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| 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.
7 comments:
Thank you for writing for us. I have read your writing for almost a decade now.
Turning to God and trusting Him first is the best move to make. Praying that what you have saved will be more than enough in the end, Mrs. White. Blessings!
From what I have been reading lately in the news, almost everyone will be having some tough times head. With high gas prices and high grocery prices it is increasingly difficult to keep up with things. All we can do is try our best and trust that the Lord will help us. It would be difficult to live without a credit card. Some places will not take cash, which is almost unbelievable to me. My husband and I are on a very small fixed income so increases to anything really hit hard. We are able to supplement by selling honey off our farm and husband helps area farmers with the corn and sugar beet harvests. Fortunately the Lord blessed us with an abundant honey crop this year of almost 450 lbs of honey. And the garden yielded a great amount of crops also. Even so we hope the cost of living will not increase more. We definitely practice a frugal lifestyle - no vacations, no eating out, no unnecessary spending. The past 6 or 7 years have been very tight budget wise, but we always managed to get bills paid. So we know the Lord has been taking good care of us!
I concur with the high expenses of normal bills ie. electricity, food, gas,. Being on a fixed income and surprises come along can be disconcerting. We are trying to beef up our savings account also and stock up on a few things for our pantry for the coming winter. The Lord always provides but we are human also and can panic.:)Thank you for the reminders of Gods provision and being thrifty. Always my favorite articles.:)
You may already know this, but Vermont has a lot of programs that help seniors and low income families with heating costs!
Indeed, we are living in hard times. Financially it is a worry. We also live on a small income and put aside what we can each month. Yet we have noticed that when we recieve an unexpected bill or something inevitably does goes wrong or needs repairing, if my husband or I cannot fix it, we always seem to have just the right amount in savings. That said, it is very easy to feel dispondant as we resume an empty savings pot (again) but at the same time there is deep gratitude as we see God's grace at work. We have been lliving frugally for so long now that when I look back on my prior life of excess, I feel ashamed as to how I could spend money on such pointless and wasteful "things". Since He called me out of the world and into a life of Him, frugality, simplicity and peace, no amount of money could ever enitce me back into the world. Even though at times it can be truly difficult and there are so many things to worry about, we get on with living as best we can, leaning on our Lord with a grateful heart, knowing He sees us and will provide.
Blessings to you and your family Mrs White and to Martha.........you are also in our prayers as you face your medical issues in the coming weeks x
Now on my own, and on a fixed income, I have to plan sensibly, as do many people of my age. The cost of living in England has gone soaring up in this last year, and even putting fuel in the car has to be spaced out over time.
I do hope things will improve for you Mrs White, it is difficult living with constant worry.
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