tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post8630927451309214455..comments2024-03-19T18:01:27.505+10:00Comments on down to earth: Mindful living, being content, paying off debtUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-4752454735949288142012-12-17T11:27:05.341+10:002012-12-17T11:27:05.341+10:00And soap kills roaches and salt kills slugs, what...And soap kills roaches and salt kills slugs, what is toxic to one species can be perfectly harmless to another used in differing applications.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-17366649046683111662012-09-11T06:08:52.409+10:002012-09-11T06:08:52.409+10:00I live in the US and find that most of the frozen ...I live in the US and find that most of the frozen seafood and fresh garlic is imported from China. It is hard to find US shrimp even though I live on the coast.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-44111365554621973292012-07-30T11:23:12.113+10:002012-07-30T11:23:12.113+10:00Sure Lavina, that's fine.Sure Lavina, that's fine.rhonda jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08962112306968959985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-7773097283799543102012-07-30T10:57:29.688+10:002012-07-30T10:57:29.688+10:00This is such a lovely article, with due permission...This is such a lovely article, with due permission, I would like to share this on fb so that my friends can also read it, am going to tell my husband to read this daily :)lavina agarwalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18067792631190364645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-43620449040154142872012-07-21T07:48:58.116+10:002012-07-21T07:48:58.116+10:00Just found your blog, and found this post really i...Just found your blog, and found this post really interesting. I will come back regularly. My husband and I have big changes next year as he leaves the RAF in the Uk after 22 years and us living in MOD housing since we've been married. We still don't know what job he will do or where we will end up yet. I don't work due to a bad back but do craft and try and save our money. Thanks again for an interesting blog. JennyJenz Bitz 'n' Bobshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02057278231166073894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-10653621023777715252012-07-18T16:10:51.269+10:002012-07-18T16:10:51.269+10:00Hello mavisandfrank. I'm a tough old bird and ...Hello mavisandfrank. I'm a tough old bird and it's fine to comment however you feel the need. I totally agree with how you've set yourselves up and putting your purchases on credit card to save money on disposables, eggs and vegies makes sense to me. The debt I'm talking about is that of a mortgage - and that is something many people have, it's just a real relief to pay it off and get your life back. The other debt that is destructive is buying clothes, beauty products, CD and things that really aren't essential to life - to put them on credit instead of saving for them, costs more.<br /><br />I see your purchases more as investments in your chosen lifestyle. They're not frivolous purchases. I would have done it the same way, in fact when Hanno and I returned to Australia after living two years in Europe in 1980, we did the same thing. We all have our seasons. You are building your lives together and during that time, there will be increased expenditure. The good things is, your expenditure allows you to grow your own fresh vegies and eggs. That is a wise investment in my books. Good luck to you.rhonda jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08962112306968959985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-14150853988694192752012-07-18T15:29:10.897+10:002012-07-18T15:29:10.897+10:00Hi Rhonda,
you've had plenty of positive comme...Hi Rhonda,<br />you've had plenty of positive comments on this post so I thought I'd add one that isn't so positive. I find myself a little resentful to read yet again how important debt reduction is to simple living. I recently returned from overseas and now live in a little rented house near the University of Queensland where my husband works. In just a few short months we've spent copious amounts of money on things like mulch, seeds, seed raising and potting mix, gardening tools, fencing for our veggie beds (to fend of the marauding brush turkeys), a chicken coop, more fencing, four lovely laying hens, an aerobin composter, a worm farm, a bird bath, cloth nappies, glass preserving jars, the list goes on and on. We're now paying back a modest amount of credit card debt and we don't enjoy paying interest. However, each of these things has made our weekly expenses shrink in some way, so the repayments become easier and easier. They've also provided many hours of entertainment and recreation for a young family who don't know anyone in a new city. We could certainly have been slower about it all, and saved carefully before each new purchase, but quite frankly, we didn't want to. I needed an outlet to help me cope with such a big change, to take some positive steps. The garden is my therapy. Besides, waiting and saving meant continuing to spend money on things like eggs, disposable nappies and fresh veggies. The credit card enabled us to at least get established and enjoy growing our own food while we wait to make new friends and feel more settled. Sometimes, a little debt can help with simple living. It certainly doesn't need to be painted as the demon of every simple lifestyle. You are certainly fortunate to be debt free!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-83899642930035562842012-07-18T12:21:52.498+10:002012-07-18T12:21:52.498+10:00I totally agree with buying Australian and avoidin...I totally agree with buying Australian and avoiding the imports. It annoys me so much that most of our products come from china or Asia when we should be supporting our farmers and benefiting from our own healthy produce. We have recently started using Aussie Farmers direct to support our farmers and to ensure we get good quality produce (delivered free to our door!). Makes you wonder why the US doesn't have to have all the imported rubbish and we do?? Aren't they affected by globalisation the same way we are? Have you seen what we allow to happen to our live cattle when we send them to certain countries? Maybe we should be looking at how America avoids all these horrors.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-22104593660446815242012-07-13T02:13:05.834+10:002012-07-13T02:13:05.834+10:00My family is starting the journey to become debt f...My family is starting the journey to become debt free. I find that I am addicted to purchasing things. The effort of living simply and on a budget is showing me cracks on the wall of my subconscious.Minimum Mamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10612183947987949363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-64603269193168018192012-07-12T03:00:41.062+10:002012-07-12T03:00:41.062+10:00This is such a great line: "If you define yo...This is such a great line: "If you define your own path, and have realistic and satisfying goals, you're less likely to listen to people telling you you HAVE to have certain things." <br /><br />I am almost 30, but many friends and people my age are more concerned about material things and competing with one another instead of defining their own path. I have made the change towards the simple life by learning to say no to things I can't afford to do, turning off the t.v. and cutting away at my debt. It will take time but feels good! Great post and very inspiring!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12306317600750694401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-64641565182250720812012-07-12T02:28:16.337+10:002012-07-12T02:28:16.337+10:00Wonderful. I really enjoyed reading your blog tod...Wonderful. I really enjoyed reading your blog today. Thank youAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-78528888978010072502012-07-11T10:35:46.365+10:002012-07-11T10:35:46.365+10:00I loved this post. Thank you for the extra motiva...I loved this post. Thank you for the extra motivation! My husband works full time in a good paying job but I'm at home with the kids, so the money is spent every month so easily - Around half his pay goes to paying off the house and he gets paid once a month so we are always counting down the days! I have been working in retail however as we all know it's tough out there and my boss had to cut back my hours. I am trying to save money and it is quite addictive when you get into it - shopping at aldi and the op shops are so fun when you start to realise how much you are saving. Now its time to sell some of my clothes on ebay to try to get a bit more cash!Libbynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-54487585078797465112012-07-11T07:20:29.972+10:002012-07-11T07:20:29.972+10:00I think what you've described here is right fo...I think what you've described here is right for a happy life. I was lucky to find a wife with the same outlook on life as me - and I think that to marry right is also another key to happiness! During our twenties we both worked hard, saved hard and managed to pay off some of our mortgage and save another deposit. Now we're coming into our thirties we've managed to buy our little "homestead" (which in England is an expensive thing to do) and although we have a large morgage it's the only debt we have. To live within your means is a key point, if we can't afford something then we don't buy it, and if we do buy something we try and buy the best there is so we only have to buy it once (This is very true with the amount of tools I have to have as a carpenter).<br />Great blog post and glad to see you feel the same about buying Austrialian as I do about buying British!Kev Alvitihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04992625860900617194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-44449454272219025342012-07-11T00:39:49.169+10:002012-07-11T00:39:49.169+10:00Margaret, this is it: http://down---to---earth.bl...Margaret, this is it: http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com.au/2011/07/simple-soap-four-ingredients.html<br />Good luck. I hope it goes well for you.rhonda jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08962112306968959985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-31255595566265687332012-07-11T00:21:58.405+10:002012-07-11T00:21:58.405+10:00I quit using Borax in my laundry soap after readin...I quit using Borax in my laundry soap after reading that it is the #1 ingredient in ant killer.(this a just a personal preference) I added extra washing soda and one cup of baking soda (bicarb) in it's place and it works just as well as far as I can tell. I love reading your posts, Rhonda Jean, I am so eager to find a house (we are renting) so I can dig in the dirt and have some chickens, etc. Right now, I have to "sneak" out to the backyard and toss the potato peels and such. I just can't bring myself to throw them in the trash :)<br /><br />JanetAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-3644767952095734492012-07-10T23:40:22.335+10:002012-07-10T23:40:22.335+10:00I guess we don't have imported food from China...I guess we don't have imported food from China in the USA. I wouldn't purchase it either! My daughter lived in China for a year and I know too much!momma-lanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02975411711120382015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-71452585352105943862012-07-10T23:27:33.461+10:002012-07-10T23:27:33.461+10:00I love your posts, it keeps me motivated. I have ...I love your posts, it keeps me motivated. I have been living a simple life for many years now. I always thought I was doing something wrong as I don't seem to have as many material things as other people do, but, on the other hand I don't need the newest or the best of everything on the market either, and am very content with what I have.Canadian Country Galnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-84247417193949525212012-07-10T21:49:28.011+10:002012-07-10T21:49:28.011+10:00You are so right !! That is what we try to do too ...You are so right !! That is what we try to do too ; )Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-43302021085053847982012-07-10T21:01:19.324+10:002012-07-10T21:01:19.324+10:00In Hobart our local woolworths has ceased selling ...In Hobart our local woolworths has ceased selling Borax but the Coles a few suburbs over from me still stocks it (as of last Friday). <br /><br />I was thinking of trying Bicarb though as I can buy it in bulk from our baking flour supplier (and I have a few friends who would share a 15kg bag with me).Clairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03293118986621010393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-14110239882072247362012-07-10T20:46:18.670+10:002012-07-10T20:46:18.670+10:00Rhonda, I think this is certainly one of your best...Rhonda, I think this is certainly one of your best posts so far. It is wonderfully how they are often a timely reminder for me just when I need it :) Because someone else mentioned washing I was wondering what your opinion is of Soap Nuts. I have only just heard of them and wondered if you had an opinion of them verses home-made washing powder?Gayenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-14794761331032715172012-07-10T19:34:30.598+10:002012-07-10T19:34:30.598+10:00Wonderfully inspiring post - we are heading along ...Wonderfully inspiring post - we are heading along this path at the moment, struggling with the debts, but not worrying too much about them! My 97 year old Grandma has lived by these guidelines all her life and is the most content, happy person I have ever met. Maybe this is the secret to longevity! <br /><br />Kath<br />xJuicyFighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08834650999779836971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-30875820522660612902012-07-10T19:15:00.946+10:002012-07-10T19:15:00.946+10:00Thanks for the hint re the bi-carb Rhonda. Is it ...Thanks for the hint re the bi-carb Rhonda. Is it as good a stain remover as good old Borax? Queries at supermarkets produced the same information, Borax has been relisted and they can no longer buy it. I believe once stocks are sold it will no longer be available from the suppliers we've all depended upon. Mumble, mumble, mumble....unhappy camper here.Susan@minicrochetmadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13809610464829120178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-7042685950275230642012-07-10T18:47:23.481+10:002012-07-10T18:47:23.481+10:00Hi Rhonda, I found a recipe for 4 ingredient soap ...Hi Rhonda, I found a recipe for 4 ingredient soap on the forum, dated July 2007, is that the one you use now ?, at the workshop at Bell you said you recently changed to a 4 ingredient recipe with no rice bran oil.I have my molds and am keen to have a go :)MargaretPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12990336317308988689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-61926749219837356292012-07-10T17:57:12.205+10:002012-07-10T17:57:12.205+10:00Multi-tasking - the arty of doing many things simu...Multi-tasking - the arty of doing many things simultaeneously and usually pretty badly.Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04177854521955532744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-62157379093049185022012-07-10T16:58:33.701+10:002012-07-10T16:58:33.701+10:00Hi Gabrielle. Thanks for your information about bo...Hi Gabrielle. Thanks for your information about borax at Bunnings. I just wanted to say that borax is not a dangerous chemical. When I was growing up, borax was commonly used as an eye wash. I've still got two perfectly useful eyes. The problem with borax is that it builds up in soil if you use your grey water on the garden. The buildup turns into boron, which is deadly to plants in small amounts. There is no problem using borax in washing liquid and powder.rhonda jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08962112306968959985noreply@blogger.com