg, plus postage. Which must be around $25 AUD. Is that roughly how much you pay? <br /><br />We had a baking day today, we now have cupcakes, banana cake, and gluten free brownie. And I've taken out the meat for tomorrow night lol. <br /><br />Thanks for the reminder that saving sanity is also important when saving money!! <br /><br />Jen in NZAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492903313028603031.post-28779921983051374612018-08-15T19:15:37.317+10:002018-08-15T19:15:37.317+10:00I think my frugality comes in batches. There is a...I think my frugality comes in batches. There is a limit and I have realized over the years you just can't do it all. If you try you will get discouraged and exhausted. You have to pick and choose. Like you I have tried some things and failed (I love your underarm deodorant story). For instance, I don't like making my own laundry detergent. I think bottled detergent works better for our laundry. So I find a sale and stock up (same with deodorant).<br /><br />I have been hanging laundry on the line this very hot summer a lot but when my sister comes next week I'll be spending time with her instead. Well she also complains when she gets a rock hard towel too! ha ha<br /><br />Gardening and putting up is a lot of work but so satisfying. No one will bother you in the garden because they think you will put them to work. Then now we get to enjoy the harvest season. This winter I will forget about the hours I spent putting fresh veggies in those jar. <br /><br />My frugality not only helps us stay within our budget but funds our fun activities too. That said, now that we are eating better I need to get a hold of our grocery spending. I'm working on that this week. <br /> Vickie @Vickie's Kitchen and Gardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03402367232977896594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492903313028603031.post-42025424295282204302018-08-15T14:09:12.599+10:002018-08-15T14:09:12.599+10:00I do enjoy reading about extreme frugality, becaus...I do enjoy reading about extreme frugality, because I find it useful to mine their blogs for information and ideas. Do I practice it? Not necessarily. My energy and ability to move about well is finite and I have to prioritize if I want to be most effective. The more extreme blogs have helped me to prioritize, though, and I'm now much more critical over what I buy and bring into the house- even free things take up space and will take my energy to clean and maintain, so I think before I buy and accept. I've definitely found that to be a helpful aspect of the more extreme thinking.<br /><br />I do like trying new things to see if they work for us. Making crackers was a big ol' nope. They were tasty, but too labor-intensive to be something I'll do on a regular basis. Making my own bread worked back before my daughter was born, but doesn't actually work well for us now. Cloth diapering DID work well when we were doing it, and I do make my own jam now! I find no shame in rejecting the things that don't work well for me; like you said, I can always try again later if the need arises. Sustainable is the key, and I find what works for me and say 'Not for me!' to the rest. :)Stephaniehttp://stephaniegetsitdone.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492903313028603031.post-76830852696016541332018-08-15T13:44:38.876+10:002018-08-15T13:44:38.876+10:00Mmm good points. I watched a show on extremely fru...Mmm good points. I watched a show on extremely frugal people which included a woman who kept every container and tin, we're talking margarine and tuna tins not pretty things that could be repurposed easily. Another character on the show was a man who taped up his shoes and lived at home with his mother rather than co-habit with his partner and their child because it was cheaper that way. Yeah, I think that's called freeloading? A man who has been eating roadkill and rodents and hasn't bought meat for eons. Look, it's interesting but I personally wouldn't do any of that unless there was no other option. <br />My version of frugality goes like this...money is important so save be careful with it and save it on everything within reason. I don't buy anything without researching options and as a result I have ended up with great furniture, clothes, shoes, handbags, beauty products, books, household items, garden items, children's items, sporting gear all for a fraction of their retail price. I once did a spreadsheet of what I was saving and within a few months the tally was at $3,000. I stopped doing it because I didn't like being a bean counter but it exemplified that over a lifetime this is the way to go. I don't feel like I miss out on anything in fact I feel richer for being so resourceful. I feel a certain type of contentment knowing that I am in control of my spending and lifestyle choices. People will say 'why don't you just buy this or that' and I say 'because I prefer and like to make or bake.' You can have it all if you focus on it and try different ways to achieve the same end which has an added bonus of savings in the bank. Thanks again for your blog. Janiebabe x Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492903313028603031.post-22950050716368537872018-08-15T12:11:52.686+10:002018-08-15T12:11:52.686+10:00I find my money is never enough and my expenses sh...I find my money is never enough and my expenses should reduce when my daughter moves on Saturday. I won't be able to change mum's attitude which costs me so much financially etc. <br /><br />I couldn't do many of the things listed by those who are extremely frugal. However, there often less costly alternatives and I search for those. I don't like shop in most charity shops. Growing up almost everything was reused or repurposed and I lived for 20 plus years putting my children first. I suffer badly from allergies and the old clothes and books set my allergies off. Now I buy carefully and truly appreciate new items although if I can find a used alternative I do buy it.Suzannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492903313028603031.post-40544885131046395592018-08-15T11:31:33.150+10:002018-08-15T11:31:33.150+10:00I sometimes read extreme frugality blogs out of cu...I sometimes read extreme frugality blogs out of curiosity more than anything. I can see that some may be in a financial position to need to do some of those seemingly extreme things. We've never had to worry to the extreme that I've read on some blogs but I'm glad the information is out there.Staceyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05728612514516285320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7492903313028603031.post-53831127727306638582018-08-15T10:53:08.370+10:002018-08-15T10:53:08.370+10:00I associate the frugality in my life as avoiding b...I associate the frugality in my life as avoiding being wasteful. I was raised by parents who did not waste resources, be it money, food, water, electricity or whatever. That is my comfort level with a frugal life. I do understand some are in a position where extreme frugality is necessary and I admire what they are able to do. I feel like some extremely frugal bloggers see it more as a challenge. AnneAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com