Comments on Muddy Boot Dreams: Thrifty living 2012 : How we got here, our stories...

Oh my! You guys are really brave souls. Your par...

2012-01-31T14:16:33.141-08:00

Oh my! You guys are really brave souls. Your parents have to be so proud of their kids though and the choices that you have made in staying free of credit card debt! Stay strong! It does pay off!

Can't wait to read more...

My mom cut coupons and shopped the sales at severa...

2012-01-28T07:25:54.081-08:00

My mom cut coupons and shopped the sales at several grocery stores weekly. We grew up wearing hand me downs and bargain basement clothes. What she saved went into a savings account and then (and here is the brilliant part) when there was enough, moved it to her portfolio where it grew & grew. Depression era babies rock!
;)
Zuzu

Great advice!

2012-01-27T18:29:09.164-08:00

Great advice!

Jen, you give such sound advice. There are many of...

2012-01-26T18:37:14.638-08:00

Jen, you give such sound advice. There are many of us living a simpler life. The linked blogs writing about thrifty living sharing ideas give voice to the struggles that so many face, bringing them hope, helping them find a better way, showing them that they can over come. I'll keep reading.

Jen...I am so happy that you were able to buy your...

2012-01-26T15:41:26.211-08:00

Jen...I am so happy that you were able to buy your house. I wish you all the best. I take all of your advice to heart. Especially making your savings account a priority. I make a deposit when we get paid and if there is anything left over just prior to the next pay period, I deposit that as well. This works for us and gives us a sense of security.

Keep up the great posts!

XO,
Jane

Hi Jen, you've given some great tips in your p...

2012-01-26T15:12:52.525-08:00

Hi Jen, you've given some great tips in your post...times are tight for so many folks now.

It's hard when the parents get older, and our children will say the same of us one day.

I understand your moving from Van to the OK completely. We did the same in 2006 when we left Sechelt for the Cariboo.

We've never regretted it and enjoy life so much more here. Gardening, fishing, berry picking...love it.

Hi Jen, you've given some great tips in your p...

2012-01-26T15:12:51.609-08:00

Jen, Paying yourself first is something many of u...

2012-01-26T11:18:08.981-08:00

Jen,

Paying yourself first is something many of us overlook, much the same way we overlook taking care of ourselves. But we have to strengthen ourselves, whether it be financially or healthwise, if we are to take care of our loved ones and responsibilities.

Excellent advice, Jen!

Looking forward to next weeks posting!

RaShell

First off, beautiful pictures! I love the west co...

2012-01-26T10:25:15.671-08:00

First off, beautiful pictures!

I love the west coast and Vancouver Island but agree, very pricey. My Mom lived in Vancouver for 20 years but when it came to retirement a few years ago, she couldn't afford to stay and moved to our small town in Alberta.

Great advice to pay yourself first. We try very hard to add to our savings, but some months are harder than others since my husband is self employed.

Have a great day!

So looking forward to learning from you and the ot...

2012-01-26T09:42:45.976-08:00

So looking forward to learning from you and the others in this series. Pay yourself first -- great advice.

I'm so glad you were able to reach your dream ...

2012-01-26T09:37:22.317-08:00

I'm so glad you were able to reach your dream of moving to Okanagon Valley. You've probably already learned it takes less $$ when things are not so eadily available too! We have always, always....lived without much, money or things but had been able to buy homes, garden and eat! Who needs much more than that?

My in-laws never bought anything unless they could...

2012-01-26T09:25:56.650-08:00

My in-laws never bought anything unless they could pay cash for it. Definitely a lesson everyone should learn. Too many people think they need everything right away and wind up getting in over their heads. Patience is definitely a virtue. Wishing you all the best, Tammy

Your story is one we should all learn from. You ar...

2012-01-26T08:13:58.747-08:00

Your story is one we should all learn from. You are prepared because you planned ahead. Such wise advice for all of us. I am excited to see your story unfold.

Jenn, what excellent advice ya gave here. A sim...

2012-01-26T07:58:22.994-08:00

Jenn, what excellent advice ya gave here.

A simular thing happened to us a few years back when we were forced to close our Semi Truckin' business due the the high fuel prices. Hubs and I both were takin' salary from the company. Ouch!!!

It was a slim eight months before Hubs landed a job but we survived keepin' ourselves and the animals fed.

We were raised by parents who survived the depression also.

Girl, I must say your beautiful flower photos brightened up this very dreary day!!! Thanks!!!

God bless and have yourself an extraordinary day sweetie!!!

Great advice, Jen! Savings has been the first less...

2012-01-26T07:42:37.186-08:00

Great advice, Jen! Savings has been the first lesson I wanted to implement, and did. It makes me sleep a lot easier at night! I am so happy for you getting your first house. You have saved and struggled, and you so deserve this for the two of you! Being near family is the icing on the cake (as I'm learning myself.)
Brenda

Great advice, Jen. Money is so tight for us right ...

2012-01-26T07:31:37.406-08:00

Great advice, Jen. Money is so tight for us right now that we can't even pay ourselves! But we will. So glad to be sharing this series with you.

xo
Claudia

You have some great thoughts Jen..I pay off the Cr...

2012-01-26T06:50:58.131-08:00

You have some great thoughts Jen..I pay off the Credit Card monthly too. I also try to write a check to ourselves once a month to be used in the months when Insurance or Taxes are due..and if it isn't used after a few months I transfer it to savings:)

Good advice Jen but lets point out that there are ...

2012-01-26T06:44:00.358-08:00

Good advice Jen but lets point out that there are huge suburbs outside of Vancouver proper that don't cost nearly as much as right in Vancouver.
A million bucks would buy a small mansion in Mission or Abbotsford.

Wonderful advice.

2012-01-26T05:55:05.294-08:00

Wonderful advice.

Great advice and beautiful photos, my friend! It i...

2012-01-26T05:45:53.772-08:00

Great advice and beautiful photos, my friend! It is so important to watch what you spend and pay everything in full each month. And very smart to save some, too. I'm so happy that you were able to move to be close to your family. You will really enjoy that! ♥

Over here in Ontario everyone talks about the beau...

2012-01-26T05:45:19.185-08:00

Over here in Ontario everyone talks about the beauty of B.C. and how they would love to live there, but it is way to expensive. I have seen t.v programs where 1200 square foot older bungalows were close to a million dollars, where here it would be aprox $150 000.
I also have heard about paying yourself first and just started that last summer. These days everyone needs to adhere to these good financial tips. Thanks ofr the post. Have a great day.

Jen such sound advice. My husband has been unable...

2012-01-26T04:57:27.258-08:00

Jen such sound advice. My husband has been unable to find work for years that would give us the money for me to stop working so I have had to be the bread winner. He is the house husband. Soon I hope to retire and live on our pension. It will mean living on less but I have had to learn those lessons especially with being cut to part time last year. Luckily I found another job an hour away but for less pay. So I am living the thrifty life...looking forward to these posts.