Thursday, June 8, 2017

Living on His Income - Giveaway





I am giving away a copy of my book, "Living on His Income - Remembrances and Advice for the Christian Housewife."

The is a small, paperback book with only 64 pages.  It contains two sections:


1. "Remembrances"

Includes the brief stories of some of the women in my family as housewives.

2.  "Advice"

These are nine short chapters giving practical suggestions to live on a small income while trusting the Lord and one's husband to provide.


What readers are saying:


"If you want a very simple to read book on the pleasure of homemaking with the simple things that you have, then this book is for you!" - Jane M.


"In today’s world we are so caught up in keeping up with the Jones’ that we fail to realize what exactly we are supposed to be doing – that isn’t to be buying the newest gadget – but to bring glory to God. . . .  This isn’t a workbook but more of a guidebook, Mrs. White shares short stories of her Grandma, her Great Aunt, her mom, her mother-in-law and herself and how, through the generations these women of faith learned to live on what their husband’s brought home and be happy about it, even when it meant meager living or what we’d see as poverty today." - Sarah B.



To enter for a chance to win a copy "Living on His Income," just leave me a comment sharing any advice you have for living frugally.



One random winner we be selected on Thursday, June 15, 2017. (U.S.  Entries only.) If I am unable to reach the winner within 48 hours, an alternate winner will be selected. Your entry is only valid if you include a way for me to contact you. 

* This contest is now closed. The winner is Amelia. Thank you to everyone who left such wonderful comments on frugality!*


Blessings
Mrs. White


From the Archives -

Old Fashioned Happiness - The Privacy of Home Life.

Real Life - Money Can't Fix Everything.

Taking Care of Grandchildren - I Hear Angels Crying.




Mrs. White's special book for Homemakers - "Mother's Book of Home Economics."






79 comments:

Unknown said...

Thank you so much for this encouragement. Sharing on FB.

Unknown said...

When cooking a meal Cook double and freeze half for a later meal. Saves time and money..

Unknown said...

I am a subscriber

Unknown said...

Shared on Facebook

Unknown said...

I have so much encouragement and advice from your words of wisdom. Thank you for the time that you spend allowing us into your world and helping other homes to thrive on simplicity and love.

One of my favorite frugal living practices is making good use of our local library checking out books for indulgence and practicality.

Sharing on Facebook, thank you again for this giveaway!

Nisha said...

Meal planning is a good way to save money and to eat more nutritious meals at home.

Anonymous said...

Hello! Oh I would so love to have your book! I have read your blog for years and it's a top favorite of mine. My advice to anyone would be to suscribe to your blog and others like it to see good, wholesome, family and God centered ways of living.
Vicki W.

Lori said...

I would love to read this.Thank you for your words of encouragement.

Debra said...

Being content and letting God give you answers and then being amazed at His 'wisdom' is how I deal with having to be fugal.

Amanda Z. said...

To be frugal in the long run we buy some things in bulk! We get 25lb of oats for only $16 and 25 lb brown jasmine rice for about $20. Doing it this relay we only have to buy it a couple times a year and saves us tremendously in the long run!

The Teeter Tot said...

I began making my own cleaning and beauty products. It's actually fun and much healthier than storebought. Not to mention how cost effective it is!

Unknown said...

Thank you for your encouraging and positive blog!

My tip is to shop your pantry and fridge for meal ideas. Not only does this practice save on grocery spending, but you are being a good steward and not wasting food that tends to get overlooked. Plus you can be creative in the kitchen. Always be open to new combinations and uses for foods.

Dana said...

I love your blog. I don't find myself particularly frugal but I want to learn more. As a family we try to stay at home and not run all the time. But when we do got out, we keep errands until we are in that particular town(s). My husband is gifted with buying used cars and we never buy new --he also is does the maintence.

Unknown said...

Would love to win this! Love your blog. I come here for inspiration in my homemaking in a world where it's hard to find an encouraging word for homemakers. Dpsnmgarcia5@gmail.com

MomOntheblog said...

I have found a way for cheap entertainment this summer especially with three energetic boys. We go to the creek right by our house instead of the public pool and we are always at the park. We have play dates with friends and we take up the offer our local theatre has for free Tuesday morning movies for kids. We are always doing something with our local church to keep the kids entertained.

Unknown said...

I also shared on my Facebook page.
www.facebook.com/keeperofmyhome
I sure hope to win! Thank you for the opportunity Mrs. White! I just love your blog!

Jeremy said...

I found your site while googling instructions for how to keep an old fashioned ledger. My wife was raised in a divorced home, while I had the blessed experience of growing up in a family where my mother stayed home as a housewife while my father earned the income. Even before my wife and I were married we decided she would stay at home to teach the children and keep house and I would be the bread winner. We've never looked back.

It's been challenging at times living in Northern California where everything is so expensive but God has blessed our efforts. At one point I even added a paper route in order to make ends meet. We lived in a mobile home park at one point, which was challenging. But through it all my wife has felt it a privilege that, while her friends all "have" to work along with their husbands in order to make ends meet, her life is a stay at home mom and our dear little ones have a solid foundation upon which to carry on the tradition of an old fashioned family.

We have four children, all homeschooled, and recently my back went out and my doctor placed me on disability for a year. We have learned to live extremely frugally. For a family of 6 we spend $300/mo. on food. We are not on food stamps. We travel twice a month to a larger city an hour away and my wife buys 50 lbs. of whole wheat flour, 25 lbs. of oats, 50 lbs. of potatoes, 10 lbs. of sunflower seeds, etc. We are mostly vegan and she makes all kinds of sauces using the sunflower seeds and a Vitamix. We eat rice and beans and she makes lots of whole grain bread. We buy apples and oranges, and when friends offer to have us come pick their trees or give us fruit we readily take them up on the offer.

As a family we pick blackberries together and then I can about 60 pints of jam each year. We use that on our homemade oat waffles. A friend gave us 100 lbs. of apricots last year and we canned most of those. We have a summer garden from which we get lettuce and tomatoes and greens. My children are the healthiest in the neighborhood. God has blessed us as we have tried earnestly to follow his ways.

I could go on and on at how we have saved money with the Lord's blessing. Be sure to tithe and give offering! God has promised we
could test him in this manner and He has always proved faithful. See Malachi 3.

One last thing, Mrs. White, I do now keep a paper ledger. Every single thing I spend is written in the ledger, and every income. Everything I do financially is done by hand except that I go online to look at my bank statement. I was on the fence a long time about computer finance software vs paper ledger by hand. I am very glad I switched to paper. My mind is more at ease. I can see every step, every mark, and if the power goes out my ledger still works. It never "crashes" and I don't pay a subscription fee! I'm very old fashioned and this just puts my mind at rest for some reason. Thank you for the encouragement in that area.

Sincerely,

Jeremy

Melissa M. said...

Thank you for this giveaway! I think one tip for living frugally is to drive your vehicle until it is no longer advisable to fix it. Drive it until it is used up.

Melissa M. said...

I shared on FB!

Melissa M. said...

I subscribed to your posts by email! I look forward to your posts!

Anonymous said...

We too live on one income and I stay home as much as possible. I find that of all things to do to save money this is the most helpful for me.Nannie

Shannon said...

Living frugally homeschooling.... You can homeschool for free with the internet and library. All-in-One Easy Peasy Homeschool is just one free full curriculum (Christian) to homeschool your kids for free.

Shannon said...

I am also subscribed to your blog.

Debby in KS said...

Shop your home first! When I feel like I need to make a change somewhere, be it décor, clothing, etc., I always try to look at what I already have and see if I can make it work. In about March, I was looking over my summer skirts and seeing that they were all terribly worn and faded. I was browsing catalogs to see what I could order. Then, I recalled that I had a couple of dresses in my closet that I stopped wearing because the bodices were too thick and warm. Both were denim and one had a vest attached, as well. So, I removed the top halves of the dresses and turned them into 2 like-brand-new skirts. I rarely wore them before because they made me so hot. They're comfortable now and they didn't cost me a penny!

Dianne said...

Hello! I'm new to your blog and love your posts! My hint is that I keep a glass jar in the freezer and every time I cook vegetables I drain off the steamed/boiled water into the jar. When it adds up to a quart it is a great soup base. I even add juice from cooking meats because the fat rises to the top and is easily removed.

Raleyfamilysfarm said...

I love your blog and am already subscribed. I am a mommy of 12, recently widowed. 5 still home. For a frugal tip: I make a budget every month, directly to the penny. I save receipts and record them very often to make sure I am on track.
I assign towels, and everyone uses them for one week, when they are washed.
Everyone gets one popsicle a day. :)

Anonymous said...

Your suggestions to just STAY HOME more saves a lot of money! Anytime I go out I will be using gas and spending money even though I shop frugally! I only have one day a week that I go into town for errands and shopping and I know this saves us a bundle.

Andrea said...

I use coupons when I go shopping - they save me a LOT of money

sharon said...

How sweet to give away a book.I enjoy your articles so much.Thank you for taking the time to write them.I find using crockpots very frugal and time saving.You can bake in them and they don't heat your kitchen like an oven does.I live in the south and it can get hot.Have a blessed day.

KarenF. said...

This would be a wonderful book to have! My best tip:do not worry or fret about "keeping up with the Jones's."

Melissa Horton said...

We have been using homemade products, buying bulk, and using cloth over paper for many years!

Samantha Bartley said...

I have loved your posts for a long time! I so enjoy hearing your advice and wisdom for housekeeping and being thrifty! I wouldn't give you any advice, but I would encourage your readers to only use coupons that are for things that you know you will use. It isn't saving money to buy something that you normally wouldn't and don;t need just because you have a coupon! Keep writing!
~Jennifer

Debra D. said...

The biggest way for me to be frugal is by being content, waiting on God and then being amazed at his provision! Thank you for the chance to get this book...hope your family time is beautiful.

Tammy Dougherty said...

Thank you for all the work you do on your blog. My frugal tip is to always look in the meat department for discounted meat. Usually, this can be as much as 1/3 to 1/2 off of regular price. Meat at regular price is so expensive but buying the discounted meat makes it affordable for our family of 9. In all the years I have been doing this, I have never had a problem with any of the discounted meat being bad.

Mrs. Laura Lane said...

I'll put this on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Please don't enter me in the giveaway, since I've read and reviewed your dear book. God bless you! Laura

Cresthaven said...

I find reading blogs such as this about thrift and contentment to a tremendous help in being frugal. Also I find that cooking from simple ingredients is quite frugal, making your own broth, your own white sauce (instead of using canned soups)or even making treats such as baked goods instead of buying them.

Deanna said...

Would be delighted to win this give-away! Advice.....buy thrift or take time to think about it before you spend even a penny. Share with others items that can be helpful to do a job. Many times if you check back with a bakery they will have marked down their products before closing. Check out movies, records, sound tracks, books from the Library so you do not have to spend money. Wait to buy clothing, decorating items, candy, etc after they are on clearance. Pray for favor and guidance. All the best to you!
d

Jo said...

I would love to win your book. Here is something I do with things that usually get thrown away. Any time I get any kind of label with an sticky back, I save it and use it to clean up cat hair on my sofa cover. I use the side edge of a kitchen counter top to temporarily stick the labels or stickers to. When I get some accumulated I use them to remove the cat hair just like you would with pieces of tape. I use labels from junk mail, store-bought fruit stickers, etc. If you try it you will be amazed at how many sticky things we throw away on a regular basis.

annie said...

I have money for years by Not having cable television in my home.
It has been since 1996!
I am now appalled when I see programs and commercials in other people's homes, waiting rooms, and in stores.
The content is often so bad, vulgar, violent and terribly depressing!

I do get dvds and before that vcr tapes from the library, and a rare few are purchased.
But I am not inundated constantly to do what others tell me to do.

The best advice by far when it deems necessary, is just to turn it off whether it is a computer, a radio, or a television.

I have saved untold hundreds of dollars just by not partaking of it all.
My now adult son grew up on books, yes he watched tv, but at the inlaws or some other place.
At home he was only allowed acceptable programming, that we screened first.
He is a brilliant young family man now.
It was a good choice on my behalf.

Rhonda said...

Hello Mrs. White. I don't want to enter because I already own this sweet book of yours.
So many frugal things I do - cooking at home and rarely eating out, fixing things instead of buying new replacements,

Sharon said...

I have been a member.

Sharon said...

My biggest frugal savings has been making my own laundry detergent, cutting my dryer sheets in half, and just recently I started making my own dish washer tablets, which has been a substantial savings! And thank you, for the opportunity to own this book!

Stephanie said...

I cook at home as much as possible and always use leftovers so there is no waste.

jasperjax2003[at]aol[dot]com

Unknown said...

I enjoy reading your blog. Some of the ways we are frugal is by buying clothes and household items from our ministry store,and growing and raising our own food.

Unknown said...

Luvleebread@gmail.com

Tiffany said...

My tip is hang clothes out on a line to save on electricity. But living in an apartment that might seem impossible. We hang ours on shower curtain rods and have a foldable rack over the vents or by a window. We also drape our blankets over the doors until they are dry.

RebeccaL. said...

Staying home as much as possible is a great frugal start...saves gas, no eating out and no temptations to buy anything.

Sue said...

My most frugal tip is to replace paper towels with cloth ones. You simply wash and reuse. Eco balls for laundry are a very cost effective replacement for detergent. I love your blog, I think it's beautiful.
Be blessed
Sue xx

Unknown said...

Loved reading this :) God bless you and your family:)

messy bessy said...

Oh, such good advice from everyone.

Two frugal ideas: share magazines with other families. A beautiful home magazine might cost almost $10 but can be enjoyed by many people!

Learn traditional ways of using up food. Often, the "ethnic" styles of cooking do this great. Quiche, fried rice, bread pudding, "leftover soup," omlettes.

Amelia said...

Thank you for this opportunity! : ) The photo on the front of the book is absolutely lovely.

I have saved money and lived frugally by in the past sharing a car with my husband, it seems so many go into debt for a car. We drive our present cars until they use up too. Going to thrift stores for things we need is a good way too of saving money, also purchasing skirts or large clothing at the resale shops to use as fabric for sewing is a great buy too. My husband is a real estate broker owning his own company, no perks just depending on commission and paying those company bills so we have really had to live below our means, we never know from month to month what will occur or fall through. Trusting God is the only way! : ) God will be faithful if we are faithful and He will teach us good and creative ideas too! : )

Thank you for offering once again. Blessings!

Amelia said...

I shared on Pinterest as well. : )

Amelia said...

I shared on Pinterest too. : )

Amelia said...

I also subscribed via email. : )

Anonymous said...

One thing my husband and I do is to share a meal when we are able to afford to eat out. Really saves a lot of money and we always drink water :-) Kay

Anonymous said...

Hello, I really love your post and have been reading it for awhile now. I have read the other comments and I already do a lot of the frugal things listed. I wanted to add that our whole family goes shopping together and we shop all discount stores, fresh produce stands (cheaper!) and thrift stores. We aggressively search for items we need for the household and even make a list. The whole family is alerted to look for it! And,of course, we buy most of our clothing and shoes there. We even shop for each other there for special occasions. I read a book from the depression era that said to use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without!!! SO true!! God always provides - if we let him. Thanks again!!!

Unknown said...

Mrs.White, I enjoy your post. I'm always waiting for the next one. I've learned to cook more at home and and hang my chothing on a clothes line.iv learned so much from you. I'm sharing on Facebook.

Elle said...

It helps to not watch tv or spend a lot of time on Facebook. Seeing all the "stuff" on there can give you a bad case of the wants.

I check out books from the local library, you can borrow eBooks now if you have an ereader, you can even do it from home so you don't use gas! If you don't have an ereader you can get an app that will let you read on your computer or your cell phone.

Gardens are good too :)

Thanks so much for the chance to win this lovely book!

Elle said...

Posted on my Facebook website page and shared to my Facebook too.

https://www.facebook.com/SimpleWyrdings/posts/1551947474880519

Elle said...

I have been a subscriber for a LONG time now.

elleberra at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

Living frugally is a way of life for me and my family. I grow the majority of our veggies ( I can all that I grow for the year) and I raise chickens and ducks for eggs and meat. I raise rabbits to spin their wool as well as grow cotton and flax to spin as well.


My advise to anyone who wants to start being more self sufficient and to live more frugally is to start canning. Start with making your own jelly. Its easy and fun. If you have children its a great way to introduce them to the kitchen!! My own children started when they were small and now many years later they still help out every year. Canning is a great way to save money throughout the year while still eating wholesome delicious food that isn't full of chemicals.


I also tell them to start growing!! Tomatoes and peppers in a pot on the porch is a great way to get your feet wet. Every year add one or two more veggies and soon you'll have a full garden of goodness. I also like to show how you can grow all year round your herbs and certain veggies in your home to help supplement the cost of fresh produce in the winter months.


I love your posts!! I enjoy reading about how other Godly women live and how they follow Gods direction for raising their families.


May God bless you and your family as you continue to do His work!!


Blessings,

Roseanne

Anonymous said...

I have shopped at thrift stores, always use coupons with the already 70% off items in department stores, and LOVE by 1 get one free items! You are the GREATEST of examples of what God intended for a homemaker/wife to be!

Blessings to you and yours!

Marsha

Anonymous said...

As a Great-grandmother myself, I live simply and frugally. I would advise any Ladies who wish to do the same to SLOW DOWN, and read your blog to help with GENTLE LiVING and making the most of what you have. Enjoy your family, your jobs, your age, your friends, they will not always be with you. Life is Precious! Read this blog for encouragement and a fine example of a LADY. Thank you for sharing your life with us.

Dollie

5webs said...

I would say that the library is an absolute godsend from a frugality perspective. We are a family of five but the library provides, and has always provided, about 95% of our entertainment, and all for free. Not just books and magazines, but the occasional movie or book on tape as well, and an extensive summer reading program for our children. This program includes shows, giveaways/contests, field trips, outdoor picnics, etc. aussiewebs@gmail.com

5webs said...

I have just subscribed to the newsletter. aussiewebs@gmail.com

5webs said...

I shared this giveaway on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1794130830877195&id=100008408859315&pnref=story

Christina said...

MY advice is to shop once a month, because it forces one to meal plan, thus reducing food waste since everything is planned and accounted for:)

Christina

PS I found your post through the Strangers and Pilgrims link up!

Angie said...

One of my best frugal tips is to have an "everyone birthday party". As a family of 7 birthday parties can get pricey. So, when my kids were young, we had an "everyone birthday party." One large 9x13 cake made at home, that the kids helped decorate. We usually got three or four items, usually from dollar tree,for each of the kids. We put the goodies in a cute homemade bag.(kids would decorate a paper lunch bag, then I would fill them with the goodies after they went to bed.) This also helps more family members to be able to attend and we always did our party in the summer so we could be outside. We also had a couple everyone birthday parties when out of state cousins were in town so they could celebrate their birthdays with our kids.

Angie said...

I am an email subscriber

Angie said...

shared on twitter

Angie said...

shared on pinterest.

contact: shopeshack7@frontier.com

Hannah Velier said...

Hanging laundry on the line and composting veggie scraps (for garden fertilizer and chicken food)

Mrs. Kelley Dibble said...

So enjoyed reading this, too, Jeremy. If you haven't seen Grandma Donna's blog or site at gdonna.com, I know you would enjoy it, too, since you enjoy Mrs. Sharon White's so much. GDonna found/bought? an old, old, VERY old ledger and studied it "with a magnifying glass." It was SO interesting to all us readers! And GDonna and her husband Charles are living for another year as if they are back in the 1940s again. It's amazing!

I have this book Mrs. Sharon White is giving away (and most all of her other books) and it is precious to me! Worth many times more than what I paid for it!

Blessings to you and your family, Jeremy!
Kelley~

Mrs. Kelley Dibble said...

That's what I do, too: SHOP THE HOUSE!

Wonderful tips!

*hugs*
Kelley~

Mrs. Kelley Dibble said...

Carla,

With our bath towels, we have done the same thing for more than 25 years. It $ave$ big time on many fronts-- water, money, aggravation- ha!- time, etc.

Prayers for you, precious thrifty widow. God richest blessings upon you and your young.

*hugs*
Kelley~

Mrs. Kelley Dibble said...

Me, too! Wonderful advice!

*hugs*
Kelley~

Mrs. Kelley Dibble said...

Annie,

No, dear, it was an WISE and EXCELLENT choice to raise and conduct your family as you did. Many daughters have done well, but you excel them.

*hugs*
Kelley~

Mrs. Kelley Dibble said...

Tiffany,

We have lived in rentals all of 36 years of our marriage except 2.5 years. My husband cut a length of one-inch dowel that rests inside two closet pole sockets (one is circular and the other end is U-shaped to lift out the dowel) above two opposite door frames in our hallway. The sockets require placing two screw holes in the wall. After we move out of the rental, we simply remove the screws, fill in the holes and touch-up the paint. I place our just-washed shirts, dresses, gowns, trousers and jeans on hangers and hang them from this dowel rod to hang-dry. I also have two folding racks for drying anything else. There's no telling the hundreds of dollars I save by air-drying our clothes.

Also, as we get into bed each night with freshly showers bodies, I only wash our sheets on the last day of the month, though I wash our pillowcases weekly. I got some clip hangers from a department store (Macy's will give them to you free) and I clip my just-washed bed sheets to the hangers-- each sheet only needs two-- and hang them from the dowel rod. In mid-day, I "rotate" each sheet so the other ends or the other side is exposed to the air the rest of the day.

Air-drying freshly washed laundry indoors also permeates the home with a wonderful, fresh scent!

*hugs*
Kelley~

Mammasita8 said...

We have a no spend month when we're extra careful to avoid spending on anything but the absolute necessities. I am so grateful for the advice I learn from your site.