During the Great Depression, and for some time after, women shared ways to scrimp and save in order to bring peace and quality to their homes and home-lives. It used to be the woman's job to make sure there was enough food on the table, the clothes were always fresh, ironed, mended, and that the children were trained, the husbands were happy, and the house was clean. It used to be that women took pride in such things.
When did that stop?
When did it become all about keeping up with the Joneses? Sometime between then and now, it became taboo to talk about cutting corners or sacrificing in order to provide essentials for your home and family. It became insensitive to assume that it was simply the woman's job to smooth out material, emotional, and financial wrinkles. Women began sharing the latest fashions, home-designs, and fads. Talk of how hard things can be was replaced with talk of the latest in trends.
I was born in the wrong era.
I do take pride in "running" our household. Mark is a hard worker outside the home and it stands to reason that I should be a hard worker FOR our home! This job is dirty, sweaty, tearful, exhausting, and so rewarding it often stuns me.
So...taboo, or not...for those of you Housewives out there gleaning all you can in order to provide the best for your family, here ya go:
1. Only buy one box of dishwashing detergent per month (or two months...our family is large enough to dirty dishes quite plentifully). If/When you run out before the month is out, wash by hand! You heard me!
2. Always make a list before going to the store and STICK TO THE LIST (and don't go to the store hungry)!! Also, before making that list, get creative. Go through your pantry and see if there's anything in there that could do for a casserole, soup, etc... You'd be surprised what might please your family that you find in the back of your freezer!
3. Curb the desire to buy new clothes unless you NEED them! If something is just a tad too small, try exercising a little more for one week. Just one week will bring the waistline more comfort. Wearing the same dress to church two Sundays in a row is NOT the end of the world. Simplify your wardrobe; it's possible to be sensible and fashionable if you are diligent and frugal! Be proud that you're saving money! If you must buy something, try first to find it at a second-hand shop. Not only do you save a bundle, but these shops are often profiting wonderful causes. (My favorite in Searcy is Paws Inn. Clothing is only a quarter and if you feel like splurging, there's handmade jewelry for fifty cents! Money goes to building a shelter for animals.)
That's it for now. I have tons more, so this isn't last on this subject! I'd love to hear your own ideas for saving! Share!!
1 comment:
A great book for ideas is The Frugal Zealot. One of my favorites from that is to save butter wrappers to grease pans for baking and such. In Moscow we learned to wash ziploc bags (as long as there's not meat in them.) I purposely buy products in glass jars (better for you anyway) and we wash and reuse for cups. Making dried beans and canning or freezing in 2 cup portions, rather than using canned beans. Making chicken broth--so easy and yummy, use chicken bones you would throw away anyway, much more nutritious, and wonderful to have on hand. Buy in bulk! And that's all I can think of for today ;). I love you and miss you! There's a chance we will be passing through Searcy in the spring on our way to Colorado. If so, I'd love to see you.
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