Frugal Planning for Visiting Relatives

Serving Dinner at home, 1942, Massachusetts. (LOC)

 

Every other year, when I was a child, my parents packed us all up and drove on a long journey to visit our relatives. This always happened during the summer, when everyone was on vacation from school and work.  Mom and Dad would wake us up in the middle of the night and settle us in the car for the start of the trip. In this way, they knew we would sleep for much of the ride.  To save money, Mom brought along food and drinks from her kitchen. Once we arrived at the residence of our extended relatives, we were welcomed and made to feel at home.

Our Aunt and Uncle took excellent care of us, made sure we were comfortable, and saw that we got plenty of rest.  My Aunt set a bountiful table at each meal. Everything was homemade, some of which was gleaned from her garden.  Yet it was plain, simple, old-fashioned home-cooking.  She served us the normal food that she always made for her own family on a daily basis. Because of this, there was little extra cost to her grocery bill.  It was comforting to be in their humble home. They were a working-class family, living on a few acres of land out in the country.  Grandmother lived on the property with them. We loved seeing her and visiting our cousins. 

During our visits, we attended church with the family. I loved hearing the sermons, listening to prayers, and singing the hymns. 

Husband and wife, leading singing in Sunday School. (LOC)

Visiting our relatives and going to church was a precious way of life for our family. This was old time living.  It helped create a bond of togetherness and moral character.  

Very little money was spent for these visits, other than the cost of gas. We rarely did any sight-seeing and mostly spent our time talking, visiting, laughing, and enjoying fellowship and good food.

It used to be common to host relatives in one's home for both short and extended visits. It was easier to travel when one didn't have to worry about the cost of lodging and food. 

These days, I am trying to recapture the nostalgia of those journeys. Most of the older generation, in our family, has gone home to Heaven. There are few left who are able to welcome us for such old-fashioned visits.  We have become the older generation.  We have enjoyed welcoming our own grown children and grandchildren in our humble old house. 

Sometimes, we also want to travel back to the old hometown in Massachusetts where some of our extended family still resides.  We are planning a trip that is coming up very soon.  I am trying to remember how Mother and Dad managed to travel with little money. They made it work. I am sure they saved and planned. I am sure they packed their own food to save money. I also know they did not drive around more than necessary in order to prevent the waste of gas. 

In our current culture it seems strange not to spend money on souvenirs. It seems strange not to dine in restaurants.  It is more common to go on vacation than it is to simply visit relatives.  If we are not careful, somehow, the two can become mixed up, making us think we must have a great deal of money available just to visit our extended family.  

Some of what I hope to do, for this trip, is to find a way to bring as much of our own food as I can. I believe food tends to be one of the biggest expenses for long journeys.  I am trying to think of what can be safely packed and prepared to last a few days. I realize I will still have to visit the local supermarket when we arrive, to get some fresh things as well. But I need to keep costs as low as possible. 

For recreation, I hope to take pictures of the ocean, enjoy walking along the shore, and just find peace in things that do not cost any money.  Visiting our relatives, who we haven't seen in a few years, will be such a blessing.  

Family has always been the most important thing in this life.  We want to keep those relationships strong.  Old-fashioned visits, like the ones Mother and Dad provided, ought to be more common in this world of materialism, glamour, and high spending.  The old ways hold great appeal for me. I want to keep walking that old path, the one that Mother and Dad led us along . . . by their precious example. 

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Ration Books from 1942 and helpful advice - Adapting to the High Cost of Living.

Good Manners and Thrift - Adding Loveliness to the Day.

Beautiful Living - Feminine Grace.

- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

- 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.

Help with Homemaking

Flowers at the hospital on our recent trip.

 

When my children were younger, I was often sick and in need of help. There was always pain for me to deal with and my health was fragile.  This turned out to be a blessing because it required me to teach the children how to keep house.  On my bad days, I would say to one of them, "Would you make the dinner?" It was spaghetti, or mashed potatoes with chicken, pizza, or one of our usual meals.  I would be resting on the couch or in bed and they would keep coming to me with questions. They would say things like, "how long do I cook the potatoes?" or, "How much milk do I add as I mash the potatoes?"  We would discuss the menu and decide on the accompanying vegetables that were to be served.  Over time, the children learned how to make many meals and run a kitchen.  It was not long before they wanted to cook on their own.  During lean years, when there was not much money, the children became inventive with the available ingredients to come up with basic recipes of their own.   Yet, somehow, the children felt privileged for such a responsibility. They were thankful to be skilled in such important work. All this was experienced because of times of hardship.

This is now happening with grandchildren. I am often in pain or struggling with health difficulties. When the grandchildren visit, they help me. They set the table; they help me cook or bake.  They help serve. They even help with the sweeping and dishes. These are common things to do in the home, when everyone helps with the work of taking care of the family. It is a blessing!

On a recent medical trip, I noticed a beautiful floral arrangement at the reception desk of the hospital. It brightened our day. It cheered us up. It made us smile.  This reminded me of how special it is to have fresh flowers at home. It is part of homemaking.  When we bring cheer and beauty to the home, we are helping to make it a special place.  

When we add to all this labor of home another essential aspect it makes everything wonderful. This element is kindness. It is goodness. It is treating others with good manners and a love of happiness. Do good to the family. Keep smiling. Stay calm. In this way, we can pass on, to the younger generation, a cheerful spirit as a precious part of the practical work of homemaking. 

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

The Way it Was - Caring for the Family at Home - A Comforting Sick Room.

Remembering - Old Time Kitchens. 

A Godly Mother is the Hostess at -  The Mission House.

- 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.  

Our New Classic Book from 1890 is now Available

Our new paperback book.

 

The Legacy of Home Press presents our newest title in our classic book collection:

About the Book:

A restful gathering of friends, during the 1800's, in England, included the famous American evangelist, D. L. Moody. Among those present was Scottish author and evangelist, Henry Drummond. An inspiring message from I Corinthians 13 was presented to the group. D. L. Moody was greatly inspired and invited Drummond to give this same address at the Northfield Seminary in Massachusetts. The message was later printed into a book. Since that time, more than 100 years later, this message continues to touch the hearts of many. 

Details:

D. L. Moody (LOC)

D. L. Moody was a good friend of Professor Henry Drummond, who spent time helping with mission campaigns.

When Moody heard Drummond's message from I Corinthians 13, he wanted it presented to the masses at his Northfield Seminary in Massachusetts, and also printed in a book.

View of the Campus. (LOC)

Imagine Professor Drummond as he first shared his message in America at the Campus founded by Moody. 

His speech, spoken with a Scottish accent, was clear and calming. 

In our reprint edition of the original 1890 book, I have included special features to show some of the behind-the-scenes of the classic book by Henry Drummond:

- You will find a scattering of historic photographs and illustrations. 

- I share notes about the character of Henry Drummond, written by D. L. Moody.

- There is an "about the author" section along with a portrait of Henry Drummond.

- I have written the foreword to help introduce the importance of the book.

- The cover of the book is a picture I took of a beautiful church in Stowe, Vermont.

- The book contains the complete text of the original message by Henry Drummond.

The book is now available!

The Greatest Thing in the World: The Legacy of Home Press Classic Edition by Henry Drummond 

52 pages, paperback. 

ISBN: 978-1956616-40-8  (6 x 9)

  It would be a great help to me if you would share this post with others.  I hope you enjoy the book!

 Blessings,

 Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Finding Rest in a Stressful world - Peace Be Upon This House. 

The joy of taking care of children! I hear their sweet noise as a blessing! - I Hear Angels Crying. 

Encouragement - Old Fashioned Duty of a Homemaker.  

- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

Keeping the Grocery Bill Down

Shopping for Groceries in 1941 (LOC).

 

Later this morning I will put on my rain boots and walk all over the grounds of this old estate. The rain has made the property soft and wet making it necessary to wear protective shoes.  I will visit all the garden spots throughout the land to see how much work needs to be done to prepare for the coming planting season.  We will have a small kitchen garden, along with the berries and fruit trees that come up on their own each year.  As I walk the grounds I will pray and remember that it is God who blesses our efforts and provides our food.  We do the work and ask for His hand upon our labor.  Knowing this, gives me comfort since I cannot possibly manage things on my own. I must have the help of my Heavenly Father. 

The markets are full of ready-made food, pretty packaging, and inviting goods that can entice one to spend far more money than is reasonable. Sticking to a budget is hard in these days because we often think more about the store as the provider than of the land.  This is especially true for those of us who are limited in our experience and abilities in gardening.  Yet every little bit of effort at growing one's own food will save money on the grocery bill.

I often wonder if the way to spend less on groceries is to have smaller portions and live on less than is commonly recommended (for adults) by experts. Dinner plates used to be much smaller than the ones we have today.  Even cups were smaller. Tea cups were often used for both tea and coffee. Today, many use large mugs.  Everything seems bigger and is more expensive. And while most of the food we do have is happily given to growing children (or grandchildren when they visit), we older ones are learning to manage on less.

To keep costs down at the store, I have to avoid buying snacks.  The chips, cookies, and candy are tempting but not in the budget.  The frozen food section of dinners and desserts have to be avoided. The limited amount of money we have available must be used for basic necessities such as fresh fruit, vegetables, sugar and other baking ingredients, a small portion of meat, coffee, etc.  The pre-made food is far too expensive. I have to make a great deal of effort to avoid buying any of it, especially when I am feeling sick and worn out. 

There is much work to do in the kitchen to eat well and to plan out nutritious meals for the household. I frequently make homemade vegetable soup, which is both cheap and nutritious. This saves us so much money on food. But there are still things we need that cost money. We have to limit our spending to get through each month. 

Many of us think about food for much of the day. We want both meals and snacks. We want to keep eating.  Sometimes I have to get busy. I have to keep my mind on other things so that what we do have available is conserved, so it lasts long enough to the next pay period. Keeping occupied and drinking water will help us get through to the next scheduled meal time. At the table, eating slowly and enjoying the food peacefully will make us feel more content. 

There are many of us on limited incomes who need to be very careful with our provisions. But we want to do this joyfully. We want to be grateful and at peace with a limited amount of resources. I am grateful for our beautiful old house. I am grateful for the land to walk about and have a bit of exercise and quiet times with the Lord.  Most of all I am incredibly grateful that I can go to the Lord in prayer and ask for help for whatever we need. I want to always say with the Psalmist in chapter 23, "I shall not want."  How precious to be cared for as a child of God, knowing that I have help not just in times of trouble, but for every single need, each and every day of my life.

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

A Simple Life - How to Stop Buying Things that Clutter up the Home. 

Old Time Frugality - Keeping the Family Homestead. 

 My Mother's Example - Housekeeping All Day.  

 - To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

 

 Help for hard times at home - 

House Keeping in Hard Times: Essays and Encouragement from a Christian Housewife

 Paperback, 180 pages

 As you read the entries, you will get a sense of what it is like as a Christian housewife through the ups and downs of life.  Topics include motherhood, marriage, taking care of children, cleaning, living on a low income, saving money, and building up the family with faith as the foundation.

Simplifying Grocery Shopping

Home Delivery of Milk in 1925. (LOC)

I have been feeling overwhelmed the last several weeks. I realized there had to be a way to simplify life.  When one is doing too much, there becomes a burden on one's life making it difficult to remain cheerful, calm, and peaceful.

A few weeks ago, something came up that led me to order groceries online for a home delivery.   Since we live in a rural area, this type of thing has not been common around here.  Delivery from one of the local stores began about a year ago but with an unstable and uncertain time frame. Many orders were delayed or cancelled. I believe this had to do with drivers not being available or enough deliveries to make it sensible for them to send out a few orders on one trip. This seems to have changed, now, for the better!

It has been costing more money than I feel comfortable paying for gas and food this month. The drive to the supermarket from our house is more than 6 miles away. The time and effort involved in the errand of getting supplies and provisions takes its toll on our fragile health and limited pocketbook.  One day, I said to my husband, "why don't we try one of those grocery orders and see what happens?"  This would be an order that included milk, eggs, frozen food, and other perishable items. I have come to understand that this type of order involves a person doing my grocery shopping for me and then bringing it right to my front door.  If this works, I thought, a great deal of stress and worry will be gone from my daily life! 

I chose a time frame for delivery and within a short period of time, all the groceries were carefully placed on my front porch. We were so thankful and relieved! I was incredibly grateful for the shopper who was willing to do this work for us!

Since there is an additional cost to pay the shopper, which they certainly earn, I believe I can only afford to order food twice a month. We will have to be very careful with the shopping list. The food has to last. We will also remember to go without when necessary until it is reasonable to pay the shopper the next time we place an order.

Another incredible blessing is that our local pharmacy delivers. The timing was always off when we thought about using this option. They only deliver one day a week to our town.  A few days ago, our patient needed a prescription refilled. It happened to be on just the right day of the week.  Instead of us having to make an extra trip, a driver came all the way out here (to our rural village) and brought the medicine right to the house. There was no charge for this service! 

I am so relieved to have these options available to us, especially in our rural area.  I now have more moments of peace, rest, and the ability to tend to the duties of home at a relaxed pace.

I am grateful to be here and so very thankful for deliveries!

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives - 

Some ideas - Peaceful Living by Rules. 

Encouragement - Old Fashioned Duty of a Homemaker.  

Old Time Manners - Waiting for the Door to Be Opened.  

Living on a Small Income - Standard of Living. 

  - To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

For happiness and cheer in the kitchen:

Mrs. White's old fashioned cookbook focuses on serving meals and setting the table in a humble home.

"Serving in the Kitchen: Cookbook with Recipes, Advice, and Encouragement for the Christian Home"

152 pages, paperback