Fairbanks did it. We reached -37 this morning. I woke up chilly under my blankets (I'm sure I've mentioned how poorly insulated our building is, and "my side" of the bed is right under a window) and shivered through getting dressed. When I let the dog out after her breakfast, a cloud appeared in the opening, which only happens when it's below about -20(F). So I knew it would be cold. I dressed for the cold. I just didn't know exactly how cold it was until I got to work.
Now, I know there are people out there who think, "How on earth do you dress for cold like that?!" But it truly is possible. My thighs were the only part of me that were cold when I made it to work. (And since my head was sweating, I find it a little unfair.)
So what are the necessary items to dress for such tremendous cold? The first rule is that you don't want to over-dress. Working up a sweat in these temps just means you'll be cold all day. (And yes, I know I just said my head was sweating. But my choice was either sweating or freezing. Which would you choose?) I didn't put on a sweater under my coat knowing that I'd start off chilly, but that I'd be going uphill and would be warm later on. A little chill at the beginning of my daily trek tends to be a good thing.
The second rule is to dress in layers. As soon as I get inside a building, I tear off all of my outside clothes. (Shane and I have jokingly dubbed it the "Alaskan striptease", which rather than getting naked means that you've taken off enough clothing to look like a person again.) And yes, the layers can be a pain in the butt. The other night I laughed to Shane because I said my goodbye but I was still in the room several minutes later, lacing up my boots and pulling on my gloves. It takes a while to get into and out of so much stuff, but not getting frostbite or hypothermia is worth it.
By layers, I also mean don't be afraid to utilize long underwear. I love mine, but I think a lot of people around here never wear them because of stigmas about how old-fashioned they are. It also means that those people don't spend any significant amount of time outdoors in the winter. If you're just going from a house to a warm car to a warm building, I can see why you'd find them unnecessary. But do you really want to be trapped indoors all winter? I don't care that they're not "sexy", and neither (thankfully!) does Shane, who also wears them.
Anyway, today I also doubled up on socks. I don't mean little cotton socks, I mean two pairs of wool socks. This was partly because I couldn't wear my warm winter boots (they rubbed the backs of my legs raw yesterday because my socks fell down on the walk home) so I wore my Bogs. However, I think this was actually to the good since the Bogs are taller and therefore kept more of my calves warm. My feet were nice and toasty for the walk.
I have a rather large collection of scarves, I must admit. There's a light, linen one that's more decorative and used when I'm not sure if I actually need a scarf or not. There's my cashmere one (a gift from my mother) which I use when I know we'll be driving somewhere, but I still need a warm scarf. (Our date, for instance.) I can't use that one when it's this cold because you need (and I do mean need something) over your face, not only for your skin and face but to prevent frostbite in your lungs. (Yep, it can happen.) The cashmere has a tendency to smell like wet dog when it's moist. So I defer to one of my other two scarves for super cold days, one I knitted myself and the other which was also a gift from family. They're both super long so I can wrap them around twice, and they're warm without being suffocating. (A definite plus.)
As I said before, I only wore a t-shirt today. I keep a sweater at work in case I get cold, but everything else usually does a good enough job. And on my walk, my torso tends to be the part of me that stays warm. A few times when I've worn a sweater, I've had the odd condition where my torso is sweating while my legs are numb with cold. I hate that.
The last thing I did in terms of apparel was to keep my hood up. Even with no wind blowing, it's amazing how warm it will keep you. It especially helps the face by making a little pocket of warmer air.
I think the one thing I'm missing are truly good gloves. I have two pairs, which do all right. And somewhere, I should have some mitten/glove hybrids. I used to have down mittens, but one of them got lost. So now I'm on the search for gloves which are good down to at least -40. For now, I'm utilizing my pockets and my warm breath to keep my fingers warm.
Finally, my advice is to have something warm to drink on either end. It's amazing how much this actually does warm you up. I start my work day by making a pot of tea in the coffee maker, and either make hot chocolate, hot apple cider, warm milk with honey, or more tea when I get home.
Of course, today happens to be the day our hot water is getting fixed. Which meant turning off the heat, so it's currently a cozy 58 (F) in our house right now. Sounds to me like a good excuse for snuggling with everyone. Well, everyone except our vigilant watch kitty who's on high alert, making sure the repairman doesn't invade the house. :)
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Knitting and crocheting
Did you know that the term "hooker" probably comes from the fact that in the early 20th century, lace makers were expected to turn tricks on the side because the employers didn't want to pay them a living wage? I didn't either until looking through the beginning of my (falling apart!) copy of "Stitch 'n Bitch: The Happy Hooker" last night. Crocheting was originally a way for women to make cheap copies of lace, which was expensive to buy, but because of the ill-repute of the lace making industry, for a long time it had the stigma of being something that only poor or disreputable women would do.
Knitting and crocheting are also two activities which closely follow the economy. When it's down, more people are interested in making things themselves at home. During boom times, not so much. (Can I feel virtuous because I've been crocheting since I was 9?) In the winter, I love to knit and crochet. It satisfies my desire for a creative outlet, gives me a fantastic excuse to snuggle with the animals, and it's easily put down and picked back up again. The only downside is that it can be rather pricey. Apparently, crocheting can use about 1/3 more yarn for the same amount of material compared to knitting, but they both go through incredible amounts of yarn. They're also useful for different things. Despite the cost of using that much yarn to make something big, I will crochet a blanket every time over knitting one. It's just easier. No worries about dropping stitches, you don't have to use certain-sized needles, and you can easily change the pattern if you think of something else you want to do instead. (One of the first things I did was to make blankets for each of my brothers. Apparently, they still use them. :) For little, close work, knitting wins out every time. You'd never make socks by crocheting them, and while you could make a sweater it would be full of little holes and you'd have to wear something underneath. You can fall into crafter's paradise and combine the two (I've seen several beautiful items that were knitted and bordered in crocheted lace) but I've never attempted that myself.
As for the expense, the only reason I don't go for local yarns is that they're just so darn expesnsive. (Yes, that needed emphasis.) I can't spend upwards of $15 on one skein of yarn! So this is one area where my sense of frugal outrage has topped my desire to spend local. Even at the big box stores like Joann's and Michael's, a very, very small ball of "sock yarn" can cost over $10. I would love to get to a point where I could just pick yarns based solely on what I like, but for now I'm still having to look closely at prices. My recent glut of yarn-buying was partially funded with a gift card wedding present.
Because it's so expensive, I try my best to make the most of my yarn. If I have leftovers from one project I set about thinking what else I could make out of that yarn. (One popular thing is to make scrap yarn hats out of the leftover odds and ends from other projects.) Two of my ongoing projects fall nicely into this frugal category. I love making baby blankets for friends and family. It's easy, it's fun, and there's something special about a handmade blanket. But I also enjoy making a second blanket "for" that baby. The second one gets sent to charity. There are lots of groups that take donations of warm baby blankets, such as this one for babies in intensive care (can you even imagine what a horrible time that is for their families?!), this one for seriously ill or traumatized children, and this one which accepts donations of all sorts of baby supplies for hospitals and medical clinics in developing nations, to name just a few. Local women's shelters and homeless shelters are also usually happy to take donations of warm blankets.
My cousin and his wife recently announced that they're due to have a baby boy in April, so I'm busily working on two blankets, both in granny squares. The donation one is using pink yarn I have leftover from a different baby blanket. I need to buy a little more to make it larger, but it'll be very pretty when it's done. The other one is using some leftover granny squares from a blanket I made for someone else. My original idea for that project was to just make a rainbow colored blanket for her, but it evolved and I ended up using only a few of the colors. So I had some leftover orange and red squares, which I've now surrounded with and sewn together with yellow. It needs more bordering to be big enough for even a baby's blanket, so now I'm wondering: should I continue with just the red, orange and yellow? Or should I add some green and blue around the border to make it more rainbow-y? I'd have to buy more red and organge (and remember which kinds I used!) but I'd only have to buy the green for the other idea. I might also make a little hat to go with it, though....
I'm also working on a little bolero jacket for myself. (Pictures of someone else's here, but I'm doing mine in blue because I couldn't find a red I liked as much as the one recommended.) I tend to get warm at work in the winter because of my long underwear (and I'd feel silly taking it off then putting it back on) so I like to wear t-shirts and tank tops. But I often need a light little something over my shoulders/on my arms, so I'm hoping that this will fit the bill. I've already had to restart it once, though! I guess I didn't read the pattern as well as I should have and even though I started off making the small, I somehow ended up making the extra large, only wonky because of the small start. I'm doing much better now, since the restart fits what the pattern says should be happening.
When these are finished (or when I run out of yarn and have to wait before buying more) I'm going to try knitting myself some socks. I've never done that before, or knitted anything beyond hats and scarves actually. In fact, I'm a really recent knitter so I feel like a beginner still. I need a project that will expand my skills, however, and I thought that this one would make something both useful and beautiful while utilizing existing skills and at the same time pushing my boundaries. I was going to make something like this, only mine won't be so fancy. She used the same pattern, though. I have four colors for mine and since the balls of yarn are big, I might be able to make as many as four pairs of socks! Or more?
It also helps that my brother-in-law is an amazing knitter. (Yes, it's unisex! In fact, for a long time it was considered a man's task.) If I run into trouble, I can talk to him. I'm hoping that I can work on the socks over one of the upcoming holidays so that I can have him around.
When I'm done with the socks, I'm hoping to be able to make a sweater. I have several promising patterns picked out. After that, who knows?
Knitting and crocheting are also two activities which closely follow the economy. When it's down, more people are interested in making things themselves at home. During boom times, not so much. (Can I feel virtuous because I've been crocheting since I was 9?) In the winter, I love to knit and crochet. It satisfies my desire for a creative outlet, gives me a fantastic excuse to snuggle with the animals, and it's easily put down and picked back up again. The only downside is that it can be rather pricey. Apparently, crocheting can use about 1/3 more yarn for the same amount of material compared to knitting, but they both go through incredible amounts of yarn. They're also useful for different things. Despite the cost of using that much yarn to make something big, I will crochet a blanket every time over knitting one. It's just easier. No worries about dropping stitches, you don't have to use certain-sized needles, and you can easily change the pattern if you think of something else you want to do instead. (One of the first things I did was to make blankets for each of my brothers. Apparently, they still use them. :) For little, close work, knitting wins out every time. You'd never make socks by crocheting them, and while you could make a sweater it would be full of little holes and you'd have to wear something underneath. You can fall into crafter's paradise and combine the two (I've seen several beautiful items that were knitted and bordered in crocheted lace) but I've never attempted that myself.
As for the expense, the only reason I don't go for local yarns is that they're just so darn expesnsive. (Yes, that needed emphasis.) I can't spend upwards of $15 on one skein of yarn! So this is one area where my sense of frugal outrage has topped my desire to spend local. Even at the big box stores like Joann's and Michael's, a very, very small ball of "sock yarn" can cost over $10. I would love to get to a point where I could just pick yarns based solely on what I like, but for now I'm still having to look closely at prices. My recent glut of yarn-buying was partially funded with a gift card wedding present.
Because it's so expensive, I try my best to make the most of my yarn. If I have leftovers from one project I set about thinking what else I could make out of that yarn. (One popular thing is to make scrap yarn hats out of the leftover odds and ends from other projects.) Two of my ongoing projects fall nicely into this frugal category. I love making baby blankets for friends and family. It's easy, it's fun, and there's something special about a handmade blanket. But I also enjoy making a second blanket "for" that baby. The second one gets sent to charity. There are lots of groups that take donations of warm baby blankets, such as this one for babies in intensive care (can you even imagine what a horrible time that is for their families?!), this one for seriously ill or traumatized children, and this one which accepts donations of all sorts of baby supplies for hospitals and medical clinics in developing nations, to name just a few. Local women's shelters and homeless shelters are also usually happy to take donations of warm blankets.
My cousin and his wife recently announced that they're due to have a baby boy in April, so I'm busily working on two blankets, both in granny squares. The donation one is using pink yarn I have leftover from a different baby blanket. I need to buy a little more to make it larger, but it'll be very pretty when it's done. The other one is using some leftover granny squares from a blanket I made for someone else. My original idea for that project was to just make a rainbow colored blanket for her, but it evolved and I ended up using only a few of the colors. So I had some leftover orange and red squares, which I've now surrounded with and sewn together with yellow. It needs more bordering to be big enough for even a baby's blanket, so now I'm wondering: should I continue with just the red, orange and yellow? Or should I add some green and blue around the border to make it more rainbow-y? I'd have to buy more red and organge (and remember which kinds I used!) but I'd only have to buy the green for the other idea. I might also make a little hat to go with it, though....
I'm also working on a little bolero jacket for myself. (Pictures of someone else's here, but I'm doing mine in blue because I couldn't find a red I liked as much as the one recommended.) I tend to get warm at work in the winter because of my long underwear (and I'd feel silly taking it off then putting it back on) so I like to wear t-shirts and tank tops. But I often need a light little something over my shoulders/on my arms, so I'm hoping that this will fit the bill. I've already had to restart it once, though! I guess I didn't read the pattern as well as I should have and even though I started off making the small, I somehow ended up making the extra large, only wonky because of the small start. I'm doing much better now, since the restart fits what the pattern says should be happening.
When these are finished (or when I run out of yarn and have to wait before buying more) I'm going to try knitting myself some socks. I've never done that before, or knitted anything beyond hats and scarves actually. In fact, I'm a really recent knitter so I feel like a beginner still. I need a project that will expand my skills, however, and I thought that this one would make something both useful and beautiful while utilizing existing skills and at the same time pushing my boundaries. I was going to make something like this, only mine won't be so fancy. She used the same pattern, though. I have four colors for mine and since the balls of yarn are big, I might be able to make as many as four pairs of socks! Or more?
It also helps that my brother-in-law is an amazing knitter. (Yes, it's unisex! In fact, for a long time it was considered a man's task.) If I run into trouble, I can talk to him. I'm hoping that I can work on the socks over one of the upcoming holidays so that I can have him around.
When I'm done with the socks, I'm hoping to be able to make a sweater. I have several promising patterns picked out. After that, who knows?
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Date night and "Sunday" Total
We had a date! This is the first time we've had a real date since getting back from our honeymoon. (We went out to dinner once during "Annie", but we ended up arguing about something stupid because we were both tired, so I don't count that.) I got all dolled up, actually going so far as to put on makeup. Shane looked fancier than I did, though. He put on a really nice button down shirt and slacks. I should have worn a dress, but it was just too cold. I knew I'd be freezing throughout dinner if I did that, and wouldn't enjoy it very much. So I wore my corduroy pants and a lovely shirt. Since I knew the restaurant tends to be on the cold side (most of them are here, in the winter) I wore long underwear under my pants and had to laugh at myself every once in a while. No one else could tell I had them on, but they kept me nice and warm! I wonder how many other people secretly had longjohns on?
We went to one of our favorite restaurants in the area: Silver Gulch. It was wonderful! I had one of their burgers, which I've never tried before. I usually get the pizza, but I wanted to branch out so I got the Stout BBQ burger. It was so good. Mmmm! I have a few of the leftover Cajun spiced fries to eat with my lunch today.
The only reason this was really possible, too, was because we have a gift certificate. One of our friends gave it to us as a wedding gift. Now I can write her a thank-you note and tell her how much fun we had using it!
This doubled as an errand, since we had a couple of kegs leftover from the wedding which needed to be returned. Since they're out in Fox (about a 20 minute drive from our house) neither of us wanted to go so far just to deliver the kegs, especially in winter. This was perfect. Well, Shane didn't appreciate the sometimes screaming kid at the next table (the poor guy was just bored and trying to get attention) but I had an unadulterated good time.
As for the totals, I missed again! Oh well. At least I'm still posting my totals and keeping myself accountable. Our grocery total for the week was about $75. I have to say, keeping track of our winter grocery bills is much more satisfying than the summer. During the summer, some weeks I'd be spending over $150 each week. But now I'm seeing just how much of that was for food that we put away and are now using.
I looked in our refrigerator freezer yesterday and was sad about how little was left in it. It's only November and we've gone through so much of our stored food already! I wonder how long it will all last? To be honest, I didn't expect the blueberries to last this long but we still have one and a half gallon-sized storage bags full. Not bad. (But I still want to get more next year!)
One final mental picture: when I woke up yesterday morning the dog was between us, butt next to the pillow, head under the covers, snoring away. I wish I'd had a video camera for that!
We went to one of our favorite restaurants in the area: Silver Gulch. It was wonderful! I had one of their burgers, which I've never tried before. I usually get the pizza, but I wanted to branch out so I got the Stout BBQ burger. It was so good. Mmmm! I have a few of the leftover Cajun spiced fries to eat with my lunch today.
The only reason this was really possible, too, was because we have a gift certificate. One of our friends gave it to us as a wedding gift. Now I can write her a thank-you note and tell her how much fun we had using it!
This doubled as an errand, since we had a couple of kegs leftover from the wedding which needed to be returned. Since they're out in Fox (about a 20 minute drive from our house) neither of us wanted to go so far just to deliver the kegs, especially in winter. This was perfect. Well, Shane didn't appreciate the sometimes screaming kid at the next table (the poor guy was just bored and trying to get attention) but I had an unadulterated good time.
As for the totals, I missed again! Oh well. At least I'm still posting my totals and keeping myself accountable. Our grocery total for the week was about $75. I have to say, keeping track of our winter grocery bills is much more satisfying than the summer. During the summer, some weeks I'd be spending over $150 each week. But now I'm seeing just how much of that was for food that we put away and are now using.
I looked in our refrigerator freezer yesterday and was sad about how little was left in it. It's only November and we've gone through so much of our stored food already! I wonder how long it will all last? To be honest, I didn't expect the blueberries to last this long but we still have one and a half gallon-sized storage bags full. Not bad. (But I still want to get more next year!)
One final mental picture: when I woke up yesterday morning the dog was between us, butt next to the pillow, head under the covers, snoring away. I wish I'd had a video camera for that!
Friday, November 11, 2011
Being too frugal
I found this interesting post from another blogger today (via the blog "The Simple Dollar"--I love that site) about being too frugal, and when frugality is a bad thing. I have to admit, I totally agree with the author. Though I try to save money in nearly every way, I do think it's worth it to buy new, quality things in some cases. Like winter staples. I don't mean hats and scarves, I mean coats and boots. Gloves. These are the things that will do the most to keep you warm in harsh conditions and for that reason, they need to be quality. My winter coat was expensive, but thankfully it was a Christmas gift from my parents. And even though I've had it for three years now, it will be the only winter coat I need for quite a few years to come. Because I know just how expensive it was (I picked it out) it gives me the impetus to keep it nice. I've kept my old (crappy) winter coat partly as a backup, and partly to wear when I'm doing something that might mess up my nice coat, like sledding.
One of the ideas I really like, rather than simply looking at the dollar amount is to think about the cost-per-use estimate. When I'm contemplating buying something new, or replacing something, I think about this. For instance, my Dansko shoes were over $100, but I've worn them nearly every day for three years now. That brings the cost per wear down to pennies, and they're still going strong. Not only are they wearing well, they're still super comfortable. Spencer (who's majoring in economics, btw) was talking about this the other day with his own shoes. He loves his Ecco brand shoes because they last a long time and the company has some sort of rebate policy if the shoes wear out. He estimated that Shane has spent nearly twice as much on cheaper shoes over the past five years compared to his one-time cost for shoes that last. He finally had to replace his old ones last year, but with the rebate (or coupon?) for sending them back in the new ones didn't cost him anything.
Beyond just the cost-per-wear idea, there's also the fact that these are investments in health. Your shoes can give you a number of health problems if they don't suit you, and if they don't have enough or the right kinds of support. Not only can they have immediate effects, too, but usually long-term consequences like back problems. With my coat, I'm not doing myself any favors if I get even mild hypothermia or frostbite. And since I spend so much time outdoors, even in winter, it's an investment in keeping myself healthy and warm.
The point of this is, being frugal on some items might seem ok in the short term, but is really bad in the long-term. This is when frugality becomes simply someone being cheap. There are items which are a good bargain, and then there are items which become an investment. The trick is finding out which is which, and what matters to you in the long run. If you're not going to use/wear something much, go for the cheap option. But if it's something you know you'll use over and over again? Saving up a decent amount of money and investing in something that will last is hands down your best option. Then do your best to keep it nice.
One of the ideas I really like, rather than simply looking at the dollar amount is to think about the cost-per-use estimate. When I'm contemplating buying something new, or replacing something, I think about this. For instance, my Dansko shoes were over $100, but I've worn them nearly every day for three years now. That brings the cost per wear down to pennies, and they're still going strong. Not only are they wearing well, they're still super comfortable. Spencer (who's majoring in economics, btw) was talking about this the other day with his own shoes. He loves his Ecco brand shoes because they last a long time and the company has some sort of rebate policy if the shoes wear out. He estimated that Shane has spent nearly twice as much on cheaper shoes over the past five years compared to his one-time cost for shoes that last. He finally had to replace his old ones last year, but with the rebate (or coupon?) for sending them back in the new ones didn't cost him anything.
Beyond just the cost-per-wear idea, there's also the fact that these are investments in health. Your shoes can give you a number of health problems if they don't suit you, and if they don't have enough or the right kinds of support. Not only can they have immediate effects, too, but usually long-term consequences like back problems. With my coat, I'm not doing myself any favors if I get even mild hypothermia or frostbite. And since I spend so much time outdoors, even in winter, it's an investment in keeping myself healthy and warm.
The point of this is, being frugal on some items might seem ok in the short term, but is really bad in the long-term. This is when frugality becomes simply someone being cheap. There are items which are a good bargain, and then there are items which become an investment. The trick is finding out which is which, and what matters to you in the long run. If you're not going to use/wear something much, go for the cheap option. But if it's something you know you'll use over and over again? Saving up a decent amount of money and investing in something that will last is hands down your best option. Then do your best to keep it nice.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Smorgasboard
Just really quick, I wanted to share a couple of things. The first is this article about air pollution in Fairbanks. How to solve our problem is a really fraught question around here. Because of where we are and our climate, none of the renewable technology that's currently hot is a viable option here. We don't get enough sun when we need the most energy, we have very little wind, and we're not near coastlines. The only thing I've heard of which might work here are Bloom Boxes. I've also heard of clean wood burning technologies, but for just the University to switch to that, by one estimate they'd have to have 150,000 acres of forest. (Our trees grow very slowly.) Plus, the effort to cut down all of those trees and transport them to the power plant would wipe out pretty much any environmental benefit.
So for now, we're stuck with coal. The University power plant needs to be redone soon (it's approaching or has surpassed, I can't remember which, it's viable, useful lifespan) so maybe with the EPA's help we could come up with something better?
I also found this article about some food rules which Michael Pollan has added to his list. If you haven't read his books ("The Omnivore's Dilemma", "Food Rules", "In Defense of Food", "The Botany of Desire" are the ones I've read) he's a fantastic author and really good about getting to the heart of an issue. They're also very well researched and supported.
Today Shane and I are making chili in our new-to-us Crockpot and I'll be using the two last peppers from my plant. I hope they aren't really the last peppers! I've only gotten four. But that's also been four peppers we didn't buy at the store, and I know when and what meals we used them for. I'm very proud of my little pepper plant.
This is also my first ever use of dried beans (from Alaska Feed Co.) so wish me luck! I had them soaking overnight, so hopefully all will be well.
So for now, we're stuck with coal. The University power plant needs to be redone soon (it's approaching or has surpassed, I can't remember which, it's viable, useful lifespan) so maybe with the EPA's help we could come up with something better?
I also found this article about some food rules which Michael Pollan has added to his list. If you haven't read his books ("The Omnivore's Dilemma", "Food Rules", "In Defense of Food", "The Botany of Desire" are the ones I've read) he's a fantastic author and really good about getting to the heart of an issue. They're also very well researched and supported.
Today Shane and I are making chili in our new-to-us Crockpot and I'll be using the two last peppers from my plant. I hope they aren't really the last peppers! I've only gotten four. But that's also been four peppers we didn't buy at the store, and I know when and what meals we used them for. I'm very proud of my little pepper plant.
This is also my first ever use of dried beans (from Alaska Feed Co.) so wish me luck! I had them soaking overnight, so hopefully all will be well.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Is it really deprivation?
It's easy to find articles on the web about the psychology and stress of depriving ourselves. It's almost as easy to find other articles about how we only have so much willpower, so it's easy to weaken and lose track of our big goals.
But you know what? I think they're full of it. Oh, I'm sure the basic premise is correct. We only have so much willpower, we can only take deprivation for so long, etc. But what do you consider deprivation? Have you ever given something up and later realized you never needed it in the first place? I've been "poor" for a while now. (Not living in poverty, mind you, just poor.) The fact that I have people I could depend on and ask for help if things, for some reason, went beyond control just makes me more determined to stand on my own two feet.
And you know what? It feels pretty good. For the most part, I don't feel deprived. I don't feel stressed out by what I don't have. It's so much easier to see what I do have, and be thankful for it, than to pity myself. Even things that shock other people ("You didn't turn on the heat until when?") become more like a personal challenge and a game. At the very least, I end up telling myself what a great story it will be later. (Remind me to tell you about not turning on the heat in the cabin until it snowed, only to discover that the heater wasn't working and it was a weekend so no one could fix it until Monday....) Why does everything surrounding frugality and saving money have to be couched in terms of what we're giving up and depriving ourselves of? A little attitude shift is all it takes to remind yourself that you have it pretty good.
Conversely, I don't pat myself on the back for enjoying free things. I think that that only emphasizes the fact that there are many fun things you could be doing which aren't free. I'd rather just enjoy the moment. I've never made lists for myself (and I do love me a good list) of free activities that I enjoy. I think that detracts a little bit. Why does an activity have to be about money? Can't it just be for the sheer joy of it? One of my favorite quotes I've heard recently asked, "When did we stop being a society and just become an economy?" In the same vein, when did a fun thing to do become about the money you're either spending or you're not? People lament that they wish they could get back the joy they felt in childhood, but it's really easy. Stop counting. Stop guessing how many calories you're burning with each activity. Stop congratulating yourself on finding something free to do. Stop telling yourself there's something better, more worthwhile, that you could be doing. Just enjoy what you're doing in that moment.
On Facebook recently, a lot of my friends have started some project about thankfulness, where every day they post something they're thankful for. I really like this. Who among us doesn't have something to be thankful for? For those of us with homes, the ability to heat them and feed our families, I think we have the most to be thankful for. Today, I'm thankful for the sun. I know I won't get to see it much over the next few months and I think it's important that I not take it for granted when I do.
I'm also thankful for the ability and resources to feed my little brother hot, brothy chicken soup and rolls when he's sick, just as our mother would. I'm equally thankful that he knows he's always welcome at my house and isn't afraid to ask to be invited.
I'm thankful for hot apple cider fresh from the stove, snuggles with the pets in warm blankets and pajamas from my mother, betting against Shane whodunit in some of our favorite shows. ("Bones", "Castle".) Life is pretty good.
But you know what? I think they're full of it. Oh, I'm sure the basic premise is correct. We only have so much willpower, we can only take deprivation for so long, etc. But what do you consider deprivation? Have you ever given something up and later realized you never needed it in the first place? I've been "poor" for a while now. (Not living in poverty, mind you, just poor.) The fact that I have people I could depend on and ask for help if things, for some reason, went beyond control just makes me more determined to stand on my own two feet.
And you know what? It feels pretty good. For the most part, I don't feel deprived. I don't feel stressed out by what I don't have. It's so much easier to see what I do have, and be thankful for it, than to pity myself. Even things that shock other people ("You didn't turn on the heat until when?") become more like a personal challenge and a game. At the very least, I end up telling myself what a great story it will be later. (Remind me to tell you about not turning on the heat in the cabin until it snowed, only to discover that the heater wasn't working and it was a weekend so no one could fix it until Monday....) Why does everything surrounding frugality and saving money have to be couched in terms of what we're giving up and depriving ourselves of? A little attitude shift is all it takes to remind yourself that you have it pretty good.
Conversely, I don't pat myself on the back for enjoying free things. I think that that only emphasizes the fact that there are many fun things you could be doing which aren't free. I'd rather just enjoy the moment. I've never made lists for myself (and I do love me a good list) of free activities that I enjoy. I think that detracts a little bit. Why does an activity have to be about money? Can't it just be for the sheer joy of it? One of my favorite quotes I've heard recently asked, "When did we stop being a society and just become an economy?" In the same vein, when did a fun thing to do become about the money you're either spending or you're not? People lament that they wish they could get back the joy they felt in childhood, but it's really easy. Stop counting. Stop guessing how many calories you're burning with each activity. Stop congratulating yourself on finding something free to do. Stop telling yourself there's something better, more worthwhile, that you could be doing. Just enjoy what you're doing in that moment.
On Facebook recently, a lot of my friends have started some project about thankfulness, where every day they post something they're thankful for. I really like this. Who among us doesn't have something to be thankful for? For those of us with homes, the ability to heat them and feed our families, I think we have the most to be thankful for. Today, I'm thankful for the sun. I know I won't get to see it much over the next few months and I think it's important that I not take it for granted when I do.
I'm also thankful for the ability and resources to feed my little brother hot, brothy chicken soup and rolls when he's sick, just as our mother would. I'm equally thankful that he knows he's always welcome at my house and isn't afraid to ask to be invited.
I'm thankful for hot apple cider fresh from the stove, snuggles with the pets in warm blankets and pajamas from my mother, betting against Shane whodunit in some of our favorite shows. ("Bones", "Castle".) Life is pretty good.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Just because it needed to be shared
I've seen this bike since before I worked at the library, but every time I see it it makes me feel good to see that someone else on campus is as thrifty, resourceful, and anti-consumerist as I am. (Shane thinks the bike belongs to a professor.)
In case you can't read it, one of the bumper stickers says, "Use less stuff". That's the one that gives me the warm and fuzzies. Well, that and the fact that it's on a home-made bike mod. Who says you need to buy cute, fancy bike basket? Make your own! I think this also says a lot about the attitude in Fairbanks. There are a lot of people around here with the same can-do, make-do way of living and I so admire it.
On a related note, the blog "Non-Consumer Advocate" had a wonderful post a while ago about those of us who are "secretly frugal". I certainly don't go around talking about my frugal habits (or putting them on bumper stickers), mostly out of the fear of being seen as one of "those people". You know, preachy know-it-alls who think that their way of life is best and need to talk down to others. (I think my way of life is the best for me, and that people need to change their habits so that we don'tdestroy the earth make the planet uninhabitable, but go ahead and do it in your own way.) In fact, this blog is my only outlet for a lot of these ideas and lifestyle changes. In talking about this kind of stuff, you get a lot of weird reactions. I love her to death, but when I told my best friend that I've become a Value Village shopper there was a pause before she said, "Oh. My. God." in the most scandalized tones I've ever heard from her. I refrained from pointing out that she never has any money, whereas Shane and I have (thankfully) managed to save quite a bit for times like unemployment. (A gentle attempt to talk about her shopping and spending habits a while ago was rebuffed, so I haven't tried since then to bring it up.)
I wonder what most of the people in my life would think if I suddenly started talking about my (somewhat secret) environmentalism more often? Or exactly what steps Shane and I are taking to save money? Most people know we don't have much (and most of our friends are in similar situations) but it's still something that's awkward to talk about. People just don't talk about money. Perhaps if more of us did, we wouldn't feel the need to spend so much of it because we'd no longer feel the need to compete with each other for the latest and greatest Stuff. And no, I'm no more immune to it than anyone else is. I want nice things too! New clothes, a newer car that doesn't cost a fortune in gas ($75 for one tank last time), a house.... The difference is, my need to spend very little to stay out of debt is greater than my desire for fleeting material goods. But I think I'm losing out on a valuable support network by not talking about this more with friends. I think we are losing out by not talking about it with each other.
In case you can't read it, one of the bumper stickers says, "Use less stuff". That's the one that gives me the warm and fuzzies. Well, that and the fact that it's on a home-made bike mod. Who says you need to buy cute, fancy bike basket? Make your own! I think this also says a lot about the attitude in Fairbanks. There are a lot of people around here with the same can-do, make-do way of living and I so admire it.
On a related note, the blog "Non-Consumer Advocate" had a wonderful post a while ago about those of us who are "secretly frugal". I certainly don't go around talking about my frugal habits (or putting them on bumper stickers), mostly out of the fear of being seen as one of "those people". You know, preachy know-it-alls who think that their way of life is best and need to talk down to others. (I think my way of life is the best for me, and that people need to change their habits so that we don't
I wonder what most of the people in my life would think if I suddenly started talking about my (somewhat secret) environmentalism more often? Or exactly what steps Shane and I are taking to save money? Most people know we don't have much (and most of our friends are in similar situations) but it's still something that's awkward to talk about. People just don't talk about money. Perhaps if more of us did, we wouldn't feel the need to spend so much of it because we'd no longer feel the need to compete with each other for the latest and greatest Stuff. And no, I'm no more immune to it than anyone else is. I want nice things too! New clothes, a newer car that doesn't cost a fortune in gas ($75 for one tank last time), a house.... The difference is, my need to spend very little to stay out of debt is greater than my desire for fleeting material goods. But I think I'm losing out on a valuable support network by not talking about this more with friends. I think we are losing out by not talking about it with each other.
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