Living on His Income - My Book

Nearly 11 years ago, I wrote a book called "Living on His Income."  I had received many emails and comments with questions about being a housewife in today's difficult financial world. Was it possible to still be a housewife and live on one income in this modern day? This book was my way of helping to answer those who were seeking encouragement and guidance.  

Now, a decade later, teaching on the Christian home is essential, now more than ever.  The book is still greatly needed. We have just completed the work on an updated edition. 

Here are the new features:

 -  The text remains unchanged. (If you have the old edition, you will still see the same words in this new version of the book.)

-  The interior format has been updated and made easier to read.

-  I have added a couple of pictures, including one of my grandparents (with their baby) from the 1930's.

- There is a new cover which still retains a similar look from the original edition. 

What is the book about?

The first section shares 5 brief examples from 3 generations of housewives in my own family. This includes my grandmother (from the 1930's), mother-in-law (in the cover photo), my great-aunt, my mother, and my own experience.  You will read a brief history from my observation (as a witness) of what being a housewife was like and the changes that happened over the years.

The second section contains 9 short chapters with advice and encouragement. Chapters include:  Standard of Living, The Vision of Home, Homemade, Dependent on Him, The Next Generation, and more. 

The book includes a bonus article about faith and trust in the Lord, as well as my definition of a classic housewife. 

"Living on His Income" is a slim book with 64 pages. It is packed with encouragement and old-time advice that has worked for generations.

 You will be inspired to continue on as a cheerful housewife, knowing your work is just as important as the mission field. 

Living on His Income: Remembrances and Advice for the Christian Housewife by Mrs. White

64 pages, paperback.

ISBN: 978-0-692221-07-5

I hope you find this book encouraging and helpful!

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

We all need this - Peace Be Upon This House.

Practical Living - Retirement Planning for the Poor.

Some History - "Just a Housewife."

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

Cash for Winter

Library of Congress:  Orchard House, 1910 - Home of Louisa May Alcott.

As we are approaching November, it is time to consider the importance of having money saved to get through the cold months. Here in Northern Vermont, the winters are bitterly cold. We are often snowed-in by storms and below freezing temperatures. We need to have a supply of provisions carefully stored away, as well as plenty of kerosene and wood to keep the heat on.

The reason a supply of savings is necessary is because we are less likely to venture out for things we need. The savings will help us when we have to repair the furnace in an emergency. It will help us obtain fuel for the heat when we run low.  Money will make it possible for us to keep replenishing the pantry. It will get us through the season of having to stay indoors waiting out the storms until the sunshine returns in spring.

There is an old episode of "Little House on the Prairie."  The family had an abundant crop and were planning for happy days ahead.  A sudden hail storm came to their land and destroyed the crop. It caused damage to surrounding farms.  The men lost the expected source they needed to take care of their families that winter.  These fathers had to find another way to provide.  They had to head out to find work, saying "We need to have cash for winter."

This was a common way of life for farmers and families many years ago. They grew much of their own food and sold their harvest for money they needed for the year.  It may seem strange to us in these modern times when there are supermarkets, shops, and businesses all around us. But it is very clear to those of us who live in rural, secluded areas and must remain at home for most of the winter months. We also need cash for winter.

When we get in the habit of saving money all year long, doing our best to avoid spending on non-essentials, we will have a better time getting through the hard times.  It will develop a habit of being a good steward of all we have been given. 

Winter is just beginning for those of us in cold climates. In our house, the wood pellet stove is on upstairs, keeping the kitchen and parlour warm. Part of the house is still cold because we keep the expensive kerosene heat on low so it will last as long as possible.  It is necessary for us to have a supply of thermals, heavy house robes, and warm blankets throughout the house. We are still working on building up our supplies and saving as much money as possible before the bitterly cold weather arrives. 

Preparing in advance and having a plan are essential to keep the family safe and warm and well fed.  We do all the work we can and then we trust the Lord for the rest.

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives - 

Precious Homemaking - A Covered Bridge and Graceful Living in Rural Vermont.

Finding Genuine Happiness at Home - Peace be Upon This House.  

Encouragement for the Difficulty of Motherhood - Pioneer Homeschooling Mothers.

- 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." 

 

Paperback, 200 pages. 

How to Live on a Low Income

Library of Congress: Sunday dinner, McLelland homestead in Florida, 1942.

In old literature, we read of the importance of making a good match before marriage.  If a girl married a poor man, she would expect to spend her life working hard at home (cooking, sweeping, baking) under the strictest economy. She could certainly be content and feel peaceful and joyful with a good outlook and a love of simple living. On the other hand, if a girl were to marry a wealthy man, she would assume she would have hired help around the house and that she would have plenty of free time and luxuries around her. She could spend a portion of her time in acts of benevolence, helping the less fortunate, finding peace and joy in such a life.

 In either case the way of life would generally be paved based on whether the family came from a lower income or from the upper class.  I don't think many people need encouragement on how to live a wealthy life.  Yet they do need to follow basic principles of managing money so they do not waste and fritter away what may have taken someone years to build up.  

Living on a low income, in our current culture, has become confusing and difficult.  There is pressure to make more money in order to rise in the ranks of the upper class.  There is little teaching on how to live with less money.  The circumstances of this way of life may be that health, age, or situations make it impossible to strive for more money.  Some households are trying to learn to get by and thrive regardless of their limited funds.

In previous generations, people generally lived an old fashioned life.  Less money was needed. Consumer debt was uncommon.  People didn't buy things on credit.  They owned fewer material goods.  They made all their meals from scratch, using common family recipes. They ate simple, wholesome food that didn't cost very much money. It took a great deal of planning, time, and effort to run a thrifty kitchen.

I was reading some of the current teachings on budgeting for people who don't have much money. Their advice sounded unrealistic to me.  There are households who genuinely don't have many resources and they certainly don't have car payments, credit card debt, or are out buying new clothes. These people are not seen in restaurants.  They don't have the money for any of those things. Generally speaking, they are too poor to even afford monthly credit payments.  So the current advice will not help these families.

I don't have all the answers because, frankly, it is a struggle to live on limited means.  I do the best I can by keeping a close watch on the income. I record all the necessary spending. We work on keeping the bills and utilities as low as possible.   We pray each day for the blessing of the food we receive and we pray before shopping, hoping to get all we need with the little bit of money that is available. The struggle has to do with having enough cash for basic necessities, heat for the winter, and praying for a decent car to get us to the doctor appointments. We are not hoping to have enough money for shopping, eating out, buying gifts, or treating ourselves to luxuries.  Those things would be lovely but they are not within our means.

How do you live on a low income?  I believe it takes a great deal of creativity, hard work, and a good attitude.  If we are thankful, content, grateful, and willing to serve in the home, we will do well.  We need to adjust our standard of living to manage on the lower funds. But we do not lower our standard of cleanliness, neatness, grace, and dignity. 

I believe the greatest help for living with little money is understanding that it is the Lord who provides.  We must pray for all our needs. We need to learn to live by prayer and by faith.  We do our part by practicing the art of old fashioned thrift and then watch God do the rest.  It is like receiving smiles from Heaven every time the Lord provides a precious gift. It makes every day an adventure!

Blessings

Mrs. White

 

From the Archives -

Old Fashioned Living - Retirement Planning for the Poor.

Wisdom from Colonial Days  - 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.

 

 

Drastically Reducing the Grocery Budget

Library of Congress: Mrs. Orville White making pancakes 1937, Minnesota.

One of the biggest expenses in homemaking is the grocery budget. We are often cutting down on buying food whenever we need money for an emergency.  It is difficult to save up for necessary expenses when money is scarce.

I was watching The Waltons on DVD.  Olivia and Grandma spent a lot of time in the kitchen preparing food. They made their own bread, soups, stews, and cookies. Each day the men would come in at the dinner hour (commonly known as lunch in some areas), after laboring in the mill. They would need to eat a filling, hearty meal so they could get back to work.  The family would work together to make sure there was food on the table at the appointed hour.

The children often walked home from school and were hungry. They could help themselves to vegetable soup which was simmering on the back of the cookstove. They could have bread and cookies. Then they would play, do their homework, or do their chores.  Later they would help get the evening meal on the table. It was such a blessing to see the entire family sit down together and pray before each meal.

A great deal of their food came from the farm. They had a garden, a cow, and chickens.  They would also spend a small amount of money at the grocer's for things like coffee, tea, and sugar.  They rarely had any money during those depression years so they had to be careful with what they did spend at the store.

There was a great deal of work going on at home to make sure the family had food.

At one point, in history, there were ration books for each family. They were allowed a limited amount of items at the market in order to be sure everyone had the basics for their household.

 

Library of Congress: A shopkeeper cancels the coupons in a housewife's ration book for the tea, sugar, cooking fats, and bacon she is allowed for one week. 1943, Britain.

 

Homemakers had to be creative with the little resources available in their kitchens. One would need to limit the amount of sugar and tea, among other things, to make it last through the week.   

One way to make tea bags last is to reuse them.  The first cup of tea is the strongest, while each successive cup is weaker. Yet, it is better than having no tea at all.

A way to avoid using sugar in tea is to add a little slice of lemon.   Honey is also an option but quite expensive.

Today, we are often having a financial crisis based on what is happening in our country and in the world.  The cost of utilities has risen.  Housing and transportation costs are up. The bills to maintain a family and household are very high. But the family and the home are still worth all the cost!

In order to pay our bills, in my home, we need to drastically reduce the grocery budget. This is a difficult challenge.  My current budget is $300 a month and it is far too low. This has to include, not only food, but also trash bags, dish soap, medicine, and general grocery items.  As of yet, I have not been able to meet this challenge. 

Since it is not working for me, I have to change my approach to cutting down the food bill. The hard part is when I would really like to have some special treat such as specialty cookies, cashews, bakery fresh dinner rolls, or hot chocolate. These are luxury items which I cannot afford in hard times.

Our kitchen must include some very basic items such as fresh fruit and vegetables, along with milk, butter, orange juice, and eggs. We have grandchildren who visit often and must have good, wholesome food. My husband and I are used to going without and I am happy to have a cup of peppermint tea with toast and an apple for the morning meal. But it gets difficult later in the day when one has to limit the use of food, in order to make it last the week.

We are able to get some of our produce from our little gardens. We also get some at the store when they are on sale. I am in the process of stocking up on canned goods when the prices are very low. But one can only stock up so much when there is not enough extra money to spare for such worthy endeavors. 

Writing up a weekly meal plan, based on what we have and what we can afford to purchase is a big help. This is an important method for making things last and knowing what we are going to be able to eat.  But it is essential to find a way to completely stock the pantry to have all we need for the coming winter here in Vermont.  

In order to meet this basic need I have to ration what we have on hand. I have to make it last so we can come up with the funds to do a little bulk shopping for the pantry shelves. I need things like coffee (for Papa), peppermint tea (for me), plain oatmeal, an abundance of canned items, and baking supplies. I will try to do this every week as much as possible. 

There are ways to make our life cheerful so we do not feel the pain of going without. We can set a pretty table to make it festive. We can eat meals at a leisurely pace to make them last. And we can go back to grandmother's method of making a sweet treat only once each week. Most of all, our prayers of thanksgiving, before every meal, give us a sense of contentment and rest. We know the Lord will always provide our daily bread.

May we all succeed in bringing cheer at home, investing our time and effort into the lives of our families. May we be victorious, with the help of the dear Lord, and do it all on a limited budget.

 

Mrs. White's parlour table.

Blessings

Mrs. White

 

From the Archives -

Taking Care of Four Generations in one House -  In Pursuit of Christian Duty.

Oh, How Much we Need this Blessing - Peace Be Upon This House.

A Record of How the Lord Provides - Reviving the Prayer Journal.

 

 - 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. 

 

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.

My Wish Book for Saving Money

Mrs. White's wish book.

In an effort to spend less money this year, I decided I needed a wish book. All through the year there are things that distract me with a sense of want.  There are little things I want to buy that do not cost much money. However, if I were to purchase every one of them, I would have no money at all.  The solution for me is to keep a wish book.

Money is for food, clothing, shelter, and to help those in need. We must not be frivolous or wasteful. It is not okay for me to have things any time I want them. Yet, there is a time and a place for special gifts and treats. The best time for a present is a birthday, holiday, or on Mother's day.

My wish book is one of those blank, lined journals.  The cover is very pretty and reminds me of quiet, simple days. It makes me think of old country living and the beauty of homemaking. There is a beautiful farm house off in the distance, a lovely sunset, a large, carefully tended garden, and a homemade quilt on the clothesline. I think the cover is an ideal image for a book to write about simple things that I would like to have someday.

Here is how it works:

I write the date, the name of the item I would like, and then leave a space on the right for whenever I am able to have this wish fulfilled. I will include the date it happens as well.

The things I would like are very simple and inexpensive.  I will give you some examples:

  ----------------------------------------------

1.  "Little One, God Loves You" (Board book)

 I want to add books to our home library. I like to keep an ongoing assortment of sweet books that my grandchildren can read whenever they visit here. This book is so sweet and precious:

2.  "Peony Garden Journal" (notebook by Peter Pauper Press)

 I would like a lovely floral book to keep track of my garden.  I want to write out the dates for planting, the dates of the first harvest, and little notes on how the garden is doing.  The design on this notebook is calming and elegant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.  "Help for our Healing" (sermon by Dr. Charles Stanley, from In Touch Ministries, on DVD)

 I have a collection of sermons on both DVD and CD.  I have heard this sermon before and have taken notes. It is a good one that I would like to see again and again.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.  "The Greatness of God" (sermon by Dr. Charles Stanley, from In Touch Ministries, on CD)

 This is an excellent sermon that I watched the other day. I am told it is not available on DVD. It is only offered on CD. I would love to listen to this one again and again. I am working on building up a large collection of sermons on both CD and DVD, here at our home library.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.  "Midnight Floral Journal" (notebook by Peter Pauper Press)

 I would like to add some extra beauty to my finances. I would use this stunning notebook for my budget. Normally I use a composition notebook, but in my effort to surround myself with gentle beauty, here at home, to bring cheer and happiness to my days, I would like this pretty book for my budgeting work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.  "Peony Garden Desk Notes" (note pad with gift box by Peter Pauper Press)

Every time I go to make a grocery list, I use a small piece of paper. This floral box of notepaper is ideal for bringing pretty things to my desk with a good purpose. Once the box is empty I can refill it with scrap paper and continue to use it.

 

 

 

 

 

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This list of a variety of things will give you an idea of what I have in my wish book.  It is okay to want things. It is okay to receive a gift. But there must be waiting and patience and frugality in order to reach the essential goal of saving money. 

This year is a good year to avoid spending money as much as possible. Keeping a little wish book is a great tool to help us dream about little treasures that we might someday have. 

 

On the first page of my wish book, I will write the precious verse: 

 "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." - Psalm 37:4

 

I will always strive to remember that if the Lord wanted me to have these things, he will find a way to provide. And if not, I will still be grateful and at peace. I will leave that with him and rest content.

 

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives - 

The beautiful testimony of the Mother of D.L. Moody - Poverty in the 1800's. 

Excellent advice from Colonial Days - To Earn and not to Spend. 

Peaceful, Old Fashioned Living - Retirement Planning for the Poor.

 

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

"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.

 

 

Adapting to The High Cost of Living

Library of Congress: World War I Poster, 1918. 

The cost of living has increased a great deal this year.  I have noticed it, over the last few months, whenever I am in the supermarket or at the gas station.  This can have a negative effect on families if they do not have creative ideas on how to adjust.  

The number one goal for our finances is to avoid debt as much as possible. If we are free from debt, we can adapt to the changing economy much easier than if we were burdened with loans and monthly payments. Debt hinders our freedom and stifles our ability to function financially.

I want to share some practical ideas and, hopefully, bring encouragement on getting through these difficult days.

Throughout our history, here in the United States, we have had our ups and downs with the economy. We have been through wars, shortages, droughts, natural disasters, epidemics, and The Great Depression.  We have had to adjust to these hardships, learning to take care of ourselves, our families, and our neighbors.  

In the illustration above, there is a poster put out by our government to boost morale and help encourage families to manage with what food was most readily available. The poster is from 1918, during World War I.  The image shows a woman serving pancakes, muffins, and grits. The canisters on the table show that these items should be kept in the pantry and used to provide nourishing, affordable food for the family. This type of education was very helpful as people needed to find ways to economize and make the best of what was available.

During World War II, around 1942, the United States issued war ration books.  These were intended to help each citizen buy a proper portion of necessary food while supplies were low. Our family still has three of these books. One belonged to my mother. The other two belonged to my grandparents.  The date listed on them is 1943. The printing on the back encourages citizens with these words:

"Be guided by the rule: If you don't need it, Don't Buy it."

These days, as I am in the supermarket, noticing high prices, I have to make some quick decisions. I am buying things that I do not normally choose. I am also avoiding things we normally enjoy.   For example, we used to buy 3 or 4 dozen eggs each time we shopped.  The price is much too high now.  We are only buying one dozen at a time.  I am baking less, and we are not eating eggs as often as normal.  I will walk by the eggs, or the dairy section, and notice prices I do not like, and I keep looking to find something we can afford. 

At this time, we have some garden produce that is supplementing our grocery spending.  We have fresh sweet peas, lettuce, and cucumbers.  We also have a good amount of fresh blueberries that we are enjoying. I do not can or preserve food, since I don't have the energy; but I enjoy what is seasonally offered from our property. This is one way we are managing to avoid overspending at the supermarket.

The gas prices have come down a little recently, but they seemed to be out of control for a time.  It is still very high, but we have learned to adjust. My budget for gas was $140 each month. I had to reduce this to $100 in order to pay other expenses which had increased.  At first, this was so painful since I could not go out as often as I wanted. I was not able to visit family as much as normal.  We had to reduce our trips to the store, which is difficult especially when we run low on fresh produce that we like to have.  But we are getting by. We are getting through this.

Each day we say our prayers. We ask the Lord to give us our daily bread. We have to trust that He will provide.  Instead of worrying, or panicking, we are practicing contentment. We are finding happiness in other ways. We will not allow ourselves to focus on the worries or uncertainties of the high cost of living.  We will trust our Heavenly Father to provide. We will do the work of being careful, of making changes, of going without.  It is just like the many storms which come through our lives. It will pass. Things will get better. They always do. The Lord blesses us and gives us peace. We keep our focus on Him, just like dear children who trust their Father to protect and care for them. 

We are grateful for the beautiful sunshine, the gentle rain, the delight of snowfall, and the lovely colors of autumn. In all seasons, what we see around us, and through the trials of our lives, we trust that God will provide. He always does.

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives - 

Always remember - The House Comes First. 

Encouragement - How the Old Time Mothers Survived Poverty.

The joy of taking care of grandchildren - I Hear Angels Crying.

 

 

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

 

 

For old time encouragement in living simply on a limited income, order Mrs. White's book:

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

 77 pages, paperback.

Reducing Expenses

Library of Congress: Farm couple doing their bookkeeping at home in 1930.

In an effort to keep our expenses as low as possible, I have been enjoying some quiet, around the property, here in Vermont.  I am doing this to create a feeling of contentment for a simple life. I am thinking more and more about old fashioned living.

Normally I would have a CD of old hymns playing quietly in the background. Or perhaps I would leave the television on after watching an old DVD of something like a Deanna Durbin movie, or some old black-and-white tv show. I am remembering to shut these things off, and unplugging what is not in use.  I am watching and listening to less technology.   This will help keep our bills low because I am not thinking of something to buy. I am not running up the electric bill.  Watching television or listening to a CD are wonderful things to do, but must not take up all of our time.  These are for times of recreation. We cannot be resting all day long watching television unless we are ill.  In my childhood home, my parents had a small, portable black-and-white television. It was probably stored in a closet somewhere because we never saw it unless one of us was sick in bed.  Then it was brought out to give us some amusement while we convalesced in our room.

I have been walking the property, here at our humble Estate.  The sound of the birds singing, the rushing of the river, and the gentle feeling of the blowing wind are quieting to the mind.  I see little purple and blue wildflowers appearing on the lawn.  I see the trees and garden coming back to life, after a long, sleepy winter.  All these sights and sounds of nature bring a sense of joy to the heart, and a gentle feeling of contentment.

In previous generations, it was more common to live a life of careful thrift. This included wise spending, careful use of resources, and a consistent habit of saving.  The goal here was always to avoid waste.  Good financial management meant a cautious and orderly outlook when it came to the use of money. There was waiting, thought, and patience involved in overseeing the family funds.  Budgets, bills, and income were important considerations in planning for spending and saving.  This wisdom is still necessary today.  

We can reduce expenses in thoughtful, creative ways while still enjoying each day.  It is a blessing to have a little pocket money to spend, as long as the bills are being paid and there is a clear plan of saving. We must always save for a rainy day.  These come regularly over the years.  If we can find ways to avoid wasting money and choose instead to be orderly in our spending, we will have a great deal more peace and contentment in our lives.

Yesterday, as I washed the dishes in the kitchen sink, I looked out the back window and saw the rushing river on the border of our property.  It was a beautiful sight and makes me think of a vacation or a haven from the worries of the world.  A great deal of our time is spent in doing things: being productive, cleaning, cooking, taking care of the family, and (in an unhurried, pleasant way) going about our daily work.  This daily labor, of creating and caring for a happy home, costs nothing.  Being busy with this common labor, with a grateful heart, will naturally lead to less spending.

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

What Many of us Crave - An Ordinary Life at Home.

Finding Genuine Happiness at Home - Peace be Upon This House.  

Old Time Frugal Living - A New England Winter on a Small Income.  

 

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

 

For old time encouragement in living simply on a limited income, order Mrs. White's book:

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

77 pages, paperback.

An Old Fashioned Budget

~ Our newest book, brought to you by "The Legacy of Home Press." ~

Here is a description from the back cover:

---------------------------------
   It is easier to earn money than it is to save it.  We really need to remember what it was like generations ago when saving money was a common way of life.   In this book I will share many ideas and a history of old time thrift.

I will explain how to start a financial journal (or money diary) as a bookkeeping tool to carefully monitor the household spending.  I will describe, in detail, how to set up an old fashioned, modest budget without using modern categories of spending that were unheard of by humble families in previous generations.

   You will be intrigued to read how a wife can carefully manage bookkeeping for the home in a family of limited means.

There are many modern budgets for the middle and upper classes.  Here you will find financial help for those living simply on a small income.
 ---------------------------------

Details:

 Every business has its own bookkeeper.  In like manner, every home ought to have a designated person to manage the household income. This slim volume is intended to inspire you to want to do your own bookkeeping for the home.

The chapters include:

1. Introduction  (Why we need a budget and bookkeeping method for families living on a small income.)

2. The Chosen (Will it be the husband or the wife who will keep the books?)

3. A Simple Budget  (An old fashioned, thrifty budget without modern categories of spending.)

4. We'll Get By  (Ideas and explanation for managing on a small income.)

5.  Yankee Thrift  (Old time thinking about saving money and practical living.)

6. Bookkeeping for the Home  (Fictitious Families are introduced to describe how this works.)

7. Money Diary  (Several Questions are answered to describe how to keep track of spending.)

8. The Writing Desk  (Inspired by the photograph on the front cover of the book - gives old time ideas of managing the house accounts, with practical suggestions.  - The picture was taken a few months ago by Mrs. White. It is the writing desk in the sitting room of Mrs. Robert Lincoln at her historic summer mansion in Vermont.)

9. The Old Fashioned Budget  (Detailed explanation of how to do this, along with an example from our fictitious family. Includes practical ways of really saving money.)

10.  A Trusted and Diligent Bookkeeper  (Full of helpful ideas on saving money and living on a small income. This can be accomplished with a trusted wife as she diligently manages the finances.)

The Appendix includes photographs of a handwritten budget and a sample spending diary.

I explain exactly what tools I use to do my bookkeeping (in a simple, old fashioned way).  I have been using this method for more than 30 years as a housewife. Like all families, we have had our share of mistakes. But the principles contained in this book have helped our family get through the good times and the bad.


This slim, 77 page, paperback book is now available:

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








Any help in spreading the word would be very much appreciated.  Also, if you are able to write a review on Amazon, it would be so helpful! Thank you so much!

 Blessings,

 Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Gratefully Living on a Small Income - Standard of Living.

The Reality - Retirement Planning for the Poor.

Old Time Wisdom from Colonial Days - To Earn and Not to Spend.


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

Standard of Living

An Old Barn on the property at Mrs. White's Vermont Estate

In a 1970's sermon by Billy Graham, he talked about the way he lived as a child.  His family lived on a large farm in the country.  There was no running water.  There was no electricity.  They had no radio or television.  I believe he said they did not even have a car.  But they had food and warmth and were loved at home.  He talked about how nearly every family lived the same way.  He mentioned that our current standard of living was getting much higher.

My own father lived on a farm. His family were sharecroppers in the rural south.  They had a simple home that his mother took care of.  Each day, she would pray with her husband and help him get up, early each morning, so he could go to work. He held down a regular job, helped the family with the farming, and was a revival preacher.  His time was focused on eternal matters, practical survival, and the love and care of his family.  They did family altar each evening before bed.  They went to church every single time the doors were open.  It was a traditional old- time family life, much like the home where Billy Graham grew up in.  This was a common type of life, at one point, in our nation's history.

In the Massachusetts neighborhood where I grew up, we had cozy homes in our suburban town.  Many of them were cottages that were built by our grandfathers.  We lived old time, traditional lives.  We were thrifty, careful in our saving and spending, and did not require much.  Now, all these years later, the wealthy crowd has come in and is buying up all the old cottages. These are mainly two-income couples with careers in the city of Boston. They want to commute out to the beautiful suburban town.  They are tearing down our grandfather's cottages and building (literally) million dollar houses in their place.  It raises the standard of living, the property taxes for all, and makes it impossible for common families to afford to purchase a home.  I am grateful we moved, some years ago, out in the country of Vermont where it is more affordable.

I often cringe when I hear someone has bought an old house and is remodeling.  I understand that homes need paint and repairs. I realize they need modern appliances and new windows and doors. But why add all the upgrades, such as marble and granite, raising the standard of living to levels that are out of reach for regular families?

There are other ways we can spend far more than we should.  At certain holidays like Valentine's Day and Mother's Day, flowers are given to the sweet lady of the house.  The stores carry roses for as much as $60 or more.  Our local floral department also carries lovely bouquets of carnations for less than $5.  I have to ask. . . which flowers would you want?  I made a mistake one year.  I was offered any flowers I wanted.  I could not help craving the large $50 display of pink roses.  They were beyond my means and something I have never been able to have.  There were many alternatives, which were just as lovely - including $5 or $10 options.  But I kept looking at the pink roses. Just once, I thought, I would love to have the rich ones.  They were happily purchased for me and I took them home.  I loved them, but I would have been happier with the less expensive ones.  After the initial shock of having them on the parlour table, I started to dislike them.  What an extravagance!  The waste of money (that we could not afford to spend) is what bothered me more than anything else.  I would be just as happy with pretty daisies, lilacs from the garden, or simple carnations.  I learned my lesson.   

I know of a family, with a modest income.  They recently spent hundreds of dollars in birthday gifts for the wife.  Not long after that, they struggled financially.  They did not expect car repair bills or an extra high heating bill.  They got into trouble because they lived above their standard of living.  I suggested they set a yearly limit on gifts, to perhaps $20 to $50 for each person as a maximum.  Those gifts, carefully selected, will bring just as much happiness, while keeping funds available, at a steady pace, for the common needs that come up in life. When we figure out our means on a yearly basis, we can set our personal standards and stick with them.

In the old days, of the 1800's and early 1900's, they would define "extravagances" as trying to live in society. It was attempting to live outside of your financial means - to be something you were not.  The very wealthy were said to be the most important people. To live among them, to be invited to their social events, meant that you were moving up in life.  You had to have money to dress a certain way, to live in a fashionable house, and to eat dainty and abundantly rich food.  This cost a great deal of money.  Yet, even then, there were happy families who lived quiet lives in common villages. They did not have social ambitions. They were happiest in their humble homes and with a dedication to character, virtue, family, and a life dedicated to trust and faith in the Lord.

Our standard of living dictates what we are comfortable with in life.  For the very wealthy, who know no other way, it can be living the high life, or one of charitable service.  For the middle and lower financial classes, we live more simply.  We would not dream of spending over our means. This only brings debt, trouble, and unhappiness.  There are so many choices in our way of life, in the homes we choose, the food we buy, and the presents we give, that we can choose a simple standard of living that brings just as much happiness as those living in riches.  I will venture to say, that many who have a simple standard of living are more content in life. They are less spoiled, less selfish. 

A simple life can be such a beautiful thing.  There is a quiet grace and gentleness to a basic standard of living. There is no want. There is little need.  It is contentment beyond measure.  We have to remember that this world is not our home.  There are mansions waiting in Heaven.  We are pilgrims passing through this way, but once. Living with eternity in mind will bring the greatest happiness of all.


"Our fair morning is at hand;
the day star is near the rising,
and we are not many miles from home.

What matter, then, of ill-entertainment
 in the smoky inns of this worthless world?

We are not to stay here,
 and we shall be dearly welcome
 to Him to whom we are going."

- Samuel Rutherford, 1600's -


Blessings
Mrs. White


From the Archives -

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

Are You a Member? - Mother's Benevolent Society.

You Can Do It! - Housekeeping with a Will. 

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

 

Find Home-keeping Inspiration, in Mrs. White's book,

 - For The Love of Christian Homemaking.  

Paperback, 274 pages.

Waiting out the Cold Winter Months in Vermont

Library of Congress: Winter Afternoon in Vermont, 1940.

Early this morning it was 12 below zero outside.  During the months of January and February, in northern Vermont, it is bitterly cold.  The ice stays all season long, making it a danger to walk and drive on.  We have to be cautious on our outings.

 This is the time of year when I tend to stay inside. I rarely go out,  other than to church. But this Sunday morning, when I went outside to check the temperature, it was so bitterly cold, I felt numb and clumsy.   I thought I'd better stay near the hearth at home.

There are many in our area who still venture out.  They dress warmly and are used to this kind of weather. There are also tourists who delight in visiting for the skiing season.  But for me, perhaps since I am from Massachusetts, I find it difficult to function in this biting cold.  So I stay inside.

I used to think the bitter, winter - winds off the ocean of Massachusetts, of my childhood, were unbearable.  I remember them especially starting in November.  They were brutal.  But they did not last. Not all days were windy or dreadfully freezing.  When comparing those ocean winds with a common winter day in Vermont, I would say they are equal.  But Winter in Vermont lasts far longer! My endurance tends to waver.  I stay home a great deal.

Sometimes I like to think of this season as a storm, when we hide under a covering and patiently wait out the trouble.  I keep indoors, while the frozen season slowly passes along.  I bide my time.

I often think of the Pioneers and how they weathered many storms in winter.  Perhaps they read by the fire, did their mending, baked and cooked, and did projects which cannot be done during the busy summer months.  It must have been very quiet in those homes, which did not have radio, television, or computers.  When it was impossible to venture out, they had church time at home with their own family as the congregation.   I am sure they were always surprised and welcoming when a sudden guest appeared to visit them. 

I am grateful to have company on a regular basis. My grown children are not deterred by the cold season.  They go out, work, do errands, and visit me as normal.  I also love to see my grandchildren coming inside with their snowsuits, mittens, hats, and warm coats. They are rosy - cheeked and smiling!

Just a little while ago, I went out on the back grounds of our Estate to just walk.  I know fresh air, even cold air, is essential to good health.  I saw the beauty of sunlight as it touched the snowy ground.  The clear blue sky and the pretty trees are lovely in winter.  The walk was pleasant, even if it was only 7 degrees.  I soon was back inside and grateful for a cozy house, a warm fire, and the luxury of hot chocolate.

I rarely spend any money in winter.  The heating bills consume all we have.  This is a blessing because it makes me careful. It takes away a consumer mind-set.  I have to make-do, make-it-last, and do-without. This is a good discipline in frugality.

I will spend much of these winter hours waiting out the cold as I read piles of good books, do my housekeeping, and take care of my family.

The truth is, I love this time of year.  It is a quiet respite from the seasons.  It is a time to stop and rest and just enjoy being home. It is a good time to focus on prayer and to be grateful to the Lord for all things.


Blessings
Mrs. White

From the Archives -

I Want to Be - The Mother Who Isn't Busy.

What Many of Us Crave - An Ordinary Life at Home.

What Would Happen? - If I Visit You At the Dinner Hour.

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

Read Mrs. White's book on Saving Money and Inspiring Charity -Economy for the Christian Home.  Paperback, 110 pages.