AmazinglyBlessed

Making do with less, part II

12:04 PM, Wednesday, December 27, 2006 .. Posted in Living on a shoe string .. 4 comments .. Link

I was asked to write more about doing with less and cutting the cost of living. Gladly!

Yesterday morning, I was reading an article in the latest issue of An Encouraging Word, titled: "Achieving Financial Freedom", by Kelly Crawford. I was impressed by the beginning and was hoping to learn a few things that would help us cut the cost of living a little more. While reading the article outloud to my husband, we would comment if we were already doing what was suggested or not, and this is what it sounded like:

"Cut up the credit cards... we don't have those, buy a cheaper cell phone or do without them... we don't use them, what about cable t.v.... we don't have that, cut extra phone services... we just have the basic, use the clothesline... yes, I do, eat out less... how about once every 3 years, yard sales... my favorite, don't buy convenience food... we cook everything from scratch, ... etc... My husband commented that perhaps I should write about cutting cost and saving further.

My tips about Grocery shopping:

- Something we've been doing recently is to purchase in bulk or by the case at the local grocery store. Since we juice veggies every morning (almost always) we go through lots of carrots, and although I grow a good patch of carrots, we don't grow enough to juice yet. We normally pay between 1.25 to 1.47 for two pounds. By purchasing a 50lb bag of California carrots for 19.99, those huge and sweet ones, we pay only .40 cents a lb. Avocadoes are a favorite here, great in smoothies, salad dressings, guacamole or just by itself as a quick snack. If we purchase them by the piece we pay about .99 each, but by the case @ 26.00 for 48, it equals .54 cents each. We also buy bananas by the case. We go through a dozen or so bananas a day so it's economical for us. If you have a big enough family to make buying produce in bulk practical, ask the various grocers around if they are willing to sell in bulk.

Another way to purchase cheap is to shop at salvage grocery stores. If you are not familiar with those stores, they sell slightly damaged canned and packaged goods at a greatly reduced price, from a 40% up to 90% saving. Our favorite local store stocks a big selection of organic food, something we couldn't afford if we had to purchase them at full price. Other items that are sold at these stores: name brand diapers, coffee and specialty teas, bath and hygene products, supplements, pet food, etc... Not every states allow salvage grocery stores, but I know that Tennessee and Mississippi have them. Anyone knows of other States that have them?

My last tip is to find a local bulk food co-op. Any day now I will be getting a call to pick up our order. We ordered 400 lbs of grains and legumes from Walton Feeds with the local Amish community. With shipping it will cost us 189.00 shipping included. Not bad considering how much it costs in grocery stores. Those 25 and 50 lb bags will be repackaged in 1 gallon bags and then stored inside a stand-up freezer we don't use anymore. The sealed door keeps rodents out, moths too, and if we have a question about a possible bug or two, we plug the freezer for three days and that would kill any undesirable .

Next "making do with less" post will be how to sew for the family for much less (and sometimes for nothing).

Christina

Making do with less

12:55 PM, Wednesday, December 6, 2006 .. Posted in Living on a shoe string .. 7 comments .. Link

There was a time - about 10 years ago - when I didn't know how to make do and frankly, I didn't want to. I was raised in Montreal, Quebec in Canada by two loving parents who never let me lack in anything. My dear mother is from France and her cooking is wonderful. Having lived with less during and after WW2, she embraced the modern life to the upmost and seeked a luxurious, comfortable life.

When I first moved to Tennessee with my husband and baby #1, I was addicted to shopping. I didn't go for expensive items, but the pleasure of acquiring new "things" offered much satisfaction. Of course, that satisfaction was short lived and very soon I had to head off to stores on the lookout for more finds.

God works in mysterious ways ladies. Looking back, I can clearly see how He brought us to live a very simple and plain life, but at the time it didn't make sense. Why didn't my husband find carpentry and plumbing jobs all the time? That was frustrating at first. For months I had to stay home because we didn't have enough money to afford extra traveling. Then we sold my van and went to a one vehicle family, a 15 passenger van that guzzles down fuel too rapidly. It was not easy and I was hoping that things would improve soon. Well, it didn't.

For a few years now I have found contentment with where we're at. I'm found at home most of the time unless we go to town with hubby, and now I wonder how could I have been a good mother / educator to my children if we were gone here and there during the week? Our meals are simple, made from scratch, but healthy and satisfying. We find pleasure in the small things life offers like flowers blooming in spring, volunteer plants in the garden, new babies born at the barn and good friends.

Making do with less has brought blessings upon blessings and it has also brought me closer to God. I don't have many distractions outside the homestead and that allows a close relationship with Him and my family. I am not there yet, I sometimes get glimpses of how I have to become and where there is a need for change, but I can only change a little at a time. But a little change here and there over the last 10 years has completly turned us around. So what's in store for the next 10 years? Only God knows, but it's an exciting thought. Praise Yahweh!

Christina

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