I live frugally because it allows me to support myself through passive income streams and not have to have a job. I live frugally so that I can have time to dedicate to things that I enjoy and people (and cats) that I love. I live frugally because it frees me from the trappings of modern life.
In short, I live frugally because it makes my life better.
But, as with all things designed to make your life better (exercise, healthy diet, cleanliness, etc.) it's very easy to get one's internal wiring crossed and forget the point of it all.
I find that if I'm not careful my internal dialog can quickly switch from: "I'm not spending money because it gives me freedom"
to: "I'm too old, lazy, stupid, incompetent, or fill in this blank with personal failing du jour - therefore I don't deserve to have XYZ item."
Am I the only person out there who occasionally confuses freedom with a prison of my own making?
I'm not quite sure why I do this. Perhaps it was programmed into me during my dysfunctional childhood, or perhaps it's just a convenient way to give myself something to get worked up about so I don't have to deal with other things.
But whatever the cause, it's not healthy. The point isn't to see who can die with the most money in the bank - the point is to enjoy your life.
I guess the universe gave me a little reminder of this recently. The friend I mentioned a few posts back lost her battle with breast cancer last week. And I just can't stop thinking about how, of all the people I know, she was the one who was always focused on retirement planning. Even when the doctors said her chances of surviving were under 10%, she was worried about dipping into her retirement money to pay for treatment. Sigh.
Anyhow, with all that as a backdrop, I decided last week to stop putting off a purchase that I have wanted to make for a very, VERY long time. Sooooooo....
Meet Ruby:
Isn't she beautiful? She's an 18.5 pound carbon fiber road bike with fancy schmancy Shimano Ultegra components, and the most comfortable frame geometry you can imagine. I've already put about 75 miles on her, and CatMan & I even rode the loop yesterday!
I'm absolutely ecstatic - we rode for over 40 miles in just over 3 hours, and while I wouldn't say it was easy, it was WAY easier than it would have been on my old 30 pound Trek!
My main problem at the moment is that all I want to do is ride her, and I don't seem to be getting anything else done! I could have gotten away with a slightly heavier bike with cheaper components, but in the end I decided to look on her as an investment.
Because, you know, this is the point! You don't spend money on stupid things that don't matter so that you have the money to spend on a few luxuries that you really, really want.
I think I am entering strange territory here, because I believe my bike is probably worth more than my car at this point! But since I have ridden more miles than I've driven this year, I suppose that's how it should be.
So how about you? Have you ever had to escape from a prison of your own making?
And what are the luxuries that make your frugal lifestyle worthwhile?
Ruby the bike sounds joyous! Something that makes you happy each time you use it is worth spending on.
ReplyDeleteI spend a lot of my money on horse riding- I'd rather spend more hours on a horse than have new..whatever it might be. But I call it therapy- you can't spend time stressing about work or life in general when you are concentrating on persuading half a tonne of equine to do what you want...
I'm not sure I consider myself super frugal though- just not a massive consumer! Trying to balance not spending unnecessarily with buying quality. And not putting myself in spending prison!
I love horses. In my next life I'm gonna be a horse person. There are some horses whose pastures butt right up against the bike paths here in town, and when we ride those routes I always have to stop and pick some of the tall grasses that are just out of their reach. They always come running eager for a few nibbles.
DeleteYou can be a horse person in this life! Never too old to start (oldest rider at the Olympics was in his 70s)
DeleteBut riding a bike and feeding horses that you pass is definitely the cheaper option..
Most definitely cheaper, but mostly it's the time commitment. I won't even have a dog because I think it would probably need more attention than I could adequately provide, a horse... there's just no way I could commit to that at this point in my life! Still... every time I ride by the stables the smell of horses makes me happy.
DeleteFind somewhere that you can have riding lessons- it's what I do, as it is not as much of a tie as having your own. Or just carry on enjoying the smell for free )
DeleteActually, I think there's a place I ride past that offers them... maybe someday. Perhaps I'll add it to the bucket list... right up there with learning to ice skate!
DeleteWOOHOO! You found "the one"!
ReplyDeleteBut I *so* feel you! I often forget about things I want and need just to save our family money. For example, I've really been needing to get the doctor, but I won't go because it will cost so much, even with insurance. I would totally be like your friend, and I'd probably avoid treatment just to save money...like I've even imagined what I'd do if I had cancer (avoid treatment, so our family would have money after I die). It's sad, but true. It's definitely hard to balance frugality and your own personal needs. Maybe now I'll finally be convinced to head to the doctor or replace my broken electric toothbrush (instead of trying to adequately brush my teeth with the tiny brush head lol). Thanks for the reminder :)
OK listen to me closely Megyn - GO TO THE FRIGGIN' DOCTOR!!! Seriously, the cost of either a new toothbrush or a visit to the doctor pales on comparison to the cost of ignoring a medical situation. An ounce of prevention...
DeleteYou have to take care of yourself!
I am so glad that I live in the UK and won't have to make a choice like that :(
Delete@Minimalist Mommi and others, many insurance companies have nurse lines--a phone number you can call and talk to a nurse about your symptoms. The nurse can use this information to tell you whether you should make an appointment. And the call is no charge.
DeleteThe two times I tried it so far, I got told that if my symptoms lasted a certain amount of time, I should go in, but they didn't and so I didn't. I HIGHLY recommend this if it is available to you.
Also, if you need to go in when your doctor is not available, look for a minor emergency clinic rather than a hospital (unless you have or suspect a seriously urgent emergency). My boyfriend recently used one to get a glass splinter out of his foot and the service was quick and competent, plus the cost is cheaper, plus the hospital remained available for true emergencies.
Thanks for all the support and advice!
Delete@EcoCatLady- I finally got in today and already have the prescriptions and tests ordered. Now just to close my eyes when the bills come lol!
@Debbie M- I actually lost state health ins. when in the middle of getting diagnostics done (AZ cut funding for adults unless disabled, over 65 or w/ a deprived child). Unfortunately, a nurse line won't help :/. I just have to shell out the dough to get the tests and possible surgery done. Ugh.
I'm so relieved that you're taking care of yourself.
Deletexoxoxo,
Cat
Congratulations. You deserve Ruby and I'm thrilled you took the plunge.
ReplyDeleteThe prison, IMHO, is the prison constructed by society for women in general. We are never good enough, thin enough or too thin, our hair is too straight, too curly, not the right color, our boobs are too small or too big. Even if we are smart & independent enough to logically reject this crap, emotionally we swallow it, day in & day out. None of us are 100% immune from the recriminations because they are constant, whether it's from family, friends, spouses, co-workers, commercials, tv, or movies We're led to believe that we're born broken because we don't have dicks, therefore we're abnormal. Our response to all of this should be: F 'em. This is me, I like me & I'm fine just the way I am.
Oh Connie, you totally make me smile. FUCK THE PATRIARCHY!!!! Thank you for making me feel less crazy.
DeleteI am so sorry about your friend, I too am waiting to see the outcome of a dear friend of mine. I am glad that you found something good out of it. We can't live our lives waiting for tomorrow, it may never come. I guess that was the one lesson I learned early on when my original diagnosis was that I wouldn't live beyond the age of 14. I wanted to do everything and see everything. I didn't want to have any regrets.
ReplyDeleteI have none at this point and hope I don't by the time this ride is over. Congrats on Ruby I know it's something you really wanted, but 40 miles in 3 hours are you kidding me? That's some accomplishment!
My luxuries? Well time to spend with my grand children when I want to. I can pick up when I feel like it and visit my son 2 hours away for a couple of days, just because. Time to read a book, sit in the sun, feel the wind, watch the sunset over the lake each evening, I can even sleep in whenever I feel like it. The list seems to be endless.
Speaking of those luxuries, I'll be watching my Steelers play the Broncos Sunday night what about you?
Oh baby, your Steelers are goin' DOWN!!!! 5r4tttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt6y777
DeleteUmmm.. that last part was brought to you by the adorable yet challenging Smoky Bear, who has apparently decided that it's time for mommy to get off the computer and play with him - which means I'll have to make this short because he's now progressed to scaling the shelves looking for things to knock on the floor, and trying to bat the pictures off the wall - I think he's trying to encourage me to become more of a minimalist!
Anyhow, I sincerely hope that your friend wins her battle - I'm sending a burst of healing energy her way.
And I totally agree - time is the biggest luxury of all!
I have two cats that sit in front of my monitor and make it hard to read when they want fed. Other times, if they just want to be near, they sit to the side of it, so I know that it's deliberate.
DeleteWell, I have three reasonably well behaved cats, and then I've got Smoky. He's really the sweetest little guy, but he's just got more energy than he can fit in that little body of his. The other night I woke up in the middle of the night because I heard a funny noise. I turned on the light only to find Smoky hanging from the curtains. Oy Vey!
DeleteWe will have to see about those Broncos. You may have Peyton now and the advantage of the altitude which prevents one of our players from playing, but my team has figured out how to play Peyton and keep him out of the Super Bowl. Can't wait, either way I think it's going to be a great game.
DeleteAgreed... and in truth, part of me is a tad bit worried that we may have some paybacks coming our way after that improbable overtime win in the playoffs last year!
Delete" We're led to believe that we're born broken because we don't have dicks, " Possibly my favourite quotation of all time. It also gave me a damn good laugh, so thank you! Luckily having a husband who is effectively gender-blind has gone a long way towards offsetting a father for whom this is a truism of the most fundamental sort.
ReplyDeleteCongrats Cat on the new family member. I hope you have insurance and a good padlock, because that looks like one desirable bike and you know how some people seem to think that property is theft so that entitles them to whatever they can take.
On the subject of personal prisons - like many people I am my own jailer. I am only now starting to realise to just what extent that is true, and how sad. I'm not sure how to start tunneling, but now that I am aware at least I may be alert enough not to add and more bars. And I am actually encouraged by how stroppy and sulky my internal child is. I've realised that that I'm not actually being lazy when I won't vacuum or do the washing up or whatever mundane task faces me, IC is actually sticking up for me and telling me that I deserve to enjoy myself a bit more and the housework will still be there when I am relaxed and happy because I've had a bit of fun. The Child is wiser than the adult me!
Enjoy Ruby! My poor old workhorse has a puncture, I discovered yesterday when I went to take her to the library. I've only just shelled out £35 for two new tyres, as well. I have of course no idea how to mend a puncture. How disgraceful is that at age 55? I guess it's a case of learn how or pay someone else to do it. Considering I've packed in my job at last, I guess it will need to be the former. That god for the Internet!
That should, of course, have read "Thank god for the Internet!" Must proof-read my posts!
DeleteOh yes... we should all learn to listen to our inner children - I think they are so much wiser than we are.
DeleteAnd I'm not letting Ruby out of my sight! Seriously, I'm keeping my old bike for running errands etc. I bought it used 20 years ago for $100, so even if somebody cut the lock and stole it, I think I've gotten my money's worth! Ruby is just for recreational rides - and she even has a special home in the spare bedroom... no garages for this girl!
In terms of punctures, there are 2 things you might want to check out. First of all, they make "puncture resistant tires." I know you just bought new ones, so maybe not worth it right now, but they REALLY help. Mine actually have Kevlar in them. I had them on my old bike and I only got one flat in 3 years!
The other thing I did was get these inner tubes called "Slime tubes." They actually have this green slime in them that is sort of like the stuff in a can of "fix-a-flat." So if you get a thorn or something, the slime generally seals it right up with no problem. It does make the bike a tad bit heavier, but if you're not riding far or fast that's less of an issue. The only flat I ever got when I was using slime tubes was when I hit a glass bottle and cut the entire stem off! Pretty good track record!
Although I can spend money on something really important (like going to the doctor, please everyone take care of themselves), I have a hard time spending money on extras even when we have the money. It's also hard for me to do something fun if there is work to be done. I am working on these with some success. I want to set this example for my kids, so they will be freer to enjoy life. I can see that the "be careful with you money" message has gotten through loud and clear to them Now I am working on the "it's okay to have fun" message. Once again, I'm trying to live by the "Everything in moderation," saying.
ReplyDeleteI am SOOOO with you on this one. The old "I should be productive" voice just doesn't want to shut up. It's funny, when I'm busy beating myself up for being "lazy" what I generally hear is my mother's voice berating HERSELF for her own "laziness." Even when I KNOW I'm just "replaying a childhood tape" (as my therapist used to say) it still surprises me how strong that imprint is. Kudos to you for working to set a good example for your kids!
DeleteMy reaction to this was interesting - well, interesting to me, anyway. I was nodding along in a agreement at the beginning - yes, I can lose track of frugality as a means to an end - then got to "do not deserve" and couldn't relate at all. My parents were so careful to separate gifts from rewarding good behavior that the idea of deserving "stuff" just does not compute.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I can all too easily see frugality as an end in itself. For me it takes on a moral tone - it just feels wrong to spend lots of money. I'm not sure how that's different from feeling I don't deserve expensive things, but it is. It's more abstract, more akin to avoiding waste... actually, that makes sense: See how you react to "but I deserve the convenience of disposable things!" to see the difference.
Right now I'm considering shoes. I'll need a new pair for winter and I'm considering these. I don't even know how much they cost, but I'm already thinking, "I can't spend that much on shoes!" I'm going to try to persuade myself that, like your bike, they're an investment worth making.
As for luxuries, sitting on my terrace in the sun, with a cup of tea, looking at the view - that is worth a lot!
I imagine those shoes will be expensive, but worth it... Comfortable feet, and correctly fitting shoes should mean no knee/ hip pain from 'walking funny'..
DeleteThey look like they are made to last, and I like the bit about being designed to be repaired! I bet they'd make you smile every day when you put them on.
I agree with Nicola - those shoes look like a really good investment. That's another area where I won't compromise. I'm a Birkenstock girl through and through - they are the ONLY shoes I've ever found that don't hurt my trapezoid-shaped feet, and I decided long ago that life was too short to have your feet hurt all the time!
DeleteI can really relate on the moral/waste issue too. At first I was gonna buy a used bike just because it somehow seemed more "moral" to me. But as it turns out, road bikes designed with female anatomy in mind are a fairly new thing, so the choices on the used market were extremely limited, and not much cheaper than buying new. Plus, I decided that having a lifetime warranty on the frame and free derailleur adjustments for life was worth the extra expense.
So I guess that's where the difference lies between this and your disposable things analogy. I really hope to own and enjoy this bike for at least 20 years.
But I think there's also something else at play. When I was feeling like I didn't "deserve" a new bike, it was mostly because I felt like everybody would laugh at me for having an expensive bike, like I'm somehow not qualified to own one. Sort of like a so-so skier who has all of the top of the line gear. But in the end I decided it was kind of like having a good guitar. You can buy a cheap instrument, but it will be difficult to play and not much fun, so you'll be fighting an uphill battle to get better.
Anyhow, maybe I'm simply justifying, and perhaps there really isn't any difference between Ruby and paper plates... gonna have to think about that one for a while.
The 'disposable things' bit was just me trying to figure out the difference between, "It's wrong to spend money because I don't deserve it," and, "It's wrong to spend money because it's wasteful." Putting the two in one sentence highlighted the fact that they're not the same thing - it wasn't meant to be an analogy at all. Sorry for thinking aloud on your blog - not very helpful!
DeleteThere is absolutely a difference between Ruby and paper plates: Investing in quality things that will last is completely the opposite of spending money on disposable crap that will need replacing many times.
I get what you're saying, but you also really made me think about this entire concept of "deserving things" which the advertising industry plays upon to the detriment of us all. I think there's some shampoo or makeup or something that has as it's tag line "...because you're worth it." I mean, when you stop to think about it, it's a totally ludicrous idea.
DeleteI dunno... as a person with Zen leanings, I tend to chafe against the entire concept of life as morality play - not that I'm immune (obviously!) But I'm just not sure it's a very helpful way to look at things. Some part of me just thinks that if human beings are too short-sighted to refrain from destroying the environment on which they depend for life, then human beings will cease to exist - no morality required, just simple cause and effect, or Karma.
I also think that people aren't really very receptive to the idea of acting against their own perceived immediate interests in order to be "more moral." So the perpetual tendency of the environmental movement to cast things in a moral light is really not helpful. People just seem much more receptive to the idea of enlightened self-interest.
I mean, if you flip the "deserving" thing on it's head, the idiocy of it all becomes clearly apparent. Do people "deserve" to have to work 60-70 hours per week. Do they "deserve" to have to spend hours every day stuck in traffic? Do we "deserve" to have to wear pantyhose, and uncomfortable shoes and be judged by the brands of clothing we wear? How about "deserving" to have to eek out a miserable existence on 5 hours of sleep per night?
I guess I just think that we'd all get a whole lot further if the message wasn't: "you should suffer and do without for the benefit of the earth and future generations." And instead sounded something like: "Wouldn't it be nice to life a life where you got to sleep enough, and eat healthy food, and not be stressed all the time, and BE HAPPY?"
Anyhow, thanks for making me think!
xoxoxo,
Cat
What works for me is targeted savings. I budget a certain amount for various rarely-bought but expensive things. For example, as long as I want a lifestyle that involves a working car, I need to be saving for car repairs and a replacement car. When a big bill comes up, if I have at least that amount already set aside, it's no problem, because I consider that money already spent. If I don't have enough set aside, then I have to think hard, but I can borrow from my other accounts and think about re-calculating my budget. Ruby would have come out of my "long-term fun" budget (which also includes vacations and electronics).
ReplyDeleteOnce I refrained from climbing to the top of the Arc d'Triomphe (because of the cost) and I regretted that. I now happily spend more during vacations (usually not for stupid things, of course) than at home, but it did require a recalibration in my head.
I've never tried the targeted savings approach - it would probably be a good exercise for me. I generally just put any money that's not ABSOLUTELY needed into general savings, and then it's like pulling teeth to get me to ever take it out. I think I might have an easier time letting myself have some "long-term fun" expenses if I actually put the money aside for that purpose.
DeleteMy jail is of my own making, for sure. Try as I might, “the world” keeps sneaking into my head, trying to tell me my house is never clean enough, I don’t drive the right car, I’m too fat to be attractive to anyone, I’m stupid because I don’t have the latest electronic gizmo, I’m not “cool” because I don’t buy my clothes at XYZ Overpriced Store, I’m cruel because I wear leather shoes, yadda yadda yadda. I have toned down the noise and pressure by seriously limiting and choosing what I read, watch and listen to. It has helped, but I still occasionally feel horribly inadequate and abnormal when chatting with acquaintances and co-workers.
ReplyDeleteI can relate to your friend and her obsession with her retirement fund. Whenever my retirement fund statement arrives in the mail, I look at the numbers and go into a funk. Even if I worked 3 jobs from now until I’m 70, I won’t have enough saved to comfortably retire on. Sometimes I wonder why I even bother. I’m tempted to take that money and put it down on a home with a bit of land in the country and move the heck out of the city (I hate city living), taking my cats and horse with me. I mean, why not? There’s no guarantee I’m going to live long enough to retire anyway; I might as well use that money now to buy myself a little piece of heaven here on earth – a place away from people and all their craziness, a place where I can do whatever the heck it is I want, even if I want to paint my front door purple or let my grass grow a foot high (so I can let the horse graze it down). Being the frugal person I am, I could probably swing the mortgage payments with a little left over to put in the bank. But I’d worry constantly about not having that nest egg to fall back on, so I stay in the city in a house I hate, because it is paid for. Oh, and I’d never hear the end of it from my family for cashing in my retirement fund (“You’ll pay a HUGE penalty!!”) to move and take on a mortgage when I have a perfectly good house (from their point of view) that is mortgage-free. I just wish they’d live in my house for a week and see what they say after putting up with the noise and crazy neighbors for 7 days…..
Sometimes I do forget why I am being frugal and deny myself a lot of pleasures, just to keep putting that money in the bank. Often I have to remind myself that it is OK to spend money on things I know will make me happy, like my iPod. Jeez, it was hard spending that money but I am glad I did because, being who I am, I will have that thing for a long, long time (I take care of my stuff) and it has already given me many hours of pleasure to be able to take my music and audio books wherever I go.
My gosh, y'all are certainly makin' me feel like, at the very least, I'm not alone in my "never good enough" insecurities. If you haven't done so already, I highly recommend reading Connie's comment above - good for a chuckle if nothing else.
DeleteSeriously though, it dawns on me that I've known at least as many insecure men as women in my life, it's just that for some reason women seem to take their insecurities out on themselves while men seem to take it out on everyone around them. Maybe it's because women are conditioned to feel their self worth via relationships, while men are programmed to seek it through status.
Well, I suppose that's all neither here nor there, but interesting thoughts to ponder nonetheless. Perhaps we all need a little Stuart Smalley: "I'm Good Enough, I'm Smart Enough, and Doggone It, People Like Me!"
Anyhow, my thought on the house in the country was the same as Debbie's below - wouldn't selling the city house give you enough to buy a country place?
I'm not exactly sure I'm the best person to give advice in this department, as my life has tended to swing wildly between being practical beyond all reason, and completely throwing caution to the wind. But I certainly wouldn't be able to sleep at night if I didn't have a fairly hefty chunk of money socked away both in savings and retirement, and it would take a fairly monumental shift to get me to take out another mortgage - I'm counting the months until this one will be paid off (13 more to go...)
I dunno... I certainly understand the longing for a country road and a little chunk of land, but I also think it's easy to get swept up in the pretty picture of it all and fail to take into account the enormous amount of work that goes along with living in the country.
I've read enough "I'm overwhelmed and miserable" posts recently on wannabe homesteader blogs, to convince me that the whole self sufficiency gig is no panacea, especially when you've still got to have one foot in the work-a-day world to pay a mortgage. I'm certainly not saying that you should give up on your dream of moving to the country, I just think you might want to look at creative ways to approach it, so that you don't end up exchanging one prison for another.
xoxoxo,
Cat
Laurel, wouldn't the money you got from selling your house be enough, all by itself, to totally pay for "a home with a bit of land in the country and move the heck out of the city"? Horses do sound a little expensive. How would your other costs compare to city-living costs?
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, what do you think about ear plugs?
OK... I'm laughing out loud about the ear plugs because just this morning I was awakened at 6 friggin' thirty in the morning by the next door neighbor's lawn guy. Seriously, what sort of inconsiderate clod runs the power mower at 6:30 in the morning?!?
DeleteYikes!
DeleteThough where I live, it might only be below 80 degrees between 2:30 am and 7:00 am, so 6:30 could be the most polite safe time where your neighbor doesn't die of heat stroke!
Oh, only I just read that it's your neighbor's lawn guy, a professional, who should have a hat and lots of water, and who when starting this job that it would involve being stuck in the heat. Maybe the lawn guy wants to be done with all the lawns before the temp gets up to 95 degrees? And the long-time customers get dibs on the later times?
Well, I'm sure the heat is part of it, but this is the same guy who does her snow blowing in the winter time, and piles all of the snow from her driveway up against my side door so I have to shovel out from under the avalanche. So I think he's also just an inconsiderate clod. Personally, if it were up to me, I'd ban all gas lawnmowers, they're just obnoxious machines!
DeleteSeems to me that a bike you love to ride, and therefore, will ride, isn't an expense -- it's an investment, in your health, mental and physical, not to mention the environment. That's what I think about when I spend money: Is it an investment in something worthwhile (lasting happiness or enjoyment included).
ReplyDeleteThanks so much... I totally agree... and in a funny way it's also a relationship investment for me. Long story here, but CatMan has some physical disabilities leftover from a mountaineering accident many years ago. Basically he has some nerve damage, mobility issues and back problems, which all means that both walking and sitting are very difficult for him. But with a few alterations to his bike, he can ride like nobody's business. Since the outdoors is one of his passions, cycling is really the only way he gets to enjoy it anymore.
DeleteAnyhow, at least one of my reasons for wanting a better bike was so that I'd be more able to enjoy cycling with him... and getting to have those kinds of experiences together is something that's beyond priceless to me.
I don't currently have a frugal lifestyle, although I really have a fairly simple life. One of the things I spend a LOT of money on is hte cats. I don't believe that the cheap dry food is adequate nutrition (in fact, I know its not. Causes diabetes, kidney failure, and none of us have a clue what's in it) so its' canned or homemade for about 90 percent of their diet. The dry is for treats. I've often wondered how you manage your expenses related to cats. They are not cheap, especially when they get sick. Quality wet food costs from $8 a day to $16 a day with the cats I have, and I never get out of the vets for less than $300. I drive a 10 yaer old car, live in a cracker box rambler, and don't have a clothes habit of any kind. So I leave pretty modestly but I still haven't figured out how to get anywhere near "quitting" withoug getting rid of the cats. Which I love and that would kill me.
ReplyDeleteHa! Well... aside from my mortgage, my cats are my single biggest expense. I figure they cost me around $300-$350/month. I would have had the mortgage paid off years ago if it weren't for them! But they're totally worth it. I definitely consider them to be in the luxury category, but one I would NEVER part with.
DeleteIn terms of food, they each get half a can (so that's about 3 ounces) of premium wet food a day (Wellness, Weruva, etc.) and they also get EVO brand dry food - which is the healthiest dry food available. I used to feed them exclusively wet food, but when the adorable, yet challenging, Smoky Bear arrived he refused to eat it. Seriously, he nearly died because I couldn't get him to eat anything. Finally at vet's office one of the technicians dropped a dry treat and he gobbled it up... anyhow, it's impossible to let one cat eat dry and not the others (without going totally psychotic at least,) so we struck a compromise.
I actually have insurance on my cats too. It costs about $85/month for all 4 of them, but it's totally worth it not to have to worry about an enormous vet bill. Fortunately I haven't had to use it for more than just a stray thing here and there.
I've never tried homemade food because I've heard such horror stories about cats dying from inadequate nutrition (not enough taurine etc.) Just curious how you handle that, do you use a supplement or something?
I have a suggestion about food that may help. I have one cat that needed to drink more for a condition he had as well as being on a special food. He would only eat dry food, so I put it in a bowl with water. I put enough water in that the kibble were floating and he had to drink the water before he could eat. Over time that's the way he preferred it.
DeleteI fed him separately because his special food was expensive. Well, the other cats were really interested in what he was getting and would sneak whenever they could to get a taste. Thus, they learned to eat the dry food with water also.
The vet says that it was a good solution. I notice if I don't feed them with water, they immediately seek the water fountain when they're done. They didn't do this before.
Smoky actually does quite well on the dry food - and he's the healthiest cat of the bunch. But that is a good suggestion if I ever need to get more liquids into him.
DeletePart of me has mixed feelings on this whole debate about dry food vs. wet food and which is better. When I was a kid our cats got nothing but Purina brand kibble from the grocery store and they all lived to be 15+ years old. As an adult everyone has told me that wet food is better, so I've tried very hard to feed the highest quality canned food I can find. So far I've lost one at 12 and the other at 9 years - although Sputnik is 15 and still going strong.
Maybe it's all just coincidence... or it could be that we just don't have as much control over our pets health as we would like to think.
Good food is important, BUT it's only one factor in determining health. Seriously, if you ate only healthy food, but only got out of your chair to get something to eat & go to the bathroom, how healthy would you be?
DeleteOur food supply & our companion animals food supply sucks. Antibiotics, pesticides, herbicides, GMO + more diseases - that's what we're dealing with. Chemicals in carpeting, furniture, clothing, etc.
I'd love all of my critters to live 20 years or more, but that's not likely. Mine came off the street, so whatever time they have with me is longer than they would have had without me. We just gotta do the best we can, for us & for them. Please stop with the self-flagellation. Aiming for sainthood? You're already there in my book.
Awwww... thanks for the support. I do suffer from the "I should be able to make everything perfect for my little babies" syndrome. Part of my "I should be able to control the world" guilt I fear. None of it is very useful though. Thanks so much for the vote of confidence.
DeleteHi. Sorry for the delay but my computer died. (Norton 360 and I still got a virus. Sigh. That cost $!) Anyway, as for homemade cat food: There are three approaches I've tried and I'm back to the first one now due to schedule and volume.
Delete1. Home made as supplemental only. In other words, still feeding canned but say, one meal a day for a couple of days or one every few days for a longer period is just meat. Chicken, usually, but lamb sometimes too.
2. A modified version of Dr. Lisa Pierson's recipe that doesn't involve a meat grinder for bone. See http://www.catinfo.org/makingcatfood.php. The recipe I used she gave me for a CRF kitty but she said it would be safe for other cats. Truthfully, it's been ages since I've done that because I've yet to escape my demanding corporate job, and it takes well over an hour for me to make.
3. Supplement with BalanceIt, which my vet turned me onto. https://secure.balanceit.com/. Except I don't put as much carbs as their recipes call for and I am very picky about my carb sources (really, I only use sweet potato and then only about 1/4 of what their recipe calls for).
You can do it for a price comparable to fancy feast, I figured out one day when I did the math. I have had a stable population of 5 cats (4 of my own, plus a diabetic foster cat who is never leaving) until the last two weeks, where family situations have brought two more to me. (My sister was about to take her "beloved" dead husbands cat to a kill shelter, and my mom's feral, who turns out not to be so feral, is very ill, and she refuses to bring him indoors because of her dog and her antiques. I just can't let these cats go to a fate unknown because they are basically members of the family as far as I am concerned, but I am pretty pissed and unhappy about 7 cats because its TOO MANY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Argh!)
And the expense. $1,000 for the feral who isn't a feral to get totally checked out.
So, as I dream of escaping the salt mines which increasingly chafes my psyche, the vision of all these aging cats (4 are 12 1/2 years old, one is 6 1/2, one is 10, and one is at least 8 but has a serious heart defect) getting sick at once and me being unable to afford care . . . horrifies me.
Hi. Sorry for the delay but my computer died. (Norton 360 and I still got a virus. Sigh. That cost $!) Anyway, as for homemade cat food: There are three approaches I've tried and I'm back to the first one now due to schedule and volume.
Delete1. Home made as supplemental only. In other words, still feeding canned but say, one meal a day for a couple of days or one every few days for a longer period is just meat. Chicken, usually, but lamb sometimes too.
2. A modified version of Dr. Lisa Pierson's recipe that doesn't involve a meat grinder for bone. See http://www.catinfo.org/makingcatfood.php. The recipe I used she gave me for a CRF kitty but she said it would be safe for other cats. Truthfully, it's been ages since I've done that because I've yet to escape my demanding corporate job, and it takes well over an hour for me to make.
3. Supplement with BalanceIt, which my vet turned me onto. https://secure.balanceit.com/. Except I don't put as much carbs as their recipes call for and I am very picky about my carb sources (really, I only use sweet potato and then only about 1/4 of what their recipe calls for).
You can do it for a price comparable to fancy feast, I figured out one day when I did the math. I have had a stable population of 5 cats (4 of my own, plus a diabetic foster cat who is never leaving) until the last two weeks, where family situations have brought two more to me. (My sister was about to take her "beloved" dead husbands cat to a kill shelter, and my mom's feral, who turns out not to be so feral, is very ill, and she refuses to bring him indoors because of her dog and her antiques. I just can't let these cats go to a fate unknown because they are basically members of the family as far as I am concerned, but I am pretty pissed and unhappy about 7 cats because its TOO MANY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Argh!)
And the expense. $1,000 for the feral who isn't a feral to get totally checked out.
So, as I dream of escaping the salt mines which increasingly chafes my psyche, the vision of all these aging cats (4 are 12 1/2 years old, one is 6 1/2, one is 10, and one is at least 8 but has a serious heart defect) getting sick at once and me being unable to afford care . . . horrifies me.
OMG - 7 senior/sick cats... that is a hefty load. I got the insurance after I had 2 cats get sick and die within a few years of each other. One had CRF/hyperthyroid which then progressed to either lymphoma or lung cancer (depending on which vet you believe) - anyhow, I think I spent upwards of $5K on her care. Then I had one who suffered a saddle thrombosis. She only lived a few days from the incident, but we managed to rack up several thousand dollars in vet bills nevertheless.
DeleteI'm really impressed with your commitment to making homemade food. I considered it for my CRF kitty, but the recommendations were all over the map. One person even said I should be grinding up whole chickens (feathers and all) because that most closely resembled the natural diet. Of course this was completely the opposite of what the vets were telling me to do. But once she got cancer it was pretty clear that her days were numbered, and since getting her to eat ANYTHING was a challenge, at that point I just fed her whatever she'd eat. All I remember from my research was that if they don't get enough taurine (which, I think, gets destroyed in the cooking process) it can cause some sort of heart problem.
I'll spare you my thoughts on people who are happy to have a pet until it develops some sort of problem and then they can't be bothered. Hang in there, and just think of all the good kitty karma you are building! :-)
30 percent of people die before age 65, presumably never making it to retirement.
ReplyDeleteYikes... that's a sobering statistic.
DeleteThat reminds me of a crazy article I came upon once which said that riding a bike was actually BAD for the environment. Get this... the reasoning was that people who ride bikes tend to live longer, so they end up having a bigger carbon footprint over their lifetimes. Oh my... I think that's another reason to ride a bike!
I read a great quote by Stuart Wilde a while ago "The purpose of money is to buy experiences" Applying this thought makes the money you spend on your cats and your new bike a really good choice.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely way to look at it!
DeleteWelcome to the club! I too have a Specialized road bike, who is also named Ruby. She makes my heart sing! You go girl. Enjoy the bliss! xoxo
ReplyDeleteIt's the Ruby club! Not a very creative name I know...
DeleteCat, I wanted to say thank you for reading and commenting on my blog, you make me laugh constantly. So I have nominated you for the Wonderful Team Member Readership Award.
ReplyDeleteGosh Golly, that's sorta like being given an award for eating an ice cream sundae, because I LOVE reading your blog! I'm so glad that you don't find my comments annoying... I know brevity is not my strong suit.
DeleteOK... I have to head on over there and see what I'm supposed to do for this award... the knot in my stomach is already forming over the idea of having to pick people to pass it on to... I'll have to find some creative way to get around that one!
Hey Cat, how can I contact you regarding removing a comment?
ReplyDeleteJust shoot me an email at EcoCatLady at Gmail dot com.
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