Comments on: A Supersized Life http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/archives/548 Tue, 07 Sep 2010 01:51:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Curbing your spending « elle & ish – shopping, decor, fashion, makeup and figuring out how to pay for it all http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/archives/548/comment-page-1#comment-38436 Curbing your spending « elle & ish – shopping, decor, fashion, makeup and figuring out how to pay for it all Thu, 17 Jun 2010 21:02:26 +0000 http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/?p=548#comment-38436 [...] A Supersized Life:  does bigger mean better? (pertains especially to housing) [...] [...] A Supersized Life:  does bigger mean better? (pertains especially to housing) [...]

]]> By: palliative chemotherapy http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/archives/548/comment-page-1#comment-34211 palliative chemotherapy Wed, 19 May 2010 14:09:55 +0000 http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/?p=548#comment-34211 Recently, I didn't give so much thought to writing comments on blog entries and have left comments even less. Checking out your insightful page, will probably encourage me to do so more regularly. Recently, I didn’t give so much thought to writing comments on blog entries and have left comments even less. Checking out your insightful page, will probably encourage me to do so more regularly.

]]> By: successione casa http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/archives/548/comment-page-1#comment-29213 successione casa Wed, 24 Mar 2010 17:22:33 +0000 http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/?p=548#comment-29213 I've been reading a few posts and i'm adding your blog to my rss reader , thanks ! I’ve been reading a few posts and i’m adding your blog to my rss reader , thanks !

]]> By: Elaine Kethler http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/archives/548/comment-page-1#comment-16928 Elaine Kethler Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:14:58 +0000 http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/?p=548#comment-16928 Gail, you have touched on one of my pet peeves. I live in the Greater Vancouver area and am appalled at the high cost of housing. I have watched over the last few years perfectly sound and well maintained older houses being sold for ridiculously high prices only to be torn down and a huge "castle" being built in its place! (Yes, I realize that the land is worth so much.) This is my point. With all the worries about the environment and the limited resources available, why tear down a perfectly good, sturdy home that is under 70 years old to build a newer, bigger one that will gobble up more resources - after sending all the stuff from the old house to the landfill! I am impressed to see a few smart people that take that old house and realize what they have! It is more environmentally sound to remodel an older home and update it . Not only that, but you won't have to worry so much about the settling factor. An old existing house and foundation have already settled all that it is going to! (Friends who build an entirely new house were showing me all the cracks in the walls and other problems that would need to be addressed a year or so after the initial build!) And as for the "castle", when did all these people become royalty? When did everyone develop the attitude that they had to have the best, the top of the line product, etc? And don't get me started on the cost of heating & power that huge house is going to consume verses a smaller one! Gail, you have touched on one of my pet peeves. I live in the Greater Vancouver area and am appalled at the high cost of housing. I have watched over the last few years perfectly sound and well maintained older houses being sold for ridiculously high prices only to be torn down and a huge “castle” being built in its place! (Yes, I realize that the land is worth so much.) This is my point. With all the worries about the environment and the limited resources available, why tear down a perfectly good, sturdy home that is under 70 years old to build a newer, bigger one that will gobble up more resources – after sending all the stuff from the old house to the landfill!

I am impressed to see a few smart people that take that old house and realize what they have! It is more environmentally sound to remodel an older home and update it . Not only that, but you won’t have to worry so much about the settling factor. An old existing house and foundation have already settled all that it is going to! (Friends who build an entirely new house were showing me all the cracks in the walls and other problems that would need to be addressed a year or so after the initial build!)

And as for the “castle”, when did all these people become royalty? When did everyone develop the attitude that they had to have the best, the top of the line product, etc?

And don’t get me started on the cost of heating & power that huge house is going to consume verses a smaller one!

]]> By: Manda http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/archives/548/comment-page-1#comment-9770 Manda Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:45:51 +0000 http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/?p=548#comment-9770 My fiance and I have downsizing down to an art! We are both young students, and went decided that rather than renting an apartment for 700$ a month, we would buy a house and build some equity with the help of a small inheritance. Sounds crazy until you realize that our mortgage is only $300 a month (until we graduate and start work full time). In our 850 square foot semi with a postage stamp backyard, it feels like we're living in luxury! 3 bedrooms and 2 public rooms? We had no idea how to fill all that space after living in one bedroom for 2 years! Fortunately, some relatives who were moving had some furniture to donate. Slap on a coat of paint, and that primary coloured dresser is now a great TV stand. Yet somehow my parents (about to become empty nesters) are moving into a larger home... up from their current 4 bed, 3 bath. It truly is about being happy in the space you have and with the things you have, rather than always needing something bigger and better. I'm happier with my $1400 monthly budget than most millionaires. And isn't that what matters? My fiance and I have downsizing down to an art!

We are both young students, and went decided that rather than renting an apartment for 700$ a month, we would buy a house and build some equity with the help of a small inheritance. Sounds crazy until you realize that our mortgage is only $300 a month (until we graduate and start work full time).

In our 850 square foot semi with a postage stamp backyard, it feels like we’re living in luxury! 3 bedrooms and 2 public rooms? We had no idea how to fill all that space after living in one bedroom for 2 years! Fortunately, some relatives who were moving had some furniture to donate. Slap on a coat of paint, and that primary coloured dresser is now a great TV stand.

Yet somehow my parents (about to become empty nesters) are moving into a larger home… up from their current 4 bed, 3 bath.

It truly is about being happy in the space you have and with the things you have, rather than always needing something bigger and better. I’m happier with my $1400 monthly budget than most millionaires. And isn’t that what matters?

]]> By: Hannah M. http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/archives/548/comment-page-1#comment-9636 Hannah M. Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:38:42 +0000 http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/?p=548#comment-9636 The real tragedy in all this, is that the children are paying for it. They're being raised by distracted parents. I know people who only see their kids as they drop them off at daycare on their way to work, then maybe at dinner if they're eating at the same time, and on days off, they're dragging their kids around malls south of the border. (Because you can save more money so you can buy more stuff - and there's another thing I ask myself - if you spend all your 'disposable' income in another country, why should you expect there will be a job for you kid in Canada, when he or she is old enough to work?) The real tragedy in all this, is that the children are paying for it. They’re being raised by distracted parents. I know people who only see their kids as they drop them off at daycare on their way to work, then maybe at dinner if they’re eating at the same time, and on days off, they’re dragging their kids around malls south of the border. (Because you can save more money so you can buy more stuff – and there’s another thing I ask myself – if you spend all your ‘disposable’ income in another country, why should you expect there will be a job for you kid in Canada, when he or she is old enough to work?)

]]> By: Murray http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/archives/548/comment-page-1#comment-9615 Murray Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:24:51 +0000 http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/?p=548#comment-9615 Very fine post as usual Gail. I find the comments very enlightening. My wife and I both have bowel diseases, the thought of moving back to 1 bathroom home, would not have a good outcome! When I was in high school (1970's), we had a very famous politician come and speak, he went one for 20 minutes about the evils of consumerism and his example was an automatic card shuffler. He went on how no one could ever tell him any good reason anyone would have such a thing. I rose and spoke. I worked in a hospital and in my ward many people had arthritis, amputations and different ailments meaning shufflling was out of question, but loved to play cards. I got a very stinging stare from the speaker and a very severe reprimand from principal. But it has always made me realize, no matter how strong my opinion on a subject, I'm always looking at it from my side of the fence. Very fine post as usual Gail. I find the comments very enlightening. My wife and I both have bowel diseases, the thought of moving back to 1 bathroom home, would not have a good outcome! When I was in high school (1970’s), we had a very famous politician come and speak, he went one for 20 minutes about the evils of consumerism and his example was an automatic card shuffler. He went on how no one could ever tell him any good reason anyone would have such a thing. I rose and spoke. I worked in a hospital and in my ward many people had arthritis, amputations and different ailments meaning shufflling was out of question, but loved to play cards. I got a very stinging stare from the speaker and a very severe reprimand from principal. But it has always made me realize, no matter how strong my opinion on a subject, I’m always looking at it from my side of the fence.

]]> By: Heather http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/archives/548/comment-page-1#comment-9612 Heather Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:50:47 +0000 http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/?p=548#comment-9612 Hi Sandy, We also have had queries as to if/when we will be building our house and people do think it odd when I say we are converting the shed. I am sure some do look down on us but that's their problem. Its a lifesyle choice and since moving I have gradually culled the excessive "stuff" which we really don't need and only buy what we do. Eg. I buy my books from the local charity shop and donate them back once read, it cost me $6 for 22 paperbacks in their fill a bag sale last weekend whereas previously I would have bought a new paperback each time I finished one and then needed ever increasing space or more bookshelves to keep them and I am not feeling deprived in anyway. Less stuff - less expense - increased satisfaction in my life! Hi Sandy,

We also have had queries as to if/when we will be building our house and people do think it odd when I say we are converting the shed. I am sure some do look down on us but that’s their problem.

Its a lifesyle choice and since moving I have gradually culled the excessive “stuff” which we really don’t need and only buy what we do. Eg. I buy my books from the local charity shop and donate them back once read, it cost me $6 for 22 paperbacks in their fill a bag sale last weekend whereas previously I would have bought a new paperback each time I finished one and then needed ever increasing space or more bookshelves to keep them and I am not feeling deprived in anyway.
Less stuff – less expense – increased satisfaction in my life!

]]> By: Sarah http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/archives/548/comment-page-1#comment-9598 Sarah Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:36:45 +0000 http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/?p=548#comment-9598 My brother and I own a house that is over two hours away from where I work so we rent that out and I rent a room near my work. I have never had new furniture, I have a large extended family and it just so happens that whenever anyone needs something, someone else in the family is getting rid of it. My first tv after I moved out was from my aunt and uncle and they had bought it in 1972! I got another tv at an estate sale and passed mine on to my cousin who was moving and needed a new one. I sometimes wish that I had the knack of making a place look lovely, one of my good friends seems to just throw together a few cushions and her place is stunning, but as long as everything is neat, clean and works that is the extent of my decorating! So I have a tenant living in my beautiful house two hours away with two bedrooms and an 80 foot backyard and I am paying almost as much for one room near the city. Oh well, at least I can claim the interest as a tax deduction! S My brother and I own a house that is over two hours away from where I work so we rent that out and I rent a room near my work.

I have never had new furniture, I have a large extended family and it just so happens that whenever anyone needs something, someone else in the family is getting rid of it.

My first tv after I moved out was from my aunt and uncle and they had bought it in 1972! I got another tv at an estate sale and passed mine on to my cousin who was moving and needed a new one.

I sometimes wish that I had the knack of making a place look lovely, one of my good friends seems to just throw together a few cushions and her place is stunning, but as long as everything is neat, clean and works that is the extent of my decorating!

So I have a tenant living in my beautiful house two hours away with two bedrooms and an 80 foot backyard and I am paying almost as much for one room near the city. Oh well, at least I can claim the interest as a tax deduction!

S

]]> By: Sandy http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/archives/548/comment-page-1#comment-9593 Sandy Sun, 19 Apr 2009 20:58:50 +0000 http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/?p=548#comment-9593 A friend lived in her shed was fully fitted out with a kitchen bathroom even had a loft that they turned into a bedroom for there 3 boys. She was on 5 acres of land and they lived in this for 4 years while they built there house. The thing was that while they lived in the shed they where very comfortable and she often commented. What am i doing building this huge house when we are quite comfortable in the shed? Love this post Gail and yes i have the 4 people 2 teens and we only have one bathroom oh noooo how do we do it. Its fine really and I love my house. A friend lived in her shed was fully fitted out with a kitchen bathroom even had a loft that they turned into a bedroom for there 3 boys.
She was on 5 acres of land and they lived in this for 4 years while they built there house.
The thing was that while they lived in the shed they where very comfortable and she often commented.
What am i doing building this huge house when we are quite comfortable in the shed?
Love this post Gail and yes i have the 4 people 2 teens and we only have one bathroom oh noooo how do we do it. Its fine really and I love my house.

]]> By: Suzanne http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/archives/548/comment-page-1#comment-9575 Suzanne Sun, 19 Apr 2009 09:53:46 +0000 http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/?p=548#comment-9575 This is so timely, as I am in the process of finding another place to live, although I can't afford to buy (I don't think). I posted an ad on the local web site searching for a 2 - 3 bedroom house (dog friendly) or an acreage so the dog, horse I board elsewhere, and I could all live together. I received an email stating "have a rustic house north of MJ, no plumbing, power not hooked up, fully furnished, outhouse, woodburning stove....."!! At first I took it as a joke, even my mother got a good laugh, and we both grew up without running water, etc. I was 21 when my parents got indoor plumbing. Anyhooo, I responded with questions, like was there at least a well, and the possibility of power hookup, etc, and was told that the place had been spoken for!! When push comes to shove, in this time of over-plenty, I was half tempted to grab someplace like that!! I have often said that I would like to go somewhere and become a self sufficient hermit, sort of like our pioneers did. I guess I will never know if this was legit... Right now, in my city, we have a .5% vacancy rate, so landlords are gouging everywhere you turn. It is ugly, to say the least. And the options that are under $1,000/month are slum-like dives, making one wonder why we work so hard, and how the heck are we ever to get ahead??? It's depressing, to say the least. BTW, I work with many who complain constantly about how broke they are, living pay cheque to pay cheque in houses they can't afford, but then come in and brag about the new truck that they didn't plan to buy, but test drove anyway, and ended up taking home; or the big screen TV that is only $40/month... I would love to say it serves them right, because they are digging the hole themselves. I try to get them tuned in to TDDUP, but some things have to be learned the real hard way. Several have even said they are only staying married because they can't afford to live on one income!!! Now THAT is sad. Sometimes it takes losing everything to realize what you really have. This is so timely, as I am in the process of finding another place to live, although I can’t afford to buy (I don’t think). I posted an ad on the local web site searching for a 2 – 3 bedroom house (dog friendly) or an acreage so the dog, horse I board elsewhere, and I could all live together. I received an email stating “have a rustic house north of MJ, no plumbing, power not hooked up, fully furnished, outhouse, woodburning stove…..”!! At first I took it as a joke, even my mother got a good laugh, and we both grew up without running water, etc. I was 21 when my parents got indoor plumbing. Anyhooo, I responded with questions, like was there at least a well, and the possibility of power hookup, etc, and was told that the place had been spoken for!! When push comes to shove, in this time of over-plenty, I was half tempted to grab someplace like that!! I have often said that I would like to go somewhere and become a self sufficient hermit, sort of like our pioneers did. I guess I will never know if this was legit… Right now, in my city, we have a .5% vacancy rate, so landlords are gouging everywhere you turn. It is ugly, to say the least. And the options that are under $1,000/month are slum-like dives, making one wonder why we work so hard, and how the heck are we ever to get ahead??? It’s depressing, to say the least. BTW, I work with many who complain constantly about how broke they are, living pay cheque to pay cheque in houses they can’t afford, but then come in and brag about the new truck that they didn’t plan to buy, but test drove anyway, and ended up taking home; or the big screen TV that is only $40/month… I would love to say it serves them right, because they are digging the hole themselves. I try to get them tuned in to TDDUP, but some things have to be learned the real hard way. Several have even said they are only staying married because they can’t afford to live on one income!!! Now THAT is sad. Sometimes it takes losing everything to realize what you really have.

]]> By: Heather http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/archives/548/comment-page-1#comment-9572 Heather Sun, 19 Apr 2009 07:47:17 +0000 http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/?p=548#comment-9572 Christy, If acreage is your choice then go for it! Me and DH moved to acreage from mainstream suburbia 11 months ago and live in a partially converted 2 storey tin shed which is insulated had a working bathroom, toilet, a kitchen sink but no cupboards....the rest was one big open space with the ugliest staircase ever seen. Colleagues and grown kids (were not living with us) thought we had gone mad. The shed (oops....palatial acreage dwelling in progress LOL)is gradually taking shape - new ikea kitchen we fitted, still living with bare plasterboard walls and will be for some time. Financially we are not doing things until they are saved for which will take some time before my grand vision is complete but I feel so rich in comparison to prior to the move. Inow know my neighbours, people give a friendly wave as you pass and there is always a parking space at the supermarket (can't call it a shopping centre as there is only the one foodstore and a couple of other small shops). Benefits far outway the extra commute (1 3/4 hours each way) and the feeling of following my heart is just great. Leave all the naysayers behind and live your own values. PS. Gail - Greetings from Australia and although I no longer live in a cable TV area and I would rather spend money on home improvements then on satellite so don't see the program anymore I wouldn't miss my daily check in to your website. TDDYP has given me the financial education schooling never did. Christy,
If acreage is your choice then go for it!
Me and DH moved to acreage from mainstream suburbia 11 months ago and live in a partially converted 2 storey tin shed which is insulated had a working bathroom, toilet, a kitchen sink but no cupboards….the rest was one big open space with the ugliest staircase ever seen. Colleagues and grown kids (were not living with us) thought we had gone mad. The shed (oops….palatial acreage dwelling in progress LOL)is gradually taking shape – new ikea kitchen we fitted, still living with bare plasterboard walls and will be for some time.
Financially we are not doing things until they are saved for which will take some time before my grand vision is complete but I feel so rich in comparison to prior to the move.
Inow know my neighbours, people give a friendly wave as you pass and there is always a parking space at the supermarket (can’t call it a shopping centre as there is only the one foodstore and a couple of other small shops). Benefits far outway the extra commute (1 3/4 hours each way) and the feeling of following my heart is just great.
Leave all the naysayers behind and live your own values.
PS. Gail – Greetings from Australia and although I no longer live in a cable TV area and I would rather spend money on home improvements then on satellite so don’t see the program anymore I wouldn’t miss my daily check in to your website. TDDYP has given me the financial education schooling never did.

]]> By: H http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/archives/548/comment-page-1#comment-9563 H Sun, 19 Apr 2009 01:58:27 +0000 http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/?p=548#comment-9563 To be clear, I mean two bathrooms with at least toilets, not two showers/baths. My two sisters and I were teenagers at the same time, and having two bathrooms averted a lot of potential catastrophes ;) To be clear, I mean two bathrooms with at least toilets, not two showers/baths. My two sisters and I were teenagers at the same time, and having two bathrooms averted a lot of potential catastrophes ;)

]]> By: Brenda http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/archives/548/comment-page-1#comment-9561 Brenda Sun, 19 Apr 2009 01:33:58 +0000 http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/?p=548#comment-9561 H - We live in a rural house. We do not live on a sewer system, therefore have a septic tank. Having more than one bathroom in a house requires that you make sure your septic system can handle the extra pressure. If not, you could damage the system, or, you may have to have a new tank and septic system installed. Cost??? Probably close to $10,000 to remove the old system, and re-install a new system. Worth the hassle of an extra bathroom? No - I think we can handle the one bathroom. Doesn't seem like it will cause a major catastrophe here. To each their own, right? H – We live in a rural house. We do not live on a sewer system, therefore have a septic tank. Having more than one bathroom in a house requires that you make sure your septic system can handle the extra pressure. If not, you could damage the system, or, you may have to have a new tank and septic system installed. Cost??? Probably close to $10,000 to remove the old system, and re-install a new system. Worth the hassle of an extra bathroom? No – I think we can handle the one bathroom. Doesn’t seem like it will cause a major catastrophe here. To each their own, right?

]]> By: Life is a Journey not a Destination » Blog Archive » Worth reading http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/archives/548/comment-page-1#comment-9549 Life is a Journey not a Destination » Blog Archive » Worth reading Sat, 18 Apr 2009 22:12:43 +0000 http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/?p=548#comment-9549 [...] I’ve been watching the show Till Debt do us Part for a while now and was inspired by Gail to convert to a cash budget. Recently I discovered her blog and just wanted to share this article she wrote about A Supersized Life. [...] [...] I’ve been watching the show Till Debt do us Part for a while now and was inspired by Gail to convert to a cash budget. Recently I discovered her blog and just wanted to share this article she wrote about A Supersized Life. [...]

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