tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post8165309043364704698..comments2024-03-29T19:22:11.409+10:00Comments on down to earth: The rewards are there for the takingUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-57601928870353494832008-04-11T06:42:00.000+10:002008-04-11T06:42:00.000+10:00I know this is totally off-topic, but I'd like to ...I know this is totally off-topic, but I'd like to suggest a possible future swap. Since most of the swaps involve crafts maybe something to hold sewing or knitting supplies would be appropriate? I think this would be quite fun too.<BR/><BR/>BethSBethShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18019839136551085585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-51902382057249963622008-04-11T03:58:00.000+10:002008-04-11T03:58:00.000+10:00I have a tried to set my family on a good start do...I have a tried to set my family on a good start down the voluntary simplicity lifestyle, but I have one major issue: my husband spends money. He spends it on hobbies, mostly, or if I fail to pack his lunch, he buys lunch. The hobbies are expensive-- a boat ($$$$), a welder ($$), driving around all weekend to wherever($$+). I have to ask for help with this: how can I get him to scale back on this stuff, or find cheaper hobbies? I have hobbies, too, but they don't cost hundreds of dollars per weekend (a lot of it the cost of fuel).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-17207997097492612672008-04-11T00:18:00.000+10:002008-04-11T00:18:00.000+10:00Rhonda Jean.... WELL SAID!!! :)Beautifully written...Rhonda Jean.... WELL SAID!!! :)<BR/>Beautifully written, it CAN be done, but your mindset has to change... exactly!<BR/>If I could see you right now I would give you a big ole hug!<BR/>Love to you!<BR/>Chas<BR/><BR/>http://www.homesteadblogger.com/chasChashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16103147715706236947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-92007066240108096012008-04-10T23:34:00.000+10:002008-04-10T23:34:00.000+10:00You've hit the nail on the head with this one, Rho...You've hit the nail on the head with this one, Rhonda!<BR/><BR/>I told my mom the other day about my desire to have chickens... she reminded me about Bird Flu.<BR/><BR/>I told her about my interest in making my own soaps... she reminded me how inexpensive soap was and how my grandmother made soap... once.<BR/><BR/>I told her about my wish to make homemade bread... she said I would ruin my neck kneading all that bread dough.<BR/><BR/>I told her about my curiosity about fermented drinks like Kombucha or kefir... she said I would poison myself.<BR/><BR/>I told her about my dream of having a big, sustainable garden and greenhouse so I can put up foods and feed my family... she said I'd get botulism.<BR/><BR/>so, I decided I would not share any of these dreams with her anymore, not because I don't love her or respect her, but because she doesn't share the same vision as I do. <BR/><BR/>you know what? The first time I dropped off a loaf of my bread at her home, she called me later and asked where I bought this amazing bread. I smiled on my end of the phone and told her I made it myself. She said I could drop off a loaf anytime I wish.<BR/><BR/>It's like the old kid's story, The Little Red Hen... "Who will help me eat the bread??"<BR/><BR/>You're a major inspiration to me, Rhonda.<BR/>Thank you!!!<BR/>HeatherJAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-218052439534327572008-04-10T22:01:00.000+10:002008-04-10T22:01:00.000+10:00Your post today is so timely. Just last night I t...Your post today is so timely. Just last night I tried for the umpteenth time to talk to my husband about our retirement (he's almost 65 and I'll be 62 on Tuesday). His answer to my questions/comments about how are we going to provide for ourselves at retirement is "Oh, I plan to be still working at age 80 and you worry too much and there'll be a way and we've always made it before". I love this man with all my heart, but I want to lash out at him whenver I feel the burden of planning for our retirement falls completely on my shoulders. We don't have a lot of debt, but we also don't have very much income. He's self-employed, so how ever long he can work is how long he'll earn money. I don't want to work outside our home forever and I don't want to depend on "we've always made it before". We can live more simply and be able to have a good life - it takes planning and some work. I have to be honest: until I read your post this morning and thought about one of your earlier posts where you put your plan in place without actually clearing it with Hanno first, I was ready to just say to dear husband "Okay, since you won't help me figure out our future and you won't discuss it, I'm going to do it my way and you'll just have to go along with it". Hmmmm...might be the start of an argument if I said all that. What changed my mind about saying that to him was your post. I think I will just quietly and calmly put my plan in place and see how that works instead of beating up dear husband for his lack of involvement. Thanks for the reminder that just because one person doesn't see eye to eye with another doesn't mean you have to give up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-25871646970759567972008-04-10T21:21:00.000+10:002008-04-10T21:21:00.000+10:00YAy! elegant frugality! great post Rhonda! At firs...YAy! elegant frugality! <BR/><BR/>great post Rhonda! <BR/><BR/>At first, Mr Duck Herder thought I was BONKERS, but bit by bit, he has fallen in love with the ducks and the chooks, collects the eggs, lets them out and locks them up, and through sometimes helping water the veggies with me, is slowly learning about different plants and fruits. He would never SAY it, but I think he likes being different and doing things a bit differently - he likes living in the crazy house with the farm in the back yard now......<BR/><BR/>love to you!<BR/>duckie xxThe Duck Herderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12804351827909380328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-18272711654337143922008-04-10T20:04:00.000+10:002008-04-10T20:04:00.000+10:00Rhonda Jean,Trying to explain Voluntary Simplicity...Rhonda Jean,<BR/><BR/>Trying to explain Voluntary Simplicity to those that don't know about it is very difficult (I'm still learning about it).<BR/><BR/>I'm one of your few male readers (based in the UK). I'm on the path and my girlfriend is slowly coming round. <BR/><BR/>'G' is into shoes, clothes, and handbags, but I do see little changes here and there. I haven't pressed her on issues because I think that would just cause her to back off. Instead, I try to lead by example (I've produced a budget sheet for her, and we've discussed it. Now I'll leave her to decide if she wants to use it. I'll continue to use mine though). Last night G told me that she'd decluttered a lot of stuff and that she thinks she has too many shoes so she'll give some to her sister. I can't believe that she said that. I just hope she doesn't replace them.<BR/><BR/>I'm also taking pride in repairing things at the moment. I've had the needle & thread out repairing a duvet cover, a pair of gloves, a jacket and an umbrella. G thinks I should take up cross-stitch with her but I told her that I'm happy with repairs but I'll leave the artwork to her.<BR/><BR/>We're hoping to buy a place together next year and we both want to grow our own vegetables and have a few chickens.<BR/><BR/>We're getting there slowly :-)<BR/><BR/>Yabusame (in UK).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-68723774112430621002008-04-10T18:34:00.000+10:002008-04-10T18:34:00.000+10:00Thanks for this Rhonda Jean My Hubby and i are bot...Thanks for this Rhonda Jean <BR/><BR/>My Hubby and i are both committed to this way of life and have done all we can from our current home <BR/><BR/>We plan to continue the good work our next step is sell up and retire (hes 53 me 38 )the final shove was his dad passing away a few weeks ago ,he worked his whole life and had dreams for his retirement which were taken away by serious illness taking hold soon after he stopped work<BR/><BR/>The new attitude at our place is live your dreams now <BR/><BR/>My parents have been very supportive as my dad too struck down early in life with a debilitating illness my sisters another story!!Designer labels and homes are the order of the day but she will see in the end we are not crazy!!<BR/><BR/><BR/>Thanks for your affirmation <BR/><BR/>Sharron in the ukAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-58479393424926285252008-04-10T17:47:00.000+10:002008-04-10T17:47:00.000+10:00Another great post RhondaI think that once you get...Another great post Rhonda<BR/><BR/>I think that once you get into the swing of simplifying, it doesn't really take that much longer than convenience living once you've taken into account the time spent driving to and from shops, queuing at checkouts and walking the endless miles round and round the ever bigger shops.<BR/><BR/>I don't know if Delia Smith is known to you in Australia, she a cookery writer and TV chef, but I thought you might like to read a review of her latest cookery series here in the UK<BR/><BR/>http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/editors-choice/2008/03/15/delia-smith-s-cheat-recipes-the-true-cost-86908-20351682/<BR/><BR/>It makes me want to go and weep.<BR/><BR/>DeborahdNDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00531819276422542672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-43398878639215987262008-04-10T16:40:00.000+10:002008-04-10T16:40:00.000+10:00Anonymous - Carla is right, its never too late to ...Anonymous - Carla is right, its never too late to live the life you want. I'm 59 and also fairly new to the simple life. I reduce, recycle and re-use, grow a few veg in pots, and make a lot of things that I would previously have just run to the shops for. I have a lower income now than ever before (I'm on benefits in UK) yet I have more money than ever before. Please give it a try, even small steps will bring you a lot of satisfaction. <BR/><BR/>Thank you Rhonda Jean for another great post. I hope you have a great weekend with your visitors, and have a wonderful birthday (I believe it is this weekend?):)RosieBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08854580933210191702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-20583919660799865172008-04-10T16:23:00.000+10:002008-04-10T16:23:00.000+10:00Hi Rhonda. Thank you so much for all your inspira...Hi Rhonda. Thank you so much for all your inspirational writing. I'm a single Mum, living in the heart of England and for many years I've been yearning for, (and dipping into and out of!), the simple life. Recent life events have made me question and re-evaluate what it is that I want from life - and then I was directed to your web page. The Universe truely does provide. I only found your blog on Monday but already it's become a daily, 'fix'. Many, many thanks.<BR/><BR/>SherylCatsisterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11565894014461202522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-41603104136105157312008-04-10T13:43:00.000+10:002008-04-10T13:43:00.000+10:00I take the baby step approach. DH already thinks ...I take the baby step approach. DH already thinks I'm crazy so no problems there. I just started doing things and he has only commented once or twice but it can be hard.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-84305598812383777012008-04-10T13:32:00.000+10:002008-04-10T13:32:00.000+10:00Hi there,I am visiting for the 1st time and I must...Hi there,<BR/><BR/>I am visiting for the 1st time and I must say that I love your blog! So many great things to learn here. I will be back to visit, for sure!<BR/><BR/>Wonderful post!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-19787743257452171172008-04-10T11:31:00.000+10:002008-04-10T11:31:00.000+10:00My family call me the hippy. My friends laugh at m...My family call me the hippy. My friends laugh at my ideas, but are starting to ask me to help them garden after I feed them food from my garden. There are some people who were very close friends who are now people I only occasionally speak to but still care for, and other new friends who have started to come into my life. I am looking forward to moving into my own home, paying it off, but also creating an environment where people who live with me and visit will come into a culture of simplicity and sustainability. We'll see.han_ysichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07183560511843774235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-8913083733954221602008-04-10T11:15:00.000+10:002008-04-10T11:15:00.000+10:00Rhonda Jean,I have been reading your blog for the ...Rhonda Jean,<BR/>I have been reading your blog for the past few weeks now, and look forward to it each day.<BR/>I am 'starting small'.<BR/>I began by using and making my own cleaning products, using recyclable bags when shopping, cooking from scratch, growing a few herbs, budgeting, using a change jar, decluttering and getting rid of all the STUFF I had accumulated over the years,etc.<BR/>I think if you try and implement things all at once it just feels too hard and you end up stuck doing nothing, so I plan on adding more Simple things one at a time.<BR/>Last night I had the following conversation with my 19 year old son.<BR/>Son: "What are you knitting mum?"<BR/>Me: "A dishcloth."<BR/>Son: "Mum, you can buy dishcloths at the shop you know. Why would you bother knitting one?"<BR/>Me: "Because I can", I said with a smile.<BR/>Best Wishes<BR/>TaniaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-27197753640760405162008-04-10T11:08:00.000+10:002008-04-10T11:08:00.000+10:00Thank you for this post! Today I just told my pri...Thank you for this post! Today I just told my principal that I will not be back to teach next year. It is another step we are taking in living our dream of a simpler life as well. You are such an encouragement to so many of us on this journey!<BR/><BR/>MelissaMelissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00493190005663121584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-89872007010543509982008-04-10T10:54:00.000+10:002008-04-10T10:54:00.000+10:00Maybe in the quest to get a partner on board (beca...Maybe in the quest to get a partner on board (because they live with you and you can't just ignore them completely!) you need to look at the areas they're most likely to cave in on first.<BR/><BR/>We have been growing more and more, which we do happily together (taking turns of distracting the toddler) and now I think if we find a place where we can keep chickens, and a little less conveniently located to the pizza shop, my partner will come around even more of my way of thinking. For others maybe it's the science of great bread making, or the possibilities of home brewing.<BR/><BR/>Or maybe (like my Dad when Mum was having solar panels installed last week) you'll have a partner who just looks bemused and lets you carry on with your thing while they keep on with theirs!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-57070733116981960502008-04-10T10:35:00.000+10:002008-04-10T10:35:00.000+10:00Thank-you Rhonda for this blog. I am learning so ...Thank-you Rhonda for this blog. I am learning so much!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-19498547370914786442008-04-10T09:54:00.000+10:002008-04-10T09:54:00.000+10:00I too will freely admit that living a simpler life...I too will freely admit that living a simpler life is hard work. I too am learning not to comment on others "unfrugal" ways and just show by my example that anything is possible. My family are supportive although sometimes even they think I go too far! -lol-<BR/>Thank you Rhonda once again for all your support and advice.<BR/>-hugs-<BR/>LisLishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00066863074405512584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-76811645642336479362008-04-10T09:53:00.000+10:002008-04-10T09:53:00.000+10:00I absolutely have to agree that it depends on the ...I absolutely have to agree that it depends on the stage of life you are in. I have children and we need an income. It is that simple. However! I do raise my hens, use recycleable grocery bags, make my bread and haunt the heck out of everyone about showering time and leaving lights on! It is hard to live simply as you said but every little bit helps!Donnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08497987830494474408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-79461544221755323262008-04-10T09:34:00.000+10:002008-04-10T09:34:00.000+10:00Wise and comforting words, Rhonda Jean.I've just s...Wise and comforting words, Rhonda Jean.<BR/><BR/>I've just spent the last five or six weeks - five to six days a week - making jams, sauces, bottling, freezing etc., whilst also helping my elderly mother in various ways. Never the less, I took time away from other family obligations to get all that work done, to which I recieved a belittling comment from a family member as to the value of my efforts and the implication that I was shirking my responsibilities! I didn't bite back but thought to myself how I'd never dream of criticizing their way of life.<BR/><BR/>It's curious to me that had I deciced to do just about anything else in life that may be commensurate with consumerism in some way or other (perhaps taking six weeks off to travel overseas or something), I'd not have recieved that comment at all. <BR/><BR/>This simle way of life I've chosen seems to threaten some people. Whether it's because it may seem to some that I'm "turning back the clock" on women's roles in society I'm not sure. Perhaps these are somewhat similar times for those of us who choose simple living, to when women were striving for equality. -To which I say, brothers and sisters, bear the burden with a smile on your lips and a song in your heart. We at least know what we're on about.<BR/><BR/>Regards, MarilynAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-41794791209907759222008-04-10T08:48:00.000+10:002008-04-10T08:48:00.000+10:00I too use your method with my husband. He is alot ...I too use your method with my husband. He is alot like your Hanno, hard working and always wants the best for his family.I didnt try to explain what I was doing I just did it and he eventually came on board. We do have a business from home and now our son is working there also.This lifestyle has worked for us even though others think we are madAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-70134737756342974832008-04-10T08:45:00.000+10:002008-04-10T08:45:00.000+10:00A wonderful post, again! I think living by example...A wonderful post, again! I think living by example is the best way to lead. You are a wonderful example of that! It's what I hope to do with my blog, too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-23275555733857190622008-04-10T08:24:00.000+10:002008-04-10T08:24:00.000+10:00That is just what I needed to hear as I am just st...That is just what I needed to hear as I am just starting to live the best life for me and everyone else thinks that I am just taking things too far. They don't understand why I want to make things for my family and do things myself to save money. A lot of them are in debt badly and still try to keep up with the Joneses. I think my life is a lot happier than theirs will ever be.<BR/>Your post inspires me so much.<BR/>DebbieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-43808691076624598072008-04-10T08:12:00.000+10:002008-04-10T08:12:00.000+10:00Oh, Dear Anonymous - please don't think you're too...Oh, Dear Anonymous - please don't think you're too old!! I will be 61 in May, and I feel I've just started along this path, even though, mentally, I've be on it since the 60s. Rhonda has been such an encouragement to me. Finding her blog has been like Anne Shirley finding her kindred spirit when she met Diana. <BR/>Start small: change to CFL bulbs; recycle; de-clutter; READ ALL OF RHONDA'S POSTS!!!!!<BR/>And if you feel you need more encouragement, just ask. And don't give up!<BR/>Carla in North IdahoCarlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06200562050056015577noreply@blogger.com