| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| mikesgirl |
Posted - Jul 02 2008 : 7:49:52 PM
I just posted in my "losing internet" thread about looking upon this time of unempoyment in a positive way. I thought it might be fun for those of us who have been in this situation to post some of the positive things or advantages of living with a tighter budget for awhile. I'll start and I can think of two right off the bat tht presented themselves this evening.
1 - DH and I actually sat on the couch and talked after dinner instead of him being glued to "Wheel of Fortune". He has always been more of a fan of the after dinner game shows and I'm always eager to talk and reconnect in the evening. No TV really facilitated this!!
2 - I am trying to go for as long as I can without "big" grocery shopping to save money, but it has been another blessing in disguise. I cleaned out the fridge and freezer and made a written inventory of what we had on hand. I have had fun creating meals with food we have already paid for, plus using what my little garden is producing. The nice weather has only been in western WA for about a week, so the garden is just getting cranked up, but tonight we had bagels chef salads with lettuce from the garden and cherry tomatoes, baby peppers, cheese, deli ham and turkey, and boiled eggs, all of which I found stuck behind other things when I cleaned out the fridge. What a good feeling - to have such a yummy dinner without spending a dime.
What other positive spins can you think of about cutting back out of necessity?
Farmgirl Sister #98
Check out my new online store
http://www.shopthefrontier.com/VFstore/index.php?manufacturers_id=79&osCsid=6be4b25bf9555031c6e2e86bbde23dba |
| 13 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Lainey |
Posted - Jul 03 2008 : 08:46:23 AM
Things are tight here too. I've lived pretty frugally all my life, by choice and necessity. I grew up in the 60s and 70s and our family didn't have a whole lot of money. Now I never wanted for anything; food, clothing, and love were always provided. We usually went to the grocery once every week or two and that was a big trip for us, we got to go to town. We always had garden veggies.
Mom always took her list with her to the store and I do that too sometimes. Most of the time now I just know what we need. I buy my groceries at a discount store (Save-A-Lot) and it really helps out. I can get nearly a two week supply of groceries for about $80.00, sometimes less. Now they don't have the variety of some of the bigger stores, but if we want something special we just put that money aside. Sometimes we have to get bread and milk, etc. during the period, but I try to stretch it out. I buy most of my household items at discount stores like Dollar General and the like. With gas prices the way they are now I plan my errands on the same day and try to do them in order without having to backtrack.
Our utilities haven't been too high so far this summer. We usually turn the A/C off when we are not home and the house doesn't get too hot luckily. We use our ceiling fan a lot too and that helps.
My husband and I like doing things that don't cost a lot of money thankfully. He's really getting into baking a lot lately. We've been having homemade bread for the past few weeks. We enjoy geocaching and going to parks which don't cost much, well except for the gas. On weekends we like to have our breakfast on the back porch and then walk around the yard talking about what improvements we'd like to do to the place. Nothing fancy, just simple pleasures and I think that's the best kind.
Farmgirl Sister #25
http://countrygirldreams.blogspot.com/ |
| mikesgirl |
Posted - Jul 03 2008 : 08:44:23 AM
Along the same lines....... check out this link.
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1819594_1819592_1819590,00.html
Farmgirl Sister #98
Check out my new online store
http://www.shopthefrontier.com/VFstore/index.php?manufacturers_id=79&osCsid=6be4b25bf9555031c6e2e86bbde23dba |
| Ga Girl |
Posted - Jul 03 2008 : 08:17:50 AM
Jeannie, My church does not have this unsure if there are more around that does. I checked into the angel food ministries and thats 30.a box but I dont even have that right now. Karen
Create in me a pure heart,O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalms 51:10 http://farmgirlingastyle.blogspot.com/ |
| kydeere40744 |
Posted - Jul 03 2008 : 07:31:09 AM
I didn't realize it until today that hubby and I haven't bought really anything in the last week. I've been home recovering from surgery and really what we have even bought was bandages, etc and then he bought a tank of gas. We really have cut back extremely a lot since I lost my job. I bought an "entertainment book" with coupons of places we normally would go to and use them for "special nights out" as it was buy one get one free. We would do that once or twice a month. I don't buy as much at the grocery and now we sit down and plan what we want to eat for the week. Then again, when I did go to the grocery store, it was only about 2 times a month.
Thank goodness for good weather in Kentucky lately. We turned off the AC and put up the windows to let the fresh air flow. We are on the "budget" with the electric company so our bill is exactly the same for several months. They adjust it by previous use. Then in the month of February whatever is left due to the company is what we pay, or we get credited if we didn't use the full amount. I remember one year it was extremely cold and we had to crank up the heat, but we only had to pay a couple of dollars.
We actually never really watched tv together that much before but lately we've watched some shows together and have laughed our butts off. It relieves stress and its a good time spending with hubby.
~Jessica in Kentucky & Farmgirl Sisterhood #137~
Be sure to visit my blog & Crafty Clipart for some of my photographs:
http://bluegrassprincess.blogspot.com/
http://www.craftyclipart.com |
| Shi-anne |
Posted - Jul 03 2008 : 07:12:58 AM
When the grown kids where still at home, we got hit with an electric bill of over $600, due a faulty meter. But in the meantime, we did without electricity for about 3 months and I read to the kids in the evening (no TV). Once we were back on the "grid" the kids complained, because I didn't read to them anymore.
Sometimes, it is the simpler things we fall back on that enrich us the most.
Farmgirls don't have hot flashes ~ They have power surges! |
| jpbluesky |
Posted - Jul 03 2008 : 07:04:27 AM
I think if our children observe us being frugal, it is good for them to learn, also. My mom told many stories of the depression, and how they made their own fun. As i grow older, I still remember the things she did by habit that were frugal and not wasteful. So if this generation of children learn some of those habits, it will be helpful for them later.
Karen - your bible verse is one of my favorites, too. I hope that you can get to the store soon. In our city, there are food closets at many churches, including the one I attend, where bags of food are given free. Have you heard of that anywhere in your community? That might help over the lean weeks.
Farmgirl Sister # 31
www.blueskyjeannie.blogspot.com
Psalm 51: 10-13 |
| Ga Girl |
Posted - Jul 03 2008 : 06:10:04 AM
Things have been real tight here, Dh is a floor installer and so many people have been laid off or just cant afford home things right now priorties are different. work has been really slow havent been to the grocery store in about 3 wks and doest look like Ill get to go this week . My mom has been fixing suppers for us and I had a few things put back but now they are getting low.
We have been to the movies on Tues, and Thur. they have free movies for the kids. I have been getting out doors more too. I will have to ck the library for movies, didnt know they had them. I'm with Kate I stay to Stressed, but I know its a season and the Lord will bring us through victorious! He may be trying to teach me patience, which I have none so I may be here awhile. Lol. Karen
Create in me a pure heart,O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalms 51:10 http://farmgirlingastyle.blogspot.com/ |
| ruralfarmgirl |
Posted - Jul 02 2008 : 10:02:51 PM
Hey Sherri,
I got one.. I know I read in the sisterhood there is a badge for turning the TV off and having game night....
I love your spirit about this, your hubby is a blessed man! (but I am sure he already knows that).....
Rene~Prosser Farmgirl #185
" Plant goodness, harvest the fruit of loyalty, plow the new ground of knowledge. Hosea 10:12 |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Jul 02 2008 : 9:49:23 PM
Since I havn't EVER been financially very secure I have lots of experience with this one. The kids and I have learned to make fun of cheap or free things....a drive up the canyon to fish, (a fishing lisence is still a bargain if you go alot) a picnic at the park, trips to the library, visiting historical things in our own little town, making something out of nothing.
I honestly thing we make our own fun and it is a good thing for the kids to learn.
YOu for sure become more self reliant and appreciate it when you are able to treat yourselves to some little trip or treat.
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| kissmekate |
Posted - Jul 02 2008 : 9:29:39 PM
I think despite being stressed when I am broke, I am truly happier. I dig deep into my self and realize I am more content, count my blessing (which are more important anyways) and more creative when I am broke.
Hi, Alee! Good to see you, glad you guys are doing well!
Don't miss out on a blessing, just because it isn't packaged the way you expected. ~MaryJo Copeland |
| Alee |
Posted - Jul 02 2008 : 9:19:22 PM
We are actually doing financially better right now due to paying off a huge bill (but soon we are going to switch that payment schedule to something else...) and hubby getting a tiny pay raise.
However, we are living super frugal because we are trying to fix our long term financial situation by starting with the short term.
So... we are having fun going to the park, Doug actually enjoyed setting up our greenhouse (which you can build for less than $100 Less than $150 if you want the deluxe version. See the upcoming MJF Magazine for details!!!) I am looking forward to going to the library tomorrow.
We also make lists for groceries and are talking about our finances. Doug and I are both monitoring our checkbook pretty heavily which is really helping.
I also plan on filling up our picnic basket and starting a new family picnic tradition.
Oh and Doug is helping out in the yard and house a lot more as well. :D Now if the price of gas would go down so we could wander further into the hills I would be in 7th Heaven!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our new blog:
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com |
| elphie0503 |
Posted - Jul 02 2008 : 9:04:40 PM
I remember being more organized when DH and I were broke...I'm sure it was because I had much more time on our hands, but all my drawers, closets, photo albums--everything--was in order. Then when I went back to work, I felt OK leaving the house all by it's little lonesome!
Samantha
www.elphie0503.blogspot.com
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort~~Albright
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| graciegreeneyes |
Posted - Jul 02 2008 : 8:58:37 PM
You know it's funny but I think I had more time when I was broke. My husband and I lived in Portland for a year and he was laid off for most of it; he is a carpenter and it was right when the dot-com boom went bust. At any rate, because we had very little discretionary income I didn't run around running errands every day. I went to the store once a week and that was it. I had a lot more time - I realized this recently and I would really like to get back to that.
The other thing I loved was rediscovering the library....lots and lots of books, cds, movies all free!!! I have always loved the library.
Financially difficult times can be scary but rewarding in other ways - I will be thinking of you
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without" |
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