Days Without Spending Money

View of our playground at Mrs. White's Home in Vermont. (There is a tiny bird nest on one of the little trees.)

On the television program, "The Waltons," the family rarely has any money.  They spend most of their time at home taking care of the family and the homestead.  The time period is set during The Great Depression so it is not uncommon for there to be little money available. We see them often making do with what they have and going without, waiting for better days.  This is a helpful lesson for hard times. In these modern days, learning to be content and frugal with one's resources is essential.

To practice frugality and contentment is to be productive with our time. We need to be at peace.  There is going to be a fight in one's mind to avoid the common practice of daily spending.  There are always going to be things we want or need.  It is too easy to get online and do the family shopping.  It is too easy to get in one's car and drive to the store to pick up a few things.  Many years ago, it was not so simple.  There was a time when there were no cars. There were only horses and buggies.  It was more of an ordeal to get ready to go to the market. It was not a frequent event.  

The little stores and shops, especially in rural areas, did not have a variety of merchandise like we have today.  There were less things to want. There were fewer things to dream about buying.  There is a sense of contentment when one doesn't know what one is missing out on. 

These days, our utility bills are rising. We have had two price increases in the last couple of months here at our house.  We are also waiting to hear from our mechanic about a car repair that is expected to be hundreds of dollars.  We must save as much money as we can all year round to pay for these normal expenses in life. We must not spend our savings. We need it for bill money!

These bills add up and can overtake a simple budget. We have to cut back. Money for basic expenses has to come from somewhere. Often it ends up being taken from the grocery budget.  This is where we have to work very hard to keep costs down. We have to manage the kitchen in the best possible way by avoiding waste. We have to stop the frivolity of buying luxury food that is overpriced and unhealthy. We must learn to find our treats in good times rather than in expensive snacks.  

One way to have good times is to enjoy nature as we walk and observe the scenery. It is to appreciate the beauty of home and the simple fun which comes from being with family and enjoying old time activities.

This past week we noticed there were some bird nests on some of our trees.  As we walk the grounds of our humble estate, here in Vermont, we hear the rushing of the river which borders our property. We listen to the singing of the birds.  We pause to look at wild flowers, the progress of our blueberry and strawberry gardens, and the little trees all around us.  The tiny bird nests are such a delight to see.

 

A little bird nest at Mrs. White's property, with a view of our playground.

We find happiness in doing things and in making things at home.  These are ways of making good use of time that do not cost money.  We find peace and serenity in a simple way of life. Yet we will continue to struggle with those frequent thoughts of needing to buy something.  This can be remedied by remembering that nothing comes in an instant. All things take time.  We do not need to shop or spend today. We must learn to wait. We can go days without using money.  This is a peaceful and economical way to live. We trust our Heavenly Father for our daily portion. He will provide in His timing. He is able to give us wonderful treats and happy times as well.  We must simply pray and then wait.  This daily practice will help us to become stronger in living by faith. It will lead to being blessed above all we can ever ask or think. 

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Ideas to minimize stress - Peace be Upon this House.

Unwanted Advice for the Family - Quieting Myself for the Good of Others. 

When We Couldn't Take Care of our Property - The Shabby Garden.  

Precious Faith and Blessings! - All of God's Children Have Shoes.

 - 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, in Mrs.White's book:

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

 Paperback, 77 pages.