A Frugal Home

Helms family supper in Alabama, 1939. (LOC)

 

There is a challenge when finances are slim. The goal is to live within the family income while maintaining the necessary budget.  I have often read the advice of experts describing how much money can be used for discretionary spending. They talk about how often one can afford vacations, or to go out to eat at restaurants. But what happens when the standard of living does not include such categories in the financial plan?  There are many who are living simply while constantly trying to save for a rainy day. The challenge to this way of life is when the cost of living keeps increasing while the expenses of managing a home become overwhelming.

We have noticed the increased cost of heating oil, car repairs, clothing, groceries, taxes, and the labor charges for household repairs.  While we do expect to pay for such things, there are times when the high bills can be sudden and alarming. This can cause us to panic.  Some may want to give up housekeeping and find a less costly way of life.  Others may decide to consider the options and find as many ideas as possible to cut expenses in order to keep the budget under control. It is certainly a challenge that will happen over and over again, throughout the months, seasons, and years. 

In our case, we have had a difficult year. A staggering property tax bill nearly made us flinch. High heating bills have been almost unbearable. While trying to save for these many rainy days, we repeatedly face an emptying pantry and limited funds to replenish the shelves with nourishing food.  Our latest difficulty is an estimate we received from our mechanic. The car needs a new set of snow tires and other work in order to make it safe for the coming winter. The price is fair and reasonable but hundreds of dollars more than what we can afford. When one is living a life without credit cards, it requires forethought and planning. Everything must be paid with cash. It is necessary (and normal) to be in the habit of saving month after month, as much as we possibly can, year after year. Throughout the seasons of financial rainstorms, the money is wiped out again and again. We rebuild over time and try to get the funds back in place before we are faced with another high expense of basic living. It is prudent to keep a cheerful attitude, to face the trial with grace, and then remember to pray for guidance and help to calmly meet the necessary bills.  

Times are often difficult, for whatever reason, and have been throughout the generations. It is important to have a frugal way of life. A household budget built on the idea of thrift and caution is much easier to manage than one based on whims without a plan. Yet when faced with common bills that are unbearably high, we have to remember to stop and pray.  We do not have to do any of this alone. There is our Heavenly Father who loves us dearly. He answers prayers and will make a way out of the rough waters of finances.  He is the captain of the ship. He knows where we are going and how we will get there. I must always remember to trust Him to manage it all. I am grateful to do my part, then trust Him to do the rest.  

Today, I will find joy in sweeping the floors, making the beds, and baking bread. I will prepare simple meals. I will do the mending, making things last. I will do homemade repairs to keep things nice and pleasant here at home. And I will quietly wait while praying to my Lord. All my worries and burdens are in His hands. Nothing is too big or difficult for Him to handle. How very precious it is to do His work and know that He has everything under control. 

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

My Mother's Example - Housekeeping All Day.  

A Blessing to Be - Just a Housewife. (With a little history)

Four Generations in the same house - In Pursuit of Christian Duty.

Help for Mothers - The Parenting Report. 

- 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.

Faithful in the Little Things at Home

Our tea roses in the autumn sunlight.

 

There are some days that are quieter at home. There may not be any appointments or errands. Company is not expected. The telephone doesn't ring. These are slow days that sometimes make us wonder, "am I doing enough?"

The more difficult question that may lurk in the mind is, "Does my life at home matter?"  So often what we do as homemakers is not seen or noticed by anyone.  I may sweep the floors, wash the dishes, make the beds, do the laundry, organize paperwork, and so much more, but these are things that don't seem to matter to anyone else. It would be easy to become discouraged if we gave too much thought to the value of our work at home. We must not dwell on such negative thinking. The duties of homemaking are one of the basic foundations for a pleasant home. What we do matters.

A view of the leaves, from this week, at our home in Vermont.

One morning I was not feeling well. Yet there was a restlessness in my heart. I had to get up and do a few things to make the rooms look nice and pleasant. Between several restful breaks, I did little things around the house. I arranged roses to decorate the table.  I baked cookies. I folded and put away laundry. As I worked, I thought that, perhaps, nobody would notice all the work that goes on behind-the-scenes in the life of a homemaker. And yet, as I quietly went about the labor of putting things in order and making things look pretty, I was thanking the Lord in my heart for a beautiful day. I was thinking of comforting Scripture and the words from old-time hymns. I reminded myself that I was doing all this for the glory and praise of the Lord. Instead of feeling discouraged, I felt grateful to have been trusted with the care of a home and family.

Perhaps nobody will ever notice all the little things I do in a day. But I feel the closeness of the Lord amidst my daily work. There is a light of cheer in this quiet corner of rural New England.  What I do may seem unimportant, but it is a great honor and a privilege to spend my life faithfully doing the little things at home.

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives - 

The Blessing of Home - Retired from the World.

"There is No Ambition" - Simplicity of Old Fashioned Homemaking.

A Tireless Worker - The Benevolent Housekeeper.

Beautiful Living - Feminine Grace.

 - 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.

A Cheerful Mother

Tea roses on the front grounds of our property. 

I have been listening to Bing Crosby sing Christmas songs on the CD player in my kitchen. I am baking homemade cookies for the family. I am feeling old and tired but wanted to have a nice treat for the household. As I do the work of housekeeping, I am wearing a comfortable house coat with a pretty blue floral pattern. We have had the wood pellet stove on to help keep us warm. The temperatures have been in the 30's and chilly. It is so nice to be indoors by the fire as I go about the work of making home a pleasant place for us to enjoy.

This morning, we did a little rearranging of furniture. I wanted to move the big desk into the main livingroom by the back door.  I placed a lamp on a doily on the side of the desk and then tucked in a comfortable chair.  It looks so cozy and home-like.  When asked why I wanted a desk in the livingroom, I smiled and said, "in case someone wanted to write a letter or have a place to study by the lamp."  It looks old fashioned and charming.

We have been struggling with sickness. We are getting ready to go on one of our medical trips into the next state (for our patient.) Yet I do not feel overwhelmed or alone because I know the Lord is with me. I can rest and be a cheerful mother regardless of all the work and troubles that hover around us. The Lord gives us courage and strength to go about our days doing His work regardless of the trials we endure. It is a blessing!

While I have been sitting here writing, I have been taking breaks to put another batch of cookies in the oven, or to pack up the ones that have cooled. And each time I checked the cooling rack, I noticed some of the cookies are missing. Those in the household have come in and helped themselves to a little of the fresh baked goodness in mother's kitchen. . . Some make cookies for special occasions or for a meeting or event. But the best type of cookies are the ones the family can eat right away.   

How truly precious it is to have a home and a family to enjoy both the good and the difficult days. To do what we can to make their lives more cheerful is such a wonderful work of motherhood.

Blessings

Mrs.White

From the Archives - 

Simple Living on a Walton's Budget - Old Time Homemaking.

Practical help for the home - Peaceful Living by Rules.

Old time values - The Blessing of Being a Half - Southern Mama.

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

Find cleaning inspiration and encouragement in Mrs. White's book, "Gracious House Keeping."

"Gracious House Keeping: Advice, Encouragement, and Cleaning Help for the Christian Housewife."

Complete with Encouragement and Work Charts to cheer you along in your homemaking!

115 pages, paperback.

Homemaking for the Sick

Floral painting, 1896. LOC.

 

When one in the household is ill, it is helpful to do a little extra housework. This will brighten the sick room, lift the spirits, and make things more comfortable for the patient.

I often like to do the housekeeping in a sick room when the patient has stepped out to another room, or into the kitchen. I can then enter the room, quietly and discreetly, and empty the trash, put out a fresh garbage bag, remove any empty tissue boxes, and neatly arrange the bedside table. In the early morning, when possible, I will open the window and let a little sunshine brighten the room. Very often, the patient is too weary or overwhelmed with sickness to manage these little duties. It is nice to be of service in this way.

Whenever possible, it is good to have cheerful flowers in the house, especially when someone is feeling discouraged or going through a difficult time.  This afternoon, I walked all over the property to see if we had any flowers available for the house. I managed to find 2 roses. I brought them indoors and placed them in a small glass jar on the bureau.  They look pretty by the light of a dim lamp.

Our garden roses on a bureau. 

We have not had many flowers in the house this year. I used to buy inexpensive carnations for the table on a regular basis. But since there has been a lingering financial strain on our finances, I have not indulged in such spending.   It was so nice to find a few flowers in my own yard when I needed them today.

Lately, I have been praying that there are not any more needs.  It is not that we "want" to buy things. It is that so many needs keep appearing.  When this happens, we just pray and ask the Lord to provide. We must not let anxiety, fear, or troubles cause us to worry. This type of stress can make us sick. We need peace and rest as we calmly go about the work of taking care of the home and family. We bring cheer and happiness as we serve with a joyful heart.  

Someday, when we are the ones who are sick, the family will come forward and remember our example of tender care. And they will take care us in the same dear way we have always done. What a gift that will be!

Blessings
Mrs. White

From the Archives 

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

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

Content at Home - Days Without Spending Money. 

 

- 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

A Carefully Mended Life

Our table with a homemade cloth napkin.

 

As I went about the work of housekeeping this week, I noticed a carefully mended kitchen towel. It was neatly folded over a towel bar on the stove door. I gave it a little bit of straightening and thought about how it used to be frayed.  The fabric had worn-thin in places. I had folded and tucked and sewed it all back together. It now functions again. It is a pretty sage green, looks charming, and is serviceable for the needs of my kitchen. It makes me smile to think of how much of my home and life is in constant need of mending.

Sometimes I get overwhelmed by worries and thoughts and troubles. I get weary and need to rest. But the thoughts plague me. It is then I remember that it is not my burden to bear. I tell myself, "You don't need to fix this. You don't need to think about any of this. All you have to do is rest."  I know that the Lord is working behind the scenes. I need only give the troubles to Him and then I can be at peace. I can take breaks and rest and then cheerfully return to my work.

So many people talk about doing whatever they want. "Live free," they say.  "Do what makes you happy," they advise. But the problem with this is that it causes confusion.  I want to be of the Kingdom of God, doing His will for my life.  The advice is not "do what makes you happy," but "be happy doing your duty."  This is the secret of peace. It is true freedom. To do God's precious work with a joyful heart brings the greatest happiness you could ever imagine. This is peaceful even when times are difficult.  There is the sense of a rested heart even when facing anxious moments, worries, and troubles.  All I have to do is rest in the Lord and He will help mend my life.  There may be scars, but there is a homemade sense of old-fashioned love and simplicity, which brings peace.  I shall not dwell on my worries.  I will rest in the Lord.

There is a thread of hope and comfort when we have the foundation of the Lord's promises in our heart. One of the greatest memories I have is of my father singing gospel songs and hymns as he went about the house and garage doing his work.  During my growing up years I noticed as he read the Bible to himself, prayed quietly and out loud, and humbly sang the old-time gospel songs he loved so much. This affected my entire life. It provided me with an anchor of hope and trust in God that has stayed with me all these many years.  It has helped to mend my life, over and over again, as I cling to those beautiful godly moments of what life really means; of what truly matters. 

I want to be that same example to my children and grandchildren. I want them to know that despite a lack of resources, or a lack of money, we can cultivate a beautiful way of life.  We can overcome hardships and difficulties by doing our very best to walk with the Lord. 

 One of my girls has a spare bedroom that has just been emptied. Her youngest is no longer a baby. He has moved to one of the other bedrooms.  She mentioned how much she would like to turn it into a little room I can use whenever I am at her house. I have spent many hours there helping with the house and children. But to have a little guest room, for my own use, would make things so much easier.   We talked about the possibility of getting a comfortable chair, an end table, and a lamp. I could read in that room. I could rest whenever I felt worn out. And yet, I would always be available, to read to the children, to play with them, to talk, to visit, and to tend to the house. I could do this even if it were only for a few hours a day or in the evenings. What a privilege and honor it would be to serve in this way and be comfortable at the same time. 

When I am helping at my daughter's house, I will bring my mending and sewing-projects. I will help with the chores and kitchen work.  I will keep my focus on them as if I have all the time in the world. And even if it is only a certain number of hours each week that I am there, I want my presence to give them that same memory and example I have of my dear father as he demonstrated a life consecrated to God.  

This is what it means to have a mended life. It is by knowing that we are weak, scarred, and frail, yet leaning on the Lord for our strength. He is like the thread that repairs the holes in the fabric. We are held together by His love and His promises. When we understand that we cannot even walk or breathe without His power, we will have such a grateful sense of dependence on Him. This will free us up to want to be serviceable for noble duties, which is what will bring true happiness for all of our lives.

Blessings

Mrs. White

 From the Archives - 

Frugal Living - A New England Winter on Small Income.

Taking Care of the Family - A Covered Bridge and Graceful Living in Rural Vermont.  

Some Ideas to Help - A Home Without Clutter.

 

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

 "At Mother's House" by Mrs. White:

  

For Encouragement in Homemaking, order Mrs. White's book, from 2016, "At Mother's House: The Blessing of Being a Christian Housewife."

In this book, you will find essays, articles, and diary entries about life in a Christian home.

There are 40 entries which include:  "Poor and Pretty Living;" "A Home Without Clutter;" "The Money Packets;" "A Church Diet for the Family;" "Bringing Home Baby;" "The Children's Prayers;" "The Shabby Garden:" and "Just a Housewife."

Those who are seeking a peaceful home, with the Lord as the foundation, will find encouragement. (Paperback, 122 pages.)