Hello Dear Reader,
We had a very early start today and a walk on the moors. If you are not familiar with the place, search Bodmin Moor on Google images and feast on the beauty and the bleakness of the place. My dream is to live in the middle of it with no visible neighbours.
We headed to Siblyback lake as it has maintained path that we thought wouldn't be flooded, we were wrong but we didn't die of wet feet. It was gloriously abandoned and desolate, my favourite kind of place. There is a quick three and a half mile level jaunt around the lake, with stunning but windswept views. Summer makes this place a hell on earth as it becomes a playground for the middle class to play swallows and amazons. I avoid the place from May onwards. In the winter, it's divine.
We wrapped up and the place was our own.
We headed off to my parents for lunch and I had to show off my dad's frugality. Like lots of folk, their spare loo, washing machine and freezer are in an out house. Tramping to and from in the rain meant a soggy dash and they were fed up of it. Dad built the 'lean to' himself and scrounged all the windows from local double glazing firms as they have to pay to dispose of them.
It will be a perfectly serviceable bit of space when it's warmer. He stained it with fence stain and painted the inside with paint he already had. He built the whole thing himself and at 73, he's unstoppable!
We've made good use of our legs, we haven't been shopping since the 20th of December and we had a free lunch with mum and dad today. We also got a pile more logs which dad had got for us as a Christmas present and you can see them in the photo. I love free days!
Over to you, what do you love to do for free?
Until tomorrow,
Love Froogsxxxx
hullo Mrs F, I had a no spend day today and it was nice! I went to see my parents who make me laugh on a daily basis arguing over a dishwasher and whos turn it was to do it. God i have never laughed so much in my entire life! The remind of Terry and June! Its free entertainment and I just love them to bits.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite free time, is taking the dog for a nice walk and making things . Allie Jane xxxxx
Aah Bless him. Sounds like you take after your father for energy and enthusiasm. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteI've not spent any money since December 27th and that's a record for me. I'm back at work tomorrow so the only money I will be spending is my bus pass fare. I've got my leftovers ready for my lunch and our evening meal will be something simple from the freezer. I will stick to my 2013 challenge of reducing my debt.
ReplyDeletePS happy new year Froogs xx
Ah, I was wondering about attempting to go to Siblyback tomorrow, so thanks for the flood warning!! I too dream of living on Bodmin Moor. :) Maybe Bolventor or Minions. :)
ReplyDeleteI too had a walk on Sunday with friends and apart from the lovely company and gorgeous views was the lack of other people!
ReplyDeleteP.S. Could I borrow your dad? How brilliant!
ReplyDeleteHI we went on a lovely walk here in Norfolk today around the countryside and the weather was real mild and sunny , I think the best things in life are free----- countryside ,friends and familyxxx
ReplyDeletehappy new year I follow your blogg and am going to try to be frugal this yr as well. i've decided to start knitting and making nxt years christmas presents and its a good project to be going on with
God bless
pippaxx
Hi Froogs, brilliant building job by your dad! And the Moor does look spectactular. I thought I'd had a no spend day yesterday but then realised I'd bought some new jeans for hubby online (2 for $29, and free delivery) but as he needed them, I decided that was okay, and it was money put aside for this period of time off!
ReplyDeleteJudy xx
Beautiful day here so time for a walk. There was a bit of baking and then a restful evening by the fire. No money parted with. I'm so impressed with your dad's work. My dad is 74 and is still doing all the DIY himself and has just finished decorating a house for someone else. Brilliant role models.
ReplyDeleteToday, apart from a post-New Year night out coffee, I have stayed indoors doing jobs, but definitely could have done better! Well done to you. And Happy New Year! x
ReplyDeleteI do love Siblyback so much... although little boy likes to get halfway around and then say 'my legs ache now' and likes to go on Daddy's shoulders for the rest!! We have had lots of no spend days too of our money... I do have to admit to a spend of some money that I was given for Christmas but it was a present and was specifically for fabric to continue quilting! A big treat!!! x
ReplyDeleteHi. I thought I would just let you know I really enjoy reading your blog. When things are looking a bit challenging it is good to see that it can be done. Thanks for the insperation.
ReplyDeleteMaysie
Hi there! Since my big shop on the 20th December we have had to buy nothing, but will get just fresh veg at the end of this week. I have made my Christmas cards into gift tags for next year, and have started making birthday cards for the year already from things I already have.
ReplyDeleteLove your dad's work. He's done a very neat job. I think many people are losing those handyman, jack of all trades, jobs.
ReplyDeleteI only spent $2 yesterday - on an icecream for my son. It was bloody hot yesterday. To get your license here you have to do 120 hours of practice. Hard to do when you work a 10 hour day. So trying to get as many hours in as we can this holidays. Yesterday we drove for an hour. Stopped for an icecream and to stretch our legs and drove back for an hour. Only 90 hours to go!!! Times two for both children!
Your Dad is a very clever man. One thing I am looking forward to do for free is clear out loads of stuff I no longer want. How liberating that will be, with the added bonus of knowing that others are benefiting from my lightening up.
ReplyDeleteGood for your dad, it looks great. Your walk looks beautiful. We had tea at my mums with my sis and her family. We all baked something using stuff we already had. The girls knitted and the boys played with lego. Now knitting in my pjs watching a film on tv. No heating on and not even lit the woodburner. Mojo the lab is laying on my feet. Life is good.
ReplyDeletemaking stuff. cooking. going to the park. reading books.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteI went out for a family walk in the Peak District with my 77 year old Mum and my brother and sister in law.
Weather was lovely and we took a flask and some of the remaining cookies from Christmas.
My mortgage goes out tomorrow and an overpayment too.
I'll get my housekeeping money out and trot off to Lidl for the groceries I need for the month.
Aiming to make that the only spend day this month.
Greeting from Melbourne, Australia. My hubby lost his job on 21 Dec (Gulp!) so its back to one income. I was so conscious of spending this last week I actually didnt spend any of my wages - so with another pay on its way tomorrow - I paid it all off the credit card. Mind you, this period also included a trip to NSW (6 hrs away) as my fuel was a Christmas present from my boss ($250 worth on company fuel card) and of course lots of love and free accommodation/meals from family. I had a great time. The hubby and son were left at home with a freezer full of meals and strict instruction not to spend. Although im a bit scared of the next few months I know that I can make it through if I am frugal also. Thanks for all the great tips.
ReplyDeleteI've spent the last few days working on a "practice quilt." I've made quilts before, but as my next project requires exactness and accuracy, I've digged up my fabric stash to make a quilt top for my bed. This was a no spend project since my stash is about 19 years old. Accuracy can get tedious, but I'm happy with the result so far.
ReplyDeleteI love how some folk can do so much with little. When my dad was in his thirties he doubled our home and most of the wood came from dismantled hen houses. Alzheimer's has altered much and today we wait for a plumber to fix the shower taps. Not much fun not being able to jump in the shower for a quick wash when it is over 90 degrees because it was the cold tap that broke.
ReplyDeleteI have managed a few non spend days too and am very pleased as a result. My sealed pot has not had much dumped into it but swings and roundabouts etc.
The moor looks wonderful and it must be such fun to bundle up to go for a walk. Enjoy your break.
Wishing it was warm enough in Missouri USA to go for walks. But we have snow on the ground and subfreezing temps. I hibernate all winter, barely dashing out to the mailbox when I must. Just had extended family with us for the past 3 weeks and had to of course feed them all. I used to spend a lot ordering delivery pizza or taking them out for meals, but was determined this time to just prepare every meal at home, which I did. Also most Christmas gifts were either handmade by me or purchased over the past year from thrift shops or garage sales. I can give so much more that way, to their delight. And I never had to go shopping at the malls for gifts. The thrifty life is truly more enjoyable. Thanks for the insperation, Froogs.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI think the best things in life are free. A walk in the park with my dog, enjoying nature as the seasons change. Simple pleasures and no spending required.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy reading your blog and am inspired to be more frugal.
Keep up the good work x
I love that you got logs as a christmas present! So practical and useful and definitely not something that'll end up in the back of a cupboard gathering dust like so many presents are. My Mum gave me Lush shampoo bars this year (as requested) and was the most useful gift I received :oD Thanks for your blog :o)
ReplyDeleteMichelle x
I am enjoying reading your blog to keep me on track with my frugal lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteMy new year plan is to eat the freezer empty. I have a chest freezer in the garage and I've been 'feeding' it with veggies from my allotment and lots of meals from my batch cooking for months now. I must have enough in there to feed myself for 3 months! I also have lots of pickles that I have prepared from my own harvest,
The saving from this will give 2013 a really good start as I will only need to buy fresh fruit and milk for a while.
You do live in a beautiful part of the world. How lovely to be able to walk on the moors.
I love your dad's work! And I think logs are a fantastic Christmas gift.
ReplyDeleteYour Dad has done a brilliant job with that lean to, and all on a truly frugal budget, now I see where your frugal ways come from.
ReplyDeleteI love that you got logs for Christmas too, the warm house will be like a hug from your Dad.
Sue xx
I haven't seen an outhouse in decades, you dad is amazing and I like the look of his addition. As for spending, I spent $21 at the grocery store on Monday but nothing since that.
ReplyDeleteOur darling daughter didn't know what to get her dad for Christmas. She asked me if getting him some logs would be weird. I thought it was a great idea. He loved them.
ReplyDeleteI love simple meals and encourage them with the poverty families I work with. They are filling, healthy, good tasting and frugal how can anyone go wrong.I grew up on mostly 1 skillet meals meals and though I love to cook fancier meals we still enjoy the simple meals which we have the most often. Your lasagna looks wonderful. We are eating out of our freezer and pantry with the exception of fat free milk and fresh fruit and the occasional veggie [we have lots of frozen veggies] my husband went to the market and asked what we needed. We needed milk and he wanted to know what else. I reminded him we were eating out of the pantries. He's not 100 percent on board and learning but he'll get it when I remind him we saved x number of dollars on groceries this month.