I used yesterday to e-a-s-e you into the basics of eating organically on a budget. Today, I'm going to stretch it just a little. Joining a co-op, shopping locally, and growing a garden were among the wonderful suggestions we received, but they weren't the craziest by far. I'm going to save the most extreme suggestion for last!
Today, we're going to go just a bit deeper. After all, eating organically isn't something that happens overnight, is it? Whether you're just starting out on your organic journey, or whether you've been blazing that trail for decades, all of us started somewhere. And I'm going to guess that somewhere didn't include a trip to Whole Foods for every.single.item on the list...at least not the first trip. {smile}
One easy way to save money and still eat organically is to avoid packaged items and make what you can yourself. {Stay tuned for a couple of homemade yogurt recipes!!}
Gem, one of our wise forum friends, pointed out something very important to keep in mind every time you visit the store: Just because a box of Oreos is organic doesn't make it healthy. VERY GOOD REMINDER. My kids in particular seem to think the word 'organic' is a synonym for 'healthy'; and the truth is, it's just not.
Packaged cookies, crackers, cake mixes, and the like can, indeed, be organic. That does give them a benefit over their conventional cousins: Oreos, Chips Ahoy, Zesta, and Betty Crocker. If, however, you rotate that pretty box with the big "ORGANIC" label just 90 degrees and read the nutrition facts and ingredient list, you will certainly find sugar, salt, and a host of other ingredients found in conventional food items.
Making your own snacks, cookies, cakes, crackers, and breads at home gives you the ability to control everything that goes into your food, and subsequently, your body. And, you get the added bonus of paying for real food, not a pretty box or a high-end organic brand name.
Remember, you can take any recipe and make it organic just by buying organic ingredients. If you're an experienced or fearless cook or baker, you can also experiment with your old stand-by recipes to make them dairy-free, gluten-free, yeast-free, or sugar-free. All it takes is a little time and knowing what and how much to substitute.
A few of my favorite sites are listed below. If you're new at all this, I hope these sites will give you a place to jump from. If you're an old pro, I bet these recipes will be excellent additions to your repertoire. {We are a gluten-free family, ergo most of my favorite sites boast GF recipes. If your family isn't GF, either enjoy these recipes anyway or leave us a comment to your favorite DIY snacks, cookies, breads, or cakes.}
Simply Sugar- and Gluten-Free
Silvana's Mousse Cloud Pie from Elana's Pantry
GNOWFGLINS: funny name, seriously good, traditional food
Health, Home, & Happiness
Recipes from Keeper of the Home
P.S. From our family to yours, we pray you have a blessed and exciting Resurrection Sunday!
Written by Lindsey @ Penny-wise
Showing posts with label General Articles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label General Articles. Show all posts
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Eating Organic on a Budget: Part 1
Recently, I (Lindsey) asked our SCM forum friends for their wisdom. I wanted to know if they did anything really out-of-the-box to eat organically AND pinch pennies. I did get a few wacky suggestions, but I'll try just about anything once.
So, I'm going to start a series on eating organically on a budget. Our friends at SCM (who, by the way, are not affiliated with Penny-wise directly...they just give us super great writing material, which we use with permission) are all health-conscious, money-saving, home-educating mommas who submitted some fabulous tips, which I am excited to share with you.
Here are just a few very BASIC and easy things you can do to cut your grocery costs but not nutrition or quality:
So, I'm going to start a series on eating organically on a budget. Our friends at SCM (who, by the way, are not affiliated with Penny-wise directly...they just give us super great writing material, which we use with permission) are all health-conscious, money-saving, home-educating mommas who submitted some fabulous tips, which I am excited to share with you.
Here are just a few very BASIC and easy things you can do to cut your grocery costs but not nutrition or quality:
- Join a co-op. We have several recommended co-ops on our site. See if one delivers to your area or can ship your order to you.
- Shop local. Find a farmers' market or CSA (community supported agriculture) and invest into your community. With gas prices at over $3.60 across most of the nation, you're paying a high price for those organic apples that came from California or, worse, Chile.
- Grow a garden. You don't have to have 10 acres to grow some of your own food. A family in a condo or apartment can grow enough herbs for their family in a few pots on the balcony. If you have a small yard, even better! Plant a couple of tomatoes or strawberry plants in pots in your backyard, or build a raised bed or two and grow some squash, onions, herbs, and jalepenos. If you are interested in growing your own organic produce, you might find www.organicgardening.com helpful. We also recommend Rodale's Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening.
And all that is just the beginning. Keep checking back for more posts in this series.
If you do anything out of the ordinary to eat organically and not break the bank, would you share it with us? We'll do our best to share your tips with the world.
Happy Eating!
Written by Lindsey @ Penny-wise
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Ready, Set, Garden!
It's almost time!
I think we're going to wait two or three more weeks, and then our garden is going to get planted!
This is our first year to have a backyard garden. Some days I think we're a little too ambitious for first-timers; other days I wonder if we're planting enough.
My husband is going to build raised beds, three of them, eight feet long by four feet wide. In case your math skills are a bit lacking today {as mine usually are}, that's a total of 96 square feet of gardening space!
To help amateurs like us, I heartily recommend Rodale's Ultimate Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening.
I think we're going to wait two or three more weeks, and then our garden is going to get planted!
This is our first year to have a backyard garden. Some days I think we're a little too ambitious for first-timers; other days I wonder if we're planting enough.
My husband is going to build raised beds, three of them, eight feet long by four feet wide. In case your math skills are a bit lacking today {as mine usually are}, that's a total of 96 square feet of gardening space!
To help amateurs like us, I heartily recommend Rodale's Ultimate Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening.
This thick resource is a treasure of information. So far, I've read about everything from composting to companion planting, from basil to eggplant to parsley, from helpful insects to destructive insects, from raised beds to cottage gardening and everything in between. This book really is "the indispensable resource for every gardener"!
This year we've decided to plant squash, zucchini, jalepenos, eggplant, watermelon, pumpkin, spearmint, peppermint, flat-leaf parsley, basil, rosemary, cilantro, strawberries, and a few more I can't recall at the moment. To help with natural pest control, we're going to plant some African and French marigolds.
Our hot compost pile has been going for about three weeks now. It's been a bit of a challenge to find the {right} mix of carbon and nitrogen, and we're still not quite there. There have been a few times when my hubby has to hold his nose when he turns the barrel. So we add more dead leaves and dirt. I just hope the learning curve is generous!
So I have some questions for all you gardeners out there...from amateurs to master gardeners...
- What are you planting this year?
- What are you doing right now to prepare for the growing season?
- What are your favorite companion planting combos?
- Any advice you can share with the rest of us?
HAPPY GARDENING, PENNY-WISE WOMEN!
Written and submitted by Lindsey @ Penny-wise
Thursday, February 24, 2011
The Nit-Picky Checklist
I don't know about you, but I catch a cleaning bug every once in a while. It's not just any cleaning bug; it's more like a rampant virus. I'll start dusting the living room and, before I know it, I'm washing windows, vacuuming curtains, and scrubbing tile grout with a toothbrush. And I had this bad habit of overwhelming my entire family with cleaning checklists, honey-do chores, and slave-driving behavior.
Well, I decided several months ago that I was tired of being overwhelmed {and tired of dragging my husband and kids along for the ride} with all the nit-picky cleaning and organizing tasks around my house. You know the ones I'm talking about: the dust bunnies under the couch, the accumulation of dust on the bathroom light fixtures, or the funny smell coming from the fridge. The every-day chores like vacuuming, sweeping, and laundry are easy. No one has to remind me to do those. It's those nit-picky ones that cause me to become the Wicked Witch of the West, when they all catch up to me.
I created this monthly checklist for myself. It has 30 tasks, one for each day of the month. If a month happens to have 31 days, then I get that 31st day "off" in a sense. February is the only tricky month. I simply try to double-up on tasks for two or three days to make sure everything gets done. My list is printed off and hangs on my fridge, right next to our dry-erase calendar, so I'm sure to see it everyday.
I wanted to share my checklist with you. And please, feel free to adapt it to your own home and family, if you find it useful. It's numbered and each number corresponds with that day of the month.
1. Clean microwave (sometimes I have to do this more than once a month).
2. Clean inside windows and windowsills.
3. Organize pantry.
4. Organize/inventory cleaning supplies.
5. Sweep front porch.
6. Vacuum/dust mop under my bed.
7. Straighten my closet.
8. Dust picture frames throughout the house.
9. Clean oven.
10. Check the linen cabinet.
11. Clean off washer and dryer.
12. Clean out fridge.
13. Go through the junk basket.
14. Straighten a child's closet.
15. Move and dust mop under couches.
16. Iron.
17. Organize/inventory craft closet.
18. Deep clean kitchen sink (I like to make a paste out of Borax and let it sit in the sink for a while, then scrub.)
19. Vacuum curtain tops (we don't have blinds.)
20. Change A/C filter.
21. Dust light fixtures and ceiling fans.
22. Straighten a child's closet.
23. Wipe down couches (we have leather, so I use special leather wipes).
24. Go through the deep freeze.
25. Organize/inventory spice cabinet.
26. Organize school shelves and baskets.
27. Clear and dust computer desk.
28. Straighten my husband's closet.
29. Clean out inside freezer.
30. Clear and dust nightstands.
We are family of four, so everyone's closet gets a good organizing once a month. We also have wood floors throughout our entire house, so there's lots of dust-mopping in our house. And, I should point out that my children are fairly young (5 1/2 and 7). As they get older, many of these tasks, such as straightening their closets, wiping down the couches, and dusting nightstands, will be passed along to them. In fact, my son swept the front porch by himself today, and did a fabulous job!
I share all that, not to make you feel overwhelmed, but hopefully to show how easy it can be to keep all those jobs done that can sometimes go neglected. Most of these tasks, with the exception of cleaning the windows, oven, and light fixtures, take 10 minutes or less. The only one I dread monthly is ironing, but alas, I can no longer ignore it. At least it's not piling up like it used to!
Again, please feel free to adapt this list to your specific needs, if you have found it helpful.
Written and submitted by Lindsey @ Penny-wise
Monday, January 17, 2011
When You're Out Of...
It's the perfect evening: the kids are happily entertaining themselves, Husband is sitting in his recliner, reading the newspaper, you're busily cooking a magnificent dinner. And then it happens. It almost always does. Your recipe calls for such-and-such, and low and behold, you're out of such-and-such. It would be ridiculous to make a quick trip to the store for that one ingredient, but you fear it might make or break your dish. So, you try to improvise.
Hopefully, these substitutions from January's Real Simple will make your improv a lot more successful.
When you're out of {blank} use {blank}...
Lemons------> use fresh lime juice or half the amount of white or red wine vinegar
Fresh Basil------> use slightly less fresh mint or fresh cilantro
Dry Bread Crumbs -----> use crushed cracker crumbs, cornflakes, or croutons
Chili Powder -----> use 1/2 tsp. dried oregano, 1/4 tsp. dried cumin, and a dash of bottled hot sauce (ie. Tabasco)
Kosher Salt-----> use fine table salt, substituting 1/2 to 3/4 the amount called for
Fresh Cilantro-----> use fresh flat-leaf parsley
Cheddar-----> use Colby, Monterey Jack, or American
Fresh Herbs-----> use the dried version, substituting 1/3 the amount called for
Nutmeg-----> use cinnamon, ginger, or allspice (for sweet, not savory, recipes)
Buttermilk-----> use 1 Tbsp. lemon juice or vinegar, plus enough milk to equal 1 cup; let it stand 5 minutes
Parmesan-----> use pecorino or Asiago
Thanks Real Simple for these great substitutions!
Submitted by Lindsey @ Penny-wise
Thursday, January 6, 2011
A Price Book
Keeping a price books seems like an idea that could be a real chore; however, they are a great way to track inflation, store prices, and see exactly where your money is going. Most importantly, they allow you to save money and still buy the things your family enjoys. I have kept a price book for some time now, and it has been a very useful tool for our family.
The Basics of Keeping a Price Book
First, begin by saving all your grocery store receipts, and I do mean all of them. Even if it's just a quick trip to buy a couple of items, save that receipt. Keep them in a handy location, such as an old shoe box. Collect about a month's worth of receipts before starting your book.
Once your receipts are collected, you can begin your price book. You should use a small binder that will be easy to carry with you into the stores. Remember you may want to add or remove pages later on, so choose your binder wisely.
Start a page for each major category of the grocery store: Produce, Meat, Dairy, Staples, Snacks, etc. You can add headings as needed. Your sheets should have columns so that you can compare prices from different stores. Your titles might be something like this: Store, Brand, Size, Unit Price, Sale Price and other things which might be helpful to you.
Next, put your receipts in date order and use them to start filling in the columns on your sheets. You'll soon see patterns in your shopping as well as where the best prices on certain items are found.
Take your book with you every time you visit the store. That way, you can quickly see if an item is being offered at its best price or not.
In the future, continue saving your shopping receipts and be sure to update your book on a regular basis. If you are consistent, you will soon see which stores have the best prices on items you buy. No store can offer low prices all of the time, but keeping a price book will keep you ahead of the game and make saving money a little easier. We can get confused and sometimes taken in by offers that seem to be bargains, but are often anything but that. Your price book will help you avoid that trap. Keeping a price book takes a little time and effort, but it will be worth it when you see that you're saving your hard-earned money.
Written and submitted by Linda @ Penny-wise
The Basics of Keeping a Price Book
First, begin by saving all your grocery store receipts, and I do mean all of them. Even if it's just a quick trip to buy a couple of items, save that receipt. Keep them in a handy location, such as an old shoe box. Collect about a month's worth of receipts before starting your book.
Once your receipts are collected, you can begin your price book. You should use a small binder that will be easy to carry with you into the stores. Remember you may want to add or remove pages later on, so choose your binder wisely.
Start a page for each major category of the grocery store: Produce, Meat, Dairy, Staples, Snacks, etc. You can add headings as needed. Your sheets should have columns so that you can compare prices from different stores. Your titles might be something like this: Store, Brand, Size, Unit Price, Sale Price and other things which might be helpful to you.
Next, put your receipts in date order and use them to start filling in the columns on your sheets. You'll soon see patterns in your shopping as well as where the best prices on certain items are found.
Take your book with you every time you visit the store. That way, you can quickly see if an item is being offered at its best price or not.
In the future, continue saving your shopping receipts and be sure to update your book on a regular basis. If you are consistent, you will soon see which stores have the best prices on items you buy. No store can offer low prices all of the time, but keeping a price book will keep you ahead of the game and make saving money a little easier. We can get confused and sometimes taken in by offers that seem to be bargains, but are often anything but that. Your price book will help you avoid that trap. Keeping a price book takes a little time and effort, but it will be worth it when you see that you're saving your hard-earned money.
Written and submitted by Linda @ Penny-wise
Monday, December 27, 2010
We're Back!
Hello, all!
I sure hope you and your families had a wonderfully blessed Christmas holiday. Our family sure did! We even added a new member to our family--a mutt named Sally Mae.
But, in our house, when the last Jesse Tree story has been read, the last present opened, and the last slice of cheesecake has been eaten, Christmas is over. That's right; all our decorations came down today and were boxed up for another year in the garage. It was such a joy for my five-year-old daughter to help me take all our ornaments off the tree. She handled each one with care, and it seems our time taking the tree down was just as special as our family's time of putting it up! Don't you just love moments like that?
I (and Linda and Heather) took a few days off to focus on our families, but now we're back in business. Posting will resume tomorrow morning, so stay tuned for lots of great (and simple) money-saving ideas. I know there is another cleaning product recipe waiting to debut, as well as a scrumptious whole wheat bread and even a handicraft idea for you amateur knitters out there.
Also, we would love to hear your penny-pinching ideas.
Got a great, meat-less or gluten-free recipe? Share it with us!
Know something about freezing or dehydrating food? We want to know it too!
We're asking for your frugal-living tips, recipes, and ideas. Our e-mail address is pennywisewomen@gmail.com, so start typing!
We want to make 2011 our best money-saving year yet!
Written by Lindsey @ Penny-wise
I sure hope you and your families had a wonderfully blessed Christmas holiday. Our family sure did! We even added a new member to our family--a mutt named Sally Mae.
But, in our house, when the last Jesse Tree story has been read, the last present opened, and the last slice of cheesecake has been eaten, Christmas is over. That's right; all our decorations came down today and were boxed up for another year in the garage. It was such a joy for my five-year-old daughter to help me take all our ornaments off the tree. She handled each one with care, and it seems our time taking the tree down was just as special as our family's time of putting it up! Don't you just love moments like that?
I (and Linda and Heather) took a few days off to focus on our families, but now we're back in business. Posting will resume tomorrow morning, so stay tuned for lots of great (and simple) money-saving ideas. I know there is another cleaning product recipe waiting to debut, as well as a scrumptious whole wheat bread and even a handicraft idea for you amateur knitters out there.
Also, we would love to hear your penny-pinching ideas.
Got a great, meat-less or gluten-free recipe? Share it with us!
Know something about freezing or dehydrating food? We want to know it too!
We're asking for your frugal-living tips, recipes, and ideas. Our e-mail address is pennywisewomen@gmail.com, so start typing!
We want to make 2011 our best money-saving year yet!
Written by Lindsey @ Penny-wise
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Sprouting Grain
Our farming ancestors consumed grains in either a fermented, soaked or in sourdough form or a semi-germinated form. Grains were kept in sheaves and stacks in the fields before being brought into storage. The fast modern farming techniques prevent grains from partially germinating before being ground up and denatured.
Sprouting grain seed produces more Vit. C, increases the Vit. B content, and Carotene. Most importantly, it neutralizes phytic acid, which interferes with the absorption of iodine and other minerals as well. Sprouting also breaks down complex sugars that are difficult to digest (like pre-digesting) and enzyme inhibitors.
What I like is that when I sprout my grain, I can make items which are not as tasty or successful after soaking, like pastries and muffins. I add it to my soaked granola and yeast bread during kneading and I don't have to think ahead the night before to soak it. I can make it in bulk with little active participation on my part. Even though cooking with it reduces it's vitamin profile and it lacks the enzymes as is usual in baking, it is still more nutritious and more digestible than a non-prepared whole grain.
So far, I sprout only the high-phytate and high gluten grains like the red and white hard wheat and soft white wheat for bulgur. You can sprout most grains, legumes and seeds; though I've only just soaked and dehydrated seeds for the same reasons and have no urge to sprout them. The Nourishing Gourmet has a great article on soaking seeds and nuts.
Difficult seeds to sprout are flax and oat seeds. You shouldn't sprout alfalfa, as tests have shown that they inhibit the immune system and can contribute to inflammatory conditions.
I let my grain soak in water over night in a half-gallon ball jar with plastic sprouting lids. I drain the next morning, rinse and prop-up to drain into a bowl until the sprouts (they're tendril like) that are coming from the end of the seed are about 1/8 to 1/4 inch long after about 2 days (I've not gone longer than that). Then I dry them for a couple of hours in the dehydrator between 95 and 105 degrees. It's recommended to store in the fridge, but I usually use it very quickly, so it goes into a tight-fitting jar on the counter.
More detailed information can be found in Nourishing Traditions, and recipes using sprouted ingredients at various Nourishing/Nourished Blogs (including GNOWFGLINS) promoting traditional foods and traditional preparation, given to us by God's Design.
Written and submitted by Rachel
Sprouting grain seed produces more Vit. C, increases the Vit. B content, and Carotene. Most importantly, it neutralizes phytic acid, which interferes with the absorption of iodine and other minerals as well. Sprouting also breaks down complex sugars that are difficult to digest (like pre-digesting) and enzyme inhibitors.
What I like is that when I sprout my grain, I can make items which are not as tasty or successful after soaking, like pastries and muffins. I add it to my soaked granola and yeast bread during kneading and I don't have to think ahead the night before to soak it. I can make it in bulk with little active participation on my part. Even though cooking with it reduces it's vitamin profile and it lacks the enzymes as is usual in baking, it is still more nutritious and more digestible than a non-prepared whole grain.
So far, I sprout only the high-phytate and high gluten grains like the red and white hard wheat and soft white wheat for bulgur. You can sprout most grains, legumes and seeds; though I've only just soaked and dehydrated seeds for the same reasons and have no urge to sprout them. The Nourishing Gourmet has a great article on soaking seeds and nuts.
Difficult seeds to sprout are flax and oat seeds. You shouldn't sprout alfalfa, as tests have shown that they inhibit the immune system and can contribute to inflammatory conditions.
I let my grain soak in water over night in a half-gallon ball jar with plastic sprouting lids. I drain the next morning, rinse and prop-up to drain into a bowl until the sprouts (they're tendril like) that are coming from the end of the seed are about 1/8 to 1/4 inch long after about 2 days (I've not gone longer than that). Then I dry them for a couple of hours in the dehydrator between 95 and 105 degrees. It's recommended to store in the fridge, but I usually use it very quickly, so it goes into a tight-fitting jar on the counter.
More detailed information can be found in Nourishing Traditions, and recipes using sprouted ingredients at various Nourishing/Nourished Blogs (including GNOWFGLINS) promoting traditional foods and traditional preparation, given to us by God's Design.
Sprouted grain is higher in vitamins and more easily digested than its unsprouted counterpart. Sprouting neutralizes grain’s naturally present antinutrients which bind up minerals, preventing their full absorption. The grain does not need to undergo further soaking or souring and is therefore suitable for quick breads, cookies and cakes in a way that sourdoughs and soaked flours are not.
If you don't have sprouting lids for your Mason jars, here's an easy way to sprout your grains:
- Start with clean grain, I used organic hard white wheat; take care in sorting through it to make sure all pebbles and grains with poor appearance are adequately removed.
- Rinse grains thoroughly.
- Add grain to a ceramic or stainless steel crock, pouring filtered water over the grain until the grain is completely submersed under several inches of water.
- Soak the grains overnight in warm water.
- In the morning, pour the grains into a fine mesh sieve and rinse them well. Cover with cloth.
- Throughout the day, rinse the grains multiple times (I repeated 3x) taking care to stir them so all grains are rinsed evenly.
- Continue rinsing the grains for two to three days until the grains have sprouted to your liking.
- Rinse the grains one last time, drain them and dehydrate them to grind into flour.
This is not a labor intensive process; just requires thinking ahead. Only a few minutes of your time is required a day.
Written and submitted by Rachel
Monday, December 6, 2010
Lessons to Teach, Lessons to Learn
As homeschool moms, we are used to getting the best out of limited resources. We know we can't have it all, and we strive to bring the best educational methods to our homes with little money. It does not require thousands of dollars to educate our children, and it does not cost a fortune to live well in our homes--it simply takes a little planning and thinking outside the box.
We need to remember the skills of generations past and realize that we can make ends meet if we are careful and thrifty. Today it seems that everyone has everything; if we don't have it, we somehow feel we lack. "Keeping up with the Joneses" is not the way to go, however, if we wish to be good stewards of our money and resources.
Our current society is a throw-away society. Nothing seems to have lasting value--a vast change from the days of our grandparents. Then, the attitude was that you made due with what you had, that you took care of your possessions and appreciated what you had. Above all else, our grandparents knew how important it was to live within their means.
The attitude of today is much different. If there's a tear in a shirt or a hole in a sock, in the bin it goes, usually without a second thought. Why? Because Walmart is just up the road.
It is worrying to know that our children are watching us. Seeing that we don't value things or appreciate our blessings, they follow in our footsteps. We've become lazy and think we'll just buy a new whatever to replace what is torn or broken. This is not a good lesson to teach our children.
If we don't approve when they aren't taking care of their things, why should it be OK for us to do the same? Are we taking time to teach them the proper way to care for their clothes, toys, and books? Do we explain that money really does not grow on trees--that it is earned through hard work and effort? That every dollar is a blessing and should be valued? Do we take time to mend little holes before they become big holes? Do we prepare wholesome meals from scratch that aren't full of additives and empty calories? Do we expend the effort to plant our own vegetables?
None of these things are especially expensive; they simply take a little effort--and a little thought. These skills are easily learned, and our children can partner with us in our endeavors. If we expose our children to the good habits of thrift and frugality at home, there is every chance for them to grow up valuing every dollar. They surely have a better chance of not becoming a statistic--getting in debt over their heads with no hope of ever paying it off.
This is a lasting gift we can give our children. We owe this to them. Being frugal is not always easy. In fact, it can be very hard when prices are high, but that is exactly when we need to make due and refuse to give up.
Compared to other nations, we cannot consider ourselves poor--no matter what sacrifices we must make. We might think we're hard up, but most of us have a car (or two), a television, or a cell phone. This is NOT poverty. Poverty was the Great Depression; poverty is not having access to clean water or heat.
Few of us (if any) have ever had to live like that. We must appreciate what we have, even if, in our opinions, it doesn't measure up to what our neighbors possess. Being satisfied is half the battle.
Look around you. How many of your things are needs? How many are wants?
Let us try to teach our children the good habit of frugality. Let us learn some good, solid frugal ideas along the way. When our dollars aren't going as far as they used to, let us not be alarmed. We must rally to become the best stewards of our money, our resources, and our time as we can be.
Waste not, want not.
A good rule to remember: Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.
by Linda at Penny-wise Women
We need to remember the skills of generations past and realize that we can make ends meet if we are careful and thrifty. Today it seems that everyone has everything; if we don't have it, we somehow feel we lack. "Keeping up with the Joneses" is not the way to go, however, if we wish to be good stewards of our money and resources.
Our current society is a throw-away society. Nothing seems to have lasting value--a vast change from the days of our grandparents. Then, the attitude was that you made due with what you had, that you took care of your possessions and appreciated what you had. Above all else, our grandparents knew how important it was to live within their means.
The attitude of today is much different. If there's a tear in a shirt or a hole in a sock, in the bin it goes, usually without a second thought. Why? Because Walmart is just up the road.
It is worrying to know that our children are watching us. Seeing that we don't value things or appreciate our blessings, they follow in our footsteps. We've become lazy and think we'll just buy a new whatever to replace what is torn or broken. This is not a good lesson to teach our children.
If we don't approve when they aren't taking care of their things, why should it be OK for us to do the same? Are we taking time to teach them the proper way to care for their clothes, toys, and books? Do we explain that money really does not grow on trees--that it is earned through hard work and effort? That every dollar is a blessing and should be valued? Do we take time to mend little holes before they become big holes? Do we prepare wholesome meals from scratch that aren't full of additives and empty calories? Do we expend the effort to plant our own vegetables?
None of these things are especially expensive; they simply take a little effort--and a little thought. These skills are easily learned, and our children can partner with us in our endeavors. If we expose our children to the good habits of thrift and frugality at home, there is every chance for them to grow up valuing every dollar. They surely have a better chance of not becoming a statistic--getting in debt over their heads with no hope of ever paying it off.
This is a lasting gift we can give our children. We owe this to them. Being frugal is not always easy. In fact, it can be very hard when prices are high, but that is exactly when we need to make due and refuse to give up.
Compared to other nations, we cannot consider ourselves poor--no matter what sacrifices we must make. We might think we're hard up, but most of us have a car (or two), a television, or a cell phone. This is NOT poverty. Poverty was the Great Depression; poverty is not having access to clean water or heat.
Few of us (if any) have ever had to live like that. We must appreciate what we have, even if, in our opinions, it doesn't measure up to what our neighbors possess. Being satisfied is half the battle.
Look around you. How many of your things are needs? How many are wants?
Let us try to teach our children the good habit of frugality. Let us learn some good, solid frugal ideas along the way. When our dollars aren't going as far as they used to, let us not be alarmed. We must rally to become the best stewards of our money, our resources, and our time as we can be.
Waste not, want not.
A good rule to remember: Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.
by Linda at Penny-wise Women
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