Money Savings Tips

[GloriaH]

My odometer is past 70 and this is all true.

[GloriaH]

Little did I know...my portable laundry line would cause such a fuss in my 'hood. I put it on my back porch right outside my sliding class door. My 'undies' were pinned on the inside of the line...and my sheets were on the outside. You could not see my undies.

My neighbor complained. Our HOA allows for clothes lines...however they cannot be seen from the street (and you cannot even tell I have porch from the street). But a small notation that the line cannot be seen from neighboring properties. Unfortunately, my neighbor has chosen to remove every piece of vegatation between our properties. She wants a 'park like' setting.

I sent a letter to our HOA asking for clarification of the covenants.
The portable line is no bigger than a table umbrella...and actually fits in the table umbrella stand. I didn't leave it out overnight...and when I took the clothing in...I folded the line and put it back in the garage. I would not use the line on the weekends when folks entertain. Our houses are not on top of each other.

I explained that I was saving energy (did you know that your dryer 10-15% of your energy bill per year?) Of your appliances your refridgerator consumes the most energy...the next on the list is dryer and washers (particularly if you wash in hot water).
When I mentioned that I have had to be assaulted by the all the odors from dryers as everyone is trying to get that 'fresh as spring smell in the their clothing'....and I have the real things, she became unglued.
Apparently, she believes that hanging clothing out lowers property values. Hanging clothing out is not a sign of poverty...it is a sign of smart living.

I am still waiting a decision from the HOA.

FW

[GloriaH]

Little did I know...my portable laundry line would cause such a fuss in my 'hood. I put it on my back porch right outside my sliding class door. My 'undies' were pinned on the inside of the line...and my sheets were on the outside. You could not see my undies.

My neighbor complained. Our HOA allows for clothes lines...however they cannot be seen from the street (and you cannot even tell I have porch from the street). But a small notation that the line cannot be seen from neighboring properties. Unfortunately, my neighbor has chosen to remove every piece of vegatation between our properties. She wants a 'park like' setting.

I sent a letter to our HOA asking for clarification of the covenants.
The portable line is no bigger than a table umbrella...and actually fits in the table umbrella stand. I didn't leave it out overnight...and when I took the clothing in...I folded the line and put it back in the garage. I would not use the line on the weekends when folks entertain. Our houses are not on top of each other.

I explained that I was saving energy (did you know that your dryer 10-15% of your energy bill per year?) Of your appliances your refridgerator consumes the most energy...the next on the list is dryer and washers (particularly if you wash in hot water).
When I mentioned that I have had to be assaulted by the all the odors from dryers as everyone is trying to get that 'fresh as spring smell in the their clothing'....and I have the real things, she became unglued.
Apparently, she believes that hanging clothing out lowers property values. Hanging clothing out is not a sign of poverty...it is a sign of smart living.

I am still waiting a decision from the HOA.

FW

That is horrible.....you should be able t do your laundry how you please. What a busy body.

[kfstitcher]

That is the craziest thing ever. Those people are just looking for problems to make up where there are none. How can a clothesline in your own backyard bother anybody? Stupid stuff like this is so annoying to hear of. Where is our commonsense anymore?

[Margo]

FW......Obviously that neighbor is not a member of TQS or she would be on her computer instead of checking out your undies!!! She needs to get a life!

[Margo]

Is your nieghboor Mrs. Kravitz ?

[kfstitcher]

HA! That's funny.

[kfstitcher]

I hang out my laundry as much as possible. It is really saving on the power bill, the clothes smell great, the clothes don't wear out as quickly (ever wonder where the lint in the dryer comes from) and it gives me a little exercise. I also hang my "bloomers" on the inside and hang larger stuff on the outside of my "whiriligig."
If I have to put up with the hideous lawn ornaments my neighbors have in their yard, they can put up with my laundry that is virtually invisible to them.
Funny what people complain about!

[kfstitcher]

Nope not Gladys Kravitz....just a snooty neighbor.
As long as I live...I will never be able to live up to her standards.

I still cannot believe that my white sheets offend someone!! LOL

FW

[Judymc]

FW, I live in a condo with an association. My husband has to be on the board just to protect our interests. I could tell you guys some stories!!!!! There are always THOSE TYPES that want to tell everyone how to breathe and when to do it. :lol: Judy in Torrance

[Books53]

As soon as I'm done reading the forum I'm going outside and hang my laundry on the line(didn't realize how lucky I was to live someplace where no one is offended by it) and then I'm going to check out the little miracle I found:a robins nest in the rose trellis.Thanks Pat for the" LIST".Nice to put things in perspective. Julie, in beautiful western MA.

[eileenkny]

Until April of this year, I was on our village planning board. We had several developers coming before us for permits, etc. They had to present their plans before going forward.
There was a particular developer who was telling us about the restrictions the homeowners were going to have once the houses were built. I asked about clotheslines. The board president started laughing and told me that the people who will be buying those houses aren't the "type" to have clotheslines.
Let me tell you, that put my back up big time! What "type" of person was he talking about? His answer: "They'll have more class than that". :shock:
Well, I don't hang everything out, but I am the "type" to have a line.
Suffice it to say, I'm no longer on the board. Too much of a thorn in their sides :twisted: .
eileenkny

[eileenkny]

I can so understand all of your frustrations. My DH and I are living between two neighbors that are constantly calling the cops on us. We have had them called because: our lawn mower was too loud, our son (when he was three) was riding his fisher price scooter up and down the side walk, our dog had broken her lead and was loose for 15-25 minutes, our BBQ was too smokey, and we were talking too loud in the drive way when my hubby was fixing the car, and we had an unregistered vehicle. That is just the tip of the iceberg. A couple weeks ago we had trees cut down and the neighbors had the cops come by and ask when the mess would be cleaned up. We were in the process of cleaning it up when he came by. So we stopped and told him when the town came and did it. Some people you just can't deal with. We never did anything to these neighbors. Our welcome to the neighborhood was them coming over and telling us they don't tollerate law breakers or loud parties. That and if I did drugs they would be sure to call the cops. I adjusted my baby on my hip and told him that my partying days were over in high school and that I never did drugs but thanks for the warning. RAchel

[eileenkny]

Rachel, you make my neighbors look down right friendly compared to yours! We have the neighborhood gossip living next to us. Everything and anything you don't wish to know about everybody else, she's ready to tell you. I try to be polite and not get involved. Some people are not happy unless they're making others miserable.
Frankly, I'm too busy with life and quilting, checking out TQS :P (and hanging up my laundry) to worry about what others are doing.
Marsha

[eileenkny]

I think it's funny how this thread has shifted gears! My experience with a homeowners assoc. was in building our dd's house in California. That was really an eye-opener. They were concerned with how high the roof line was (it was 1" too high); the roof construction (it was supposed to be clay tile, and it was high-end asphalt shingle); and there could be no construction on the weekends or in the evenings. If you wanted to do construction work on a Saturday, you had to apply by the previous Wednesday, and it cost $50 (each Saturday you worked!) They had to run generators during construction, because the city wouldn't install electricity until the house was basically completed! The neighbor was constantly calling the police. One time it was because the radio was too loud. lol, it wasn't our radio, it was 2 blocks down! :roll: Just lately, she came over while Don was running a small saw (on a Saturday) and asked what he was doing. "Building shelves for the garage." The homeowner can do things on his own property, but you can't hire construction workers to work. She wanted to know how long it was going to take. She wanted to work in her garden "in peace." :shock: (Don wanted to build shelves "in peace.") lol, all he said was, "This too shall pass." And then he went back to work. Anyway, I love living rural where you can: hang your wash outside; play a radio as loud as you want; build on the weekend! and on and on and on. I guess it's more economical in a lot of ways, that I hadn't thought about before.