Our Frugal Lifestyle

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Passionate about eco-frugality. I used to party hard, clubbing my way from pay-packet to pay-packet. Never getting ahead, just getting by. Then came our much wanted baby with no savings in the bank - only an old car. Changes were made to our lifestyle and we didn't turn back. In the past 6yrs we purchased a flat, found employment, lived below our means, built an emergency fund, purchased a reliable car and saw the financial benefits of our frugal lifestyle. Our only debt is our mortgage. Our aim is to manage our cash flow wisely, pay off our home quickly and eventually work for pleasure, not necessity. Join us on our journey, share insights, tips and tricks to help us and others to get ahead while having a good time.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

National Ride to Work Day

Today I pulled out my bicycle and participated in the Australian National Ride to Work Day. I had previously put up a poster in a prominent section of my work division to encourage others to ride too and sent out a few emails. I was happy to see one of the bosses had seen my call to action and participated in the ride.

Bikes Taking a Well Deserved Rest
I would love to ride everyday as it's only a 15 minute - easy ride to work BUT, I like to drop off our daughter to school with my fishing addict partner the The Rambling Expat. And this means we are late for work everyday and stressfully rushing against time. It is also super hot at this time of year. The weather is between 26C and 33C with humidity at 79% and I was HOT HOT HOT. My face was flushed, my forehead perspiring, my glasses fogged up and my hair a mess. Not a pretty sight but boy does it feel good to be ALIVE.

So anyway I peddled to work and met up with a group being escorted by pedaling police on the way. I peddled with the group with a proud feeling of comradeship and joined everyone at the FREE celebratory inner city park breakfast of sweet or savoury buns, juice, water and bananas. Once done I headed to my buildings bike cage and shower room, then my desk.

Hot Sweaty Posing Before Heading Off To The Shower Room
I think I will try to make this a weekly event as Dolly does not go to school on Fridays this year. While she is driven to Grandma's I might try to ride to work if it's feasible in the hot weather and tropical monsoonal rains.

Biking has so many personal, financial and environmental benefits:

  • Less road congestion.
  • Less pollution.
  • Preventative health issues.
  • Exercise and fat buster
  • Inexpensive (cheaper then fuel)
  • Fun
  • And a great mental health booster

Do you have a bike gathering rust that needs to be used or are you a keen biker? How do you feel about biking about?

6 comments:

  1. I have never lived withing biking distance to a job. I would arrive sweaty, not be able to shower, itch all day from my sweat drying, and look a hot, sweaty mess. My allergies to everything would flare. No thanks. But, I am glad others don't have allergies I do.

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  2. The only bike I ride is my exercise bike - the roads where I live are very busy and I wouldn't feel safe. J rides to work every day , and twice last week he was almost hit by a car - one pulled out of a car park straight in front of him , another failed to give way on a roundabout. It terrifies me.

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  3. Must learn to ride a bike :)

    Sft x

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  4. Afraid my bike is in the garage and has not been out for a while. I do enjoy bike riding but never feel safe on the narrow country roads around here. The cars whizz around these lanes at such speed it's scary.

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  5. I grew to love riding to work. My car went in for 6 weeks' major repairs one time, and riding was my only option - 17km / 50 minutes each way. At the end of the 6 weeks, I was fitter than I'd ever been and felt fabulous!

    I don't ride two wheels as often these days (I work from home or commute by helicopter / 4WD into remote places), but on Tuesday after weeks of being desk-bound I was itching to get active. I pulled out my trusty mountain bike and had a fabulous ride.

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  6. I have to travel 65 kilometres each way to work so riding isn't an option. I catch the train as i think driving would be a waste of money & not very eco-friendly. I recently sold my bike on ebay as it was too big for me & riding it was uncomfortable. I sold it for more than i expected it to go for so i was pretty happy & it was just taking up space.
    Monica

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Thanks for commenting - I love getting feedback, sharing experiences and learning from you.