Saving Money... Are you picky about details, or happy with what works?

[island14]

Some people like everything just perfect, and in every little detail.

I truly respect that! and sometimes wish I was the same.

But am often too lazy to care myself, or sometimes it is just not affordable...

While I am not quite a "there I fixed it kinda guy".. I have learned to live with less than perfect in my life for many things.

For instance.. the left side mirror of my motorcycle was broke a few years ago when the bike fell over due to the kickstand being in the sand without a rock under it.

Instead of fixing it, I removed the right side mirror to match...

The right side mirror is now in our bathroom... and I use it for shaving....

Hey.. I'm practical... :island14:


For some reason I sometimes think living in a third world country for about 11 years now has possibly affected my judgement though sometimes.

For instance.. How many of you could bring home live chickens for your wife to cook for dinner?

For us it is normal, but I'm going to guess if most of you came home with a few live chickens and said.. here honey, lookyhere what I brought you to cook for dinner.. it might not be as appreciated so much? :island14:


Our daily cooking is done with firewood, we have an outside kitchen so not to smoke up the house, and keeps the mess out of our inside home kitchen, also saves on the electric bill.
(and we are not dependent on the electric company)

The inside kitchen has a one burner electric stove (kinda fancy) but only used by my wife to make midnight snacks like popcorn and Ramen noodle soups, possibly fry some eggs now and then.

(my wife is spoiled)

Our laundry machine is a neighbor lady.. and it is all done by hand.

My wife does not need to do this as she has way to much other stuff to do dealing with the kids and schools daily (again I spoil her)

The cost of getting the laundry done is 400p a week.. and that is better than normal local pay. (about $10 a week for 2 days work) so I figure if I lived in the states, the electric machines would cost that much or more in quarters.

We lived without running water for over 6 years, but to be honest.. I kinda like it now that we have it...
(but in hard times, we can still get it out with a bucket if needed)

I cannot imagine being without electric.. well.. we did have to go without for a little over three months, but with the help of a generator part time we managed to get by.
(again thanks to those who helped make that happen) :cert:

Sometimes I think money is not really about things, but more about a better quality of life..

But to be honest? even if I had money, I would not change much about how we life our life... not much anyways...


I'm sure a lot of you also do some things different than many.

What do you do to scrimp on... to get by and save money?

:bigears:

[DAB]

i've had to let Jeeves go. going to miss his work. but with the savings, i can afford to buy factory ammo and not spend hours and hours a week reloading (if i could find components). we wash dishes after use instead of tossing them after getting dirty. walk my own dog. haul my own water (there are services that do that, for a fee).

:leaving:

i have everything i need, and most things i want. i'm content.

[VITE1]

I live below my means for two reasons
1) Shit happens and sooner or later my income will shrink I try to save at least 20% each year and get close to it most years.
2) I don't like nor am I good at doing many of the normal maintenance items and hire qualified individuals to do those things.

[island14]

Ok, but what would any of your wifes say if you handed them a live chicken and said cook this for supper dear? :island14:

[DAB]

Ok, but what would any of your wifes say if you handed them a live chicken and said cook this for supper dear? :island14:

:ironchef: :kick:

[MrPeabody]

I moved from the heart of Silicon Valley to a small town in Northern California over 20 years ago. There are lots of trade-offs to be made with this kind of move. I can't make as much money here, but there is no traffic. We have less than a handful of good restaurants in my county, vs. any kind of great food you want in the big city. The upside is there are few chain and franchise places here, and there have been some good family owned places here. For instance, I am one mile from the best pizza I have ever had. And not being near junk food franchises is a good thing.

Island, I know this is nowhere near the changes you made in your life when you left the US, but it's enough to understand what you are talking about. Anytime I miss the city, I just take a deep breath and enjoy the cleanest air in the country (my county is certified as having that) Because the richest man in Silicon Valley doesn't get to breathe that every day. I think a simpler life is a better life, and I think that although I may not have material wealth, I have added many years to my life by moving here.

I would have gone nuts living here when I was younger, though.

[island14]

:ironchef: :kick:


See?

That's what I thought. :yesnod:

Spoiled American women.. :toetap:

[MrPeabody]

Ok, but what would any of your wifes say if you handed them a live chicken and said cook this for supper dear? :island14:

My wife would have no problem with this. Just don't get between her knife and the chicken, though.:yesnod:

[VITE1]

Ok, but what would any of your wifes say if you handed them a live chicken and said cook this for supper dear? :island14:

Funny side story.

I was watching those Sunday AM car modification programs on SPIKE TV. My wife busts my chops and says" You will never do any of that" So I asked her why she watched all those cooking shows?

I got the silent treatment for two weeks. I enjoyed myself.

[DAB]

See?

That's what I thought. :yesnod:

Spoiled American women.. :toetap:

i usually cook dinner.

[island14]

I live below my means for two reasons
1) Shit happens and sooner or later my income will shrink I try to save at least 20% each year and get close to it most years.
2) I don't like nor am I good at doing many of the normal maintenance items and hire qualified individuals to do those things.

I can do most maintenance kinda stuff myself, and do get stuck with it at times, but would rather not if I had a choice. (i'm lazy)

I use to love working on race cars, but would hate working on a car car.. like even a Vette :Island14:

[island14]

I would have gone nuts living here when I was younger, though.

I would have been bored to death living where I live now when I was a teen...

Now I love it.. I might change in a few years but I doubt it.

I don't need the bright lights or the bar life or the big city life... or anything like that anymore.

But even now If I was single with no kids.. I doubt I would head back to the city.

I like these simple province island girls.. :D

:cert:

[island14]

Funny side story.

I was watching those Sunday AM car modification programs on SPIKE TV. My wife busts my chops and says" You will never do any of that" So I asked her why she watched all those cooking shows?

I got the silent treatment for two weeks. I enjoyed myself.


:lol:

[VITE1]

I can do most maintenance kinda stuff myself, and do get stuck with it at times, but would rather not if I had a choice. (i'm lazy)

I use to love working on race cars, but would hate working on a car car.. like even a Vette :Island14:

I worked on cars from the late 60's ( Helping Dad) to around the Early 90's Then Between work, cars getting to complicated and the cost of buying and maintaining the right tools and equipment to do the job correctly I hired people.

[Grey Ghost]

I'm a DIY'er - I enjoy learning new things and how to repair them plus save money. I bought a brand new '93 Trans Am. Later, I realized a big portion of my income was going for a car payment and insurance for it. Never again, I said. Just not worth it to me. I've owned a couple of midyears, etc..it was like having money in the bank, but having fun with it. I'm always careful not to get upside down with my civil war collectables or old vehicles. Food is all about convenience for me. I cook, but I'm not going to put hours into doing it. So, if I can buy something ready to throw on the grill. I'll pay the extra to avoid the hassle of cleaning and cutting it up.

[Entropy]

Ok, but what would any of your wifes say if you handed them a live chicken and said cook this for supper dear? :island14:
Wouldn't go well, but I'm the one who does the butchering (I've butchered my own deer on several occasions). I've also butchered wild turkeys every time I've shot them. She's willing to cook once that part is done.

I can't complain though. My wife is more than willing to go on wilderness trips camping for 2 weeks in the woods.