tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7162428932122354536.post4046545683172896806..comments2024-03-29T01:02:52.493-07:00Comments on My Two Cents: Saturday: Airing Clean Laundry!Blesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16369267622517848850noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7162428932122354536.post-71255963660615012532018-01-31T23:19:15.938-08:002018-01-31T23:19:15.938-08:00Hon, I had seen those retractable clothes lines, a...Hon, I had seen those retractable clothes lines, and had considered buying one. But, with my luck, the whole thing will no doubt come off the wall! :D Sounds like you have a very good method for hanging your laundry!Blesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16369267622517848850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7162428932122354536.post-44654399419222818482018-01-31T14:43:07.785-08:002018-01-31T14:43:07.785-08:00While I have the matched W/D, I add my voice to a...While I have the matched W/D, I add my voice to advocate benefits of hanging laundry. It certainly keeps clothes looking new longer, anything that stores on hangers are hung, ready to return to closet, noticeably reduces kWh electric bill [very expensive here] and adds moisture to our extremely, dry air. I've always bought and installed a retractible clothes line where ever we've lived. https://ill kWhwww.walmart.com/ip/Honey-Can-Do-Retractable-Clothesline-Dryer-with-5-Lines-Gray-White/52641137 I install it on the longest wall in the laundry area and it can be made to disappear in an instant, looking like a small rail. If anyone wants to try hanging laundry, I suggest reversing typical order, starting with small items like socks, undies, pjs, kitchen & hand towels. I do sheets last, as folded by witdth, they keep the entire area looking neat and orderly. It also works efficiently for loading the laundry basket and putting everything away. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02300753676190713027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7162428932122354536.post-6107497854716913432018-01-30T20:35:09.828-08:002018-01-30T20:35:09.828-08:00Suzanne, I think student loans are the way it is d...Suzanne, I think student loans are the way it is done here, too, usually. Daughter went to a public university for both undergrad and grad; private colleges cost a lot more. But, yes, if she had had to take out a loan, then, she would have had a sizeable debt to pay. It took years of very frugal living and lots of saving, but this was a gift I felt very blessed to be able to give her. I used to tease her and say that this was in lieu of her dowry AND that she'd have to pay for her own wedding! :D Blesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16369267622517848850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7162428932122354536.post-40483157257006173032018-01-30T00:40:53.952-08:002018-01-30T00:40:53.952-08:00Over here it is very unusual for parents to pay fo...Over here it is very unusual for parents to pay for their children through university which is why I'm always full of admiration that you managed to do it. <br /><br />It costs £9,250 per year for the course x 3 years (most people take out a student loan for this) plus living expenses which we know for definite will be £135 for accommodation which includes all bills for electric, wifi etc but no food. On top of that there are then the day to day living costs that need to be found. They can apply for another loan for this which is means tested depending on the income of the parents. I think everybody is entitled to something with a full award being around £8,000. This is the area that parents tend to contribute towards and students hopefully find jobs to help themselves as well. <br /><br />Typically students over here leave University with around £50k of 'debt' although the repayment of this debt doesn't kick in until they earn about £21k pa. As their wage hopefully rises so does the repayment. Regardless of what payments are made back after a certain number of years (30 rings a bell, but I could be wrong), the debt is completely written off. <br /><br />She can live on campus for the first year then after that she will need to find her own accommodation, this is where a group of them generally find a house and split the cost. However, if she's not keen on that she lives near enough to move back home should she want to.<br /><br />The store that she works in have said they will try to transfer her to a branch near her University if there is an opening, so I've got my fingers crossed that will happen. <br /><br />As well as the degree I think the whole experience will be a great lesson in life - although an expensive one. Mark tells me not to see it as a loan but a tax that she will be responsible for paying back - along with 1000's of other young people! <br /><br />It will be interesting to see what the costs are in 6 years should Thomas decide to go. xx <br /><br /> <br /><br /> Everyday life at Number 38https://www.blogger.com/profile/12945846951398052455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7162428932122354536.post-66034582037836020152018-01-29T10:42:15.899-08:002018-01-29T10:42:15.899-08:00Laura, sounds like you have found a good place to ...Laura, sounds like you have found a good place to hang the laundry. :)<br /><br />Yes, that's the part I don't like about sleeping in - half the day is gone, when I do wake up and have my coffee, etc.! Oh, well, can't have ones cake and eat it, too!Blesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16369267622517848850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7162428932122354536.post-25644198024564521112018-01-29T10:39:06.555-08:002018-01-29T10:39:06.555-08:00Suzanne, I think it is still fairly common in othe...Suzanne, I think it is still fairly common in other countries to not have a clothes dryer and to hang the clothes up to dry, either outside or, inside, as needed. And, when everyone is doing it, it is more matter of fact. I think, maybe 60 years ago, here, too, just about everyone dried their clothes on a line, somewhere. But now, a clothes dryer is considered an essential appliance, just like the washer. :)<br /><br />Good to hear that you are talking with Amy about budgeting. :) Those are important conversations to have.<br /><br />But here are some questions I have for you (I don't expect you to answer them, here, but they maybe helpful when discussing budgets, with her). When she moves out, how will her expenses be funded? Will you be paying for her tuition and books or will that be covered some other way? Who will be paying for her living expenses? Will she live on campus in a dorm or student housing? Or will she live off-campus in an apartment by herself or with roommates? Who will pay for the room and board? Will she participate in a meal plan at the university? Or pay for her own groceries? And who will be paying for it? Will she continue to have a part time job to pay for some of her personal expenses?<br /><br />When my daughter went away to university, I paid her tuition, her books, and her rent. She didn't want me to pay for her groceries and found part-time employment on campus to pay for her groceries and any eating out/entertainment, clothing, etc. Her apartment came furnished, but when she wanted a few extra bits, she paid for them with her own money.<br /><br />I am sure Amy will do just fine. One or two mistakes and she'll learn. :) Just be very firm when it comes to bailing her out, when she has over-spent her grocery money on eating out! :DBlesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16369267622517848850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7162428932122354536.post-7854888349941883582018-01-29T10:29:28.914-08:002018-01-29T10:29:28.914-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Blesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16369267622517848850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7162428932122354536.post-6559195749408433332018-01-29T02:55:52.383-08:002018-01-29T02:55:52.383-08:00I hang some of my laundry up to dry, but not all. ...I hang some of my laundry up to dry, but not all. And I do it in the garage -- I don't think it would last long in the house with the cats! <br /><br />I do enjoy being able to sleep in on weekends, even if sometimes I get a late start to the day.Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16128676927462151254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7162428932122354536.post-18915122599330879832018-01-29T00:23:10.553-08:002018-01-29T00:23:10.553-08:00I agree, weekends are made for lie-ins. I still se...I agree, weekends are made for lie-ins. I still set the alarm just so I can turn it off and roll over for another session lol. <br /><br />I swapped my dryer for a dishwasher when we had the kitchen re-fitted - there wasn't room for both, so now I dry washing in the house on an airer stood next to a radiator which is on quite often as it's so cold, so I'm killing 2 birds with one stone :) It gets on my nerves to be honest as I get fed up of looking at it and there's a wash goes on every day. In summer it's out on the line and finished off inside overnight if it's not quite dry. <br /><br />We are talking to Amy about food and budgeting now that she's definitely off to University. She's pretty good with shopping, clothes, make-up etc. but likes to eat out with friends, so she needs to watch that when she moves out. Hope you've had a lovely weekend. xx<br /><br />Everyday life at Number 38https://www.blogger.com/profile/12945846951398052455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7162428932122354536.post-77690542696862090732018-01-28T23:12:58.021-08:002018-01-28T23:12:58.021-08:00Yes, I remember you posting that the kittens were ...Yes, I remember you posting that the kittens were playing with the laundry. Maybe that's why they like to help you fold them, these days. :)<br /><br />Actually, I think, if I had a working dryer, I'd be tempted to put everything in there to dry! Especially the bulkier items like the sheets, blankets, etc. <br /><br />Yes, I got my big rack at Ikea. It was a good purchase. <br /><br />There are Dollar Trees, here, too, and you are right, they don't carry fresh produce. Daughter finds some good buys at her store. :)Blesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16369267622517848850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7162428932122354536.post-74011185977818518832018-01-28T22:18:31.181-08:002018-01-28T22:18:31.181-08:00Becky, she is in Berkeley, so, yes, close enough t...Becky, she is in Berkeley, so, yes, close enough to SF (just across the bridge). And, yes, cost of living is very high, grocery prices are high, too. When she first moved up there, she shopped at a grocery store called Safeway - she still shops there, occasionally, especially for meat. Then, little by little, she found some discount stores and that the 99Cents store has good deals.Blesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16369267622517848850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7162428932122354536.post-85406990678292588632018-01-28T18:47:37.850-08:002018-01-28T18:47:37.850-08:00I used to set up the laundry to dry indoors on rac...I used to set up the laundry to dry indoors on racks when it rained or was too humid to dry outside, but since we've added 3 more cats to our herd, over a year ago, I have been using the dryer more. When the cats were kittens, they just amused themselves by pulling all the clothes down from the racks and then they'd be covered in cat hair because they also liked to play peekaboo in between the rows of clothes. I think that this summer I will try once again to use the racks indoors since they're now older and hopefully wiser :) We're lucky that it's sunny most of the time here in Central Florida so drying clothes outdoors is quite easy, especially for me since I stay home. I have the same racks as your large one, as you know, I got them at Ikea (which is where I think you got yours too?). I love them because I can hang quite a lot of laundry on them.<br /><br />I was also amazed to read that your daughter got fresh food at the dollar store thinking it was the Dollar Tree, like we have here, but then I read your reply. We don't have any dollar-type stores that sell fresh produce here, unfortunately. I'm glad your daughter got some great deals and only had to walk across the street to get them too!Nathaliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01654610295436446555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7162428932122354536.post-4072882105803048512018-01-28T18:03:57.058-08:002018-01-28T18:03:57.058-08:00I envy your ability to sleep in! No matter how lo...I envy your ability to sleep in! No matter how long I stay up, when the sun comes up, I'm up, except on very rare occasions. Lucky you:)<br /><br />If your daughter is in San Fransisco, it's amazing that she can get food so inexpensively. (You said she rode the BART). When we visited there last winter, we were shocked at the cost of living. Our tour bus driver was lamenting on how much it costs there, so we asked him a lot of questions.Beckyathomehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11105835394158145451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7162428932122354536.post-2641415106841114832018-01-28T17:24:25.341-08:002018-01-28T17:24:25.341-08:00Thanks, Sandy. Ha, ha, I wrote a book, didn't...Thanks, Sandy. Ha, ha, I wrote a book, didn't I? :D "Everything you want to know and more!" :D Blesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16369267622517848850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7162428932122354536.post-64949631566405753782018-01-28T14:36:52.348-08:002018-01-28T14:36:52.348-08:00Wow so much information - actually for her circums...Wow so much information - actually for her circumstances at this time it sounds very convenient and nice. Probably worth staying put until she makes a major job change and fingers crossed back to your part of the world.SandyExpathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06279377160838411203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7162428932122354536.post-32138634891327474892018-01-28T12:42:42.212-08:002018-01-28T12:42:42.212-08:00I hope the weather improves and you are able to dr...I hope the weather improves and you are able to dry the laundry outside, once again, Jules. :) Blesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16369267622517848850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7162428932122354536.post-61027060536485183552018-01-28T12:33:16.021-08:002018-01-28T12:33:16.021-08:00Thank you, Sandy. Back in Sri Lanka, we used to h...Thank you, Sandy. Back in Sri Lanka, we used to hang curtains in the doorways, even when there were doors to the rooms. We called them door curtains; the sheets hanging to dry in the doorways remind me of them! <br /><br />There is a store called the 99Cents Only Store, here. Well, when they first started, everything was 99 cents, but, now, they carry a few other items that are more! But, most items are still $.99 and they sell a lot of fresh produce. One just has to choose carefully, but daughter has figured out when they get their fresh deliveries and shop for the fresh produce then. <br /><br />Yes, she really is in a very convenient spot. It is a little bit away from the heart of downtown Berkeley, but still with access to a lot of places, nearby. One of the reasons why we chose that apartment building, initially.<br /><br />First of all, it is on the direct bus route to campus (and now, her office). Within walking distance to one of the BART stations (subway), a short bus ride away from another. Trader Joe's is nearby (closer to her office as are a CVS and a small KMart); the dollar store is across the street. There is a convenience store (7-11) at the corner, across the street; things are expensive there, but, it is very handy when she gets back from visiting me and it is too late for her to go grocery shopping, but she needs a fresh carton of milk for her coffee. There is a bank across the street, too; she doesn't bank there, but, when we first selected the place, I was thinking she could open an account there for the convenience. The library is across the street as well as a couple of fast food places (Subway, pizza) and a really nice Thai restaurant. Oh, and there are several ethnic stores (mostly Indian and some Middle Eastern) a few blocks down, too. :)<br /><br />Yes, she is in a furnished apartment. That was convenient, too, at the time. Since then, however, the apartment ownership has changed and they no longer furnish the apartments; they removed the furniture from most of the apartments, but daughter was allowed to keep the furniture that came with the apartment. She bought a few bits and pieces - a stand mirror, a bookcase, a different chair for the desk, etc., but nothing major. When she first moved in, I saturated the sofa with disinfectant spray and put on an old sofa cover I had at home! Same with the bed (the mattress had a vinyl cover) and bought her a new mattress cover!<br /><br />Eventually, when she moves out, she will ask the management what they want done with the furniture. If they tell her to keep the furniture and she moves to another place in Berkeley, she might take some of the small pieces, like the coffee table and, perhaps, the desk; but, if she comes back home, she will probably dispose of it all.Blesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16369267622517848850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7162428932122354536.post-62098035994385073552018-01-28T11:17:56.042-08:002018-01-28T11:17:56.042-08:00Yes, having ones house looking a bit like a laundr...Yes, having ones house looking a bit like a laundromat won't work if the rest of the household object to it and there are lots of visitors. :) Back when I was married, I hung the laundry out in the garden. There weren't any restrictions about that, in my neighborhood. Blesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16369267622517848850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7162428932122354536.post-49739665564468535512018-01-28T11:09:37.653-08:002018-01-28T11:09:37.653-08:00Ha, ha, maybe we should! No body would want to he...Ha, ha, maybe we should! No body would want to hear us, but we'd have fun singing! :D <br />Blesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16369267622517848850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7162428932122354536.post-737934624463477312018-01-28T11:04:42.672-08:002018-01-28T11:04:42.672-08:00My house looks a lot like yours this evening Bless...My house looks a lot like yours this evening Bless - washing everywhere. As soon as the weather picks up a bit I'll start to put it out on the line once again. X<br />Juleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03837629817375132149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7162428932122354536.post-21943164970169422862018-01-28T09:07:34.250-08:002018-01-28T09:07:34.250-08:00Very clever how you have worked out drying sheets ...Very clever how you have worked out drying sheets inside your house and helps your dry air. I think ants must be a problem in California and I wouldn't like them on the laundry.<br /><br />Your daughter did well shopping. I have never seen fresh fruit or vegetables at a dollar store. Her neighborhood sounds nice with most everything near by. Is she in a furnished apartment? It is interesting to hear about how she lives. I know you miss her.SandyExpathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06279377160838411203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7162428932122354536.post-72846204880392931432018-01-28T07:52:51.469-08:002018-01-28T07:52:51.469-08:00Sounds like you had a nice Saturday, even though t...Sounds like you had a nice Saturday, even though there was a lot of laundry doings. If it were just me I could live with clothes drying all over the house, but it would drive TheHub nuts, plus I have folks in and out of my house on a regular basis.Anne in the kitchenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01533249631969001657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7162428932122354536.post-39934723396365563342018-01-28T04:38:13.761-08:002018-01-28T04:38:13.761-08:00Dancer and the Stray Cats! Love the name. Maybe yo...Dancer and the Stray Cats! Love the name. Maybe you and your cousins should form a group. :)<br /><br />Glad to hear that Aunt C. is getting better.Live and Learnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13493777474885053903noreply@blogger.com