2010 is going to be a BIG year for me.
- I am turning 30 - Yes, I know I only look like I'm 22.... Thanks....
- I am getting married to the man of my dreams - and I'm nowhere near organized
- My brother is getting married in May to a wonderful girl I am happy to call my sister in law
- We are having our first Family Reunion this summer
And yet I still feel I should be setting myself a few challenging New Year Resolutions....
Crazy, I hear you say? Highly likely. I think I'm crazy too.
So after much consideration I am going embrace my state of living and set myself the challenge of
living frugally in 2010
Radically changing your lifestyle like this is quite difficult so I plan to take this one step at a time and make it longterm resolution. The reasons behind it are:
- I firmly believe that millionaires are made from scrooges
- I strongly believe that we already have enough mass manufactured things in the world and we should use and reuse what we already have
- I want to buy my own house in the next couple of years
- I think we can live off less and why shouldn't we?
- Living frugally is a good skill to learn and it makes you thankful for what you already have
So, I would like to:
- make birthday/christmas/anniversary presents and cards including wrapping
- make everything I need from what I already own
- if I do have to replace something I will do it by buying secondhand
- only make investment buys - eg. basic wardrobe of clothes, sturdy furniture, good quality linens - so that they will last longterm
- not pay someone to do something I can easily do myself for a better price
- recycle and upcycle everything I can get my hands on
- make my own home decorations - easter & christmas
- shop for the best bargain for everyday things like milk, flour etc
Longterm I would love to:
- grow my own vegetables, fruit and herbs
- make my own natural medicines for basic ailments
- make my own beauty treatments
- have my own chicken to provide me with eggs
- be able to sew well enough to provide myself with stylish clothing
- make my decisions prioritising myself and the environment
This involves perfecting some skills old and new skills like:
- baking - breads, cakes
- sewing - patching, buttons, clothing
- knitting - scarves, hats, gloves, presents
- body care - beauty treatments, hair cutting
- budgeting
- growing herbs and tomato plants
- natural therapies - aromatherapy
- how to look after chicken
I am looking forward to this New Year Resolution. Many of the points are things I have been living by or working on for at least the last year but this year I am dedicating my way of life to it. I don't want to compromise our comfort and style so I think this will be the challenge.
Here's to 2010!
May it be a year of looking inward at ourselves and our priorities; at being creative and thankful rather than keeping up with the Jones's and their fashion fads.
May it bring us more joy, love, satisfaction and... savings!
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