Boy does life really take us on different journeys. Started 2010 taking down commercial holiday decor. Continued family fighting over estate matters for my Great Aunt. Decided to build our dream home on our land. Met a con artist contractor to facilitate home build. Fired con artist who stole our dream, building funds. Hired a lawyer to commence civil litigation regarding home build. Communication broke down completely with sibling (co-executor of Great Aunt's estate). Hired lawyer. Tried to talk our best friends from Scotland out of coming to Canada with 2 daughters (they booked for July in January) due to having no home to host them in. Had a mental health break down, tried to commit suicide. Got help - again. DH purchased weekend trailer day before our home sale closed for us to live in on our land. Home effects went into storage. Worked with lawyer to build a major lawsuit. Met more new friends (neighbours) who opened their hearts and doors to us. Helped us make a decision to fight back and stay here to fight for our 16 year dream. Found a new contractor equivalent to 'Mike Holmes'. God sent us a miracle. Continued fighting with family. Continued getting help, seeing doctors. DH went to doctor. Wore down from stress. House build commenced, health started to improve. Made our little trailer our home. Built flower gardens around trailer area with plants from previous garden. Experienced horrific winds that demolished outdoor tented area (had my clothesline....). BBQ blew over, awning tore off side of trailer...felt like I was going to Oz. Learned lifespan of plastic pail port-a-potty. Appreciated construction site toilet hut - luxury at last. Experienced bird baths in large buckets. Washed some clothes in large pot of boiling water. Traveled to laundry mat every 2 weeks. Finally got power to trailer, unhooked generator. Got telephone line and internet in the trailer - the world returned. Came home to KT. 6 months later, moved into new miracle home (downsized dream). Launched major lawsuit against group of individuals for original disaster home build. Continuing to work with lawyer for estate matters. Said good riddance to 2010. Starting new life with new hope. Promised myself to get back onto a healthier lifestyle and to enjoy the small things in life again.

ROTFLMAO! I didn't know there was a thread going on about this. It's about time somebody mentioned this! I LOL daily when I peruse the CL's ads. Where are these people coming from? People, proof your ads before you hit that "submit" button. I really LOL when they list an appliance for sale that is so filthy and then they say "would really look nice when cleaned up". Well, duh, clean it up before you take the picture and heck, you might actually "sale" it! I'm glad somebody posted this thread, I've been thinking the very same thing for months. LOL Now I think I'll go have a looky at Craig's list and see if I can find me sum of them thar anteek chester draws.

I do many of the things mentioned here. I am a proud thrifty person. When I married dh, I had quit my job due to an illness that kept me from being able to do it. He said I didn't have to work, and I told him I could make his pay stretch to exceed the amount that I was earning anyhow. He didn't believe me.... now he is amazed. I believe pennies add up to dollars. At first, he balked at some of my frugalness. He loved stopping at convenience stores, and grabbing things on the way to work. Now he gets a lunch that is the envy of his coworkers... they question what his cuisine of the day is, and drool... LOL He had trouble giving up eating out. But I keep my own homemade 'fast food' handy (like burger and fries, frozen homemade soups, etc), and on his trip home he will call and I give him the menu of the night.... let him order... and its ready when he gets here. Not every night, but a couple times a week. He is loving that now, he can eat supper in his sweat pants! I don't have to spoil him this way. However, its my way of staying frugal and keeping with his urge of 'what am I in the mood to eat tonight'. It works for us. Before we married, I watched him throw away food with bad spots in it. I just cringed! I use every little bit of everything... throwing away food is a huge no-no for me. 99% of our clothes are second hand from a thrift shop. I am very crafty, so I am always on the lookout for plain drab clothes that can be altered in some way and items I can rip up for the sewing notions off them. A plain t shirt embellished with lace insert made from an old lace curtain. A boxy blouse into a fitted with a few tucks sewn in. I keep my pantry and freezer full by ONLY buying what is on sale at my local store that week. If nothing 'grabs' me in the ad, I don't even shop. I am not brand loyal to many things. To me, name brand prices are silly, and I am just paying for the flashy ads. I never buy manufactured foods. Cheap or not. I can make the same thing cheaper, and know what ingredients are in it. Dh swears his health has improved due to my 'quality control' as he calls it. I keep my house cool in the winter, and warmer in the summer. I use power strips to shut off those appliances that pull electricity even when not in use. And unplug chargers when not in use. I use CFL bulbs in the lights that stay on for long periods of time. Shut off lights when no one is in the room. I bought an HE washer, which PAID FOR ITSELF in less than 6 months in the savings of water/sewer usage. Also, it is so gentle on clothes, your clothes last longer. I make my own laundry soap. I don't buy fancy cleaners. Ammonia, bleach and soap clean everything I need to clean. I WILL NOT run to the store for a craving. I see this with people around me. If it isn't in the house, we do without. I always do errands together while I am out. I use direct debit from my account for bills that I can. I mail other bills that are local, rather than deliver them in person. A stamp cost less than starting the vehicle and driving a block! I will walk to do some errands, on nice days. I use a tv antennae. I can use my internet connection to watch other shows. I cut the families hair, and my own. I know my hair better than a salon, and always have a nice style than they give me! Our two vehicles are over 15 years old, and well maintained. I try to repair anything that is broken, but if I can't, I do save any useful parts before discarding. It so handy to have a spring or a screw in the 'parts box' for another project. I always try to re-purpose things. Ruffled pillow shams have been valances, and chair back covers, as well as pretty pillow covers. I use olive oil for face cream. Cheap tearless baby shampoo to wash my face, and add table sugar to it when I want exfoliation. Vaseline for body lotion. I will take others cast off furniture. The only item I have bought new was our mattress. Paint or stain can make almost anything else 'match'. My decor is family photos and drawing from grandchildren, framed in thrift store frames or on bulletin boards, house plants and mirrors. My kitchen decor is the items I use to cook with. We have no debt. I am sure there is much more. Yes, cooking from scratch and sewing, etc seems to take a bit more time. Maybe not, since I save the time that I would have spent driving to and sitting in a restaurant, or walking through a mall! But I take caring for family as serious as if I clocked into a job every day. I see people give more effort to their employer, than their own home and family, and I wonder.... about their priorities. I got my 'reward' just recently. My dh told me I am an amazing woman. I took 'nothing', and made a beautiful home out it....

Moni, I try to get out at least once a week but would love to get out more. If I hiked like you biked, I'd be in great shape like you, but I stop every ten feet and take a dozen or so photos and then continue on to the next interesting bug, flower or bird, seldom breaking into a real sweat. :-) Jodi-