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Keeping in Touch:  The meaning of resourcefulness  |
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 14 2010 : 10:16:53 AM
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Laura - thanks for updating, your current state of mind and affairs are inspiring. It's funny that the acquiring of grace is seldom graceful - I have gotten to a better place in my mind about where I am in my life but it hasn't been a pretty process. I'm in a similar situation to what you were when you first posted and I'm glad to see you, further into the process, having made such progress. I hope your house sells soon!! Keep us posted....
Amy Grace
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - Mar 14 2010 : 10:18:42 AM
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Sorry - didn't mean to post twice but we have dial-up and someone tried to call while I was posting:)
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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Edited by - graciegreeneyes on Mar 14 2010 10:20:58 AM |
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corabela
True Blue Farmgirl
79 Posts
Laura
Mount Vernon
Ohio
USA
79 Posts |
Posted - Mar 14 2010 : 11:13:17 AM
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Boy, you sure got that right Amy. Coming into your own happiness can be a really messy process. Thankfully, life consists of cycles and nothing comes without reprieve. I wish you a lot of luck and grace in your situation as well! Keep me posted and I'll keep you posted. : )
~Laura
Please stop by my blog and my etsy site and say hello : )
www.corabela.blogspot.com
www.corabela.etsy.com |
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corabela
True Blue Farmgirl
79 Posts
Laura
Mount Vernon
Ohio
USA
79 Posts |
Posted - Apr 03 2010 : 07:04:16 AM
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Well, it's all coming to a head now. It's crunch time and my renter is moving out at the end of the month. If the house doesn't sell by then, I won't be able to make the mortgage and will have to claim bankruptcy, which to my absolute dismay, I discovered is $4000. If I had that kind of money, I wouldn't be in this position. And than to add insult to injury, I learned that the Trustee will confiscate your tax refund if you have one. If you've already spent it, he or she will demand repayment and you are legally obligated to pay it. The thing is, I was planning on surviving for the next few months on that refund. My job ends April 15th. I guess I'm going to try and hunt down a cheaper bankruptcy lawyer. And I hate to have to give up the tax refund that really half of it belongs to my husband. We won't be doing bankruptcy together...I can't bear to drag him into this. I'm trying very very hard to be positive and not freak out. I spent most of yesterday crying...my mom just moved to South Dakota last week, my brother moved away last month, and I have no more family in Ohio. I had a sinus infection, my cat ran away, and my mother-in-law was harassing me about getting another job and it was just more than I could take.
Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers...I hate to ask that because it's so hard to admit weakness but I just want to get through this as quickly as possible. And above all, I really want to remain happy. I don't want all this mess to eclipse the moments of joy.
Thanks girls.
~Laura
Please stop by my blog and my etsy site and say hello : )
www.corabela.blogspot.com
www.corabela.etsy.com |
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classygram
True Blue Farmgirl
1812 Posts
Brenda
Pleasant Hill
Mo.
USA
1812 Posts |
Posted - Apr 03 2010 : 08:09:08 AM
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Oh Laura my prayers are with you! Sweetheart it's not the end! Been there, done that. I don't mean to take away from all that you have shared with us. But I see that you have a heart of gold. My DH has still not found a job and I'm unable to work outside the home right now because of health concerns. So were living on unemployment which is not going to last forever. But on the lighter side, it's helped me to live the easier ways of life and that is a "GOOD THING" as Martha Stewart would say. I realize now that a house is somewhere to live. But you can make a home anywhere. As long as love is there and faith in God, all will work out. Don't worry about what other's may think, this is your life and you know what needs to be done. God Bless you sweetie and you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Hugs! Brenda
"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony" Mahatma Gandhi |
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corabela
True Blue Farmgirl
79 Posts
Laura
Mount Vernon
Ohio
USA
79 Posts |
Posted - Apr 03 2010 : 08:21:45 AM
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Thank you so much Brenda! It really means the world to me to hear such kind words. And "living the easier ways" really is a state of mind. I guess it's that state of mind that I want to keep through all this because living fearfully gets you nowhere. Having faith is really the answer and I'm hoping and praying that I can cultivate and maintain more faith in my life. Thanks Brenda and I know your DH (is that Dear Husband? I guess I'm not up on forum-speak) will be able to find a job soon. They're out there to be found...it's just a matter of being at the right place at the right time, as it is with everything else. And I really believe that if we expect to be at that right place at that right time, it will happen. : ) xoxo
~Laura
Please stop by my blog and my etsy site and say hello : )
www.corabela.blogspot.com
www.corabela.etsy.com |
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patchworkpeace
True Blue Farmgirl
478 Posts
Judy
Jackson
Michigan
USA
478 Posts |
Posted - Apr 03 2010 : 09:06:02 AM
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Wow! Laura thanks for sharing. We're going through a hard time financially because I haven't been able to find a job. We haven't experienced anything compared to what you have though. Your resourcefulness and courage is inspiring.
You have to feel like you can live through anything and face anything with everything you've gone through. God bless you!
Judy
Farm Sister #932
Success is measured not by the position one reaches but by the obstacles one has to overcome to reach it. Booker T. Washington |
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corabela
True Blue Farmgirl
79 Posts
Laura
Mount Vernon
Ohio
USA
79 Posts |
Posted - Apr 03 2010 : 09:55:23 AM
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Judy, that was really eye opening to read your last thought. My husband's car JUST broke down and something technical in the sway-bar-something-or-other-mounted-to-the-frame broke in such a way that it seems unfixable and undriveable, which means of course, I'll have to quit my job and give him my car to drive to work. He is the main breadwinner. It has been month after month of car trouble for us, and so many times I've been biting my lip, wondering if I'd have to quit my job because I wouldn't be able to get to work because of the cars. It was after I wrote the last post that the car broke down and I just sat in the bathroom and cried feeling helpless and frustrated, praying for strength. Then I dried my tears, went into the kitchen, tied on my apron, and made my husband lunch.
I guess my point is, I never looked at it the way you did. I guess instead of feeling like I could live through anything, I felt like I had bad luck that never ends. I didn't used to be like that though. I got shot in the back with a .22 rifle when I was 16 and felt lucky when I was fine. The F-5 tornado of '99 disappeared one block before reaching me and I felt lucky. It wasn't until the past 2 years that I've begun to feel unlucky when all along, I was looking at it from the wrong perspective. Thank you, thank you, thank you Judy. That is exactly what I was praying for. : )
~Laura
Please stop by my blog and my etsy site and say hello : )
www.corabela.blogspot.com
www.corabela.etsy.com |
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patchworkpeace
True Blue Farmgirl
478 Posts
Judy
Jackson
Michigan
USA
478 Posts |
Posted - Apr 03 2010 : 11:57:38 AM
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Laura,
I'm saying a prayer for you and your family as I wipe the tears from my eyes. We're your sisters on this board and are here for you when you need someone to listen. I'm so sorry things are so difficult for you right now.
Consider yourself hugged!
Judy
Farm Sister #932
Success is measured not by the position one reaches but by the obstacles one has to overcome to reach it. Booker T. Washington |
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corabela
True Blue Farmgirl
79 Posts
Laura
Mount Vernon
Ohio
USA
79 Posts |
Posted - Apr 03 2010 : 12:47:02 PM
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I feel hugged Judy. : ) Thank you! And I feel a whole lot better already. It's nice to have all these sisters! : )
~Laura
Please stop by my blog and my etsy site and say hello : )
www.corabela.blogspot.com
www.corabela.etsy.com |
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - Apr 03 2010 : 8:14:46 PM
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Laura - rest assured that some day you will look back on this as a distant memory. I had a whole huge run of bad luck/bad decisions years ago, and I look back on them now and not only don't regret anything but I know that those experiences made me stronger, of course when I had creditors calling constantly it was devastating.
I declared bankruptcy in 1997 and I was able to get a pro bono lawyer, it wasn't through the local law school but I think they helped me find one or gave me a number to call - try that. I think it cost me $150, and even adjusted for inflation that is a lot less than $4000. You will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers!! You are strong and you will make it.
amy Grace
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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corabela
True Blue Farmgirl
79 Posts
Laura
Mount Vernon
Ohio
USA
79 Posts |
Posted - Apr 04 2010 : 07:22:59 AM
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I'll check that Amy. I don't think we have any local law schools but there may be some a little farther away. It's good to hear tales of your survival through something similar. It's hard to get that kind of perspective in the middle of it. Judy's comment up there about how I must feel like I could live through anything really got me thinking yesterday. I was imagining myself telling grandchildren about all the things I'd survived. Imagining this ordeal in the distant past is hard, but makes me feel so much better. : )
~Laura
Please stop by my blog and my etsy site and say hello : )
www.corabela.blogspot.com
www.corabela.etsy.com |
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AliciaNak
True Blue Farmgirl
405 Posts
Alicia
Elko
Nevada
USA
405 Posts |
Posted - Apr 06 2010 : 09:34:34 AM
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Laura~
Big hugs from me as well. I have dealt with some issues that sound very similar to yours, especially with the house and car troubles.
DH (yes, it does stand for Dear Husband) and I were young, naive, and ready to jump in and take on the world. Well, the world knocked us back on our behinds! At the time I would stay up nights crying about the whole situation, bills, foreclosure, etc. I just watched my almost 9 year old son walk by, and had a flashback. He was only a baby when all this was happening, staying with babysitters for long hours while I worked at whatever job I could find, trying to help get us back on our feet. I felt like it would never be over, never end. And here we are 8 years later, it's all a memory, a lesson to keep in the back of your mind.
You will make it hun. Keep smiling. Good for you, for getting back to the basics. I say, Forget the Jones', I don't want to be stressed like them! lol
Alicia
Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.~Ralph Waldo Emmerson
www.blondenak.blogspot.com
www.artfire.com/users/BlondeNakCreations |
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corabela
True Blue Farmgirl
79 Posts
Laura
Mount Vernon
Ohio
USA
79 Posts |
Posted - Apr 06 2010 : 1:09:08 PM
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It really is good to hear your tale Alicia. I know it will all be over soon and it really seems to help to be looking at it from that perspective. Thank you so much for the encouragement!
I want nothing to do with the Jones' either! Just some peace of mind.
~Laura
Please stop by my blog and my etsy site and say hello : )
www.corabela.blogspot.com
www.corabela.etsy.com |
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - Apr 06 2010 : 5:01:51 PM
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I had a similar thing happen with my son recently. 7 years ago (this is after my "real" hard times) my husband was laid off for about 8 months and, because of child support, was only getting about $110 per week on unemployment which had to pay for all of our gas, groceries, birthday gifts, new shoes, glasses, etc. We were soooo broke, and it seemed like it would never end. it lasted almost the whole time we lived in Portland, OR, we moved back and DH hasn't had a layoff since, till this fall. Anyway - we were visiting Portland in September and my son said something about how fun it had been to live here, to which I responded "yeah, if only we hadn't been poor" or something similar. Randy had absolutely no idea what I was talking about - here he is now 17 and all his memories of that time are good, and because of that I look back and remember the good times too. At the time though I remember literally almost cracking mentally because I didn't know what we were going to do.
I hate to say it but I am just now learning for real all the lessons I had opportunity to learn through those experiences - such as not being in debt, or living beyond your means. I guess it just takes some of us longer.
Amy Grace
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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cwinicole
Farmgirl in Training
13 Posts
Laura
Lapwai
ID
USA
13 Posts |
Posted - Apr 06 2010 : 9:32:37 PM
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Laura, you have been through so much and yet have learned so much. All great information to share with the rest of us. Funny thing is I'm chomping at the bit to live like that. I still have my job, and it's gotten more stressful with a competitive marketplace. But simplifying has allowed my husband and I to be nearly out of debt (four more months) and be able to give my father who has had two strokes and cancer and now lives on social security. We are also able to help an uncle that also lives on social security by helping him with his home and replace a few things he has that are not working or nearly not working. We are blessed, and you have been truly blessed with the opportunity to get back to earth, handmaking things for others with the love and passion of an artist. I so admire that! Way to go. Laura from Sweetwater, Sister 1320
Live Simply |
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corabela
True Blue Farmgirl
79 Posts
Laura
Mount Vernon
Ohio
USA
79 Posts |
Posted - Apr 07 2010 : 4:04:12 PM
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Amy, sometimes I feel a bit slow. Sometimes I don't learn from my life experiences because I'm too busy trying to put them behind me and forget about how awful they were. So I can relate. It all happens as it should I guess and I absolutely LOVE that your son thinks on those times with fondness. It says so much not only about your strength in those times, but also the value of simplicity.
I was talking with my boss today about my situation he relayed a personal story to me. He was in Korea in the late fall and had come from Thailand, believing it would be warm, as it was in Thailand that time of year, and so he came unprepared with only warm weather clothing. He was wandering around...cold, hungry, and tired and lamenting about being cold, hungry, and tired. He said as he was thinking about his situation he came to the conclusion that he was suffering for 4 reasons. Because he was cold, hungry, and tired, and because everything in his life had taught him to perceive cold, hungry, and tired as suffering.
So yeah...perception, apparently, is everything. : )
And Laura, I can't wait to get back to simplicity as well. I can't wait to be rid of the complications of this mortgage. I can't wait to gave my days back...baking, cooking, crafting. It's so good that you can see a very near ending to your debt! I'm so happy for you and the freedom you'll enjoy! I think it's very altruistic of you to be helping others with the money you've saved living a simpler life. You seem like a very kind soul and I truly wish that either your job becomes less stressful or your need for a job disappears. : )
~Laura
Please stop by my blog and my etsy site and say hello : )
www.corabela.blogspot.com
www.corabela.etsy.com |
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natesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1735 Posts
angela
martinsville
indiana
USA
1735 Posts |
Posted - Apr 07 2010 : 6:15:16 PM
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All right. I've been reading through some of this. My husband is on unemployment and we are sinking with three kids in the house. I am unable to work due to takin care of the kids and my husband is trying to find work but has so far not found anything that pays as much as unemployment. He could go back over the road if need be for a while. The only problem with that is the expense of living on the road makes the pay not really worth it. I am not the handiest person but I can get by on some things. I like to cook and make jelly things like that. I am willing to do nearly anything, so long as I can be here with my girls. I have nearly lost all three of them to health issues and they need special attention to diet and health. I am asking for suggestions on ways to make money from home or that wouldn't require a lot of away time. We are putting out a good sized garden and are trying to pull a few strings to get some produce from a friend of a friend that runs a very large farm with a good deal of wasted produce. I am having a horrible time locating canning jars, but I buy a few each week new and try to locate used ones anywhere I can. We do have one huge thing in our favor. One huge blessing. Our house is paid for. The utilities are horrible though. I think we are gonna try learning what we can about wells and try to get ours goin agian. I am also seeking other suggestions of how to save on utilities and any other thing I can. We are discussing gettin rid of a vehicle. I am trying to hold on to our pontoon cause we all love it so much and things will get better and allow us the $100 it cost for plates, sticker, and insurance. The boat is paid for and not costing anything sittin behind the barn. I don't raise animals for meat yet, but we were given a lot of used lumber, barely used, that we thought of usin for a chicken coop. I don't know how cost effective that is. Am I wastin my money or does it pay off? I have so many questions. If anyone out there has the time to help me I'd appriciate it. You can answer them here or email me if you'd like.
God - Gardening - Family - Is anything else important? |
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - Apr 07 2010 : 7:41:59 PM
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Laura (cwinicole) - congratulations on almost having your mortgage paid off!! I can't wait till I am close to paying even one bill off.
Laura (Corabela) - that is such an interesting perspective from your boss, yes it is all about perceptions.
And Natesgirl - I am finding chickens cost effective - if you have space and free lumber especially, maybe you could sell eggs?? At any rate eggs make good meals. Do you have a local "free" column in your paper - I have noticed a lot of canning jars there.
Amy Grace
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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natesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1735 Posts
angela
martinsville
indiana
USA
1735 Posts |
Posted - Apr 07 2010 : 9:10:29 PM
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I never thought to check the local paper! My mom gets it so I'll have her keep it for me. She drives right passed my house 4 times a week for work. Free paper. Free delivery. I wouldn't be able to sell the eggs unless we have enough chickens for more than 3 dozen a week. How many would I need for three dozen a week? My family loves egg sandwiches for lunch and scrambled eggs for a snack. I'm glad they use so little oil to fry them in.
God - Gardening - Family - Is anything else important? |
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Fiddlehead Farm
True Blue Farmgirl
4562 Posts
Diane
Waupaca
WI
USA
4562 Posts |
Posted - Apr 08 2010 : 05:44:06 AM
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Sometimes it's the hard that makes it great. I raised my children as a single mom and always felt bad that I could not "give" them the stuff their classmates had, but when they look back on their childhood, they remember the free fun stuff we did more than what they had. They are grown now and have lives of their own and are both doing really well. Last year I quit my stressful 50 plus hour per week job because I didn't believe in the company's new business practices and because DH and I decided to become more self-sufficient. I grew a huge vegetable garden and canned, froze and dehydrated everything that I could. I make all our bread, condiments and pasta. We are trying to get our ordinance changed to allow chickens, so far a no go. My DH is in the air force and retires in 2012. By then we will be debt free due to help from Dave Ramsey's class "Financial Peace" which the air force payed for. I make all natural dog treats that I sell at our local Co-op and also crochet sun hats that I sell there also. I will also be selling these items at our local farmer's market this year. I recently started working two days a week for a past business aquaintance (for cash, shhh). It is funny, when I was working full-time we had more money, but we spent more too. It is amazing what you can do without and still live well. These are great lessons to teach our children. Prayers and hugs out to all of my sisters who are going through a hard time right now. Hopefully we can all learn from these trying times.
Why not go out on a limb, that's where all the fruit is! "Mark Twain"
http://studiodiphotosite.shutterfly.com/
farmgirl sister #922 |
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patchworkpeace
True Blue Farmgirl
478 Posts
Judy
Jackson
Michigan
USA
478 Posts |
Posted - Apr 08 2010 : 06:01:56 AM
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Angela - We got several dozen canning jars for next to nothing at a couple of thrift stores. They often need to be scrubbed up real good, but much, much cheaper than buying new. You might need to let someone at the store know you are interested in any if they get them in or check back often, because they go fast. My mom also had an elderly friend who had to quit canning because of her age -- maybe you know someone like that who could give you some?
I'm looking for a part-time job, too, without much luck. I'd prefer to do something from home to make a little extra money. It's frustrating but I found that even though I haven't found ways to bring in extra money I've been able to save a lot by canning, line drying our clothes, making our own household cleaners (save big bucks and healthier), not buying snack foods, gardening and going to the library rather than buying books. We also have started renting DVDs from the library rather than the chain places. Two for a dollar rather than $3.99 each. I'm also learning to make some of my own clothes.
Just a few ideas that have helped us out, they may or may not be practical for you. Good luck in your endeavors.
Judy
farm girl #932
Success is measured not by the position one reaches but by the obstacles one has to overcome to reach it. Booker T. Washington |
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patchworkpeace
True Blue Farmgirl
478 Posts
Judy
Jackson
Michigan
USA
478 Posts |
Posted - Apr 08 2010 : 06:04:46 AM
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Laura,
What's new with your situation? Any luck with a second car? Just thinking about you guys and hoping things are looking up.
Judy
farm sister 932
Success is measured not by the position one reaches but by the obstacles one has to overcome to reach it. Booker T. Washington |
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corabela
True Blue Farmgirl
79 Posts
Laura
Mount Vernon
Ohio
USA
79 Posts |
Posted - Apr 08 2010 : 3:14:57 PM
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Angela, I've been thinking about writing a book to help out people in your situation by sharing what I've learned. Of course the majority of it has been centered around food but I guess I have a few simple ideas for lowering utility bills.
Line dry inside or outside, year-round. With old electric dryers, this ALONE can slash up to $60 off the monthly electricity bill. Unplug ALL appliances when not in use (tv's, computers, microwaves, etc). Make the most of water. If you ran it to rinse out a bowl and have a bowl full of water, water a plant or rinse something else with that water. If you have a dehumidifier, empty the water into a bucket and water the garden with it. Keep the lights off in the rooms you're not in. I know these are pretty simple, but making them habits are key to saving money. If doing these things makes you feel poor, it's not working.
As for food...check out www.hillbillyhousewife.com Lots of great suggestions for eating on just a tiny budget. The big thing - don't waste anything. And when you do buy food, don't buy processed food because it's cheap. You can get MUCH more out of good quality non-boxed food, especially if you buy bulk. Bulk, of course, requires a substantially bigger investment at first but the product will last a long time. For example, I buy a #25 bag of organic flour that lasts about 5 months for my family of 2. I bake all our bread, cookies, and crackers with it. I don't buy those things. I also buy bulk dried beans, bulk rice, and bulk tea. I've found iced tea is the cheapest drink if made from bulk tea. I've been working on the same bag of rice for a year now. If you and your family likes chicken, buying whole chickens can really reduce your grocery bill. Of course, you'll have to cut it up but you can get good broth from the carcass that's left after cutting all the parts off. Every time you chop vegetables, save the trimmings and ends in a container in the freezer and when you drop the chicken carcass in the pot to make broth, drop the veggie trimmings in too. After the broth is done, pick as much meat off the bone as you can and make a cold chicken salad with it. Of course, with 3 girls, you may want to use 2 chickens. Also, since spring is here, take advantage of the wild edibles and go foraging for wild leeks and ramps and if morels are in your area, those are a fantastic wild edible to bring home and fry up. Collect wild violets and make wild violet jelly. When you get chickens, make frittatas. And look up the easy 5 minutes-a-day bread recipe from mother earth news. http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/Artisan-Bread-In-Five-Minutes-A-Day.aspx Cheap with only 4 ingredients...water, flour, salt, and yeast. You can also make your own butter, cheese, yogurt, beer, and pretty much anything once you get your kitchen supplies set up for it. And hey...it's gardening season! Try freecycle or craigslist for canning jars. Also, you could try hosting some community swap meets, plant swaps, or clothing exchanges.
As for making money close to or at home...I have several suggestions. Make things and sell them at craft fairs, on etsy, or local markets. If you have plants or jelly or ANYTHING extra, try and sell it at your local farmers market. Most rural markets usually don't charge for booth space. Also, if you have a skill, try freelancing. Look up freelance websites where you can offer your services and be paid. Maybe write how-to articles for one of those websites like about.com. Unfortunately, I haven't found any easy solutions yet. But I think that's because there aren't any. I think all of those things require time, money, and lots of work. Probably more work than getting a 9 to 5 job. But at least you don't have to leave home. And one word of advice...never pay to work. Once you start looking for 'work at home' schemes, you'll run into plenty that want you to pay. You should never have to pay to work. It's bad ethics. Since I work for H&R Block, I could suggest working for them during tax season as a receptionist, part-time. It's seasonal, which means you get the growing season off.
Ultimately, I think the joy found in the small moments of life, no matter what the circumstance, is what will get you, me, and everyone else out of the financial messes we're all in. It's so easy to sink. And it's it's so easy to just stay down there and worry. But it's that soft and bright feeling of love we feel when we catch our loved ones doing something adorable or sweet that flags down all the light and love of God and the universe and directs it right towards us.
I know there's probably more I could suggest, but I can't think of anything right now Angela. If I do think of something, I'll let you know. Good luck and keep us updated. : ) I'm sure some other sisters will have some good suggestions to.
~Laura
Please stop by my blog and my etsy site and say hello : )
www.corabela.blogspot.com
www.corabela.etsy.com |
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - Apr 08 2010 : 5:39:05 PM
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Angela - we are getting about 7 eggs a day with 9 chickens - we only have 3/4 of an acre and they are in a coop so if you have more room you could definitely do more chickens.
Laura - you have such good ideas!! I buy my flour, sugar and rice in bulk too - lasts forever and iced tea is definitely the cheapest drink out there. I work at an organic food store and twice a year the bulk food section does a one-day sale where everything is 25% off so I stock up then.
Also - I got a lot of canning jars for free from a lady at my mom's church who was selling her house so church networking is always good. I actually have more than I will probably ever use, if it was not so expensive I would mail some to you:)
Amy Grace
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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Keeping in Touch: The meaning of resourcefulness |
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The meaning of resourcefulness
