Cheapskate

 One of my main preoccupations these past few weeks since quitting my job has of course been money and budgeting and finding, or remembering, ways of living well and within our means. Yesterday I considered that you could probably go for many months without buying anything at all, with the exception of essentials needed to repair broken things, and, considering I have small children, shoes and clothes for them. I like the idea that you could think of something you want or need, and instead of reaching for your laptop to buy it on the internet, go shopping in your house and make use of what you have. Not revolutionary, but for someone my age who has been raised in a time where a two income family is a given, and having the newest, shiniest things is the badge of success, it's not instinctive.

Today I was tidying up a bit in the back room. As well as me, the girls have their desks in there, which inevitably become piled high with this and that every few weeks, so I've been having a bit of a clearout. I also found a bag of things for charity which I'd stuffed down the side of the sofa, probably before having guests at one point, which I thought I'd sort through, as the dump is closer than the charity shops, and you can take most things there but it must be sorted. As I was doing that I found a pair of flip flops in there. Hardly used, I can't think where I got them from as I'm not much of a flip flop wearer. I was going to chuck them out, as usually I would wear birkenstocks if I want some flip flops. But my birkenstocks are about to wear out, and I've been growling at the fact that I'll have to buy another pair soon - they're not cheap, and you have to replace them every year, or two if you're lucky. But do I have to replace them when there is a perfectly good pair of rubber flip flops here? No, I don't. Flips flops are not my first choice, but they're as suitable for the beach as birkenstocks are. 

Now, quick coffee break and then I'm on to the cabinets in the back room to see what treasures they hold. 

Update - I sorted all of our greetings and birthday cards into a box and had an idea that I could start a birthday book and keep it together with the cards in the box and put that in the lounge to help us remember to send cards. I have an any year diary that I bought years ago for that reason, so had a little scratch around for that, and while I was doing that found three more things in the house: 

Not very exciting, but I've been after folders for my knitting & crochet patterns. The orange one we found in the street last week, the white plastic one I found at the back of a cupboard this morning. I thought I'd chucked it out long ago. Now that I think of it, I'm pretty sure I found that one in the street too, years ago in Plymouth. 

I wanted a plain every day table cloth for the kitchen - I have a couple of very sweet table clothes but they are both quite special and I save them for 'best'. I got given this one a few months ago, before the kitchen renovation, and it got squirreled away in the back room. I love it, but it's nice and plain for every day. 

When I saw Patrick Wolf last month I asked him to write a note for my two girls who love listening to his music, and he very sweetly agreed. The girls were so pleased and excited to have their own letter from him, and I said I'd frame it and put it on the wall, but hadn't gotten around to buying a frame yet. Guess what I found in the bottom of a drawer today..

I didn't find the birthday book yet though..