Hard Times

Hard times are upon many of us in America today---if you watched the vice presidential debates last night you know that 'Main Street' is struggling--and many of us have to choose between food and gas or medical care. I know there are many of you wondering how to make ends meet---just as the rest of us are. As we are waiting for 'reform' in Washington, here are some ways we can save money in our homes today...

1. Resolve not to spend. Period.

2. Learn contentment---Paul, the apostle knew how to be content with much and little. Contentment goes hand-in-hand with thankfulness. Isn't it great that we are learning some character through it all? The other day I was teaching my children about needs and wants and how the Bible says our needs are basically Him, clothing and food. What a short list compared to our frivolous endless 'wanting' and 'coveting'.

3. Cook from scratch---there are so many great books out there that teach us how to do this, it is literally a never ending process. I am currently reading through 'How to Feed Your Family Healthfully for $50 a Week'. Not to mention it is healthier than eating processed, packaged foods.

4. Shop at the lowest priced stores. In our area there is Aldi and Walmart, it took a while for me to change my shopping habits and shop at these stores, but eventually I made the shift. Don't forget the bakery thrift store either! I personally try to stay out of the super warehouses as I find I am tempted to spend more on unnecessary items. Not to mention the fact that you have to pay an annual fee to even shop there. The little that I do purchase there does not make an annual fee worth it for me. When our year is up, we won't be renewing.



5. Shop at produce stands. We have one less than a minute from our home---huge pumpkins are only a dollar! I just bought one at Wal-mart for $3.87 (I actually thought I was getting a deal since the pumpkins at another produce stand was way more than this!) That is highway robbery! Can I please take it back for a refund? Just kidding--but you see, if you shop at these stands you can get amazing savings, savings that beat even Aldi! Just last week they were selling a 25 lb. box of tomatoes for $4 and yesterday a 25 lb. box of plums for $2. If you know how to can this is a great investment to stretch it out over the winter--or you could also just freeze it.

6. Do garage sales and have one. Don't tell me you don't have time, most of us don't. I have 8 children whom I homeschool full time and I make sure I MAKE the time to do this. I want to help my husband as much as I can financially and this is just another way I can do this. Finding clothes at 25 cents a piece is a steal and a wonderful way to save. Dave Ramsey suggests selling all our things with 'gazelle-like intensity' in order to get out of debt and/or save money. I am still exploring this option! Also, when you shop at thrift stores, find out when they have their 1/2 off sales.

7. Stretch your meals. Once I read in a book how to stretch a chicken out for 3 days. The first day you use the breasts in a meal, the next in a casserole and the last in a soup. Unfortunately, that is hard to do in a home of 10 with just one chicken---I could probably do 2 days. But the principle still applies to other meals. I just bought a 5 lb. package of hamburger meat that I stretched out for 3 days. The first night we had tostadas, the second a casserole and today soup.



8. Live Simply, Eat Simply--Back in the old days people probably had 2 or 3 outfits in their closet-- certainly not packed up high and overflowing (what's this? I'm being convicted once again by my own post?!). They ate simple meals like beans and cornbread or potatoes and squash and food that was in season. I think it is so important to eat simply as well. We don't have to be persuaded by glitzy television cooking shows that try to convince us to try this gourmet recipe or that. Many of them have too many expensive ingredients. If we live simply we will have more time to truly enjoy life around us.

9. Go Meatless---choose to eat less meat in the week and do rice and beans for a week instead. Here is another great post with great bean ideas. Soups are easy, great for fall and rich in vitamins. This year gardening has a wonderful experience for my family. This winter I plan on learning alot more about this amazing and natural way to feed our family and double our plot and harvest for next year. My thrifty friend has some great ideas here too-at this post called 'Bringing Home the Bacon'.

10. Make do with what you have. Decorate for fall with what you have on hand at your home. Start thinking today about the holidays and gift giving. READ, READ, READ how to be a better steward of your things, food, time and money. If you do all these things in this list you will probably be able to put aside some money to help make some ends meet.

Here are a few helpful links:

The Dollar Stretcher---very complete! Love this site--has everything you can think of.

Miserly Moms--she's written some great books too

Mega Families--how to feed the big family and run a home on a budget.

The Aldi Queen--A mom pulled together this site that shows recipes, meal-plans, gift-giving and more from Aldi.

Surely you have read all this before. This is just a small reminder and encouragement to help us through some hard times. We might have to do without, and we might have to get out of our comfort zones--

but we CAN do it!