Saturday, April 22, 2006

  • I've been working hard to cut back on a few areas of my household budget and I'm finally seeing some progress. I have at least three areas I'm focusing on ...... food, electricity and gift giving.

    I've cut my food budget in half over the past few months. I recognized that I was spending too much money stocking up on pantry items. Does a person really need to have 6 tubes of toothpaste on hand? I'm using up what I have on hand, making do or doing without. It's amazing what you can find if you just look through your shelves and closets!  I love what is taught on CindysPorch... SHOP AT HOME FIRST. I've made that one of my motto's and it's paying off. Another motto of hers is DO INSTEAD OF BUY. I'm applying that principle, too.  

    I'm still hanging my clothes on the line to dry and on racks in my master bath when it's raining. My electric/gas bill has been pretty low this year. We rarely turn on the heater. At night we turn on our electric blankets if it's too cold. I pulled out my small fan for the kitchen yesterday. It was so sultry. I read recently that a dishwasher doesn't cost anymore than washing dishes by hand if you don't rinse your dishes first. I'm thinking it must be the hot water that makes the difference when you rinse so I'm rinsing my dishes in cold water. Does anyone know if this is true? It sure gets me out of the kitchen faster on my cooking and baking days but I'll go back to washing the dishes by hand if it won't save me money.

    I've had quite a few gifts that I needed to purchase this month for birthdays and showers. I love to give nice gifts but have realized that this is one area I need to cut back.  I asked the Lord to show me how to bless these loved ones while staying within my budget. The first gift was for a birthday. I rummaged through my 'gift closet' and found a candle warmer and a pretty bath scrubby. My sister had a new candle she gave me for the warmer. I then pulled out my scraps of fabric and found some pretty material to make a casserole potholder. I have one a friend made me years ago and I use it every time I cook. The real fun came when an unexpected package arrived from Omaha steaks for some work my husband had done. Inside the package was a beautiful set of knives. I already have a good knife set so I used the knives to include in my gift. Just as God provided for Abraham He has promised to provide for us today. He is still Jeho’vah-ji’reh! Our Provider! What a blessing!

    The next challenge was an upcoming baby shower. I pulled out my fabric and found enough fabric to make a baby quilt. The pattern is called 9 Patch Hopscotch. I had enough material, including the batting, except for the binding. I prayed my way through the fabric department in Walmart and found a bolt of material for $2.00 a yard which is a great deal! The total for both borders and binding came to less than $6.00. I'm also going to make her the flip booklet I made on child training. It costs about $6.00 to have it bound. I have one I made for my daughter in love. I may give her that one and make my DIL another one later.

    What an amazing God we serve! He holds the ocean waves back by the command of His voice yet He is mindful of the smallest details of my life. I know that giving gifts to my loved ones is a small thing compared to sustaining the universe yet He hears my prayers and moves on my behalf.

    The longer I know Him... the longer I serve Him... the more amazed I am that He cares for such a one as me!

     

     

Comments (15)

  • grannyfox
    It sounds like you're doing great with cutting back. Gift giving is an area I need to work on more. I have cut back but I know I could cut back more. Your post is motivating me to try. Thanks. I've been looking into ph charts. I saw a discussion on how our diets tend to be too acid and that leads to disease including diabetes. Basically most vegs. are alkaline and meat is acid. You should be balanced, not too much of either. Artificiall sweeteners are acid, but Stevia is alkaline. One suggestion was to drink water with lemon in it. Lemon is very alkaline.
  • Organic_Survivor
    I enjoyed reading this post.  Such good ideas.  I, too, am privileged to be God's child and long to give him pleasure ... as that's one reason we were created.  Blessings for a marvelous Lord's Day.
  • innacanoe
    I neeeded this challenge, too. Gift giving is one area that I have always felt at such a loss in. I like your ideas for nice, thoughtful gifts without breaking your budget. And with our nearly empty nest these days I'm finding myself still cooking wayyyyy too much and spending almost the same amount as I did when all the children were home. Need to remember that two mouths aren't the same as six.
  • xencouragerx
    God blesses us when we attempt to be good stewards! I need to be more budget minded. I live in a newer neighborhood,and we're not allowed to have outdoor clotheslines-that is upsetting to me! I like sundried clothes! sometimes I put shirts on my backstair railing to dry. I use to hang clothes outside all the time! I wash my clothes in the washing machine in cold water.I read somewhere that it really doesnt get clothes any cleaner washing in warm water. I like to conserve energy. I also dont  put the dishwasher on heat to dry, I open up the dishwasher and let them air dry. You had great gifts to give! Hope your having a good Sunday!
  • godskiddo22
    Thank you for your comment on my site! I work with Northwest Haiti Christian Mission-- the website is www.nwhcm.org. Our orphanage also has a website: www.chaletorphanage.com. Thanks for taking the time to read my posts! God bless! :)
  • PrairieHomeSoapmaker
    Thanks for your very helpful post. i, like innacanoe, have trouble with gift-giving and groceries. i like to give to people and hate to be "stingy" about it, but there are things i could make if i only thought of it enough ahead of time. Thanks for the encouragement.
  • cerwindoris
    I appreciated your thoughts - and I never tire of being reminded about the AMAZING God we serve.
  • PollythePatchworker
    Georgene, ryc: No I did not make the quilt. If my memory serves me right it was made by a lady doctor who after a days work would come home and hand sew for another 6 hours.
  • Camarige
    Loved the post. Just before I read your post I was thinking of what I should do about buying a friend a Baby Gift! My gift budget is always in the hole! I really need to work on that area of my budget!
  • Inroute
    Your post reminds me of that song, "The Longer I Serve Him, The Sweeter He Grows".  Have you heard that song?  It's very true!
  • MyLittlePieceOfMe
    i loved this post!  thanks for sharing :)
  • PrairieHomeSoapmaker
    RYC: Yes, i'm doing South Beach at the recommendation of my Physician's Assistant. i have tried WW off and on and had no success at all. Having never had to watch what i ate until a few years ago, i am extremely undisciplined in this area. Have a wonderful day!
  • SewSew1934

    Your budget sounds like one that I am going to look into for myself. Thanks for posting.

    Have a blessed week & God keep you safe, healthy & happy. HUGS

  • Lucy_or_Ethel
    Hello from Southern Iowa! You have great ideas for budgeting, thank you for sharing!
  • Hallhaven
    Good budgeting ideas.  We have started the journey of debt reduction and it's not easy, especially when you really don't have much to play with.  But grocery shopping is one of the big areas that is hard to cut. 
    But God is faithful, He will supply our need and He will help you be content with what you have. You soon find that your "needs" were really just wants.
    Have a blessed day.

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    • From: georgene
    • Posted: 4/22/2006 10:32 PM

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