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| Morning view of our tulips near the swing. |
I came across a Victory Poster from the 1940's. It was designed for homemakers. It has inspired me to make do with what I have and get by until times are better. Clearly nobody wants to go without or to suffer. But it is important to find creative ways to manage when times are tough. It makes things easier to bear when there is a plan for better days ahead.
The Victory Poster had 3 specific sections I can relate to during these difficult days:
Clothing
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| Clothing advice, 1940's, Homemaker's guide, poster #20, LOC. |
One of the problems we are facing, here at home, is finding the money to get a few items of clothing for the hot summer months. Here in Vermont, our summers used to be much cooler and more comfortable. It was pleasant here in the rural mountains. This changed in recent years. The heat has lasted far longer and far hotter than what we are used to. We have plenty of fans and an air conditioner to help. But the need is for decent clothing that will help us stay cool. I am doing what I can to mend and repair what we already have. This will get us through, perhaps for another year. I also plan to go through our older clothing and see if I can make use of the old material. Perhaps I can make a comfortable summer house dress? Mending, repairing, and refashioning clothing will make money last longer.
Fuel / Utilities
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| Fuel advice, 1940's, Homemaker's guide, poster #20, LOC. |
It is important to keep expenses low. This includes our use of electricity and appliances. We want things to last as long as possible. We also want to keep the bills at a reasonable cost. We have all noticed the higher cost of living in telephone, insurance, and electric bills. I have also been surprised at how much new appliances are costing and how they are not lasting as long as they used to. This weekend, our washing machine finally gave out. We knew this was going to happen at some point. But we hoped to have a little more time. My husband said to me, "If the dryer stops working, we will just hang up the clothes to dry. We will not worry about a dryer." Yet the drain on our resources to replace a washing machine is very difficult. In order to have money for such emergencies, we have to find ways to reduce expenses in other ways, such as the use of electricity, gas for the car, and food.
Conserve!
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| Important advice, 1940's, Homemaker's guide, poster #20, LOC. |
I am always thinking about how important it is to stock up. However, if I have more than 1 can of coffee, multiple bottles of dishwashing liquid, etc., my ready cash is tied up in household inventory while the money jar is empty. I would love to do this, but then I will not have enough for emergencies. Those who live on a limited income, of modest means, and through temporary hardships do not have the funds to stock up. I am constantly using my grocery money to pay for necessities. This is why we are trying (over a period of years) to build up our garden and plant fruit trees. It is an investment in our future. The less food we need to buy, the more cash will be available for basic living expenses. We want to get to the point where we have enough food to eat with little cost. A bountiful table would be such a blessing!
All of these ideas may sound extreme or even depressing, but there can still be a sense of contentment and relief when we have a plan to make things work.
Despite the lack of money and resources, we ought to feel incredibly blessed! To have a home and a family provides a great sense of joy. I find comfort in prayers, the singing of hymns, and the reading of Scripture. This soothes and quiets my heart. I am so grateful each day to observe the beauty of nature all around, in sky, in fields, in the singing of birds, and the wonder of the changing seasons.
It is an incredible challenge to find resources and solve problems in everyday life. But this is what makes life an adventure. I love the old mottoes from Victory Posters which inspired and encouraged homemakers during a difficult period in American history.
There are always going to be hard times. We must not give up. Remember the promises of the Lord. Trust Him at all times. Be of good courage and wait on His timing. All that is needed will be provided.
Blessings
Mrs. White
From the Archives -
An encouraging example - My Mother's Chores.
To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -
Help For Homeschooling:
Seeking a Thrifty and Simple Life: Encouragement for Christian Homeschooling by Mrs. White
Paperback, 112 pages
As you read this book, I hope you get a sense that, no matter what is going on in the world, every home can be a homeschool.
15 comments:
SEÑORA WHITE: ME SIENTO TAN IDENTIFICADA CON SU NUEVO COMENTARIO, ASI TAMBIEN SON MIS DIAS AQUI EN BUENOS AIRES DONDE VIVO, SOMOS 7 VIVIENDO EN EL MISMO HOGAR,4 NIÑOS Y 3 ADULTOS, EL DINERO ESCASEA Y NO HAY SUFICIENTE PARA COMPRAR ROPA O CALZADO NUEVO,SIEMPRE COMPRO ROPA DE SEGUNDA MANO, ES MUCHO MAS ECONOMICA O TAMBIEN SE COSER Y TEJER, NOS VAMOS ARREGLANDO CON LO QUE TENEMOS,EN NUESTRA IGLESIA HAY UN ROPERO CON ROPA QUE DONAN LOS HERMANOS ASI QUE SIEMPRE PUEDO SACAR ALGO DE AHI PARA MI FAMILIA, LOS COMESTIBLES HAN AUMENTADO MUCHO,AL IGUAL QUE LOS SERVICIOS ELECTRICOS,INTERNET ECT. SON TIEMPOS DIFICILES,PERO NO DEBEMOS DESESPERAR, NUESTRO BUEN DIOS SUPLIRA NUESTRAS NECESIDADES,EL NO ABANDONA A SUS HIJOS. BENDICIONES A LA DISTANCIA.
Dear Mrs. White,, Thank you for sharing your life and your Gentle Homemaking with us.Have followed you a long time and have your books. Have gifted some of them. They are treasures.. Want to address a slightly different subject: I, like you , enjoy hot tea. I make mine free. This time of year I dry for the entire year.. Violet flowers and violet leaves: Clover leaves and clover flowers: blackberry leaves, raspberry leaves. mullein leaves and flowers{ looks like tobacco} but is excellent for lungs: I rinse them and lay them on trays to dry all over the kitchen and house if necessary to dry completely.. then store in pretty recycled jars. Alway make more than you think you will need---you will use them. Wonderful teas when there
Sorry to interrupt. Technology Bimbo here. Anyway they are wonderful hot or cold. but especially when your snow is shining out the windows of that beautiful old home of yours..I will think of you when I am enjoying each cup. Prayers for your family and especially your son. Thank you again. Dee in NC
Mrs. White, you have always amazed your readers. Throughout the years: you have been an intelligent, frugal housewife. Look back now, and see the harvest you have reaped! Many wonderful children and grand children have flourished due your being a splendid wife and mother, in spite of it all. Congratulations, well done my faithful servant, says the Lord.
This is such a lovely blog post. I love the mottos from the old victory posters too.
Your words ring so true. At my last eye appointment, it was obvious that a new pair of glasses was needed. The cost was disheartening and I said to put this on hold for a while. Lately I have noticed that I do need to purchase new glasses. Yes, the savings get drained, cash for one category needs to be used for another. Yet, I am happy. Mending has been a large part of my evenings ,but it gives me joy as I finish each item. My husband enjoys seeing my work.
Good times or bad, we should always be good stewards of what God has given us. You are a shining example of just that, Mrs. White. Blessings!
There is a great book called, "We Had Everything but Money" about the Great Depression and different stories of how people made ends meet in the midst of deeply challenging times. If you ever get a chance to check it out or even order it (it's not too expensive on Thriftbooks!) I highly recommend it. It is filled with so many different stories and examples of ways people made the best of their situation.
Mrs. White, it feels so good to be here on your blog. Those posters are wonderful! I actually sleep on a pillowcase made from my cotton maternity dress from the 90s that was already a hand-me-down. The fabric is soooo soft. The only other pillowcases I like are those old cotton ones from the thriftstores or ones I make out of lawn cotton. Here is a sewing pattern that I use for my summer tops that I wear and make a simple tie belt to match, and this top can be used if lengthened for a house dress and you can make a tie belt for it. It is Simplicity 1690, view C. I make mine v-neck and a little longer. I often make skirts from the old Simplicity 4881 out of print. It only takes 2 yards and no darts! (Yay!).
One thing I recently did was re-fashion one one f my homemade zip up skirts because the waist was just getting too uncomfortable. The thought of having to put that skirt in retirement was kind of upsetting because I loved the print. So I cut the top part off and made a simple elastic waist. Then I used some black voile cotton that matched the print and used it as a border on the bottom. I have a black obi belt I made a long time ago that goes right over the elastic waist. I have received soooo many compliments on that skirt! : )
Sheets would make nice lightweight clothing, old skirts make a new summer top etc.
I appreciate you so much, ~Amelia
I also wanted to mention too, this may be helpful to someone. It's so true, Mrs. White. My washing machine is a year and a half old and already the electronic control panel went out. This was a medium class washing machine in a good American well known old fashioned brand, not the cheapest and not the most expensive. The motor and the barrel seems to be very good. The white enamel is starting to bubble and rust a little. Bottom line is whenever we buy appliances, we sometimes buy the cheapest if that works for us, we purchase the 5 year warranty. It sure came in handy this last recent time, the repairmen came out and replaced the electronic control panel included in the 5 year warranty. We did the same with our last washing machine and they said we could just replace the washing machine that time with the amount we paid for it. Maybe this will help someone.
Blessings to all, ~Amelia
I'm currently remaking old clothes into 'new', using what I have had for many years...mending, altering, dyeing - because we cannot afford to be shopping for new clothes, and even if we could, I'm learning a variety of new sewing skills that will stand us in good stead in the years to come.
Thank you for your posts, they are always grounding, real, and glorifying to God.
There were two records set last year in America--the number of people going to food banks and the number of people taking European vacations. As countries crumble, a gap appears and creates two, very distinct, classes. For reasons only known to the Lord, He has placed me in the latter class. Lord willing, we are cruising the Rhine very soon. My husband has always worked his guts out for me and our family, and we have received great inheritances. What a blessing to have had ancestors who thought ahead and built wealth so their descendants would not struggle! We continue that tradition while my husband works and invests while I serve him, our children, the community, and the church. I homeschooled my children until graduation and they are serving and loving the Lord today! So, it is important not to look at those with money as evil. I earned none of what I have. It was all given to me by the Lord. No question. The idea that poverty equals righteousness is false. Be very careful with that. The self loves to elevate itself in any way possible. Being poor is depressing. That's why they called it the "Great Depression"! My grandparents and parents lived it and I heard first person stories! They all worked their way back up while serving and loving the Lord! We are commanded to be joyful in the Lord! No matter where the Lord places us! The Lord does not desire for us to be poor OR rich! He desires our whole heart! Mending, scrubbing, heating, air-conditioning...none of this stuff really matters. Keeping our eyes on the one with fire in His eyes and obeying Him are the keys to joy and peace. Look up from your mending and remember that everything you can see with your eyes will someday be burned up. Look UP, my friends! Look UP!
An excellent post! It is indeed challenging to live comfortably in these times, but people did it in past decades and we can too. We must remember that everything we have comes from the Lord and we are to be satisfied with what He gives to us. Some have more and some have less, but it is all God's will for us.
I have heard that today's appliances don't last very long. Do I dare tell everyone that I have a Maytag washer that is 42 years old and working just fine? I also have a Whirlpool dryer that is of equal vintage and also working fine. My neighbor bought a Maytag washer and it lasted only 3 years. I wonder what the difference is? I have priced new machines and I certainly do not envy anyone having to buy a new washing machine! No way could I afford a new one!
I find many new clothing items at garage sales. It always amazes me what people toss out! Some items still have the tags on them! I am also not too proud to accept hand me downs from others. A widowed neighbor gave my husband many beautiful Sunday quality shirts from her husband. He is still wearing them. I have received clothing from women at church, items that no longer fit them.
I am a firm believer in gardening if it is possible to do so. And canning and freezing or preserving the produce. I inherited a lot of canning equipment from an elderly lady who no longer could do canning because of health issues. I get lots of canning jars and kitchen equipment from estate sales also. Sometimes the Lord provides for us in other ways besides us just spending money on new items. I am always grateful for what God gives and I try to take good care of what others have provided for me.
This is truly an excellent post and your readers' comments are too! I remember conserving everything (including buying car gas on odd or even number of days) in the 1970's. Even during booming times (supposedly), my mom had a harder time even; many times she would have to take her $3 out of her church envelope to buy us food (And a grandma was an angel in giving us money). I agree about not having money to take advantage of sales and stocking up. When I was starting out and had a strict food budget, I could never take advantage of buying multiple items at the grocery store...the money just wasn't there. (And we didn't even think of using our one credit card; back then it was even counted against your credit rating if you used that for food and other necessities. Sorry about your washing machine. Ours seem to only last past warranties! (which are usually just one year these days). andrea
Please look at resources such as Faceb**k Buy Nothing for your area, and see if anyone is offering up a used washer. Sometimes folks buy brand-new sets and just give away the old ones. I've seen it countless times on my local Buy Nothing You can also post an "ask" for a good, used machine. Craigslist could be another source, but it's not as good as it used to be. Hope this helps.
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