Prepping when There is Little Money to Spare

Coal miner walking home with groceries, West Virginia, 1938. (LOC)

 

There have been two major world events, in recent times, that have required action on the part of homemakers.  It was Y2K and the Pandemic.  We were forced to spend money on stocking up, getting extra supplies, and facing the possibility of losing electricity and other essential resources to manage our households. We had to do this whether or not we could afford it.

These days, I am constantly hearing the warning to prepare. This is very difficult when it requires extra money, over and above basic living expenses. When one is living on very little, how can one be expected to come up with extra funds to stock up and prepare?

 It used to be common to gather the harvest, can, freeze and preserve food for the coming year. Clothing was mended and made by mother. String was saved and reused. This was before the invention of scotch tape.  But string was free since it often came on packages from the mailman or at the grocers.  Today, since string is not generally used, people are spending money on tape. Money is being spent in many ways that was not happening years ago.   Yet, in order to prepare for hard times, we have to find ways to cut costs and keep expenses down.

I have noticed that my electric bill is much higher this year. It could be a combination of increased rates as well as usage.  I honestly suspect that charging my laptop computer is part of the culprit.  I can only cut back on that on a limited basis. (I use it for writing, editing, and working on articles and books.)  This is an expense that is difficult for me to manage. I have also noticed my slacking on turning off lights or using the clothes dryer too much. I will make a plan to find a way to cut back on all three of those uses and hope it makes a difference on the next bill. If I can reduce it by $50 or $60 a month, it will free up money I dearly need for other things.

Many people have a grocery budget for the month. They spend only a certain amount for food. But what happens when that budget has to include non-food items such as trash bags, dish liquid, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, first aid supplies, medicine and all the rest?  It would leave very little for actual food items.  This is my current dilemma. This is why my expenses must be reduced so I can afford to buy those basic and necessary items.  I have always worked hard in the kitchen to make as much as our own food as possible. Yet, there are days when I have been sick, worn out, or recovering from a long and tiring medical trip. There is only so much energy. One cannot possibly do it all.

Homemade vegetable soup is a common menu item in our household. Last week I made a batch and froze it in portion-sized freezer bags.  This is an inexpensive, nutritious meal that can be defrosted and heated up when needed. This is one of many examples of preparing in advance so money and energy can be saved.

Last week I had some of the grandchildren here for the day. While we visited, I also had to make bread and do other work in my kitchen. The housework had to continue whether or not there were little treasures in the house. But I kept the children occupied with drawing projects, snacks at the table, lots of chatter, and games. In the midst of all this, I made the bread dough and set it to rise. I checked on it, made lunch, and then later, formed the dough for the second rising. I did the housework in little moments throughout the day while enjoying the company and care of grandbabies.  It takes hard work to care for a family and to save money.

When people have said to me that I need to prepare for a disaster, it reminds me of a time, many years ago, when I had to do our laundry in the bathtub.  When the washing machine is broken and Dad needs clean clothes for work, you find a way.  One year we had plumbing issues. We had no running water for a couple of days.  I washed our dishes in a basin and then walked down a flight of stairs to the backyard to discard the water.  We do what needs to be done, but nobody wants to live that way on a regular basis.  When a crisis comes, it helps to be creative and have a will to find a way to get through.

For the rest of this month, I plan to do a variety of things to get my expenses down. I will set up our oil lamp for evening use.  I will cut back on using lights at night. I must remember that even though it is dark tonight, the sun will be back in the morning. Tomorrow is another day.  We can start fresh with our work when the sun is shining.   I will cut back on computer use to avoid the high cost of keeping the laptop charged.  I will resist the inclination to use the dryer and simply hang the clothes on chairs and a wooden rack by the fire. I will be willing to wait for days as the laundry dries while I practice the art of being patient.  I will do as much as I can to find ways to come up with extra money for preparing for the necessary expenses of life. 

We also have to keep this in mind: There is both a practical and a spiritual side to preparing.  While it is important that we do our daily chores and find ways to get through the hard days, we must keep our focus on the Master. Are we reading the Bible and doing devotions each morning? Are we having both private and family times of worship in the home?  This is our lifeline for help, comfort, provision, and guidance.  For those who are the children of God, we are not alone and never will be.  We must remember to pray when each problem arises. We must be willing to wait for the answer or the guidance. When moments of anxiety or fear come upon us, immediately turn those worries over to our loving Father. It is not our burden!  He knows all about it.  He will walk with us throughout all of our lives. This should bring us such a sense of relief and cheerful happiness!

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Something We All Need  - Peace Be Upon This House.

Always Remember This - The House Comes First.

Through Good Times and Bad - Domestic Happiness.

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

Mrs. White's special book for homemakers:"Introduction to Home Economics:  Gentle Instruction to Find Joy in Christian Homemaking."

Find stories of home life, with photographs of my home, in this encouraging book. 

 Paperback, 200 pages. 

Courteous Housekeeping

Tea and cake at our table.

 

There is a way to keep house so that others are not burdened. We clean up after ourselves and try to avoid making big messes.  We clean as we go along. We do our best to teach this to our children and grandchildren as well.  It is good manners. It is being polite in the home.

Last week as I was making a batch of homemade bread, I was weary and trying to hurry. I wanted to rest.  I knew I could manage the work, but I wanted to finish it as quickly as possible.  There were some dishes that needed to be done. There was flour on the counter where I had been kneading dough.  The floor below my work-station needed to be swept. I thought of all this and decided that in case I was called away from my work, by a phone call, or an urgent request in the household, I would need to do the hardest work first so that an overwhelming burden was not left for someone else to clean up after me. I could just imagine if I had needed to go lie down. Someone else might walk into that kitchen and see the floured counter (and floor) and sigh. In hopes of avoiding this, I did the hardest work first. I knew anyone would be fine washing the dishes if they had to. But to clean up my mess of making bread would be overwhelming for those not accustomed to such work. I wanted to be courteous and considerate of others. So, I did the difficult chores before the easy ones.

I leave myself notes on the desk in my room. These remind me to pay a certain bill, to make a phone call, or to remember an appointment. The notes will also help anyone else who comes along and has to take over in case I become ill or suddenly have to take our patient to the hospital. My life is on-call for the needs of others. I am also conscious of my own frailty and health struggles.  I want to be kind to those in my home, by keeping some order and routines in place so that at any moment, they could step into my place and sort of know where I left off with the management of the house.

Despite all this sense of urgency to be diligent, I must remember to rest in the Lord. He gives me the strength to do His will. I must not add anything else to my day that would weary me more than necessary.  There are troubles enough in the world and in our homes.  We need peace and a sense of contentment. I will do the best work I am capable of while stopping to take breaks as often as necessary. This way of working and resting brings a sense of relief and accomplishment. I am weary. The Lord is strong. I will draw my strength from Him and I will be grateful.

This coming week, as troubling situations are happening around the world, I am doing the basic work of preparing for the coming spring season and managing the last several weeks of a New England winter.  I ordered a delivery of kerosene. I ordered a small amount, the minimum they require - 100 gallons. I am hoping this is the last we will need for the season. The prices are rising and are unstable.  I will not know the cost until the day they deliver it to our home. I must not worry or fret. The Lord will provide all we need in His timing.  

There must not be a sense of fear in our hearts. We must not overdo or take on burdens that put our nerves on edge. I want to be a blessing, a calm and pleasant housekeeper.  There must be a beacon of light and comfort coming from this old house.  The children and grandchildren must feel that this is the place where we do our duties with grace and kindness. It is a place of comfort and safety. 

The Lord is so good to us at all times. Knowing this and resting in this brings out the fruit of the spirit of good manners, love, self-control, patience, joy, gentleness, and genuine love to all those around. 

We reap what we sow. Let us remember to sow courtesy with a mind full of old-fashioned hymns and precious verses of Scripture. We cannot do the good in our own strength without the beautiful goodness of God in our hearts.

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Mother's Life Dedicated to God - The Mission House.

Peaceful old time Living - Quiet Duties of Home.  

Some History of Being - Just a Housewife. 

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

Every home can be a homeschool!

Find confidence and courage in teaching your own children at home with Mrs. White's book,

Seeking a Thrifty and Simple Life.

112 pages, paperback.

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.

Life at Home

Washing dishes in the family home, Indiana 1937. LOC.

 

It has been quiet in our neighborhood.  There is not much traffic along the snow-covered roads.  I have been keeping busy indoors with the laundry, dishes, and cooking.  We have not had much company this week, making things very slow-paced and restful.

We are getting ready for one of our medical trips. Our patient has been struggling with some set-backs.  His ongoing treatment is scheduled for next week at the hospital. This will be an overnight journey into the next state. These are tiring trips, but essential.  We are hoping the treatment will help him to feel much better. 

As I prepare for our trip, I go about the house each day making things look orderly and neat, I think about how important it is to do the daily work. No matter what is going on, keeping the home running as smoothly as possible brings comfort to the family.  I have some packing and planning to do. It is always a challenge. But whatever work the Lord directs us to do, He will provide the strength and resources to meet our needs.

I am looking forward to the coming of spring. While it will still be cold and snowy here in New England, I don't expect the temperatures to be as freezing as they have been.  I am dreaming about pretty flowers for the kitchen table. I want to open all the widows and hear the chirping of birds. I want to think about our gardens and all the lovely days we will have tending the home and grounds with a grateful sense of thanksgiving.

Life at home can be such a joy when we focus on that which is good and pleasant.  We do the good things regardless of the troubles around us. We must not worry or become overwhelmed by burdens.  The Lord is watching over us.  All will be well. 

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives - 

Encouragement - Adding Loveliness to the Day.

Thinking of Summer - Beautiful Days at Home.

A Precious Example - My Mother's Chores.

  - 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.

A Modest Clothing Budget

Talbots window display in New England.

 

There are a great many temptations to go shopping. The clothing stores are always packed with the latest and prettiest garments.  There are stores and online shops available at all hours. If we did not have a clothing budget, or a plan for the year, we could easily get into a financial mess.

I would like to share some ideas that may help get the spending under control. It is incredibly fun to go shopping, but it is far more enjoyable if we follow a carefully planned method for dressing nicely for the ladies of the house.

First, I want to share some of the ways things used to be in the old days of my childhood. Then I will propose a possible plan that should help.

Please keep in mind that in my childhood days, the people in my family, church, and neighborhood did not have credit card debt. This was not common like it is today. When we needed to buy something, we had to save up the cash before we went to the store. This is very important and can certainly be the manner in which we shop today!

A beautiful entrance to an elegant store in New England.

Clothing was only purchased on specific occasions when I was growing up:

August - There was the back-to-school shopping to get a new wardrobe for children. Mother did not buy herself anything on these trips. She would have plenty of things at home that still fit her. 

December - A gift for Christmas was often a new outfit, a pretty sweater, nightgown, or bathrobe. When these packages were opened, they brought such gratefulness and joy to the recipient!

Easter season - A new dress was purchased for the girls of the house. Mother rarely bought one for herself as well, unless she had saved up a long time for this expense. She often already had a few dresses that she had acquired over a period of years. She would have taken good care of them and worn them on special occasions.

Beginning of Summer - Growing children would need summer things to wear. A careful trip to the clothing store, along with a list of necessities would be essential.  

Birthdays - This was when we children would receive something special!  We girls may have wanted a pretty top or a beautiful sweater.  A birthday was the appropriate time for such a gift.

A comfortable chair for rest while shopping in a New England store.

Whenever we did these seasonal shopping trips (to Sears or other department stores) my mother never bought anything for herself. If she needed a dress or shoes, I never saw her buy them.  She would have carefully saved and planned to get the things she needed only when it was necessary. Yet she always looked classy and beautiful. When she would go out to visit or on an errand, she would put on a little lipstick, a spritz of perfume, and a pearl necklace. All this with her cheerful smile and her heart of kindness to everyone around her, made her always look lovely. Somehow, she did this with very little money. 

In those days, I had never heard of thrift stores. Yard sales were also unheard of or rare.  My mother always bought our things new. They were good quality and lasted a long time. She made it a priority to be careful in household expenses so there was money available to dress her family modestly in nice clothing.

A spacious dressing room inside a Talbots store in New England.

A plan for saving money on clothing could be presented to our daughters in a way that would greatly help them to learn how to manage money.

Perhaps mother could share the amount of money that is available for the child's clothing for the entire year.  Learning the habit of only buying those clothes at appointed times will be important. It will never be a surprise when the time for buying clothes comes around. We will stop giving-in to buying things on impulse or on a whim. We will have a method in place for acquiring items for the wardrobe.  A good way to learn to manage those clothing funds is to get an account book and have the child record the entries throughout the year. She will know how much is available and how much has already been used. It will also help her to consult, think, and plan before the money is spent which is a crucial habit for financial wellness.  This careful budget will develop a discipline that will benefit her all of life. It will give her a sense of responsibility. It will strengthen her character, helping her to be depended on to do what is right and good and sensible. 

When I was a young teenager, if I wanted anything extra, I would have to save birthday money and any cash I had earned.  Then when I had enough for a little shopping trip, I would walk a mile to the bus stop. I would take public transportation to get to the shopping plaza. Then I would buy a pretty item of clothing, a few trinkets, and something to eat from the ice cream shop or pizza place. After this, I would gather my bags and head for the bus stop for a return trip home. This effort at all the walking and planning made those trips rare but very much worth the time and energy.  These days, if our daughters want extra things, it is important for them to earn the money themselves. This could be as simple as extra housework or babysitting.  

Leaving a Talbots store in New England. 

For we mothers it is not likely we need new clothes as often as our growing girls. Personally, I do not have a clothing budget for myself. But I do enjoy walking through the shops and looking at all the merchandise. I may not be able to buy anything, but I love seeing what is offered for sale.  It is good to be the example to the younger generation that we are not wasting money that could be put to better use.  A practical view of a modest clothing budget will be a wise example. 

Remember, as ambassadors of the dear Lord, we want to look as nice and pleasant as possible.  We ought to look our best and also behave in a lovely way with good manners and an attitude of kindness and benevolence.  If we have a focus on always shopping, always buying new clothes, and always thinking of materialism, our eyes are on the wrong goal.  To live this life in a beautiful way means we must prayerfully plan and manage the resources we have been given.  Teaching this to our children and grandchildren by our own way of life, as we cheer them along in goodness, is a wonderful use of time and money.

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives - 

Encouraging children to clean -  Nobody wants to Clean a Messy House. 

Wise Homemaking Advice from 1744 - To Earn and Not to Spend. 

Some Help - The Secret to a Clean House.

Advice for Hard Times  - How the Old Time Mothers Survived Poverty.

- 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.