Thursday 7 December 2017

Blogging...

How or why one writes a blog, is entirely up to that individual. Writing styles change as do reasons for writing.

For example, when I started, we lived a simple, frugal lifestyle. Not excessively so, just having an awareness of food waste and willy nilly money spending.

We had had almost 6 years of huge financial restraint (see our war diary) and although things were better, we still had a way to go before feeling we were out of that particular, restrained way of living.

When you have lived, cutting all spending to the bone, it stays with you. Well, it stayed with us. Again, I can't speak for anyone else.

Time has moved on and we still live a similar lifestyle, it just seems normal to us. We try not to preach about how we live, or suggest others do the same. You may or may not find my blog appealing, but at the least, hope you find some useful information on it.

I often wonder about changing the title but with many people reading each day - though few comment:( - wouldn't want them 'to lose me'.

We no longer live that hugely restrained way of frugal living but still live what we think of as frugal and simply. We menu plan, use food stock taking charts and most if not all meals and baking, are cooked from scratch. We make our own washing machine liquid (recipe has changed many times until the current one which we really like - thanks Mr. H. M.) White vinegar has replaced fabric conditioner and is also used amongst other things, to clean the house.

Yes, we have a light lunch out when on our walking days but that is our absolute treat. We are careful with our money and manage to save every month. We budget for changing the car (which we have just done), all our bills, logs for the burner, an annual holiday and gardening things. We have a small garden with raised beds to grow summer vegetables (plus leeks for winter), fruit trees and a fruit cage for soft fruit.

We have both worked hard during our lives but for now, I cannot contribute any money as I have to wait another few years for a delayed government pension. We live on the pension provided for DB. As we age, we hope our savings will allow for any help we may need in our own home rather than in a home, but who knows.

My blog is slowly evolving, but then, so are we. Yes, it still reflects mundane things, things that concern me or those around us, but it is primarily for my family members, so they can touch base with what we are up to. If it is also of use to others, then that is a bonus.

For whatever reason people give up blogging, that is their choice. Whether they choose to leave their blog up or take it down, is again their choice. I prefer the former but wouldn’t vilify a blogger for the latter choice. Each to their own.




28 comments:

  1. Hi Frugal in Norfolk, I do follow your blog (I don't have a blog but I have several I like to read for inspiration and yours is one of them) and I have never commented on your blog before but I really like to read your blog for the tips you give and your day to day experiences. I think this post is very well said. I am retired and my husband and I are lucky enough to both have reasonable Civil Service pensions which are a help. We are frugal and have always been so and our two sons are the same, our way of life has rubbed off on them. Like you we still enjoy life but are sensible how we live. We have no debt and are truly grateful for that and we save for large items like replacing the car, having any work done on the house etc. Thank you for writing an interesting blog and whilst I would be sorry if you stopped blogging it is as you said your choice absolutely 100% and the same for any one else as well. Regards Sue H.

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    1. Susan, nice to hear from you! I have no intention of stopping writing but can’t always find something to write about every day.

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  2. Wise words. I know my diary blog has changed considerably since I started and as for the frugal one, it is totally different now.
    J x

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    1. It can be a challenge to find things to write about and my blogging mojo disappears sometimes.

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    2. I know what you mean. Sometimes my offerings are, in themselves, very frugal, but I think that's OK, it doesn't have to be a long effort. I always find this blog to be very interesting, long or short, so thank you very much.

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  3. My blog has evolved too, even in the relatively short time I've been writing it, you're right, we all evolve and change with the passage of time. I've always found your blog really interesting and useful, although I apologise if I don't always say so - I'm very bad at commenting, sorry about that. I suppose when regular bloggers just stop blogging, with no explanation whatsoever, it does make us wonder why. Not that anyone is obliged to offer an explanation, but it would be kinder to say something.

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    1. Thank you, no apology needed:) I don’t know why some blogs and social media are removed but it seems a shame to lose such valuable information and help.

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  4. Good for you. I retired early this year at 56 and we live on DB'S wage which isn't huge but a vast improvement on what he was earning as a delivery driver for an up market delivery driver having given up teaching. During that period I was still working part time but we learned to live frugally following as many thrifty blogs as we could. Now I cannot break the habit and I love it! Every day is a joy.

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    1. We all hope to manage in our latter years, but if not, I shall be glad to know we have contributed to help us live our lives how we choose if possible.

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  5. Blogging isn't always easy. I for one stopped blogging when I was dealing with my hubbies health issues and took down my blog. I did say goodbye and don't see what would be gained from vilifying anyone who chooses to stop. I think it's the sense of losing someone who you have followed almost daily disappearing from your life without notice. But that's their choice as you say. I live a relatively frugal lifestyle having retired because I still want holidays etc. We all make personal choices, like you I don't preach I just tell people what I do. In the three years I've been blogging I have only ever had one odd comment. Odd because it wasn't nasty just strange!!

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    1. Life issues should always take priority over blogging so don't worry about blogging when these sorts of things arise.

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  6. Love your War Diaries, it's like having another WWII book in my collection.
    I've been hopeless at commenting lately. Hope people don't mind, I really ought to be writing Christmas cards at this very moment!

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    1. You have a lot on your plate so no worries. I also like re-reading my war diaries.

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  7. Enjoy your blog very much. I retired at 57 from education before my sanity went and we immediately embarked on a healthier, less wasteful lifestyle. I like my life now, with a man I love very much(46 years married on Christmas Eve). Enough income to eat and heat and a bit left over for hobbies. Catriona

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    1. Thank you. Happy Anniversary for Christmas Eve.

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  8. I knew someone had a recipe for washing liquid and was looking for it last night. How funny that you should mention it today-thank you.
    I always liked your war time menu planning as it gave me some ideas for either meatless or low meat content meals. I am currently trying to only eat and use what we have but often pop to the shops and come back having purchased more. It will all get used, we hardly ever throw out food and meat scraps go to the foxes and Red Kites and other scraps to the small birds. I just couldn’t think of anything much to write on my blog so I just stopped. Perhaps I will start up again? X

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    1. I am now using a new version of laundry liquid, see tutorial tab above.

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  9. I think lots of us who read your blog and others enjoy the normal everyday life you write about. Even if you think you are short of ideas it's the fact that we can identify with you over various issues. I don't read magazines or newspapers. I find them too full of people who live unrealistic lives and have no concept how most of the population live. (Like the person in one of today's papers that my husband told me about. His advice for curing a sore throat was to eat oysters!!!)
    Of course you are entitled to stop blogging whenever you please but, odd though it may sound, your readers will be concerned about your welfare if you disappear without any hint that you are going to do so.
    I have experienced that a couple of times and felt very sad. Sue

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    1. We don’t read those either, irritating or depressing! No plans to stop blogging.

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  10. I enjoy your blog. I too lead a frugal life. In the past out of necessity and it sticks. I'm not rich by any means but can afford the little treats and a holiday. I do have a blog but it is very spasmodic not because I can't think of what to write but too many other things take priority. Also I haven't really had time to learn all the settings and presentations. My aim is to start blogging once a week! I like your war diaries too.

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  11. I find that reading others blogs that live a similar life to us keeps me from the "Am I the only one" mantra. It is so nice to know that others follow the same regular every day things that we do.

    God bless.

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    1. Me too, perhaps our numbers will keep swelling.

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  12. I read your blog a lot and I really like it. I retired early at 56 on a much smaller pension but my husband is five years older than me and took a nice enhanced redundancy pension from his job in the criminal justice service. We have no debts and love to travel so live quite simply. We will downsize at some point to fund future travels as our house is too big now just for two of us although it always seems full of grandkids. I have a blog but not posted for a long time due to limited time and discovering Instagram which I love. I may start to blog again as I’m embarking on yoga teacher/ therapy training soon and that and my travels will be good blogging fodder I think. Your blog is full of interest for me so I would miss it if you stopped but yes that is your decision. Best wishes and have a fab Christmas and New Year. Wendy.

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    1. Thank you Wendy, good luck with your training. No plans to stop blogging I was just sad at the comments made about a ‘big’ blogging personality who has stopped blogging.

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  13. I do enjoy reading your blog and appreciate the advice you offer. We also aim to live frugally, although it's probably not very obvious from my blog posts.
    It is a shame when people stop blogging without any warning or a goodbye but I expect they have their reasons. X

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  14. I could have written this! My blog, which I do less and less, has changed over the years too. But surely that is how it is, things change and we change with them. Though whatever happens I can't stop being frugal!
    Best wishes
    Gill

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  15. I really enjoy reading your blog. I agree that people change and blogs will change with them. That is the rich tapestry of life and I cherish it.

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