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Downsizing and Decluttering

​As a retiree, whose life has involved a great deal of travel, I have so many things which remind me of favourite  times and places.   Moving from our large home to a villa in a retirement village was not easy.   

I hate a cluttered 'old lady' look in our small, but very, very easy to live in, villa.   Therefore I rotate my treasures, packing them in boxes in the garage, changing every few months.     

I started "Cheapskating" back in l950 when I left school, and began to save to go to England by ship.   Great investment; as it turned out I met the love of my life on the ship and we have recently celebrated our Golden Wedding.   

All my life my goal has been to make every dollar do the work of two!  I even had four children instead of two! It's given my family schooling and holidays far beyond what our income would suggest. My girls always laughed at my 'scrooginess' though they benefitted greatly. 

Seeing our retirement dollars shrink the last few years has proved again that the habit of 'cheapskating' makes life so much easier - friends wonder I think how we afford still to have lovely holidays - which is what we save for now.  

I love shopping even more now - with more time to plan and get the specials, and never throwing out anything, shopping for clothes at Vinnies, buying all the gifts for family and friends when they are on sale or on special, using the local library and U3A to learn more and make friends,  it is a great game - with great rewards. I don't have time to sit around with friends bemoaning the cost of living - we don't really live as frugally as many have to - so we are lucky.  

Back to de-cluttering - it's such a great feeling  which really frees up the mind - and improves the décor. An old saying which I've followed all my life "never have anything in your home  which you don't know to be useful, or  believe to be beautiful."

Thanks again for the newsletter, I look forward to it, and love the tips. Congratulations.      

M.

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  • Home
  • Join the Club!
    • Twenty Reasons to Join the Cheapskates Club
  • About Us
    • Cath's Story
    • Ask Cath
    • Glossary of Cheapskating Terms
  • Forum
    • Current Forum Discussions
    • How to Use the Member Forum
  • Inspiration
    • Getting Started
    • 31 Days of MOO Index
    • Articles
    • Housekeeping Routines
    • Budget Renovations
    • Saving Stories
    • Learning Centre
  • Recipes
    • Recipe File Index
    • Meal Plans
    • Add a Recipe
    • $300 a Month Food Challenge >
      • $300 a Month Food Challenge
      • The $300 a Month Food Challenge Forum
  • Newsletters
    • Newsletters 2023
    • Newsletters 2022
    • Newsletters 2021
    • Newsletters 2020
    • Newsletters 2019
    • Newsletters 2018
    • Newsletters 2017
  • Saving Money
    • Latest Tips 2023
    • Latest Tips 2022
    • Cheapskates Tip Store
    • Tip Sheets
    • Top Tip Competition
  • Contact
    • Changing Details
    • Help Files