Cheap in the Little Things

Walkway by the lake, near our home in Vermont.

 

I have in, my mind, a list of many things that need to be repaired in our old house. These are not renovations, but simple maintenance. From putting in a new doorknob or painting rooms, to fixing windows and making the porch safe by replacing deteriorated wood.  We can only do little things over a period of years.  At unexpected times and seasons, major necessities come up that will not wait and must be managed at once.  But the smaller jobs are left undone as we make do as long as possible. This is how money is saved for the bigger things in life.  There will always be places for our money to go, to be spent, to be used, but when we do our best to avoid shopping and buying the little things, there is the opportunity for emergency money to be available.

In keeping track of the household budget, there are ways to be cheap without feeling desolate and deprived. For instance, when I make a cake, I do not always use frosting. To me, that is a luxury reserved for birthdays and special occasions. It makes the cake more expensive.  To make it pleasant, I use a bundt cake pan which offers a simple design. It is easy to cut nice pieces and place them on pretty dessert plates. The presentation is part of the joy of enjoying a treat.  Another example is ginger ale (Canada Dry, of course).  I have about a quarter-cup of this as a serving size.  I want the 2-liter bottle to last as long as possible. I am grateful for this beverage, but cannot afford to pay for as much of it as I would like. There are many food items that I simply cannot afford so I have to choose the less expensive options. 

I keep a meticulous budget.  After paying all household bills, there is a cash amount used for common spending such as for groceries. This amount is written down on a piece of paper, using a pencil so I can erase and change the numbers as I go along.  I will often subtract what has been spent so I can see, at a glance, what is left for the remainder of the month. There is a reason I do not just put money in an envelope and, when it is empty (as the experts suggest), stop spending in that category, because this would cause shock. It is a lack of planning, which must be an ongoing process. Instead, when the new balance is figured (after each shopping excursion) I divide that number by the amount of weeks left in the month and cut back, or cut down, on spending to make it last to the end. Sometimes I only have a couple of dollars left that I hold on to so there is something available, even if I end up going without.   It is not easy, but these little expenses will completely wipe out all the money if one is not careful.

Being careful is being prudent.  This type of diligence (or being cheap, as some would call it) should not bring discouragement. There is beauty in living, in keeping a clean and neat home, and in spreading a positive attitude of cheerfulness. There is no need to live a life of discontentment when there is a lack of money.  It costs very little to clean and organize and present pleasant surroundings for oneself and one's family. It takes time and effort and a willingness to be a blessing to those around us. 

 If we can be very cautious, as good stewards, with our provisions, we are doing our part. This is one's duty when it comes to managing the household funds.  Yet, despite all of this we must remember that is the Lord who gives and can take away. It is the Lord who blesses and who provides.  There must be daily prayers for direction, thankfulness, and the seeking of help.  It is impossible to manage money or do anything without the Lord's hand of blessing on our lives.  We do His will, not our own. May we always be found faithful, especially in the little things.

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

A Tireless Worker - The Benevolent Housekeeper.

Inspired by D.L. Moody's Mother - Poverty in the 1800's.

Beautiful Living - Feminine Grace.

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

Learn How To Manage Money on a Small Income, with this helpful book:

- 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.