wanting less
JTRUMPIE
I struggle with wanting less. I have always had what i wanted and now that i
am married (7yrs) and we are still struggling I find resentment about doing
without.
Has anyone else struggled with this? My mother-in-law is a dear women who has
never wanted anything in her life (or so it seams). I asmire that kind of
person who is content.
Are there books on this subject?
obfrugal(is that obligatory frugal tip?): I use our coffee maker to make iced
tea. It uses 1/2 the amount of tea bags as regular steeping (I don't like it
strong). You may have to adjust the amount of tea bags to your liking. A big
tea jar hold two pot made with the same bags. The first pot is strong and the
second is weaker but when combined they are fine.
julie
JTRUMPIE
I think I want to clarify this : I do not want to sound ungrateful or
shallow. I have all that i need. I am just looking for ideas on how to want
less. thanks
julie
GeorgeS
On 10 Feb 1998 14:07:08 GMT, jtru...@aol.com (JTRUMPIE) wrote:
>I struggle with wanting less. I have always had what i wanted and now that i
>am married (7yrs) and we are still struggling I find resentment about doing
>without.
Well.. there are whole religions based on the problem of desire and attachment
to the distractions of the world. Buddhism comes to mind. I'm not saying you
should take up a new religion, but reading what they say about the problem of
desire might help (Zen bones, Zen flesh is a good place to start)
As to struggling and envy, it depends a little on where you've been. Compared
to the struggles of getting a decent education life in the working world is a
breeze for me. Keeping the spending habits of a struggling student on the
income of a middle aged man keeps the money problems at bay.
As to desiring what MIL has, well, there are always people richer/poorer
healthier/sicker wiser/ more foolish than you. I think, in part, the trick is
not to measure yourself against others. The rich and poor, the healthy and
sick, the wise and foolish will always be around, do not worry about them.
The happiest people I know are the ones who forget about their needs, and
focus on the needs of others ( my grandmother and my wife come to mind). I
find you can do little exercises to emulate them. Instead of focusing on what
you want, do a little something for someone else.
Danielle Chollet
Julie,
I just got done reading Your Money Or Your Life, and it has
several good sections that may give you food for thought.
Good luck,
Danielle
JTRUMPIE wrote in message <19980210142...@ladder02.news.aol.com>...
Merry Stahel
Find a goal to work towards. You'd be surprised how much it helps -
especially with the day to day stuff. Often, when I run to the store
now for some notional thing that's necessary - I find myself looking
at all the goods...and wanting them, at first. Then I start thinking
- if I spend $30 on those great storage containers - that same $30 can
buy a faucet in the house I plan to build in the future (without a
mortgage, so I'm actually saving money towards my house).
I've explained it before - you can look on DejaNews if you want - but
I keep a giant 3 inch binder and when I see something I would like for
my dream house - I cut it out or take a picture and place it in the
binder. This includes the free brochures I got from the window
company, the cool alternative air-conditioning/heating thingie, some
kitchen counters that I liked, a book rack, a pretty vanity with a
jewelry case built into the side, pictures of brickwork, floorplans of
houses I like, etc.
Each time I feel the need to spend (or want) I think about my house
and visualize the goal I'm working towards. Pretty soon - I began to
go into stores without a qualm, looking at stuff OTHER people feel
they have to buy and YES, feeling a little smug that I don't even want
it, because I'm saving for my house!
Try it.
Merry
On 10 Feb 1998 14:24:08 GMT, jtru...@aol.com (JTRUMPIE) wrote:
>I think I want to clarify this : I do not want to sound ungrateful or
>shallow. I have all that i need. I am just looking for ideas on how to want
>less. thanks
>julie
Merry Stahel, Editor, CALICO TRAILS
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania - wish it was the West!!
sta...@ezonline.com
http://members.aol.com/hfur/calindex.html
Chris Reeve
JTRUMPIE wrote:
> I struggle with wanting less. I have always had what i wanted and now that i
> am married (7yrs) and we are still struggling I find resentment about doing
> without.
>
> Are there books on this subject?
>
Try "How to Want What You Have" by Timothy Miller. There's also a mailing
list of people trying to follow this, but the list has been inactive for a while.
Chris
Heather Pisani-Kristl
JTRUMPIE (jtru...@aol.com) wrote:
: I struggle with wanting less. I have always had what i wanted and now that i
: am married (7yrs) and we are still struggling I find resentment about doing
: without.
Just off the top o'my head:
I'm going to mention the Frugal Zealot (Amy Dacyczyn, former ed. of the
Tightwad Gazette, which you've probably heard of). She's written abt. 2
things that really hit home w/me: the need to feel victorious, not deprived,
when practicing frugality, and gauging the "WOW!" factor of consumer
goods/meals/vacations/activities. I believe she mentions both in the TG III
book (which I just bought... with a coupon ;->... but u can find in the
library).
IMO, you hafta forget abt. always having what u wanted, & think more abt.
whether u always had what u needed. And I think that if u didn't have what u
needed (love, companionship, emotional security), u may try to fill that need
w/material goods. I know that when I was single & lonely, I tended to shop a
lot. Not xpensive shopping, but shopping just the same. I know this isn't yr
situation, but it's a useful illustration. At the risk of sounding "New Age":
are u in touch w/all yr feelings when you are feeling deprived or resentful?
When you're "wanting something"? Maybe there's a bigger feeling in back of
those.
Or sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, and u really want something 'cuz it's
cute, or shiny, or new. When I feel that way, I ask myself how often I'll use
it, where I'll put it, whether a cheaper substitute will do, if I can wait &
get it on sale... Some of this is mentioned in Amy D's last book, too.
When I'm feeling acquisitive, tho', I go to the thrift shop or to a yard sale.
Does satisfy the shopping jones, on the cheap.
: Has anyone else struggled with this? My mother-in-law is a dear women who has
: never wanted anything in her life (or so it seams). I asmire that kind of
: person who is content.
Heck, ask her why she's content. That could be a great way to make yr
relationship deeper.
: Are there books on this subject?
I've loved everyone's suggestions, & second them. Good luck, & keep reading
here!
ObFrugal (USA only?): check the "green pages" (coupons) in yr local phone
book; that's where I got the bookstore coupon.
--
Heather Pisani-Kristl... expressing her own opinions
Please excuse my peculiar shorthand;
I'm recovering from a typing-related injury.
Henry Forson
JTRUMPIE wrote:
>
> I struggle with wanting less. I have always had what i wanted and now that i
> am married (7yrs) and we are still struggling I find resentment about doing
> without.
>
> never wanted anything in her life (or so it seams). I asmire that kind of
> person who is content.
>
>
>
One thing I do is deliberately stay away from malls. I am a very
thrifty person by nature & unbringing, far more so than my DH, who
likes to go to malls. He goes alone. I do not want to see all the
stuff in there. If I look, I start thinking about the wrong things.
I concentrate less on my family relationships & other things that are
much more *real* & important. My parents have been married for nearly
50 yrs, BTW; I, for 21. We are *all* still struggling.
In the area I live in, many folks are heavily caught up in the
acquisition of *things.* Their families are often unhappy & stressed
even more than what I normally see. They often try to feed their
unhappiness with *things.* I think what they really need is *each
other.*
In my family, we have always spent less than we made & saved a lot.
I am very used to doing without certain things, even though we made
a very good income for a lot of years, because we decided saving was
more important than spending. We did enjoy a number of what *I* call
luxuries, but we did it with the understanding that these things were
only temporary. I.E.: satellite tv. We used it in our work & taped
whatever we thought we might like to see at another time, thinking we
would get rid of it when we were no longer involved with it on a work-
related basis. Now it is gone, I occasionally miss it, but I never
planned its use to be permanent. Another: eating out a lot. I seldom
do these days, & I am fine with that. Still another: big phone bills.
Now I use email, my phone bills are incredibly less, my contact with
those same people is every day. This is an inexpensive *joy* to me.
We've lived in a very big house for some years, in the next 2 years
we'll be moving into one a lot smaller--hopefully better designed--
because we won't *need* the big one anymore. I suspect that I will miss
it, too, for a while, but I'll have memories & photos & get on with
living.
I also think developing new skills, at a low cost, can add much to
happiness. One of the happiest things I ever learned was to sew, & do
it very well. I also have had much enjoyment & education from learning
computer skills, also gardening, baking, canning, cooking, playing chess
well, astronomy, studying geography & philosophy, the list is endless.
There is so much of interest to be learned.
Learning makes *me* happy.
I think resenting doing without can be normal, I have done this, but I
have achieved a better quality of life for myself by reminding myself
that others have it far worse than I do, also I try to be constantly
grateful for the truly important things I *do* have in my life-- DH,
children, extended family, friends, a home to live in, clothes on my
back, food, etc etc.
If you cultivate gratitude for the good things in your life as much as
you can, you will probably get to feeling better. I also try to give
service in the community when I can, in small ways, partially because I
get to see what others have to deal with. I have my own problems, to be
sure; but all I have to do is take a look outside my life to see how
truly *rich* I am.
I hope some of this might be useful to you. I do not intend to be
preachy, please don't take this post that way. I *have* had to deal
with strong resentment at having to do without; what I mention in this
post truly has made a lasting difference in my life.
Wishing you all the best,
Melodi in VA
Lech K. Lesiak
On 10 Feb 1998, JTRUMPIE wrote:
> Has anyone else struggled with this? My mother-in-law is a dear women who has
> never wanted anything in her life (or so it seams). I asmire that kind of
> person who is content.
Not me. I have always had more than I really needed, even in my working
class childhood. Now, the older I get, the less I want. Most
possessions, especially the ones that need constant attention such as
cars, are a millstone around my neck.
Cheers,
Lech
Dawn
On 10 Feb 1998 16:56:33 GMT, kri...@fas.harvard.edu (Heather
Pisani-Kristl) wrote:
>When I'm feeling acquisitive, tho', I go to the thrift shop or to a yard sale.
>Does satisfy the shopping jones, on the cheap.
>
I've really been working on this wanting less stuff. For me when the
shopping urge hits and I have to follow it, I go to the grocery store
and stock up on some loss leaders. It satisfies that feeling for me
and I'm not bringing home more clutter.
Dawn, who now has a nice stock in her food pantry.
Rbr lubber
I find that when I am feeling especially covetous it helps to meditate on what
life is like for most of the rest of the world. Try reading "The Lake of
Sleeping Children" [can't do underlining, can't be sure that's the right title]
or "Matryona's House", or just about any true-to-life account of working for
the Peace Corps. Or sponsor a child in a third-world country. This one has two
benefits: you will realize that you have enough to share--we sponsor through
Children International for $14 a month--and you will realize how like a dream
living in your current circumstances would be to that child. This works for me.
YOUR MILEAGE MAY VARY. Carolyn
Ilene Bilenky
I think it can be helpful to really look at what you want, and what the
desire is really about (especially if you feel resentment when it can't be
fulfilled).
Do you equate certain things/stuff with being loved? With being OK? With
being successful? Do you feel your husband "owes" you some material things
and ways in life that you feel he is "withholding"?
And so on. Material desires can be rather complicated. I think it's rarely
about the "stuff" itself. Good luck- it's an important piece of living to
sort out.
Ilene B
Holly Sullivan
> I think I want to clarify this : I do not want to sound ungrateful or
> shallow. I have all that i need. I am just looking for ideas on how to
> want
> less. thanks
Hey Julie, try reading "How to Want What You Have - Discovering the Magic
and Grandeur of Ordinary Existance". Author is Timothy Miller and the book
ISBN number is 0-8050-3317-3. Pub. 1995. I found it at my local library.
Like it a lot (enough that I want to buy a copy if I can find one.)
Hope it helps.
-- Via DLG2000 v1.2.4
:)---Holly---<--<-@ * Barony of Calafia, CAID * San Diego, CA * (grin)
TechnoMages Guild BBS 619 549-0278 http://www.geocities.com/Wellesley/4201
Quarterly barry wavy, argent and sable, and gules, a mermaid displayed
proper between in bend sinister two compass-stars sable, fimbriated argent.
BD
Just so that they can have MORE "poverty-stricken" kids?...
There's no better example or where "survival of the fittest" should be
allowed to occur naturally. Keeping the current generation barely alive
simply means another and another and....
Or maybe you could ADOPT...
Rbr lubber wrote in message
<19980210200...@ladder02.news.aol.com>...
Ilana Stern
Ilene Bilenky wrote:
> I think it can be helpful to really look at what you want, and what the
> desire is really about (especially if you feel resentment when it can't be
> fulfilled).
One way to do this might be to look at what you already
have. Is this a sweater I "wanted" but never wear, or
a tape player I don't use very often? Or is it a painting
which gives me satisfaction every time I look at it on
the wall?
Perhaps if you examine past desires and acquisitions you
can figure out for yourself what you "want" that will not make
you any happier, and what you "want" that will really enhance
your life.
Bob Hale
JTRUMPIE wrote:
>
> obfrugal(is that obligatory frugal tip?):
>
Ok, me too! (is it "Oh! Be Frugal" or from Green Acres Tv show "Obi
Frugal" or did a gynecologist start it?) What is the actual meaning and
where, how and who are the originator(s) of this?
Bob
Mac-N-Stuff Used Macintosh Computers, Monitors, Peripherals.
Use our links to pricing used Apple/Macintosh computers and monitors.
http://www.macnstuff.com E-mail b...@macnstuff.com
Dan Birchall
> > obfrugal(is that obligatory frugal tip?):
>
> Frugal" or did a gynecologist start it?) What is the actual meaning and
> where, how and who are the originator(s) of this?
No, no, it's Obi Frugal Kenobi...
Ob is, indeed, short for obligatory. You'll find it
used as a prefix in lots of groups. And for any who are
wondering, no, I don't read the group "nashville.scene"
either, so I don't know if anyone puts an "ObScene" at
the ends of their posts. ;p
-Dan
--
Dan "Shag" Birchall | "Only in America would people
Moorestown NJ 08057 | pay 20 bucks a month to have
Be gone, foul spam! | their words censored and their
'98 spam kills: 031 | mothers insulted." - FuelDevil
Bob Hale
JTRUMPIE wrote:
>
> I struggle with wanting less. I have always had what i wanted and now that i
> am married (7yrs) and we are still struggling I find resentment about doing
> without.
>
> never wanted anything in her life (or so it seams). I asmire that kind of
> person who is content.
>
>
Julie,
There nothing wrong with wanting more. That’s how progress is achieved.
The answer lies not in stuggling with wanting less, it its accepting
where you are today and moving forward toward tomorrow. I’ve been
married for 31 years and probably most of those years were struggling
financially. It’s not the struggle, its how you view it. Resentment
leads down a path of self destruction.
You read about people making $100,000 a year and they struggle with
wanting less. They are resentful of circumstance that don’t allow them
their fondest dreams. I haven’t read it but “The Million Next Door”
disccussed here recently sounds like an example. It’s not how much you
struggle or how much you have, it all in the frame of mind. It’s how
you view where you are. Is it a problem or is it a challenge? A pain or
a pleasure most of the time? Is your glass half full or is it half
empty.
The answer is accepting where you are today and enjoying it. If you’ve
been here at mcf-l a while you’ve read our delimas and financial
crisis. However my BW (beautiful wife), Sharon, and I are happier now
than we have ever been. It’s a frame of mind. One of my all time
favorite books along this line was, “Psycocybernetics”. See if you can
find a copy. Stay here a while in mcf-l (misc.consumers.frugal-living)
read it daily and you'll see you’re not alone. Post questions and
answers about frugal living and you’ll start to see more answers inside
of you.
You know, today it’s worse than ever for young couples to succeed
financially. When Sharon and I were married I earned about $144 a week
before taxes. Our lovely 2 bedroom apartment cost $125 a month. When
we bought a house two years later our payments were $168 a month. I’m
55 and guess you mother in law is somewhere near that age. We/she had
it easier than you do and this could be why it appears she never wanted
anything. If I’d never refinace my house, my payments would still only
be about $200 a month with tax increases. Sad but true the bank
forclosed it in 1996. Did your aunt own a home with low payments so
salary could go for more the the things she wanted? See, there’s lots
of questions and no simple answers.
--
Merry Stahel
Dang - I saw that Obi - and thought Obi Wan Kenobi Frugal....
Merry <R2, am not...> <g>
On Tue, 10 Feb 1998 14:23:55 -0800, Bob Hale <b...@macnstuff.com>
wrote:
>Ok, me too! (is it "Oh! Be Frugal" or from Green Acres Tv show "Obi
>Frugal" or did a gynecologist start it?) What is the actual meaning and
>where, how and who are the originator(s) of this?
Merry Stahel, Editor, CALICO TRAILS
Wendy E. Betts
In article <34e1e2e9...@news.mindspring.com>,
<too_...@spam.so.no.address> wrote:
>>> obfrugal(is that obligatory frugal tip?):
>>
>
>throw in a frugal tip when the post might not actually be on topic for
>the newsgroup.... like this one ;)
What's really annoying is that I'm *constantly* seeing people put in
ObFrugal when their post WAS on topic!
--
Wendy E. Betts, Editor, "Notes from the Windowsill." w...@armory.com
"among them was a particularly hideous little monster, a so-called
book grump...these little spirits normally spend their lives grumping
about books. Research has not yet determined why such creatures exist."
Leigh R Hidell
> IMO, you hafta forget abt. always having what u wanted, & think more abt.
> whether u always had what u needed. And I think that if u didn't have what u
Well, I think you need to have what you want, as well
as what you need, to be content. Admittedly, I don't
have many "wants." Not sure why. It might be
because, in a weird sort of way, I can see the "dark"
side of even supposedly "good" things.
Example: As most here
know, for instance, I have never wanted a fancy
new car because of all the stress involved --
higher insurance, people don't get out of your way
in fear the way they do when you're driving
a "junker," people have a greater tendency to sue you,
etc. & so on. I've been spoiled w/ having a ratty
car that can go into ANY neighborhood fearlessly, which is
not an inconsiderable thing in New Orleans....
Maybe if you told us more about your "wants" that
you want to get rid of, we could give you
all kinds of negativity about those items & help
kill your desire for them. :-)
--Leigh
Wendy E. Betts
In article <34E0CA...@ncar.ucar.edu>,
Ilana Stern <il...@ncar.ucar.edu> wrote:
>One way to do this might be to look at what you already
>have. Is this a sweater I "wanted" but never wear, or
>a tape player I don't use very often? Or is it a painting
>which gives me satisfaction every time I look at it on
>the wall?
>
>Perhaps if you examine past desires and acquisitions you
>can figure out for yourself what you "want" that will not make
>you any happier, and what you "want" that will really enhance
>your life.
This is a very good suggestion... in my experience, the things I felt
the strongest "want" for often provided very little satisfaction over
time. The want obviously had very little to do with the product itself.
Annette C. Hollmann
In article <34E0CA...@ncar.ucar.edu> Ilana Stern <il...@ncar.ucar.edu> writes:
>Ilene Bilenky wrote:
>
>> I think it can be helpful to really look at what you want, and what the
>> desire is really about (especially if you feel resentment when it can't be
>> fulfilled).
Here's another idea:
Consider what you want to *do*, not what you want to *have*.
While growing up, I found that being denied things like music lessons and
skating lessons made me feel very deprived as it was trashing my two top
career choices - but walking around in threadbare, unmatching handmedown
clothes two sizes too big wasn't a big deal by comparison.
(BTW - we weren't poor, children just were not considered worth spending
any money on).
Now that I have my own $$ to spend, I scrimp and save on all the
nonessentials - but there is no way that I will ever stop skating again in
the name of "frugality" even if I have to work two jobs to get the money I
need.
Another person might invest in oil paints and high quality canvas, and
spend all his free time painting.
If we deny ourselves the freedom to play and to develop physically and
culturally, we are forcing ourselves down to the level of animals.
Some people (such as my mother) can live like that, but IMHO they are not
all that balanced mentally. Their lives are totally monotonous and
meaningless. They do the same things day after day - and at the end of
their days their life will have left nothing to the world, just like the
life of the average rat.
On the other hand, someone who spends his or her life accumulating a stash
of material goods much larger than they need is no better than another
animal:
The hamster ;-)
I find people who have some purpose in life, whether it is to be the next
Michaelangelo or to be a Little League coach, both spend less money and
have happier lives.
Annette
me
Bill wrote:
> "Strength is lost if your attitude of thanksgiving is diminished. If you are
> always on the search for more and more in the tomorrow, you can lose your sense
> of thankfulness for the today. The carnal nature is never satisfied. The peace
> that passes all understanding is being grateful for your daily bread, the
> provisions that God has given you. The thankless heart today and forfeit the
> blessings of the future. Thank God continually for what you do have, instead of
> dwelling on what you don't have." Author Unknown
Dear Bill,
Thank you thank you thank you for posting this. You have no idea
how badly I needed to see this today. It really hit home with me.
huge hugs,
Kathleen
me
JTRUMPIE wrote:
>
> I think I want to clarify this : I do not want to sound ungrateful or
> shallow. I have all that i need. I am just looking for ideas on how to want
> less. thanks
Julie,
I think your post was great - something probably everyone
deals with from time to time. I have recently realized that
instead of buying things I *truely want* I usually go buy
"consolation prizes"- things that make me feel good for a
small amount of money. The things I get are not always
things I end up using. I have come to the conclusion that
I am better off buying myself a new book once every couple months
than to buy whatever happens to be on sale that will temporarily
make me feel better about doing without.
Kathleen
Sandi Rollins
>>JTRUMPIE wrote:
>>
>> I struggle with wanting less. I have always had what i wanted
>> and now that i am married (7yrs) and we are still struggling I
>> find resentment about doing without.
>>
>> Has anyone else struggled with this? My mother-in-law is a dear
>> I admire that kind of person who is content.
>>
>> Are there books on this subject?
Julie:
I think *everyone* struggles with wanting less. Some keys (IMO):
* Learn the difference between "wants" and "needs". For example,
I "need" to have a roof over my head. I "want" to have it be my
own house, rather than a rented apartment. I "need" to eat lunch
every day -- I "want" to eat out every day. Even if I'm not always
terrific at choosing the "need" option rather than the "want"
option, I congratulate myself for every good choice I make.
And when I do treat myself to a "want", I can enjoy it without
too much agonizing. And then when I go back to economizing, I have
a special memory created by the splurge to fuel my contentment.
It's a lovely cycle...you cannot live at either end of the spectrum
and attain contentment, IMO. Success over the long term comes
when you *plan* your splurges.
* Associate with people with the same values. I am least content
when I feel defensive about my choices, due to others' criticism.
So avoid people who spend a lot on credit, eat out every meal,
always shop at the gourmet markets, spend every weekend at the
mall, etc.
* Train yourself to be thankful. Research shows that certain thought
patterns are actually *ingrained* in the brain (the electrical pulses
follow the grooved path of least resistance, I guess). So, if you are
constantly complaining, it's easier for the brain to maintain that
mental state as "normal", and that begins to define your world
view.
The good news? You can deliberately re-route your brain's
impulses by thinking *consciously* in a different perspective.
My SO is fairly depressive, and in the couple of years I've been
asking him to "Name 3 good things that happened to you today", he's
gone from being *completely* unable to answer the question, to
being reasonably good at it. I can't say it's cause-effect,
but he's a *much* happier person than he used to be. And his
family has even commented on it.
So, learn to be grateful for what you have. (Maybe this is what
bedtime prayers used to be about?) :^) Recite your thanks.
Be aware of what you have in your life that's a blessing.
* Set goals. For me, it's travel. For Melodi, it's her Dream House.
Whatever. But when you don't spend (or overspend) on something,
it's easier to bear when you KNOW you're that much closer to
your long-term goal.
One way I read about in terms of long-term goal planning: whenever
you deposit money into your savings account, assign a goal to
it, and track it with a dime-store ledger book. So, whenever
you *deposit* money, you must choose how it gets allocated. And when
you *withdraw* money, it's no longer simply $40 less in your
account. It's $40 further away from the new dining table, or
$40 less for your vacation fund, or $40 stolen from your next
car downpayment. It makes the consequences immediately apparent,
and encourages you in terms of *visible* progress and goal-setting.
* Avoid glossy magazines and TV shows, telling you what you need. sit down
every now and then to decide what you need, rather than accepting
the marketer's spiel. Read newsgroups that enhance your feeling
of pride in your progress, rather than deprivation at your
decisions. Read books like "Your Money or Your Life" and the
"Tightwad Gazettes" to get some ideas and inspiration. Learn
new skills: woodworking, garage-saling, sewing, painting. I find
that my satisfaction at these tasks means I have left time to
mope over things I could have bought.
* Share your thoughts with your family. It's easier if everyone
is pulling in the same direction, and can be relied upon for
support.
* Give back to the community: volunteer for local organizations
that have goals and ideals you agree with. Usually, it will also
bring you into contact with LOTS of people who have less than you.
The side-effect of this is usually to produce more gratitude
for what you do have.
Hope this helps!
Sandi R.
Ilene Bilenky
I like to think in terms of what makes me feel "frugal and clever" and
what makes me feel "broke and deprived". For instance, I use towels and
household things until they fall apart- feel like I'm getting good value.
Same with, say, eating out but not getting things like soda, coffee and
extras that overly contribute to the cost. Buying a sub sandwich on
Tuesday only, as that's half-price day.
I feel "poor" if I have an unreliable car, or don't eat out on vacation,
or camp instead of a bed&breakfast.
I'm coming to prefer my money to provide senses of being or experience,
not "stuff". It does help, as other posters have said, to focus on goals,
so that *not* spending money becomes doing something *positive* towards
your goal (whether that goal is frugal or not). It helps me that I work at
an hourly wage, so can look at an expenditure as so many hours/minutes of
my life "spent", therefore, have to consider if I'm getting a good value
for my time.
And I second what others say about avoiding glossy ads and magazines.
Images are very powerful, and they are crafted to make us feel BAD if we
don't match the picture in our lives, and to make us want to buy stuff and
internalize how we feel about buying or not buying.
Ilene B
In article <6bt7su$2nc$1...@agate.berkeley.edu>, srol...@econ.Berkeley.EDU
Henry Forson
Sandi Rollins wrote:
>
> >>JTRUMPIE wrote:
> >>
> >> I struggle with wanting less. I have always had what i wanted
> >> and now that i am married (7yrs) and we are still struggling I
> >> find resentment about doing without.
> >>
> >> Has anyone else struggled with this? My mother-in-law is a dear
> >> woman who has never wanted anything in her life (or so it seems).
> >> I admire that kind of person who is content.
> >>
> >> Are there books on this subject?
>
> Julie:
> * Set goals. For me, it's travel. For Melodi, it's her Dream House.
> Whatever. But when you don't spend (or overspend) on something,
> it's easier to bear when you KNOW you're that much closer to
> your long-term goal.
One never knows how they come across. :) My biggest short-term goal
is simply to have a *clean* house, something that for 10 years I viewed
as an unreachable goal because of the lifestyle I was compelled
to lead. My DH needed support & help, I gave it, at the cost of a home
clean enough for all my family to be happy in. After we lost the
initial "clean," I was too embarrassed to hire a maid, even if we could
have afforded one at that time. Big mistake. Perhaps if we had, I
wouldn't have this declutter situation now. The reality is, I have it.
My biggest real long-term continuing goal is to have a better marriage &
happy grown children leading independent, productive lives.
I want to be a happy grandma when the time comes, not an angry
frustrated shrew, which could happen if I don't finish the "Augean
Stables Project." I've done the career thing & may do it again,
but not right now. I have traveled over much of the world, it was fun,
I may do some of that too. I think, though, I have turned into much
more of a homebody who just wants to learn, have great times with my
family & DH, finish several books I have been writing for some years,
see if they have any chance of reaching publication. I want to garden
better than I am able to on this mountain-goat slope of a lot I live on.
I want to be the best friend I *can* be & make more of them. I'd like
to go back to college again. So many goals, so little time.
I think you wrote a great post, Sandi. Thank you.
Melodi in VA
ObFrugal: For softer molasses or sugar cookies, put a cut piece of apple
in with them, making sure *cut* side is facing *away from the cookies.
It will keep them softer longer.
Jonathan K. Ploudré
Bill <bra...@mindspring.com> wrote:
> jtru...@aol.com (JTRUMPIE) wrote:
>
> >I struggle with wanting less.
>
> "Strength is lost if your attitude of thanksgiving is diminished.
I just got back from Samoa where I was a Peace Corps Volunteer. One
thing I was really impressed with the Samoans was their ability to
express thanks. Samoa is one of the poorest countries in the South
Pacific but they have a sense of abundance and thankfulness that hides
some of that. In prayers, they express thanks for family, health, food,
water, clothes, etc. I agree that genuine thankfulness for what you have
is an excellent way to curb desire.
Try completing this sentence 50 ways: I am thankful for ....
It sure slows down my desire to accumulate. :)
--
Jonathan K. Ploudre
Learn everything. Later you will see that nothing is irrelevant.
Shabach2
>I struggle with wanting less.
You should desire for God to abundantly bless you, so that God can use you to
bless others.
Shabach2
>I struggle with wanting less. I have always had what i wanted
>> >> and now that i am married (7yrs) and we are still struggling I
>> >> find resentment about doing without.
>> >>
>> >> Has anyone else struggled with this? My mother-in-law is a dear
I believe that that your desire should be to get closer to God. Once you seek
Him, then all things shall be added unto you.
shab...@aol.com
Long & Foster Realtor
TriciaTn
Shabach2 wrote:
>You should desire for God to abundantly bless you, so that God can use you to
>bless others.
>
>
Place yourself in obedience to God. Begin to *sacrificially* bless others. Then
follow the rest of this formula. :-)
Pat
JSchadeck
> In the area I live in, many folks are heavily caught up in the
> acquisition of *things.* Their families are often unhappy & stressed
> even more than what I normally see. They often try to feed their
> unhappiness with *things.* I think what they really need is *each
Some things I consider good investments.This computer was the most I
could afford at the time and 2 years later it still is all I need. That
will change but it has more than paid for itself in many ways. Some of
us are lucky in the sense that we enjoy frugality. I don't know many
young people that are frugal. (There must be some somewhere) I think the
media is responsible for that. And isn't that the media's business
anyway?
Curious Quat
On 12 Feb 1998 03:44:20 GMT, shab...@aol.com (Shabach2) wrote:
>I believe that that your desire should be to get closer to God. Once you seek
>Him, then all things shall be added unto you.
There have been many practical suggestions here. It's not clear that
this was among them, or that mysticism is necessarily synonymous with
frugality. Chant with me now: "YMMV... YMMV..."
The suggestion of focusing on past purchases and how they've worked
(or not) strikes a chord with me. I've been "de-cluttering" for about
four months now, getting rid of clouds of possessions that I've bought
that, curiously, failed to make my life happy. I didn't really need
that movie collection, or often use it-- the money would have been put
to better purpose elsewhere. The same could be said about most of my
formerly vast music collection, much of my library, the electronic
gewgaws and computer trinkets, ...
I think of all the money I've spent on things that were ultimately
pretty worthless, and it's a criminal shame. I'd have been so much
better off today if I hadn't bought virtually everything I spent so
much time accumulating. With this realization, it became a lot easier
to avoid senseless purchases. When I need a reminder, I think about
all of the silly things I've bought, or spend a few minutes browsing
through my financial history in Quicken, or consider how my saving
money will contribute to my future. I try to avoid impulse buying--
after thinking about it for a while, I may well find that it wouldn't
have made sense to make that purchase anyway. I think, "well... can I
put off this purchase for another week?" (With any luck, I'll be able
to put it off again next week).
Thinking about the future, and what I really want, and planning for
it-- has done a lot to replace my former idle diversions, and given me
a focus besides which the impulse to buy new toys has rather paled.
Old habits are hard to break, and we are creatures of habit, but it's
possible to replace an old habit with a new one with nothing more than
practice. And it's much easier to ignore the insinuating wiles of that
tempting purchase when you're spending your time thinking of something
completely different.
As they say, Your Mileage May Vary. These are some of the things that
have worked for me. Perhaps someone else may also find some of them of
some value.
[Bev]
Heather Pisani-Kristl <kri...@fas.harvard.edu> wrote:
> Or sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, and u really want something 'cuz it's
> cute, or shiny, or new. When I feel that way, I ask myself how often I'll use
> it, where I'll put it, whether a cheaper substitute will do, if I can wait &
> get it on sale... Some of this is mentioned in Amy D's last book, too.
> When I'm feeling acquisitive, tho', I go to the thrift shop or to a yard sale.
> Does satisfy the shopping jones, on the cheap.
It's amazing how soon you find an item you want at a yard sale once you've
actually noticed you wanted it! Frequently the same day, in fact. I
wanted a new coffee pot, which showed up for $3 the next day. Friend
wanted a nice $5 hand truck, which showed up last Saturday. It even works
when you take orders for friends!
The storage problem is a real problem, though. That's why I only buy
paperback books -- I know the library will get them sooner or later and I
won't have to worry about more than temporary storage. Discussion about
the monster homes: Current house is 1K square feet, and the 10K monsters
still wouldn't be big enough! Stuff expands to fill the container. Such
is life.
AND it teaches you patience: sooner or later you will get what you want
at a price so low you can't afford to pass it up.
Bev *To e-mail me, change nOt.gov to nEt*
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Non illegitimi carborundum.
Bonita Kale
In a previous article, lin...@hotmail.com (Dawn) says:
Wonderful ideas on this thread, especially Carolyn's about taking note of
what the real world, outside us Westerners, is like.
Are the shelter magazines getting -worse-? Or is it me? Better Homes and
Gardens had an article about a newly divorced woman who bought a cottage
outside San Francisco! Okay, so she's rich, but they don't mention that.
They write as if she's -really- frugal. The kitchen was "real 70s-style"
(which is about twenty years newer than mine). "Instead of junking [the
cabinets] altogether, Claudia simply revamped them with raised-panel,
glass-front doors." Who are they writing for? Are there really people who
normally junk kitchen cabinets that are a couple of decades old?
Bonita
--
Bonita Kale
bf...@cleveland.freenet.edu
Bob Hale
bas...@ktb.not.gov, [Bev] wrote:
>
> Heather Pisani-Kristl <kri...@fas.harvard.edu> wrote:
>
> > Or sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, and u really want something 'cuz it's
> > cute, or shiny, or new. When I feel that way, I ask myself how often I'll use
> > it, where I'll put it, whether a cheaper substitute will do, if I can wait &
> > get it on sale... Some of this is mentioned in Amy D's last book, too.
>
> > When I'm feeling acquisitive, tho', I go to the thrift shop or to a yard sale.
> > Does satisfy the shopping jones, on the cheap.
>
> It's amazing how soon you find an item you want at a yard sale once you've
> actually noticed you wanted it! Frequently the same day, in fact. I
> wanted a new coffee pot, which showed up for $3 the next day. Friend
> wanted a nice $5 hand truck, which showed up last Saturday. It even works
> when you take orders for friends!
It's almost spooky! Sharon and I have had the same experience of wanting
to find something at a garage sale and we would. It could be a blue
suit, scuba tanks for kids, air brush for painting, or any obscure thing
that we normally didn't see. We'd say, "we sure could use a ...... and
sure enough we would find it" This is Bob who doesn't believe in the
occult, horoscopes, etc. Or say too bad we never see a ......... that
would be nice to have, and sure enough we would find a .........
Strange!
HMMMMmmmmm! Maybe that is some our problems. We are so busy looking for
credit problems, broke, frugal tightwad, deprivation that is all we
find. Actually we are finding what we are looking for. Maybe we need to
apply this garage sale technique to looking for solutions, challenges to
be met, frugal philanthopist, marital happiness, good health.
I am looking for an uncluttered office area with all the papers properly
stored or trashed:-) You know, I really could use a neat and orderly
office.
Merry Stahel
Uhh...Bob,
If you manage this - let me know. I could use you to wish away the
stuff in my office <VBG>. I've cleaned it repeatedly and the kids and
DH think it's a great place to file their stuff, especially since they
never come in here, except to recycle it once in a while.
You should have heard the wailing and gnashing of teeth last weekend
when I picked up piles of their junk and dumped it in THEIR rooms.
Merry, clean office, now for the paperwork pile in the bookcase....
On Fri, 13 Feb 1998 10:12:56 -0800, Bob Hale <b...@macnstuff.com>
wrote:
>I am looking for an uncluttered office area with all the papers properly
>stored or trashed:-) You know, I really could use a neat and orderly
>office.
Merry Stahel, Editor, CALICO TRAILS
[Bev]
Bob Hale <b...@macnstuff.com> wrote:
> I am looking for an uncluttered office area with all the papers properly
> stored or trashed:-) You know, I really could use a neat and orderly
> office.
I think that takes divine intervention, which leads us back to the animal
sacrifice thing. As a matter of fact, I could use an entire HOUSE like
that. Actually, we DO find lots of houses like that, they just belong to
other people and they cost more than $20 :(
Bev *To e-mail me, change nOt.gov to nEt*
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
If he had any brains, he'd take them out and play with them.
[Bev]
> On 12 Feb 1998 03:44:20 GMT, shab...@aol.com (Shabach2) wrote:
>>I believe that that your desire should be to get closer to God. Once you seek
>>Him, then all things shall be added unto you.
ARGH! I don't have any place to put them!
ObFrugal: Networking 2 computers costs about $40. Then both computers
can use the net at once over one phone line, with not much degradation in
speed since the speed of the overall net swamps out your individual
modem/system speed.
Bev *To e-mail me, change nOt.gov to nEt*
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
The beatings will continue until morale improves
Linda Jacobs
Bonita Kale wrote in message <6c1g84$r57$1...@alexander.INS.CWRU.Edu>...
>
>Are the shelter magazines getting -worse-? Or is it me? Better Homes and
>Gardens had an article about a newly divorced woman who bought a cottage
>outside San Francisco! <
No, it's not you....the magazines are making me crazy. I used to read tons
of 'em because they often had good practical ideas....easy to adapt to
individual budgets. But maybe it's because of the economy and they think
more folks can afford more. We just downsized from a 3000+ square foot new
home (fat mortgage!) to a 1200 sq.ft. 40 year old (paid for!) cottage on a
lake. It is very sound and mostly just needs decorating. I've been looking
at the mags for ideas and am super frustrated....every remodel or update
they show would be very expensive to have done, or doesn't work for a simple
house. I saw the San Francisco divorcee's place. Maybe it was frugal to
her....everything is relative....but it really wasn't very frugal for the
average person.
I used to have a great stash of mags with ideas but I decluttered....who
knew?
Melanie Piper
Linda Jacobs wrote:
> I used to have a great stash of mags with ideas but I decluttered....who
> knew?
Hi, Linda! Check with your library...some libraries keep "decorating"-type
magazines a lot longer than most of their magazines, and you just might get some
good ideas from some of the older ones.
Also, I was surprised that some decorators (like the kind that have their own
"shop") have loads of decorating magazines sitting in their waiting areas that
they may not mind your looking through. Just tell them you can't afford a darn
thing so you need to be creative, and ask if you can look at their mags. Hey,
the worst they can say is no.
Also, every once in a while I see whole collections of decorating/house-style
magazines and of "Martha Stewart Living" going for next to nothing at garage
sales (but you'd better get there before I do <grin>).
Another thing I plan to do some day when I have time is go to our local Revy
store (home-improvement/hardware/you-name-it type store) and browse as much as I
can get away with in their book and magazine section. I hadn't noticed that
they even had one till last time I was there, and it is *huge*. And then, of
course, as many have mentioned here lately, Chapters book store lets you
actually sit down and browse through their stuff without buying! (I'm looking
forward to going there, too.)
Also, if you are waiting anywhere that has magazines for customers to read while
they wait, and you run across an idea you'd like to keep in an old magazine,
don't be shy about asking if you can have the magazine or at least the article.
I've had staff at my dentist's office, haircutting place, and car repair place
tell me "Sure, just take the whole magazine. We get so many and never seem to
have time to weed them out." Can't hurt to ask. Or, if they say no, you can
offer to replace the old magazine with the current issue (if they don't already
have it), and that can work too.
Happy hunting, and have fun with your new place!
Melanie
Henry Forson
Bob Hale wrote:
>
> I am looking for an uncluttered office area with all the papers properly
> stored or trashed:-) You know, I really could use a neat and orderly
> office.
>
> Bob
>
Me too!! We have a very large office, my DH has managed to accumulate
*another* side of the room--10 ft across--full of JUNK *again.*
What he doesn't know is that that pile is my first thing on my Monday
clean-up agenda. I figure it will take me 2 days of very interrupted
labor, but the thought of actually having it *done* does my frazzled
heart good.
BTW, Bob, my DH who is a very spotty valentiner actually remembered me
this year. He handed me $50--yes, $50!! & said to do what I wanted
with it. So, I'll have fun spending it hundreds of times before I
actually do. It was nice to be remembered.
Melodi in VA, who is *still* decluttering... & determined to conquer! :)
Melanie Piper
Henry Forson wrote:
> (snip)
>
> BTW, Bob, my DH who is a very spotty valentiner actually remembered me
> this year. He handed me $50--yes, $50!! & said to do what I wanted
> with it. So, I'll have fun spending it hundreds of times before I
> actually do. It was nice to be remembered.
>
> Melodi in VA, who is *still* decluttering... & determined to conquer! :)
Hi, Melodi! 'Scuse me for eavesdropping on your comment to Bob, but I'mso
please your DH "remembered"!
I'm pleased for myself today, too. My DH never forgets all the occasions,
but he used to always *buy* me something, usually something expensive, or
at least more than I'd ever have been willing to pay myself. He seems to
have finally learned that it's really the remembering and the thought that
counts.
I think it helped that at Christmas, with all my pile of loot, I leaned
over to him and thanked him for the wonderful card and the message he'd
written in it, and told him that that was the very *best* part of my
Christmas.
Today he surprised me by being up very early (he's working shifts again) to
give me a wonderful Valentine! No gift could compare with that card and the
sentiment it expressed!!
Guess there's lots of happy folks this Valentines Day!
Melanie, today only half-heartedly attacking the clutter, and swooning
away....
Obfrugal: Being reminded that you're loved, or in love, can make you feel so
good that you forget to eat (well, I do, anyway), and feeling down can send
you hunting the shelves for "goodies" that are really the "baddies" for your
health and waistline. Most frugal is likely to feel so good that you remember
to eat what your body needs, but that's all you can eat. But half a day
without eating likely won't hurt...
Bob Hale
bas...@ktb.not.gov, [Bev] wrote:
>
> Linda Jacobs <laja...@gte.net> wrote:
>
> > I used to have a great stash of mags with ideas but I decluttered....who
> > knew?
>
>
> Bev
SEE? Yes, I see! Clutter! This is why I get so much junk stashed away.
I sure could use that sometime <Pack Rat It>. I needed one of those last
year <PRI>. That would cost $3 if I had to buy one next time I need it
<PRI>. I'll bet on of those parts will fit on "something", "sometime"
<PRI>. Now I'm a happy little pack rack surrounded by junk I've
collected. My nest is snug with bits of paper all around.
I wasn't paying attention to who posted throwing away the magazines, it
didn't stike me as anything until I saw, "SEE?". Be glad they're gone,
especially with a smaller place to live. DECLUTTERED
I have found one truly great method of helping with paper clutter. Buy
a few 8 1/2 x 11 inch spiral bound note books. Keep them by the phone,
in the kitchen, at your computer, at your desk. Write all your notes in
a spiral notebook. No note pad tear off slips of paper to lose, clutter
and infuriate. I did this at my office as my phone log, and do it for
computer notes, and business thoughts, need to do notes etc. It really
cuts down on the scraps of paper clutter. Plus, in a month you can still
find that note you wrote to yourself about a book someone mentioned that
you really wanted to get but forgot the name and author.
As a phone log in a business it is great--I would listen and write. I
kept months worth of them and often referred back to them for customer
information. Of course I always meant to enter it all into the
computer, but never did. When I used scraps of paper or those tear of
phone message things I could never find infomation I needed.
Justine Moline
If you are looking for decorating and not remodeling and have cable
watch Interior Motives with Christopher Lowe on the Discovery channel.
He has some of the best innovative and inexpensive decorating ideas to
be found.
Bob Hale
le...@spamdeath.nbi.com wrote:
>
> This morning before we left the house I told him about the Thrift Shop
> Voodoo about deciding what you want to find, like I had read about on
> this group. His wish was to find an 8mm projector to go with the
> (working!!!) 8mm Yashica movie camera we found a couple of weeks ago
> for $3.
>
> Guess what! Yes, of COURSE he found it (it's Valentine's Day, after
> all) and it was $3 too! So now for $6 plus film we can have some
> funky 8mm home movies and watch them projected on the wall.
>
>
> Leigh
YES! YES! I told you it works. Clean office! Clean Desk, Clean computere
tables YES! YES!
Congratulations on a fun day and exciting finds. I see a sewing table in
your future. That'll be $5, Sincerely Swami Bob
--
[Bev]
Linda Jacobs <laja...@gte.net> wrote:
> I used to have a great stash of mags with ideas but I decluttered....who
> knew?
SEE?
Bev *To e-mail me, change nOt.gov to nEt*
********************************************************************
Organized people will never know the sheer joyous ecstasy of finding
something that was believed to have been irretrievably lost.
le...@spamdeath.nbi.com
Melanie Piper <mpi...@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca> wrote:
>Guess there's lots of happy folks this Valentines Day!
I have a wonderful Valentine who took me to lunch at our favorite
Indian restaurant and then we went thrift shopping and he bought me a
funky pair of earrings. Brand new, still in the box, for $3 - they're
just my kind of thing, too (they're plastic lemon slices dangling from
a big lime green bead - you have to see them to appreciate their, uh,
unique beauty). :) :)
This morning before we left the house I told him about the Thrift Shop
Voodoo about deciding what you want to find, like I had read about on
this group. His wish was to find an 8mm projector to go with the
(working!!!) 8mm Yashica movie camera we found a couple of weeks ago
for $3.
Guess what! Yes, of COURSE he found it (it's Valentine's Day, after
all) and it was $3 too! So now for $6 plus film we can have some
funky 8mm home movies and watch them projected on the wall.
So I have now told the Thrift Shop Genie that I would like a nice
sturdy table for my sewing machine. I figure I'll give the magic a
couple of weeks to work, and then go looking for my prize. :)
Leigh
the woman with the great earrings (and the great Valentine)
leigh at nbi.com
to reply, remove "spamdeath" from above address
I wish spammers were sorry for the inconvenience.
Henry Forson
Bob Hale wrote:
>
> bas...@ktb.not.gov, [Bev] wrote:
> >
> > Linda Jacobs <laja...@gte.net> wrote:
> >
> > > I used to have a great stash of mags with ideas but I decluttered....who
> > > knew?
> >
> > SEE?
> >
> > Bev
>
> I sure could use that sometime <Pack Rat It>. I needed one of those last
> year <PRI>. That would cost $3 if I had to buy one next time I need it
> <PRI>. I'll bet on of those parts will fit on "something", "sometime"
> <PRI>. Now I'm a happy little pack rack surrounded by junk I've
> collected. My nest is snug with bits of paper all around.
> I wasn't paying attention to who posted throwing away the magazines, it
> didn't stike me as anything until I saw, "SEE?". Be glad they're gone,
> especially with a smaller place to live. DECLUTTERED
I am *thoroughly* enjoying this thread. I have been doing doing major
decluttering for nearly a *year* now (huge older house) & have thrown
out roughly 10,000 old computer techie magazines so far.
May they all rest in peace. :) Since they are gone, *I* certainly will.
Smiles,
Melodi in VA
Obfrugal: For an inexpensive rave review appetizer to bring to parties,
I make a large loaf of whole-grain bread, cool thoroughly, cut a bowl
shape in the middle & remove bread chunks, fill with a dip. Serve with
bread chunks on the side. I usually make 4 loaves of bread at a time,
so I cut up 1 loaf for dipping. I also serve this idea for summertime
dinners with salad on the side.
MCEJohnson
Justine wrote:
We are too thrifty to have cable, but I asked my mother in law if she would
tape, as a Christmas gift, a couple hours of Trash to Treasure and other
programs about "decorating on the cheap" for me off the Home and Garden
station. She was happy to. It was a cheap gift for her, and I was happy to
receive something I would enjoy, rather than something that will clutter up my
house.
Mary
mcejo...@aol.com
Merry Stahel
Some cheap decorating tips from a military wife who has lived in some
strange places.
Liquid starch (the gallon sized container, not the spray stuff) and a
pretty sheet can make some lovely-looking wallpaper. You can do it
two ways - dipping the sheet in the starch and slapping it on the
walls - or tacking the sheet up where you want it - then sponging
starch over it. If you get tired of it, peel off, wash the sheet and
you haven't wasted anything but a gallon of starch. This doesn't
damage the paint in any way, unless its the really old stuff used way
back when paints weren't as easy to clean as they are now.
You only have to "sheet" one wall, too - it can be a very pretty
effect, to leave the rest of the room "un-sheeted."
Got a lot of photos in frames? Use a wall and hang them into a sort
of rogues gallery of relatives, animals and friends. This is ALWAYS a
conversation point in my hosue - people love to go check out the
photos I have hanging up.
If you have some pretty fabric, but don't want to sew - drape it OVER
the curtain rods at the top, over the curtains you already have (lace
and sheers are really attractive). To drap, just wind it around
curtain rod, maybe twice in the middle, and fluff out on the ends.
If you do have sheers and laces - jazz them up with some pretty
ribbon, instead of their regular ties. You only need a yard or so to
do 2 curtains. And you can find it at less than $1 a yard most
places.
Stenciling is a cheap alternative to painting a whole room. My sister
doesn't even use patterns, she just painted little sunflowers all
around the top edge of her powder-room wall. BTW, that bathroom is
cows and sunflowers - so she painted the cupboards white, with black
spots, the toilet has black spots painted in the lid, and she hung a
poster from a calendar (with cows peeking through sunflowers) on the
door. The floor is black and white tiles. A hat with sunflowers on
the one wall finished the look. Her and the DH told me they spent
money on the gallon of white paint and the quarter gallon of black
paint (it's a small room, under the stairs). Everything else,
including the toilet and the tiles, was salvaged. Someone gave her a
cow soapdish and pump dispenser to finish the look.
If you can - keep walls white, off-white, cream. Makes the rooms look
bigger and always nice to decorate in different colors.
A few small pillows thrown on a couch, in very bright colors, always
adds a touch of lazy elegance.
Hope this helps some.
Merry
On Sat, 14 Feb 1998 12:30:47 -0600, "Linda Jacobs" <laja...@gte.net>
wrote:
>I used to have a great stash of mags with ideas but I decluttered....who
>knew?
>
>
>
>
Merry Stahel, Editor, CALICO TRAILS
le...@spamdeath.nbi.com
mcejo...@aol.com (MCEJohnson) wrote:
>We are too thrifty to have cable, but I asked my mother in law if she would
>tape, as a Christmas gift, a couple hours of Trash to Treasure and other
>programs about "decorating on the cheap" for me off the Home and Garden
>station. She was happy to. It was a cheap gift for her, and I was happy to
>receive something I would enjoy, rather than something that will clutter up my
>house.
Wow, frugal _and_ thoughtful! It was nice of you to request that gift
from your mom, you saved her both shopping time and money and she also
knew she was giving you something you would really enjoy. Everybody
wins!
Which leads me to ask a question. We do have cable, and the spouse of
a friend of mine has asked me to tape multiple shows for him (we carry
a channel here which his cable system does not). He hasn't offered to
give me the videotape to do it (and they're pretty expensive, even if
you use the SLP setting). Would it be tacky if I taped the shows for
him and then gave them to him as a gift?
I think he's rather expecting them for free (which is why I haven't
taped anything for him to date, because I can't afford to buy a dozen
tapes every other month just to give away, as mean as that may sound)
but not as a gift per se.
Leigh
Bob Hale
le...@spamdeath.nbi.com wrote:
>
> Wow, frugal _and_ thoughtful! It was nice of you to request that gift
> from your mom, you saved her both shopping time and money and she also
> knew she was giving you something you would really enjoy. Everybody
> wins!
>
> Which leads me to ask a question. We do have cable, and the spouse of
> a friend of mine has asked me to tape multiple shows for him (we carry
> a channel here which his cable system does not). He hasn't offered to
> give me the videotape to do it (and they're pretty expensive, even if
> you use the SLP setting). Would it be tacky if I taped the shows for
> him and then gave them to him as a gift?
>
> I think he's rather expecting them for free (which is why I haven't
> taped anything for him to date, because I can't afford to buy a dozen
> tapes every other month just to give away, as mean as that may sound)
> but not as a gift per se.
>
> Leigh
IMHO it would be a nice gift.....if gift giving with these friends is a
normal thing you often do already. Homemade breads back and forth or
such. If it is not something you regulary do. Why start now? We
"fought" to get our families to only have kids presents, then selected
by the draw kids presents. Gift giving can get out of hand.
This is a case of: "Can you record xyy event Tuesday night for John?"
"Sure, do you have a blank tape?" "No, just use one of yours and I'll
replace it." "Sorry, I don't have any extras to spare." That's the
truth because all you bought or even stocked up on are PLANNED for your
own use.
We have no TV, the neighbors have DSS satelite. We don't even get to
watch the Olympics (we've been invited to watch TV anytime though). I
would never ask them to record something for me without a tape in my
hand when I asked and I wouldn't ask often. They occasionally loan us a
movie they recorded to watch, but I hate to impose on their generosity
often.
If "he's expecting them for free" as you wrote above---THAT'S TACKY!
Even good friends can be takers. You will have to do a lot of coupon
clipping and other frugal things just to make up for a "friends" needs.
If you read into your post responses recently on other threads, a very
few people put out a lot of energy (boy, girl scouts, brownies etc) time
and money and a lot of people ride along and enjoy their efforts for
free. The givers are often happy to do it and though irritated at times
still feel it's worth it for the children. The takers are so proud they
are "part" (any way their children are) of this great group--they do no
work, but they are part of a great group.
The givers are happy and the takers are happy and the takers never give
it another thought. They'd like to help but are just "too busy" to get
involved.
What am I saying. If being a giver makes you feel good and you have no
resentment for having to give....go for it tape the programs and make
them a loving caring gift. If you feel a twinge of feeling that you are
being taken advantage of, ask for the tapes. If you are watching a
different program, say you're sorry but that's when we watch xyz. Give
from the heart, but be strong enough not to be taken advantage
of----even by good friends.
--
Bob
Tom E Arnold
JTRUMPIE wrote:
>
> I struggle with wanting less. I have always had what i wanted and now that i
> am married (7yrs) and we are still struggling I find resentment about doing
> without.
>
> never wanted anything in her life (or so it seams). I admire that kind of
> person who is content.
>
I have long made a distinction between wants and needs. Someone else
here divided it further, between wants, desires and needs. Evaluate the
things you seek. Make sure your needs are met, and then look at what
remains, and determine whether that is more important to you than
something else.
There is a concept we got from a diet book many years ago. The
psychologist said to ask yourself if a particular food "hummed to you."
Once you are past eating for survival, distinguish between wants and
desires, in other words. We use this phrase to evaluate eating out, and
never wind up going to a restaurant just because we think another of us
wants to.
TEA/
Henry Forson
le...@spamdeath.nbi.com wrote: >
>
> Which leads me to ask a question. We do have cable, and the spouse of
> a friend of mine has asked me to tape multiple shows for him (we carry
> a channel here which his cable system does not). He hasn't offered to
> give me the videotape to do it (and they're pretty expensive, even if
> you use the SLP setting). Would it be tacky if I taped the shows for
> him and then gave them to him as a gift?
>
> I think he's rather expecting them for free (which is why I haven't
> taped anything for him to date, because I can't afford to buy a dozen
> tapes every other month just to give away, as mean as that may sound)
> but not as a gift per se.
>
> Leigh
>
taped; you are already being generous with your time & effort in doing
it in the first place, he should provide the tapes. If he doesn't,
he is taking major advantage. *Very tacky.* Tapes cost money.
He wants it, he should pay for it.
Melodi in VA
Tom E Arnold
Dawn wrote:
>
> On 10 Feb 1998 16:56:33 GMT, kri...@fas.harvard.edu (Heather
> Pisani-Kristl) wrote:
>
> >When I'm feeling acquisitive, tho', I go to the thrift shop or to a yard sale.
> >Does satisfy the shopping jones, on the cheap.
> >
> shopping urge hits and I have to follow it, I go to the grocery store
> and stock up on some loss leaders. It satisfies that feeling for me
> and I'm not bringing home more clutter.
I never had a strong shopping addiction as such, and a weekly grocery
run that fills two carts takes care of that. I get the equivalent thrill
from the dumpster diving run. Today's yielded more picture frames and
some liquid soap (see other recent threads for why that was such a
thrill).
TEA/
Jennifer Boone
Also if you have cable TV HGTV has many shows on decorating "cheaply".
Decorating Cents, Decorating with Kitty Bartholomew, and Room by Room are
just three I can think of now. Most show repainting or refinishing what you
already have or going to yard sales and finding cheap stuff.
--
Jennifer
jbo...@columbus.rr.com
http://boonedocks.simplenet.com/jen
"Growing older but not up.." Jimmy Buffett
Justine Moline wrote in message
<6c5vsi$k7h$1...@newsd-152.iap.bryant.webtv.net>...
Rbr lubber
> This morning before we left the house I told him about the Thrift Shop
> Voodoo about deciding what you want to find, like I had read about on
> this group. His wish was to find an 8mm projector to go with the
> (working!!!) 8mm Yashica movie camera we found a couple of weeks ago
> for $3.
>
> Guess what! Yes, of COURSE he found it (it's Valentine's Day, after
> all) and it was $3 too! So now for $6 plus film we can have some
> funky 8mm home movies and watch them projected on the wall.
>
>
> Leigh
Welcome to the Psychic Shopping Network. Carolyn
Donna
Right! If he asks if you've taped his shows yet just reply, "No, I
was waiting for you to bring me the blank tapes." Or, "I'll be glad
to do it as soon as you bring me the blank tapes."
Donna
le...@spamdeath.nbi.com
Henry Forson <hen...@wt.infi.net> wrote:
>I don't want to offend you, but this man is *using.* If he wants stuff
>taped; you are already being generous with your time & effort in doing
>it in the first place, he should provide the tapes. If he doesn't,
>he is taking major advantage. *Very tacky.* Tapes cost money.
>He wants it, he should pay for it.
Believe me, I'm not offended. This is the spouse of a very dear
friend, but that doesn't mean I actually like him. I know that sounds
bad, but...
The only reason I give this guy a holiday gift at all is because I
don't want to cause strife in their household. It's that old song,
you have a friend who marries a jerk, what do you do except try to
grin and bear it? If I do something to tick this guy off, it's my
friend who will pay the price, not me.
To top things off, a few weeks ago I asked this guy if I could borrow
his Wallace & Grommit tapes. He said no!! I just laughed and said
"okay". I mean, what else?
Leigh
a lump of coal is looking promising
Tom E Arnold
Wendy E. Betts wrote:
>
> In article <34e1e2e9...@news.mindspring.com>,
> <too_...@spam.so.no.address> wrote:
> >>> obfrugal(is that obligatory frugal tip?):
> >>
> >
> >The way I've heard it is that it means "Obligatory Frugal"... a way to
> >throw in a frugal tip when the post might not actually be on topic for
> >the newsgroup.... like this one ;)
>
> What's really annoying is that I'm *constantly* seeing people put in
> ObFrugal when their post WAS on topic!
>
Which is why some of my "ObFrugals" are off-topic. Remember - swallow
your tea before reading any of my posts.
TEA/
Blfribourg
OK, I've learned by lesson. I needed a big ace bandage to tape my hamstring.
I wound up buying two at Walmart for $11 (total). After I used them, we were
out shopping and stopped by the dollar store.
Yep, you guessed it! Large size bandages for $1
Guess I'll be stopping there first next time I need something!
Barb
Linda Jacobs
We don't have cable....our neighborhood has only 24 homes & the cable
company won't hook us up. So I bought hubby DSS for Christmas and just as
soon as our new roof is finished, up it goes! I have caught glimpses of HGTV
when visiting others and I can't wait to get it! I've also seen Christofer
Lowe and think he is great...it hadn't occured to me to replace my magazines
with cable shows that I'll be paying for anyway.
Thanks for the tips! (And I've got tons of old NFL tapes I can record over
now that DH has discovered NASCAR!)
Frugally chic here I come!
Linda J
Jennifer Boone wrote in message <6c8bm1$o...@m5.columbus.rr.com>...
>Also if you have cable TV HGTV has many shows on decorating "cheaply".
>Decorating Cents, Decorating with Kitty Bartholomew, and Room by Room are
>just three I can think of now. >
Donna
My fil had an old projector and 8mm movies. We wanted to have them
copied to a vcr tape but didn't know if it would be worth the cost.
Didn't have a screen so we watched them on the wall, as you said.
Then I had the idea to tape them with our new video recorder. Hubby
said "that won't work". It did! We set up the tripod and focused in
and let the camera tape. Found we got the best picture by having the
lights off, just the light from the kitchen two rooms away and the
light from the projecter. This made the low light warning on the
camera come on but that didn't matter.
Hubby was telling someone about this the other day, of course I
reminded him he had said it wouldn't work! If you don't have a video
camera, maybe a friend with one would come tape the movies for you.
When using the 8mm camcorder, you can either make comments about the
old movies as they run and have it on the vcr tape you make or when
you copy the video tape to vcr, don't plug in the sound wire.
Donna
Roots
Linda Jacobs wrote in message :
>Bonita Kale wrote>...
>>
>>Are the shelter magazines getting -worse-? Or is it me? Better Homes and
>>Gardens had an article about a newly divorced woman who bought a cottage
>>outside San Francisco! <
>No, it's not you....the magazines are making me crazy. (Snip) . I've been
looking
>at the mags for ideas and am super frustrated....every remodel or update
>they show would be very expensive to have done, or doesn't work for a
simple
>house.
Another problem is the COST of the magazine. The price of Better Homes and
Gardens magazines have gone up a dollar over the last month. I used to buy
them, but not at $5.95 (Cdn.)
On that note, last Fall I came across a used magazine store. I bought a
few decorating mags that were only a few months old. I'd wait 6 months or
a year to get TRADITIONAL HOME or other BH&G mags for a buck.
Has anyone else been to a used magazine store? This was the first I'd ever
seen.
Roots
>I am *thoroughly* enjoying this thread. I have been doing doing major
>decluttering for nearly a *year* now (huge older house) & have thrown
>out roughly 10,000 old computer techie magazines so far.
I was at an antique/collectables store last week that was selling "antique"
home decorating magazines from the '40s, '50s and early '60s. They were
fascinating.
Computers are different though. Unlike decorating trends, I can't imagine
the Commodore 64 making a comeback anytime soon. ;-)
Roots
Donna wrote in message
>My fil had an old projector and 8mm movies.
>Then I had the idea to tape them with our new video recorder. Hubby
>said "that won't work". It did!
Actually it also works pretty well taping a slide show and you don't have to
sit in the dark.
Nancy I
>
> I am *thoroughly* enjoying this thread. I have been doing doing major
> decluttering for nearly a *year* now (huge older house) & have thrown
> out roughly 10,000 old computer techie magazines so far.
>
Nancy
linda-renee
le...@spamdeath.nbi.com wrote:
> To top things off, a few weeks ago I asked this guy if I could borrow
> his Wallace & Grommit tapes. He said no!! I just laughed and said
> "okay". I mean, what else?
He said *that* and you're worried that you'd be tacky? It's too bad you
even feel like you should give this person any kind of gift. He hadn't
any problem saying "no," and maybe you shouldn't, either.
Tell him you'd love to copy his favorite shows *over* his Wallace &
Grommit tapes (BTW, what are those?).
--
Linda
"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing
himself." --Tolstoy
linda-renee
Roots wrote:
> On that note, last Fall I came across a used magazine store. I bought a
> few decorating mags that were only a few months old. I'd wait 6 months or
> a year to get TRADITIONAL HOME or other BH&G mags for a buck.
> Has anyone else been to a used magazine store? This was the first I'd ever
> seen.
Our library asks people to recycle their magazines. You put a label on
the mag and it goes to the first taker.
I stopped buying a lot of magazines when they put up web sites.
Try http://www.goodhousekeeping.com
http://www.countryliving.com
http://www.bhglive.com/index.shtml
Sandbagger1
linda-renee <lindarenee*kelly'smom*@mindspring.com> wrote in article
<34E9ED...@mindspring.com>...
> le...@spamdeath.nbi.com wrote:
>
> >
>
> Tell him you'd love to copy his favorite shows *over* his Wallace &
> Grommit tapes (BTW, what are those?).
>
> --
> Linda
>
> "Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing
> himself." --Tolstoy
>
Wallace and Grommit are characters created by the Wonderful Nick Parks, a
clay animator. May I also recommend his Creature Comforts, another superb
short film
Henry Forson
I could say yes, but it would be a lie. My trash hauler doesn't do
any paper except regular newspaper, without the slick inserts.
The city I live in finally just added glossy mag recycling to their
recycling station. In the future, as long as it doesn't slow down my
decluttering too much, I'll be putting what I can in that huge bin.
What I have left will probably fill it once at least.
My remaining decluttering time is narrowing, but I try to recycle when
I can.
Melodi in VA
frug...@webtv.net
One of our thrift stores has used magazines. I get all of my Good
Housekeeping for 15¢ each about 2 or 3 months old. A few magazines
are 50¢ each but that's still frugal! Janet
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We are 'trying' to " lead quiet lives, mind our own business, work with
our hands, not be dependent on others". I Th 4:11,12 NIV
John Bomberger
Certainly more frugal than throwing them in the trash. Recycling is
almost always frugal, both for you and the folks that reuse the items
Barbara
On Wed, 18 Feb 1998 01:28:45 GMT, bra...@mindspring.com (Bill) wrote:
>Nancy I <ninsley...@bu.edu> wrote:
>
>
>>> out roughly 10,000 old computer techie magazines so far.
>
>>But you threw them in the recycle bin, right? Please say "yes"!
>
>Nancy...if that a frugal thing to do?
>
>
> Join us at Myrtlewood Farms!!
> Accuracy of Recipe contents not warranted.
> Work Hard,Be Happy,Save Money,Irritate a liberal!
> http://www.mindspring.com/~bjbear/brawny.html
> Knoxville, TN USA
Henry Forson
Bill wrote:
>
> Nancy I <ninsley...@bu.edu> wrote:
>
> >> out roughly 10,000 old computer techie magazines so far.
>
> >But you threw them in the recycle bin, right? Please say "yes"!
>
> Nancy...if that a frugal thing to do?
>
> Join us at Myrtlewood Farms!!
Why wouldn't it be frugal? Recycling, when possible, is a good thing.
Melodi in VA
TriciaTn
This reminds me of a frugal gift one BIL gave to another BIL for his 60th
birthday. Old photos were collected from all of the siblings. 1st BIL put them
all on videotape along with appropriate sound. We all watched the tape
together, reminiscing about days and loved ones long gone. It remains among
the "favorite things" for the birthday boy, and come to think of it, provided
all of us with some wonderful, frugal entertainment.
Pat
elisabeth pletcher-harincar
Wallace and Grommit are wonderful! There is no good way to explain them, you
just have to see them....my daughter (2 yrs old) loves them and I love
watching them with her! I can't wait to find Creature Comforts.....
Elisabeth
Jennifer Morgan
In this month's Better Homes and Gardens, someone wrote in about a
relative who converted old home movies to video, but didn't add a
soundtrack. Instead, he surreptitiously recorded the family's reactions
to the video (laughter, old stories, etc.) as they watched it, and used
that as a soundtrack. It sounded like a really neat idea to me.
Jennifer
--
Please remove the ".xx" from my e-mail address to reply. I'm *trying*
to avoid the junk e-mailers.
Barbara
On Tue, 17 Feb 1998 15:04:31 -0500, linda-renee
<lindarenee*kelly'smom*@mindspring.com> wrote:
<stuff snipped for space)
>
>Tell him you'd love to copy his favorite shows *over* his Wallace &
>Grommit tapes (BTW, what are those?).
>
>--
>Linda
>
Wallace & Grommit are two characters in a stop-motion cartoon series
by English animator Nick Park. The three cartoons are "A Grand Night
Out," "The Wrong Trousers," and "A Close Shave." Very funny stuff.
Roots
>> To top things off, a few weeks ago I asked this guy if I could borrow
>> his Wallace & Grommit tapes. He said no!! I just laughed and said
>> "okay". I mean, what else?
>Tell him you'd love to copy his favorite shows *over* his Wallace &
>Grommit tapes (BTW, what are those?).
Ah, the brilliant Academy Award winnning Nick Park, CBE.
You have a treat in store. Check your local videostore and surf to:
http://members.aol.com/apgolfer/wallaceandgromit/index.html
http://weber.u.washington.edu/~krone/wg.html
http://com.bu.edu/anonymous/pub/webpuz/
http://rummelplatz.uni-mannheim.de/~mfeld/wallace&gromit.html
http://stud-www.uni-marburg.de/~Hutzler/wallgrom.htm
Official home page at:
Traffic is light , but you could try the newsgroup
alt.binaries.wallacegromit
linda-renee
Merry Stahel wrote:
> Stenciling is a cheap alternative to painting a whole room. My sister
> doesn't even use patterns, she just painted little sunflowers all
> around the top edge of her powder-room wall. BTW, that bathroom is
> cows and sunflowers - so she painted the cupboards white, with black
> spots, the toilet has black spots painted in the lid, and she hung a
> poster from a calendar (with cows peeking through sunflowers) on the
> door. The floor is black and white tiles. A hat with sunflowers on
> the one wall finished the look. Her and the DH told me they spent
> money on the gallon of white paint and the quarter gallon of black
> paint (it's a small room, under the stairs). Everything else,
> including the toilet and the tiles, was salvaged. Someone gave her a
> cow soapdish and pump dispenser to finish the look.
I saw a project on Lynnette Jennings's show (and she's normally not a
frugal decorator) where she took an ordinary kitchen sponge and used it
to stamp color blocks on the bathroom wall. It looked incredibly
simple. I've been meaning to try it.
I just painted over my old, beat-up (bought at used furniture store many
moons ago) This End Up-type coffee table with forest green paint, and
stenciled some designs across the top with leftover white paint. Gave
the table a new lease on life.
--
Linda
I can only please one person per day.
Today is not your day.
Tomorrow doesn't look good, either.
Holly Sullivan
> From: Nancy I <ninsley...@bu.edu>
> > I am *thoroughly* enjoying this thread. I have been doing doing major
> > decluttering for nearly a *year* now (huge older house) & have thrown
> >
> But you threw them in the recycle bin, right? Please say "yes"!
We have recycling here (San Diego) but glossy paper (i.e., magazines)
aren't accepted. :-(
Besides, I read the home dec mags at the library. Now if they'd just get a
subscription to my favorite quilt magazine..
-- Via DLG2000 v1.2.4
:)---Holly---<--<-@ * Barony of Calafia, CAID * San Diego, CA * (grin)
TechnoMages Guild BBS 619 549-0278 http://www.geocities.com/Wellesley/4201
Quarterly barry wavy, argent and sable, and gules, a mermaid displayed
proper between in bend sinister two compass-stars sable, fimbriated argent.
Bob Hale
linda-renee wrote:
>
>
> I saw a project on Lynnette Jennings's show (and she's normally not a
> frugal decorator) where she took an ordinary kitchen sponge and used it
> to stamp color blocks on the bathroom wall. It looked incredibly
> simple. I've been meaning to try it.
>
> I just painted over my old, beat-up (bought at used furniture store many
> moons ago) This End Up-type coffee table with forest green paint, and
> stenciled some designs across the top with leftover white paint. Gave
> the table a new lease on life.
> --
> Linda
When our next door neighbor painted their 5 year old twins room, they
painted the entire room white. Then they took differnt colors of paint
and dipped their hands in the paint and put colored hand prints all over
the walls. Mostly the parents hands, but let the twins do some "hand
painting" with close supervision. It looks really neat.
--
Bob
Mac-N-Stuff Used Macintosh Computers, Monitors, Peripherals.
Use our links to pricing used Apple/Macintosh computers and monitors.
http://www.macnstuff.com E-mail b...@macnstuff.com
Bob Hale
linda-renee wrote:
>
> I saw a project on Lynnette Jennings's show (and she's normally not a
> frugal decorator) where she took an ordinary kitchen sponge and used it
> to stamp color blocks on the bathroom wall. It looked incredibly
> simple. I've been meaning to try it.
>
> I just painted over my old, beat-up (bought at used furniture store many
> moons ago) This End Up-type coffee table with forest green paint, and
> stenciled some designs across the top with leftover white paint. Gave
> the table a new lease on life.
> --
> Linda
>
Before you start, get different texture/patterned sponges and try it on
sample material. I've heard true sea sponges make the best patterns.
Often plain "kitchen" sponges are too smooth textured and just leave a
square block of paint instead of a nice textured block of paint (block =
whatever shape you are using)
Compressed sponges. I have some, but have no idea where it to get it. It
is sponge that is about 1/8 inch thick--very compressed. When you wet
it, it expands to about 1/2 to 1 inch thick. Printers sometimes print on
it for advertising gimmicks. It is great for cutting into shapes for
kids to use in sponge painting. Rabbits, stars, circles, dinasaurs, any
shape you can cut. It's not like cutting a big thick sponge, it's like
cutting a piece of cardboard like you find in some shirts.
Also take a square of it, wet it, fold a coin in it, then put it in a
vice and compress it--takes a day or two for the sponge to dry out
again. Now you have a fun "toy" for a child. They drop it in water and
get a coin and a "big" sponge. Amazed looks and laughs are part of the
fun.
Jan
>
> > Nancy...if that a frugal thing to do?
> >
> > Join us at Myrtlewood Farms!!
>
>
Thanks,
--
jrg14@*spamfree*cornell.edu
*^_*^_*^_*^_*^_*^_*^_*^_*^_*^_*^_*^_*^_*^_*^_*^_
EcoVillage Ithaca, looking for people to help
plan, and live in, the second neighborhood group.
for info: http://www.cfe.cornell.edu/ecovillage/
linda-renee
Bob Hale wrote:
> linda-renee wrote:
> > I saw a project on Lynnette Jennings's show (and she's normally not a
> > frugal decorator) where she took an ordinary kitchen sponge and used it
> > to stamp color blocks on the bathroom wall. It looked incredibly
> > simple. I've been meaning to try it.
> Before you start, get different texture/patterned sponges and try it on
> sample material. I've heard true sea sponges make the best patterns.
> Often plain "kitchen" sponges are too smooth textured and just leave a
> square block of paint instead of a nice textured block of paint (block =
> whatever shape you are using)
Nope, the whole idea was to get a square block of paint--it looked like
painted bricks, in the pattern of choice. Sea sponges don't normally
come in squares or rectangles.
Blfribourg
>>
>> I saw a project on Lynnette Jennings's show (and she's normally not a
>> frugal decorator) where she took an ordinary kitchen sponge and used it
>> to stamp color blocks on the bathroom wall. It looked incredibly
>> simple. I've been meaning to try it.
>>
>> moons ago) This End Up-type coffee table with forest green paint, and
>> stenciled some designs across the top with leftover white paint. Gave
>> the table a new lease on life.
>> --
>> Linda
>>
>
>sample material.
I did a great decorating effect with a sea sponge and blue paint. I bought a
quart of dark blue. After painting the wall (this is 1/2 of a wall where the
bottom is tongue and groove pine) I sponged the dark blue. Then I lightened it
about 50% with the white and sponged again. (letting dry between coats) I
topped it off with a light sponging of white. Everyone that comes over thinks
it's fancy wallpaper, and it looks great!
BTW- I still have the sponge and it could easily be used again (I lent it to a
friend who used it for her bathroom)
Barb
Dorrie Shinobu J.
On Wed, 18 Feb 1998 00:06:48 -0500, frug...@webtv.net wrote:
>One of our thrift stores has used magazines. I get all of my Good
>Housekeeping for 15=A2 each about 2 or 3 months old. A few magazines
>are 50=A2 each but that's still frugal! Janet
>
We have several magazine recycling bins at work, and a few for
newspapers. About once or twice a week, I sort through and pull some
temporary entertainment. After my friends and I are done with 'em,
they either find new homes, or get dumped back into the bin for the
next finder. I routinely add my hairdresser's bag of mags she saves
for me - those Glamor magazines and Men's Health ones don't stay very
long !
There's also a Raleigh NC bookstore - Readers Corner - that everyone
loves. Outdoor bookshelves, out 24-7, offer paperbacks, textbooks,
even records, for either 10 cents on one side, 25 cents on the other,
the proceeds going to NPR (National Public Radio). Sure, some people
haul off a truckload without paying, but those shelves are never empty
! And you can always dump yer old books and watch to see how long they
stay. Those Reader's Digest Condensed have an extremely long shelf
life there ! The bookshelves have really added traffic to that used
bookstore, and won them numerous awards, so ya might wanna mention it
to your local reseller.
Frugal reading is great !
the newly-wed Mrs. Dorrie Jones
(who had one of the least expensive weddings in history, and is glad
of it !)
DB
Myrltewood Farms is Bill Stoneman's attempt to keep spamming this
newgroup for his own self promotion. He thinks if he has a web page with
some recipes on it, it means he is a farmer? I don't get it.
Bob Hale
Congratulation Mrs. Dorrie Jones
@-->---A rose for you and may your married life be happy and long
lasting.
An idea some of you may start at work is get a book case(s) and put your
already read books and magazines on the shelves. (More frugal, have the
company buy one, or get one out of the warehouse) It becomes a FREE
library right at work. Have someone with a nice color printer make a
LIBRARY sign. We had one (when I had a job) and it was really handy.
Ours was in a coffee nook.
Jan
In article <34EBD6...@macnstuff.com>, b...@macnstuff.com wrote:
> linda-renee wrote:
>
> >
> > I saw a project on Lynnette Jennings's show (and she's normally not a
> > frugal decorator) where she took an ordinary kitchen sponge and used it
> > to stamp color blocks on the bathroom wall. It looked incredibly
> > simple. I've been meaning to try it.
I used sea sponges in a family/sun room and am really happy with it.
I first painted the room with thick, textured paint. All the sales folks
tried to talk me out of it, said it was hard to work with. Oh well. I
bought white, put it on with a bigheavy brush, sort of squiggled in a
verticle pattern.
Then I got two shades of peach, dark and very pale. I sponged the dark
peach over the white textured walls, pretty solid to cover most but not
all the white. Then I sponged the lighter peach over the dark. Greak
multidimensional feeling. It was recommended to cover all th is with a
clear seal coat, but we are two adults, I didn't bother. I definitely
would if it were a busier household, too much work to have kids handprints
all over it.
Diagnostix Plus
I have sponge painted a lot (as I've said before, frugal decorating is a
big hobby of mine). I have used a regular kitchen sponge, but I tear
off chunks around the edges, so it is not a straight rectangle. Use the
biggest sponge you can, and one with a lot of grooves. When you are
sponging, take breaks often and step back to review your work! I find
that choosing colors in the same family helps (like light and dark peach
over white or light beige, or tan and gold over copper, or even VERY
pale blue over white). Good luck.
-Gabrielle (please don't e-mail me)
http://www.diagplus.com/gab.htm
Robert L. Embrey
Do you get the home and garden channel on TV? It's great ... all the
decorating mags I use to get..you can now see on TV,only better...no more mags
laying all over the place(well, except all the pc mags.. but after reading one
of the articles this month, my husband found out he can now get it on the web
for free and no clutter) and they also have all the quilting and craft shows on
the same channel. If you don't get it on TV, you can pull them up on the web.
Happy decorating!
San
PLeenhouts
>Subject: Hand Painting
I'm not sure if this is hand painting, per se, but when one of my relatives
painted their kid's rooms, they used squirt guns with four or five primary
colors.
One color at a time was used; the kids had to practice first on scrap paper so
they could get the "burst" right.
The kids had a blast, and love to show their rooms off to every visitor that
comes by...I'm always impressed by how clean they keep the rooms...'cuz if they
aren't clean, they can't be shown off!
Pete
Bob Hale
>
> Melodi in VA
> Obfrugal: For an inexpensive rave review appetizer to bring to parties,
> I make a large loaf of whole-grain bread, cool thoroughly, cut a bowl
> shape in the middle & remove bread chunks, fill with a dip. Serve with
> bread chunks on the side. I usually make 4 loaves of bread at a time,
> so I cut up 1 loaf for dipping. I also serve this idea for summertime
> dinners with salad on the side.
Our next door neighbors introduced us to this bread bowl with chunks on
the side. Her recipe is from the back of the box of "Knorr Vegetable
Soup and Recipe Mix" or she uses "Mrs. Grass" soup mix.
Here it is:
Trophy Winning Spinach Dip
1 pgk (10 oz) frozen chopped spinach thawed and drained
1 container (16 oz) sour cream
1 cup Real or light Mayonnaise or Low Fat Mayonnaise dressing
3 green onions, chopped
1 pkg (1.4 ox) Knorr Vegetable Soup & Recipe Mix
1 can (8oz) water chestnuts, drained and chopped (she doesn't use them)
1 large unsliced oval or round loaf of bread, hollowed out.
1. in medium bowl, stir all ingredients until well mixed. Cover; chill 2
hours to blend flavors.
2. Stir before serving. If desired, spoon dip into hollowed out bread
loaf.
Makes about 4 cups.
Sharon made some tonight. She likes it and she "hates" spinach. One
note, if your in a hurry for a taste, the dehydrated veggies are rather
hard and crunchie --- may loosen a filling if a problem exists --- but I
couldn't wait. Delicious.
Steve Dropkin
In article <19980219144...@ladder03.news.aol.com>,
blfri...@aol.com (Blfribourg) wrote:
> I did a great decorating effect with a sea sponge and blue paint. I bought a
> quart of dark blue. After painting the wall (this is 1/2 of a wall where the
> bottom is tongue and groove pine) I sponged the dark blue. Then I
lightened it
> about 50% with the white and sponged again. (letting dry between coats) I
> topped it off with a light sponging of white. Everyone that comes over thinks
> it's fancy wallpaper, and it looks great!
I've found that the best sponge painting is _not_ a group project. For the
sake of a consistent appearance, it's best if _one_ person does all the
sponging (of at least one color).
--
Thought for today: Did you know that computers run on smoke? You can
tell because if the smoke escapes the computer stops working...
Jo Anne Slaven
Bob Hale wrote:
> Our next door neighbors introduced us to this bread bowl with chunks on
> the side. Her recipe is from the back of the box of "Knorr Vegetable
> Soup and Recipe Mix" or she uses "Mrs. Grass" soup mix.
> Here it is:
[spinach dip recipe snipped - netscape wouldn't let me post it all
again]
I've been making this stuff for five or six years. It's a Christmas Eve
staple in my family, along with my caramel tarts. (I'm the only one in
the family stupi^H^H^H^H^Henergetic enough to boil a can of condensed
milk for 3 hours.)
Jo Anne
peggy struwe
: linda-renee wrote:
: >
: > I saw a project on Lynnette Jennings's show (and she's normally not a
: > frugal decorator) where she took an ordinary kitchen sponge and used it
: > to stamp color blocks on the bathroom wall. It looked incredibly
: > simple. I've been meaning to try it.
: >
I teach stenciling and painting at Michael's and this is one I have
taught in the past. You can use acrylic or latex paint. If you want
a number of bright colors, it is sometimes cheaper to use acrylic. If
you are using 1 or 2 colors, you might use latex. Both work well.
Sponges for this are best bought in a bag at the dollar store for
about 10 of them, really cheap. cut them to shape, in this case
squares. Always wet the sponge and squeeze out as much water as
possible. Then sponge on. Paper plates, or meat trays work best to
hold the paint. You might want to thin the paint with a little water,
don't load the tray or sponge. Dip sponge, touch to paper towel to
take excess off, then sponge wall. If you put less paint on tray,
might not have to do that.
It is usefull to paint some poster board with your wall paint for
several coats. Then use that to practice until you have the technique
down and it looks like you want it to. Then start on the wall.
A natural sea sponge is used for wall sponging, but I wouldn't use it
for this. They are used when you want to have different texture and
shape, but are expensive and wouldn't work well for this.
Peggy
--
Peggy Struwe
pst...@unlinfo.unl.edu