What you do in your house is worth as much as if you did it up in heaven for our Lord God. We should accustom ourselves to think of our position and work as sacred and well-pleasing to God, not on account of the position and work, but on account of the word and faith from which the obedience and the work flow. ~ Martin Luther

Friday, October 04, 2013

Finances on Friday



...In which I try to keep my head in the financial game by thinking on (and acting upon) ways to save pennies, make pennies and stretch pennies.

"The true economy of housekeeping is simply the art of gathering up all of the fragments, so that nothing be lost.  I mean fragments of time, as well as materials.  Nothing should be thrown away so long as it is possible to make any use of it, however trifling that use may be; and whatever the size of the family, every member should be employed either in earning or saving money." (pg1)

"In this country, we are apt to let children romp away their existence, till they get to be thirteen or fourteen.  This is not well.  It is not well for the purses and patience of parents; and it has a still worse effect on the morals and habits of the children." (pg2)

No false pride, or foolish ambition to appear as well as others, should ever induce a person to live one cent beyond the income of which he is certain. ...  The consideration which many purchase by living beyond their income, and of course living upon others, is not worth the trouble it cost.  The glare there is about this false and wicked parade is deceptive; it does not in fact procure valuable friends or extensive influence.  More that that, it is wrong-morally wrong so far as the individual is concerned; and injurious beyond calculation to the interests of our country."(pg 4,5)

"We never shall be prosperous till we make pride and vanity yield to the dictates of honesty and prudence." (pg6)

(all excerpts from The American Frugal Housewife:  Dedicated to those who are not ashamed of economy...a book from 1833)


A few of my financial efforts this week:
  • On Sunday we went to Matt's parents' house to glean some apples from their beautiful trees.  This is the second time I have brought apples home from their trees this year (once last week too).  Total thus far has been about six full 5-gallon buckets.  We've also harvested apples from our one nicely-producing tree. 
  •  I used a $15.00 off a $15.00 purchase coupon at Lane Bryant to buy two sets of earrings (buy1get150%off) to be used as Christmas presents (or maybe just ONE will be Christmas and one will be for me?!) Total cost: $7.00 for two sets of earrings.
  • I dropped off my daily limit of clothes at the consignment shop on grocery day.
  • I received a Staples rebate check ( $25.00 from free school supply deals) and an electric company rebate ($61.00) in the mail this week.  The school supply ones will go back in the school money envelope.  The electric company rebate will go toward saving up for the bandmill and to a date.
  • I took of my photo postcards to a local gift shop to see if they would sell some.  They couldn't because they already had a photo-card provider.  But I TRIED, so that counts for something!  :-)
  • I bought three large winter squashes for $1.00 a piece at a local Amish produce auction and a few bags of cheap bread.
  • I gladly received a garbage bag full of swiss chard that someone didn't want.
  • I finished making/typing the monthly menu plan. (I'll share it next week- when Matt shows me how to make it into a pdf.)
  • Matt and I went on a date using free babysitting in exchange for some photography work.
  • I donated more clothes and dropped them off while already uptown.
  • Penny (the cow) broke her chain and I had to go get something to replace it so that she could continue to be hooked up to the lead outside.  All I could find at the feed and tack shop was a harness fore $25.00 but then I asked the people at the shop and they showed me a perfectly good neckchain for $2.50 in an obscure box that I never would have found on my own.
  • listened to a free Economics 101 course from Hillsdale College

10 comments:

Julian said...

i really like that excerpt from the book. Maybe I can find it. Iam encouraged by the things you share! We have six,two are in college paying their own way, and my son will graduate this summer, making three in college, three still in school. I have two freezers, and a pantry, but am looking for more ideas to save any little bit I can.:) I know that your garden and land are a huge blessing to you. Thanks for sharing!
Christina

lydia.purple said...

When you shared last week about yhe monthly meal plan and one shopping trip I totally wanted to try that. I used to do meal planning but during the last year I just didn't do it. So we did our well planned shopping trip and i loved it. SO RELAXING to know I'll have all I need to cook a decent meal every day. And no panicking to come up with dinner. And as it looks like, we almost cut the grocery bill in half!

Rosemary said...

You did very well this week, Rebecca! I am sharing your financial posts with my daughters. Their families are struggling like so many others are. We are not blest with land, but your other efforts may be an inspiration to them.

mapleleafmom said...

that book is free on amazon kindle..you don't need a kindle you can read it on the computer with the free program or on ipod devices


love it...I've let the pennies fall through the crack too often of late

terricheney said...

I lurk here more often than I comment but just wanted to say I'm enjoying these Friday posts very much. I know how helpful it is to SEE what we've done to save.

I look forward each week to seeing your photos and reading your posts. I love watching the children grow, seeing the garden, the house, the views. Thank you for sharing.

Rebecca said...

Christina- I paid my own way through college too and by the time I got married, had it paid off. I had to work my tail off- but it was valuable! Thanks for your encouragement!

Lydia- WAY TO GO! Good for you! I am so glad you shared that!

Rosemary- I am indeed blessed with land and not everyone is- but there are plenty of wonderful things anyone can do, regardless of their location! I hope I can be an encouragement to them-if not with ideas, with knowing that another woman out there is struggling to not just get by-but thrive- on less.

MapleLeafMom- thanks! That is good to know! My copy is due back at the library soon! ;-)

Terri- I am so glad that you popped on to say hello! I love it when lurkers do that! And thank you for the encouragement! I am very glad someone is enjoying these posts- as helpful as they are to me to keep me on task, I realize not everyone is so keen on focusing on something as boring as money. ;-)

Anonymous said...

You did good! Free apples and swiss chard is wonderful! Coupons and rebates are a great aid in saving money. Hope you have a great day!

mapleleafmom said...

http://www.amazon.com/The-American-Frugal-Housewife-ebook/dp/B00849CIP4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1381013100&sr=8-1&keywords=The+American+Frugal+Housewife%3A

link to the free kindle book

and btw it's celina in Virginia... I love this feature , keep at it...I need every penny's worth of help this season..take care

Rebecca said...

Thanks Amber and Celina!

Amanda said...

:-)

use it up.
wear it out.
make it do.
or do without!

What an encouragemt to come visit you and see how you are learning so many good ideas on living on less.

You are right. It really is an art. And the more we practice this. The more joy we get because in the end, we begin to lose a desire for things.

As always your photos are lovely. All of your fall spleandor. It's so beautiful.

Take Care,

Amanda