Thrifty is a Nice Word (Unlike 'Frugal')

Being frugal is very popular at the moment - there are so many blogs and articles and information sites that talk about how to be frugal, how to save money, how to bulk buy and make your own.

Don't get me wrong, this is a good thing! A very good thing! But how many of you are like me? You read all this information until your eyes get twitchy and you get grumpy, and you bookmark a hundred and one pages and you do... maybe one thing. Two if you're super motivated. Oops!

Artichoke Flower

True, I do write a shopping list. I always have because that is what mum did. I menu plan now, but I'm still getting that down pat. (Next fortnight I'm going to be trying a different method which I'll let you know about.) I use homemade cleaners. In someways it is more expensive as now I clean more. Haha! But seriously, my homemade washing powder works a treat. I crochet, so that covers a lot of birthday and Christmas presents. The only problem is that I now love yarn and if I had no self control I would by so much more than what I do now.

I have been thinking about my reluctance to jump onto the frugal bandwagon and I think I have identified problem.

'Frugal' is a horrible word. I have no nice images associated with it. It looks un-pretty and doesn't roll off the tongue nicely. Y. U. K. It has a good definition: to practice economy; to live without waste. Despite this, I don't want 'frugal' to be the adjective chosen by people to describe me.

Bitsy Bunny, made for a friends baby. Pattern is here and here (Ravelry).

'Thrifty', however, I like. It has more of an old-world charm about it. It has sweet images of aprons and embroidered tea towels associated with it. And cups of tea, steaming with deliciousness. (I'm not a big tea drinker but I'm seriously tempted right now). Its meaning is much, much nicer too: wisely economical (phew, I can still go to the movies occasionally); industrious and thriving (I like the sound of that); prosperous (yes please!); growing vigorously, thriving, as a plant. (Which reminds me, I have to water my herbs.)

Isn't that so much nicer? Thrifty has so much more room for romance than sensible frugal does. Marilla Cuthbert was frugal (I love her very much, but gee, she was sensible and prudent!). Mrs March (you might know her better as Marmee), on the other hand, I would describe her as thrifty. I want a happy home like she had - minus an absent husband and Aunt March, of course!

Been researchin' - and I'm still on holidays... (can't help myself!)

Don't worry - I wasn't doing stuff for uni! (I can hear your sigh of relief...) No, I have been visiting the Dietitians Association of Australia. I have been looking at food info - such as how many serves of what food groups we are meant to have, and at what actually constitutes a serve. Interesting stuff. They have a link to a pdf all about healthy eating, and it is totally worth downloading (it's only about 20 pages): Australian Guide to Healthy Eating. The challenge now is to figure out how to achieve a balanced diet with the recommended serves of each food group on our tiny weeny budget!! I have some ideas... and al-natural easter eggs is not one of them(I think that's classic!)

Hello

Compared to yesterday I have nothing exciting to share, but that doesn't mean I can't have a ramble...

I got my Bachelor of Arts certificate thing in the mail today. Julian was very excited, but I have been hanging out for some books (for uni) that I ordered, so I was a little disappointed. Julian doesn't really get it, but I am sure some of my fellow ladies will understand! We also did a little tiny shopping: we had $42 MAXIMUM to spend because of bills etc... but we did it! I prayed before we went: please let the things we need be on special! Guess what!?! Seven of the sixteen things we bought were on special (the mince was on special AND marked down by more than $3!). In total, we saved an estimated $7.50! Isn't God good!


Em (who I made the kiwi jam and lemon butter with) and I are both doing the Honours this year, and therefore have the same books to read. One of the books (Writing Machines) looks like it will be quite difficult to read (let alone understand!), so we made a 'pact' to both read it by the 17th of Febuary. So far I have read the blurb... Em has read the blurb and the preface... so she is 4 exhausting pages ahead of me. Lucky her!! I really should read some tonight, after I watch Forces of Nature on tv... and whatever else is on... and by then I'll be too tired... There! I have my night sorted!