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Living on One Income
Purpose of frugality
" But, in inculcating economy, we must be careful not to drive the mind into covetousness; hence it is of consequence, that with all our endeavours to cherish frugality, we should be no less assiduous to encourage generosity; and to impress them the idea, that the end of saving, is not to hoard, but to distribute to the wants of others."
A Help to Domestic Happiness by James
Eph 4:28 - ….. but rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he may have {something} to share with him who has need.
*~*~*~*
February 20, 2004
I normally buy a cleanser from Body Works in our local mall along with a moisturizer. I read on Laine's Letters that she uses Castile Soap from Trader Joe so I tried some and it works great. The bottle is very big and is under 10.00 so this will save me a bunch. The moisturizer I was using cost more than that and it was a very small bottle. Thanks Laine! :-)
We have a brand new septic tank but it's making noises. I think that it must be due to our high water table and all the rain we've been getting. I'm hearing 'gurgling' sounds and it's concerning me. So, I'm trying to find ways to cut back on the amount of water going into the septic. I have a new routine for my dishes. I use 3 dishpans (.94 each). One for the dirty dishes, one in the sink to wash them and one on the other side of the sink to rinse. Once I am finished with the water I throw it in the garden unless it's clean and then I may save it to soak future dishes. I'm hoping this will save having my septic pumped.
*~*~*
Dec. 28, 2004
I have begun to save my plastic bags from the grocery store to reuse so that I don't have to buy plastic storage bags. I store them in an old kleenex box or sometimes I will use a cardboard roll from wrapping paper. I won't re-use plastic bags that have held meat or reuse bags that had old items that may be close to molding. If they are just dirty I will wash them and dry them before I store them. I use the bags that they bag my groceries in for my kitchen and bathroom garbage cans. I used to have a large garbage can in the kitchen but I've switched to a smaller one so that I don't have to purchase garbage can liners. If I still had children at home and needed a large garbage can then I'd use newspaper to line the can. But, it's just my husband and I (temporarily for the next few months before my younger son moves back home) so the smaller one works just fine. I use the plastic bag that I put my vegetables in at the store in place of a storage bag. If I need to cover a dish I will cut the bag on one side and fold it around the dish. I'm also using plastic containers more instead of baggies in my husbands lunch box. These practices have really cut down on my purchases of storage bags. I haven't had to buy a box of storage bags for sometime now.
The other thing I am working on is eliminating paper towels. I have a squeegy I can use for my mirrors and windows along with rags. Newspaper also works great for windows in place of paper towels.
*~*~*
Here are some changes I made this past month to bring down my grocery bill. I have received a ton of ideas from reading Laine's Letters.
* Homemade Thousand Island Dressing vs. storebought
* Homemade Ranch Dressing vs. storebought
* Homemade Scratch Cake vs. chocolate candy
* Homemade brewed tea vs. sodas
* Homemade pizza sauce vs. canned
* Vinegar vs. softener for wash
* Half of a dryer sheet vs. a whole one
* Homemade Cream of celery and potato soup vs. canned
* Homemade Cinnamon rolls vs. storebought Orange Rolls
* Homemade yeast rolls (baked then frozen) vs. storebought frozen rolls
* 5 pounds of Baking Cocoa vs. 1/2 pound of Cocoa (saved 4.00)
* Homemade salsa vs. storebought
* Oil in spray bottle vs. Pam
* I bought an insulated water mug from Walmart for under $2.00 and keep it filled with water and ice vs. bottled water twice a month at $5.00.
I'm not sure how much this will save me but it's bound to cut down my bill some. It's taking more time to make things from scratch vs. buying them but I'm getting into a routine. This is how I used to cook when the children were home but had just become lazy once more money started coming in. What I am doing is using free time when I am energetic (mornings are best for me) or when I am already in the kitchen making another meal, to make the extra mixes, etc. If I wait until I need something and I'm tired then there is a good chance I'll grab something that is easy.
LAUNDRY & SAVING MONEY
I found a great recommendation from Laine's Letters which I have been trying the past month and I believe it's going to save me some money in the area of laundry.
She suggested using 1/3 cup of baking soda with 1/3 cup of detergent. This cuts down on the cost of detergent plus the baking soda helps the clothes smell fresh and cleans it well. I buy a large bag of baking soda from Costco.
I also have been cutting my fabric softener sheets in 1/4 or 1/2's. It still helps with static cling but does not clog my lint dryer and is making the sheets last longer. I rarely use fabric sheets except for my husband’s work shirts and my dresses.
Last idea is that I am leaving the lid up on my washer and allowing my dirty clothes to soak over night instead of allowing them agitate longer in the washer. This helps cut back on the electricity. Also, I don't have to use warm water as much and my whites are coming out cleaner.
*~*~*~*
Reply to Stay at Home Critics
Dear ....,
I, very much, understand the situation you are speaking about. I have a relative coming to
stay with me in the next few weeks who has given me the same impression over the years.
I want to share a scripture with you to meditate on.
Phil 2:5-8
- Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
- Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
- But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and
was made in the likeness of men:
- And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient
unto death, even the death of the cross.
While I was thinking and talking to God about your post, the part of the Scripture above
that came to mind was 'made himself of no reputation.' The King of glory, who had every
right to full adoration and admiration from His creation TOOK on the form of a
SERVANT and MADE Himself of NO REPUTATION. He willingly humbled himself and became obedient unto death.
I've thought of this often in different situations where I've become offended because I
believed that I had a right to be noticed or acknowledged for my sacrifice.
When I started home schooling over 18 years ago it was nothing like it is today. Most people thought you were off your rocker. Many still do! * Smile* I believed the Lord had called me to school my children at home. It was difficult to bear the brunt of the questioning of my motives and decision. Yet, finally, it all came down to keeping my eyes on Christ... following His example to seek for no reputation. This is the spirit of true humility. Knowing we deserve nothing and expecting nothing. My answer finally to those who would question me was, "I know that if the Lord put it in your heart to do this with your children you would have obeyed." It was a soft answer that helped to soften the situation.
This is something I found in Elisabeth Elliot's newsletter that I keep posted on my bulletin
board where my eyes fall on it regularly. I am working at memorizing it. When I have an
opportunity to take up offense, certain phrases will come to mind.
DELIVER ME JESUS
---from the desire to be praised, honored, glorified, preferred, consulted, or approved.
Deliver me, Jesus, from the fear of being humiliated, criticized, forgotten, ridiculed,
maltreated, and from the fear of what others think. O Jesus, give me the grace to desire:
that others would be loved and esteemed ahead of me, that in the eyes of the world they
would increase while I decrease, and praised while I pass by unnoticed; that others would
be preferred in all situations; that others would become more than myself - in order that I
would be as holy as You want me to be. Charles de Foucauld.
Even though we are not martyred for our faith, I oftentimes think that in a way, these sort
of situations allow us to bear the sufferings of Christ. The scriptures say that the glory of Christ rests on those who are evil spoken of for the sake of Christ. 1 Peter 4:14 The
apostles rejoiced when they were able to suffer for the sake of Christ. I have to remind myself that this is not limited to those who are missionaries but as we live in this
post-Christian society, we too, if we are standing on His Word will suffer persecution. Be encouraged, Sister!
One last encouragement, if you don't mind. Just an exhortation to guard against doing the same thing your in-laws may be doing to you and that is taking up a spirit of pride in what you are doing by criticizing THEIR choices. I have fought this at times. It's easy to be prideful of all our 'works' so to speak and without realizing it, to look down on those who are not doing what we believe the Scriptures teach for a woman. I just wanted to encourage you to be aware that Satan would love to encourage you in that vein of thought.
*~*~*~*
"In general, it is for the benefit of a family, that a married woman should devote her time and attention almost exclusively to the ways of her household: her place is in the centre of domestic cares. What is gained by her in the shop, is oftentimes lost in the house, for want of the judicious superintendence of a mother and a mistress. Comfort and order, as well as money, are domestic wealth; and can these be rationally expected in the absence of female arrangement? The children always want a mother's eye and hand, and should always have them. Let the husband, then, have the care of providing; the wife, that of distributing to the necessities of the family; for this is the rule both of reason and revelation."
Taken from A Help to Domestic Happiness from James
*~*~*~*~*
NOT ENOUGH MONEY
"It might also be said by a brother whose earnings are small, should I also give according to my earnings? They are already so small that my wife can only with the greatest difficulty manage to make them sufficient for the family. My reply is, Have you ever considered, my brother, that the very reason why the Lord is obliged to let your earnings remain so small may be the fact of your spending everything on yourselves, and that if he were to give you more you would only use it to increase your own family comfort, instead of looking about to see who among the brethren are sick, or who have no work at all, that you might help them, or how you might assist the work of God at home or abroad? There is a great temptation for a brother whose earnings are small to put off the responsibility of assisting the needy and the sick saints, or helping on the work of God, and to lay it upon the few rich brethren and sisters with whom he is associated in fellowship, and thus rob his own soul!" Written by George Mueller
He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 2 Cor. 9:6
Our hearts must be set on giving of what we have out of our love for God and our brethren and what He has done for us, NOT for what He will give back to us. This can be a subtle trap.
*~*~*~*
Learning Contentment with Little
'I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content' Philippians 4:11
"Certainly our contentment does not consist in getting the thing we desire, but in God's fashioning our spirits to our conditions. Some men have not got a foot of ground of their own, yet they live better than other men who are heirs to a great deal of land. I have known it in the country sometimes, that a man lives upon his own land, and yet lives very poorly; but you find another man who rents his land, and yet by his good husbandry, and by his care, lives better than he who has his own land. So a man by this art of contentment may live better without an estate than another man can live off an estate. Oh, it adds exceedingly to the comfort of a Christian. ..... If I become content by having my desire satisfied, that is only self-love, but when I am contented with the hand of God, and am willing to be at his disposal, that comes from my love to God. ...If I am contented because I have what I desire, perhaps I am contented in that one thing, but that one thing does not furnish me with contentment in another thing; perhaps I may grow more dainty and nice and froward in other things. If you give children what they want in some things, they grow so much the more coy and dainty and discontented if they cannot have other things they want. But, if I have once overcome my heart, then this makes me content not only in one particular but in general, whatever befalls me. .... When I have got his grace of contentment, I am prepared to be contented in all conditions. Thus you see that contentment brings comfort to a man's life, fills it full of comfort in this world; the truth is, it is even a Heaven on earth. What is Heaven but the rest and quiet of a man's spirit; that is the special thing that makes the life of Heaven, there is rest and joy, and satisfaction in God. So it is in a contented spirit: there is rest and joy and satisfaction in God. You have Heaven while you are on earth when you have a contented spirit..."
The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Burroughs 1648
*~*~*~*
Buying More Stuff
The believe the Lord is dealing with me on what I spend on my home and myself. I really struggle in this area with my flesh in trying to discern what is 'need' and what is 'want.' Most of what I purchase is definitely 'want.' The temptation is very much there for us as Christian women to be caught up in reaching a certain level of standard in the way our homes look. I'm earnestly seeking the Lord's direction in this area. I want to be free from giving into the 'pull' of the things of this world. I'm not there yet but my Spirit desires it. Not that ‘things’ in and of themselves are sinful. But, to continually be focused on my ‘wants’ just may be. Eph 4:28 says to work in order to have more to give to those in need. I desire to make this my aim.
I loved this portion of George Mueller's book on Money.
“But with regard to temporal things it will be thus, that if indeed we walk according to the mind of God in these things, while more and more we become instruments of blessing to others, we shall not seek to enrich ourselves, but be content, when the last day of another year finds us still in the body, to possess no more than on the last day of the previous year, or even considerably less, while we have been , however in the course of the year, the instruments of communicating largely to others, through the means with which the Lord had entrusted us. "
*~*~*~*
Tons of Frugal Articles and websites!
http://www.stretcher.com/menu/topic-g.htm#groceriesandfood
Saving money on paper towels
Cut the paper towels in half by cutting side to side. It's like getting two rolls for the price of one. :-)
*~*~~*~*~*
Getting by with LESS!
I was reading an article tonight about a lady who had 1 Sunday outfit for Spring and 1 Sunday outfit for winter. She had 1 outfit to work in ... I believe it was a jean's jumper and she would alternate her shoes.
My husband would not be pleased if I limited myself to just one outfit for Sunday's but the thought of someone in America living so frugally (on purpose) was very encouraging and provoked me to think about all the clothes I have stuffed in my closet and how many I actually wear.
How many times do I think to myself that I do not have anything to wear when my closet is FULL? It's ridiculous. Maybe what I am saying is... I don't have anything super special that will look great and bring attention to myself?
I'm seeing that it's totally possible to live on less and less money but I am also seeing that my goals of what is an acceptable lifestyle (example: wardrobe) need to be evaluated if I am going to live on less money.
I'm learning new lessons on this journey and the lessons are different than they were years ago when my children were home. I was forced to live frugally when my children were home. We lived on a tight budget for most of the years they were growing up. Now, we have extra money during certain times of the year, and I don't have to scrimp and save during the summer months to get us through the winter months when work slows down. Yet, I’m at times convicted about the amount of extravagance I spend on my home and myself when others in the church body are in need.
Some times I do well in this area of not spending money and then other times I blow it. It's taking some time to get this area back under control but I'm not discouraged because I know I am doing better this year compared to last year. I am much more careful in what I spend.
I'm also being reminded how much effort goes into 'saving money.' It's not the lazy man's way of life, that is for sure! You have to work hard to spend less and save money. Hanging out clothes on the line takes much more work than using a dryer. Canning is hard work and so is having a garden. Sewing clothes vs. buying them.
For instance, today I spent hours trying to find a way to can the pears on my trees that are crunchy. I finally, after much time researching, ended up making fruit cocktail. I was so proud of myself but then suddenly I realized the amount of time I spent researching and canning, while the rest of my house fell apart, only to wind up with 6 pint jars of canning. Was it worth it? I didn't feel like it at the end of the day. But, when I mentioned it to my husband, he said that he wants me to learn these things because the time will come when we will have to live on less and he wants me to know how to make due with what we grow, etc. So, it all has to be put in perspective. Next time it won’t take me as long because I’ve invested the time today.
*~*~*~*
MY SEWING MACHINE
On the way to church this a.m. I was thinking about all the money and satisfaction I have had over the years because my mother taught me to sew.
I remember my Mama promising me that when I turned 12 she would teach me to sew that summer. I looked so forward to it. I couldn't wait for the day to get there. I don't remember the first thing I sewed but I do remember that by the time I went to school the next year I had made many of my clothes.
My mother encouraged us girls to learn crafts and sewing. We always made our gifts for Christmas. I am so thankful that she taught me these skills because when I married they really came in handy. There was very little extra money for gifts so I was able to still give presents if I made them. A lot of satisfaction comes from making something out of nothing.
When my children were young I sewed a lot of their clothes. I made pants for my boys out of adult pants. All they cost me was my time and some elastic and thread. I even made shorts and pj’s for my children when they got into their teens. I remember making doll clothes and selling them in a beauty shop to make extra money.
And of course, now that there are grandbabies I have the blessed privilege of using this skill to make some of their clothes and gifts.
I think that learning to sew has been one of the valuable skills that has helped our family live on just 1 income.
*~*~*~*
THE LOST ART OF MENDING
I was in grammar school sitting at the kitchen table watching my Mom talk on the phone to her sister. I don't remember what their conversation was but I can still remember my Mother's perplexed tone when she got off the phone and mentioned that my Aunt didn't mend her clothes but just got rid of them and bought new ones. That has remained in my head all these years anytime I look at a piece of clothing or old socks that need mending.
When my children were little and money was so tight I can remember making it a regular habit to mend their socks when they got holes in them. There just wasn't any extra money to throw them out and buy new ones.
Why throw this type of item away? Why turn around and spend another $6.00 or more for a new bag of socks if you can make the old ones last another year?
A few ideas:
1. Create a mending box, basket or bag. The ladies in the olden days always had a mending basket that set next to their chair for them to work on in the evenings. Some suggestions to keep in the bag might be buttons. You can save these off of old clothes that you throw away. Save all colors, shapes and sizes. My Mom always had a button box and so do I.
- Needles and pins
- Thread... the basics like tan, white, black and blue.
- Scissors
- Light bulb or wooden egg to mend socks
- Applique's or patches to put over holes in pants or shirts
- Iron- on patches
- Fray Check is great for seams that are fraying.
2. Check clothes regularly and mend at the first sign of a hole or tear. Remember that old saying, "A stitch in time saves 9?" Well, when it comes to darning that is the absolute truth. If you can mend a small hole when it first begins you have much less work ahead of you.
3. It saves time if you group your items together for repair. For instance, work on all the projects that have buttons to sew on first, or socks that need darning.
4. Set up a particular day each week to mend.
5. I had a friend who put patches on her children's pants at the knee before they ever wore them just as a precaution and to prolong the wear of the pants.
6. Save an old pair of jeans to use for patching. The store-bought patches are so nice and look so professional but when money is tight I couldn't afford them so I would save old jeans that were not presentable to wear and use them for patching. I would cut a patch larger than the hole or tear and place it under the hole on the inside of the pants. With a zigzag stitch using the same color thread as the pants, I would catch both layers of material and zigzag back and forth over the hole, making sure I'd catch the material underneath. I also wanted to make sure that I went beyond the hole as I was stitching, since the material was weak around the outside of the tear.
For mending knit fabric use a small zigzag stitch and a straight stitch for cotton or woven fabric.
I think this sort of skill is so important if a woman is trying to do all she can to live off of her husbands income and avoid having to work outside the home. Every small skill we learn, like mending, will help stretch our husbands income. It's almost like finding money!
*~*~*
A BIBLICAL REASON TO DO WITHOUT!
We talk a lot in this forum about saving money and doing without so that we can be stay at home wives and mothers. Truly, in order to do that in this day and age, we do have to set our minds to do without and live on less than others we see who are living on two incomes. But, when I look in the scriptures I see a more important reason that we are called to do without and that is so that we can help those in need.
Many times we do without and set our money aside just so that we can save for a bigger and better purchase that is not a necessity. We believe we can't survive without a second car or disposable diapers. I am continually challenging myself on these very things.
It's so easy to go along with the current of this world... esp. living in America. The materialistic current in this world is strong... very strong. We are bombarded from every direction. Rarely are we taught in churches to do without material things in order to help others.
James 2:15,16 - If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you
say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not
those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
1 John 3:16-18 - Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us:
and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world’s good
and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him how
dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in
tongue; but in deed and in truth.
I am continually fighting the mindset of 'me, mine and ours' and more times than nought I am ashamed to say that I have fallen into the 'comparison' trap with my brothers and sisters in the Lord and bought things I haven't really needed. I remember when I was previewing books for the store and I was saturated in stories of missionaries who gave up all for Christ's sake... I was continually challenged to look at my life from another perspective. A perspective that the majority of Christians living in other countries live out on a daily basis which is to live a live free of greed in order to help others and to get His Word out.
In American churches we are encouraged to have the best. We're told that God wants us blessed. Which I believe God does bless obedient living. But, does being blessed by God mean living a life of luxury compared to the other nations of this world? Granted, none of us on this list are probably 'rolling in the dough' but I have a pretty good guess if we compared our homes and things we owned with other Christians living in foreign countries we'd be shocked at how 'rich' we really are.
He is our good shepherd. And yes, He has promised to feed and clothe us. But, while He and those who followed Him lived here on this earth do we see them raking the worlds riches and stuff to themselves? We have our Christian CD's and our Christian novels. We have our leather bound bibles. We have our latest kitchen gadgets. Yet, millions around us are headed to Hell. Do we feel an urgency for their souls? Do we cry out to God for their mercy? Or are we so consumed with our needs and desires that we rarely even lift a prayer to heaven for them or hand them a gospel tract.
With just $5-10.00 we could buy a lot of Gospel tracts to hand out to those who help us to our car with groceries, or leave in restrooms or phone booths or hand to the check out lady or slip in our bills when we are making a payment. Ten dollars could be sent to a foreign missionary. (If you don't know a great source for tracts visit Ray Comforts site online. )
If a nuclear bomb was scheduled to hit our city and we knew within a short period of time that we and all we love would be dead.... where would our focus be? I'm sure we would want to do everything we could to make sure our family and friends and loved ones were safe. It would cause a radical shift in our priorities because we would know that all we owned would be lost and only the people we care about would become important. Yet, as Christians, we have the same urgent knowledge. We know with certainty that everything in this world will be burned up shortly. We also know that all those we love will die within a passing of days. Millions... billions around this world will be on their way to a Hell of torment for eternity. So, with this knowledge... how should we be living?
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