Extreme Thrift

Reading a mail order catalog at home, North Dakota, 1942, LOC.

 When it comes to being careful with money, we consider our work done well if we stay on budget and live within our means.  This is no easy task in the midst of hard times. It is something to be praised.

In our society, we are overwhelmed with ideas of spending, shopping, and buying. Ads and messages are unrelenting and come to us in many different ways.  We are being quietly coerced by displays and ads that we need things right now. We often live in a way that we see happening around us.  This is common. It will take an understanding and a firm conviction to do things in a different way.

Real old-fashioned thrift is considered extreme in these modern days.  Looking back in history we find that families were not exposed to nearly as much adverting as we are today.  For example, in my childhood home, we had a large copy of a Sears catalog. It was kept inside a cabinet in our living room. It was an annual publication, and we had all the time in the world to look through it and think about what we wanted or needed. There were not any ads to say there was a sale or that we had to buy within 24 hours or a week in order to get the markdowns. There was no pressure.  

I don't think my mother ever went to a shopping mall until she was much older. Even then, it would be very rare for her to have gone to such places.  We went to a stand-alone department store, seasonally, for back-to-school clothes-shopping at the end of each summer. There was really no other need to go to such places. We did not buy new things as many are accustomed to doing today.  My father fixed things that were broken and my mother took good care of what they owned. (To this day, I am still using some towels and sheets that belonged to my mother from long years ago.) These days, it is common to buy some new kitchen items (such as hand towels and oven mitts) to cheer up the kitchen and bring new excitement into the home.  In the old days, one would simply keep the kitchen in good order, nice and clean, and serve homemade meals at a carefully set table. This is what brought cheer and comfort to the family.  The purchase of new towels and oven mitts and other lovely things were more commonly given (to homemakers) as gifts for birthdays and Christmas. They were most welcome and much appreciated!

To live quietly and modestly, with as little necessary cost as possible, is a great accomplishment. Studying the old ways of frugality and thrift will bring us wisdom and encouragement.

 Saving money and living carefully is so important, especially when we have trials involving our health.  I was notified this morning that a medical trip at the hospital is scheduled for our patient (one of our sons) next week. As I am preparing for this journey into the next state, I am looking over the finances and making plans for this to be as low cost as possible.  I am thinking about the old days and how families were not battling the marketing industry as we are now. It is hard to keep our bearings and to stand strong and still. If we can just avoid falling for the shopping-bait, we are more likely to have money for emergencies.

Many of us have financial struggles we are enduring.  If we can live cheerfully and peacefully with a bit of extreme-style thrift, it will be much easier to get through the ups and downs of the cost of living.

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Old Fashioned Living - Retirement Planning for the Poor.

Encouraging children to clean -  Nobody wants to Clean a Messy House.

Finding Genuine Happiness at Home - Peace be Upon This House.  

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Learn How To Manage Money on a Small Income, with this helpful book:

- It is an honor to be the bookkeeper for the house! - 

Find detailed instruction and inspiration in budgeting on a small income, along with a method for keeping a handwritten ledger, with lots of thrifty ideas, in Mrs.White's book:

 -An Old Fashioned Budget: Humble Financial Management for the Christian Housewife. 

 Paperback, 77 pages.