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I Love Being a Cheapskate!
In 1970 I migrated to Australia with my two little boys aged 4 and 6, with the assistance of the Kingsley Fairbridge Society in England. I was already divorced and my ex-husband had stolen my two older children and taken them to his own country. Coming to Australia was a new life for us and I was almost penniless but found work almost immediately.
Life was very hard to begin with, not knowing a single soul in this country, but I was determined to give my boys the best life I could manage. Well, I never became rich or famous and have always lived in State Housing, but by becoming an avid op-shopper right from the start I've been able to make my small home cosy and comfy with mainly second-hand EVERYTHING..!
I never remarried. My boys grew up into honest hard-working men who now have children of their own. I now live in a tiny Seniors unit (still State Housing) and am surrounded by books(op-shop), simple furniture (op-shop), pretty bedding and curtains (op-shop) and mostly plain white crockery collected over the years from swap meets and op-shops. I do all my own decorating on a tight budget, have NO CREDIT CARDS, and don't owe anyone a penny.
I created a tiny "Bali-style" courtyard garden and gathered all the plants from friends or garage sales. I stuck with a cream and white colour scheme as much as possible, with my books providing splashes of colour. Anyone who visits me always comments on how tranquil my home is and even when I have my annual inspection my Housing Manager says this is her favourite unit, so that makes me feel really appreciated.
Believe me when I say that I LOVE it every single time I walk through my garden gate....it's HOME SWEET HOME to me and makes me feel rich.
Now at 72 I still love using my computer every day (handed down from my son) and enjoy digital scrapbooking, using mainly photos of my family and my garden...and I LOVE being a CHEAPSKATE too!
Nadia H.
Life was very hard to begin with, not knowing a single soul in this country, but I was determined to give my boys the best life I could manage. Well, I never became rich or famous and have always lived in State Housing, but by becoming an avid op-shopper right from the start I've been able to make my small home cosy and comfy with mainly second-hand EVERYTHING..!
I never remarried. My boys grew up into honest hard-working men who now have children of their own. I now live in a tiny Seniors unit (still State Housing) and am surrounded by books(op-shop), simple furniture (op-shop), pretty bedding and curtains (op-shop) and mostly plain white crockery collected over the years from swap meets and op-shops. I do all my own decorating on a tight budget, have NO CREDIT CARDS, and don't owe anyone a penny.
I created a tiny "Bali-style" courtyard garden and gathered all the plants from friends or garage sales. I stuck with a cream and white colour scheme as much as possible, with my books providing splashes of colour. Anyone who visits me always comments on how tranquil my home is and even when I have my annual inspection my Housing Manager says this is her favourite unit, so that makes me feel really appreciated.
Believe me when I say that I LOVE it every single time I walk through my garden gate....it's HOME SWEET HOME to me and makes me feel rich.
Now at 72 I still love using my computer every day (handed down from my son) and enjoy digital scrapbooking, using mainly photos of my family and my garden...and I LOVE being a CHEAPSKATE too!
Nadia H.