If we were frugal

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If we were frugal
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Downsizer Forum Index -> Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

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Florence

Joined: 15 Mar 2025
Posts: 138

Posted: Mon May 26, 25 12:48 pm Post subject: If we were frugal
If we were properly frugal and bought what we really needed rather than too much of what we wanted, reduce, reuse, recycle would not be much of a topic would it? Skip hire and house clearing rather than Freecycle, donating to charity, selling off and other methods of down sizing our goods would be a topic. Probably wreck the economy though and do no good for employment.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 44403
Location: yes

Posted: Mon May 26, 25 1:08 pm Post subject:

i got "backpack" camping equipment, including 2 lts of water and 2 days food down to 10kg in a 20 liters bag
4 season comfort(down to around -10C) and (foraged non fossil) multi fuel kitchen kit, replacement food/water is bought, foraged, caught etc as required

at a push i have got it down to a couple of Ks of pocket kit and multi use wearables. that swaps kit wt for time if you want to be comfy

really light is possible but rather hard work to be comfy

i have twice reduced my fixed home goods to less than 100lt and 35 kg(ie easy in a bergan)

at the mo i have a lot of tools, art stuff, antiques etc. my camera kit weighs more than my light camping kit

Florence

Joined: 15 Mar 2025
Posts: 138

Posted: Mon May 26, 25 4:42 pm Post subject:

dpack wrote:

my camera kit weighs more than my light camping kit

I know that one from a lifetime.

I'm too old to go proper light weight camping again as my knees are false and don't bend to stand up again from sleeping ground level. But the principle is still good.

The mental picture of the family turning up at the abode to be faced with a just above light weight camping style decor and wondering if I'd "lost it" is a good one though.

In fact it should reduce the household spending to below minium. Thanks for the picture dpack.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 16508

Posted: Tue May 27, 25 6:40 am Post subject:

We have a similar problem Florence, although our knees are still our own, just a bit creaky. We found tent camping was getting too much, so now we have a converted box trailer for camping at shows etc. It has a proper double bed, small sink, double gas burner, toilet and fridge. It even has electric and running (cold) water.

I think one problem, particularly if you live in a place for a long time, and have inherited things from previous generations is a tendency to keep things that have memories. We don't buy much new, but have a lot of things, some even from my grandparents.

Yes, Dpack, it is possible to cut down quite a bit for camping and travelling and still be comfortable.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 44403
Location: yes

Posted: Wed May 28, 25 10:29 am Post subject:

going anywhere ranges from impossible to challenging

camping is definitely off my list , hence rehoming most of my kit,

i kept enough to be of use if we go off grid without going anywhere. it does happen here if it floods we are on a small island without mains services and usually no usual coms

8 v solar, battery banks, radio rather than mobile, water kit, med kit, plenty of charcoal etc as well as my stove and pan nest would last for months if needs be
so i kept that and a couple of light houses (very cosy and adaptable) and that stuff above
surprisingly it would all fit in bergan, if you could carry it
thinking of which i have rehomed at least 4 backpacks of assorted hardcore type
i will rehome the posh vango mountain tent, when i find somebody that will use it well rather than lunch it out at a festy

tt has many books, many is a lot. i have got mine down to a few hundred, hers are in the mid thousands
we wont get cold in an emergency

my major contribution to downsizer and decluttering was to get rid of the big useless(well useful as a skip

not my doing) and replace with plants etc

Florence

Joined: 15 Mar 2025
Posts: 138

Posted: Wed May 28, 25 11:27 am Post subject:

In May 2003 all my worldly goods fitted into your standard white delivery van when moving up from down south. Driver son was amazed at my tight packing ability.

Had bed, cooker, fridge, washing machine, radio, computer, crockery and basic cooking utensils, clothes, bedding and washing gear, bookcase. What else does one really need? Except a roof over the head and access to heating, power and water? And internet access. I thought I was well off - early childhood went into one suitcase for parent and me over many moves.

Couldn't do the same again at this moment.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 44403
Location: yes

Posted: Wed May 28, 25 2:45 pm Post subject:
four crusties, 3 medium size mutts, 1.5 KM of 12 mm polyprop and 50 M2 rubberised canvas in a fiat panda

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 16508

Posted: Thu May 29, 25 7:11 am Post subject:
I once helped a man who had transported the families of servicemen to travel to a new base in his youth. We managed to get the contents of a pretty big stall next to us into the back of an old style Ranger pick up with a roof. Not sure how old Ern got it out at the other end. We did the packing for him because he had bad knees. Didn't stop him being a big flirt though!!!

Florence

Joined: 15 Mar 2025
Posts: 138

Posted: Thu May 29, 25 3:16 pm Post subject:

The new cooker purchased today to be fitted next Thursday is only frugal because the space into which it must go is narrow. Suppose that after 22 years a new cooker ain't so bad. Lucky money was there.

Mind there was a long discussion about whether a cooker was needed. In the end it was the cheapest option rather than any other combination of cooking methods (camping methods not acceptable where I live as I don't particularly want to be evicted as being anti social and not living up to the standards of a village street

I'm no longer inclined to live camping style - grown used to being comfortable living "indoors")

I have an eye on the fridge which will undoubtedly blow as it's of a similar vintage now the credit card is maxed out.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 16508

Posted: Fri May 30, 25 7:50 am Post subject:

Think our cooker is over 30 years old now, and the fridge even older. The washing machine and tumble dryer must be a similar vintage. We still have our first freezer, which must be the best part of 50 years old, but only use it in emergency as the insulation isn't that good as it got wet in the outhouse we had it in, and we had to replace part of it with polystyrene. The only things that are newer are the freezer and the dishwasher. My parents managed to keep their cooker going for about 40 years although it had to be turned off at the main switch as it wasn't reliable about turning on or off.

Hope your new cooker works well and long for you and the fridge hold on.

Florence

Joined: 15 Mar 2025
Posts: 138

Posted: Fri May 30, 25 8:11 am Post subject:

You are lucky Mistress Rose. Trouble is that what seemed to be a perfectly good cooker was tripping all the house electrics when any part of it but the hob was turned on. At least I have 3 rings to use for now - the fourth is knackered. Should have known this was the beginning of the end.

By the time the emergency housing association electrician arrived of an evening, I had narrowed down where the problem was. At least he left me with some rings working (and all the other sockets in the place) but the housing association don't do repairs to general fixtures and fittings - just the boiler and a shower if they fit one.

Mind they don't do repairs to the plastering either.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 16508

Posted: Sat May 31, 25 7:04 am Post subject:

Sound like a problem with the wiring of the oven. It should be possible to mend both it and the faulty ring, but depends on what the problem is. Think my parents one was probably too far gone. It had solid rings, so cooking was totally different to radiant rings or modern ones. Had to turn things off and let the residual heat do the rest. Probably had old rubber insulation internally which had perished too.

Florence

Joined: 15 Mar 2025
Posts: 138

Posted: Sat May 31, 25 7:09 am Post subject:

Lets update things. The hob on the cooker is now tripping sockets all round the house so the cooker is a decorative item in the kitchen. It's me and the basic microwave. Which does more than I thought. Roll on next Thursday and hope the new cooker causes no problems.

Anyway - back to looking at needs versus wants. That's usually the problem at the root of being frugal. I fear that the last few years has been reaction against a frugal lifestyle.

Slim

Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Posts: 6709
Location: New England (In the US of A)

Posted: Sat May 31, 25 10:11 am Post subject:

It won't replace something that's full on broken, but the idea of a modern equivalent to the hay box for slow cooking is frugal from an energy usage standpoint, but if course you still need a way to get to the initial temperature.

I was intrigued by an "all in one" style counter top oven/toaster/air fryer, but was not sure it would make sense for you us. That plus a two burner induction hotplate might be all you need, if not cooking for numbers....

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 16508

Posted: Sat May 31, 25 2:36 pm Post subject:

I looked at the 'all in one' cookers and decided against. as I already have things that do most of them. We bought an air fryer and it is definitely worth while; It will do a lot of things including a roast dinner, but husband prefers that done in the oven as we cook it over water so get the gravy with it. The major advantage with a conventional oven is for batch baking. I do biscuits very frequently, so have to use the oven for them.

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