tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051110165755611111.post4525618779500206410..comments2024-03-09T02:21:59.660-08:00Comments on HOPE AND THRIFT: SIMPLE RULES FOR A THRIFTY LIFEJanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01851312702044308420noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051110165755611111.post-61489844660314277982016-03-27T14:36:33.447-07:002016-03-27T14:36:33.447-07:00Hi Jane!
Happy Easter to you and your family, to...Hi Jane! <br /><br />Happy Easter to you and your family, too, Jane!<br /><br />I think the camaraderie may stem from some shared values. For me, lack of shared values can put a damper on so many possibilities in life. How blessed you are to have your children embracing and sharing the values you have taught them! My prayer is that they have a community that will embrace, share, and support/strengthen them in their lives of stewardship.<br /><br />Two widows, my mother and Helen exchanged “talents.” My mother gave her children piano and organ lessons and she sewed our clothes. Mother knew how to sew, but it was more time efficient for her to give the piano lessons and have Helen sew our clothes. We didn’t know about the sites like www.chicfashionista.com that help one to find one’s best colors, clothing styles, but we knew how to “mix and match.” My sisters sewed at home, as they got older, but my jobs were the outdoor things, so I had no time to sew. After my first summer paycheck when I was in college, I went downtown and paid $2 down on a used sewing machine that had been traded in by a small high school’s home ec program. I made sure I paid for the machine before the summer was over. I didn’t have money to purchase cloth to sew much, but when I really needed something, I could make it for so much less than purchasing it. We didn’t have thrift stores in our area back then, only a donation box in the town where I went to college. I did like going into the expensive stores to see if there were any styles I liked. Then I would go to the fabric store to see if there were similar patterns and what selection of fabric was available. I even ended up making lots of improvisations and sewing my own wedding dress, since I didn’t like the fancy fabrics, styles or prices in the stores. It was quite fun! The final financial investment for me was only 5% of what I would have paid in a bridal shop and with a whole lot less stress and investment of time. The biggest pluses were that I got what I liked and it fit the way I wanted. <br /><br />For me, simple living is a whole mind-frame/ mind-set change. I find it enjoyable [until I have to cope with the outside world – the adjustment to “out-there” is sometimes not so fun], fruitful, challenging yet relaxing, healthier, and with boundless creativity options, too. I do agree that simple living is hard work. But oh! The joy! <3 [heart] ;-D<br /><br />Enjoy your Easter! And the week ahead, too! Thanks for writing!<br /><br />Carol<br />csaugusthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03437819681801225936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051110165755611111.post-50545170742277332912016-03-27T09:44:46.334-07:002016-03-27T09:44:46.334-07:00Happy Easter Carol! Hope you are having a lovely ...Happy Easter Carol! Hope you are having a lovely day!<br /><br />I think there's a certain camaraderie between people that live frugally, don't you? I'm glad you're children are passing on the thrifty traditions. I think it is one of the greatest satisfactions in my life to see how our values have been passed on to our sons, and that they are teaching their wives them too.<br /><br />I never understood the conspicuous consumerism that was so popular during most of my adulthood. What's the fun in it? I like the challenges of a thrifty lifestyle and it's a wonderful creative outlet.<br /><br />And living "simply" is a lot of hard work. You don't have time to be bored or discontented!<br /><br />Happy Easter again!<br /><br />Hugs,<br />Jane Janehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01851312702044308420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051110165755611111.post-36689644379339617452016-03-26T10:46:26.490-07:002016-03-26T10:46:26.490-07:00Hi Jane!
Thanks for the simple rules! I heartily ...Hi Jane!<br /><br />Thanks for the simple rules! I heartily recommend these to everyone [perhaps because they are “comfortable” for me]! They allowed our farming family to survive through crop failures [hail, drought, too much water and shortened growing seasons], the economic variables associated with food production, storage and marketing, and the early, untimely accidental death of my father.<br /><br />I have tried to instil these principles in my children, too. It has been worth the effort, even though they were at times a bit unhappy with not “living up to the apparent standards” of some of their peers. Later on in life, I see that they are trying to practice the principles and pass them on to their children [both in word and deed], as much as possible under very differing circumstances. Having two households that use similar principles is helpful for the children, now, too.<br /><br />Number 9 really spoke to me! That has happened in our family. My children told me, “If you use the items, we will want to inherit them for the memories and stories they generate that we can share with our children as we use the articles, too!” <br /><br />Thrifty living has spurred me to look [on the internet] for new things I like or can learn to do that enhance the simpler lifestyle. It has been a wonderful journey for me with many more benefits than the traditional consumer lifestyle. Thanks again for sharing! Carol<br />csaugusthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03437819681801225936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051110165755611111.post-29462071747372221462011-01-29T08:20:27.282-08:002011-01-29T08:20:27.282-08:00Hi Sandy and Matty! Unfortunately when I ask some...Hi Sandy and Matty! Unfortunately when I ask some members of my family if they have any back-up plans, their back-up plan is me!LOL! That's why Jamie and I work so tirelessly during the summer. We are going to try small grain growing this year. OH well! Life is a fun adventure and Jamie and I love it.Janehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01851312702044308420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051110165755611111.post-72949173627094368032011-01-29T07:51:17.999-08:002011-01-29T07:51:17.999-08:00Amen to you and Sandy!Amen to you and Sandy!mattyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06749881104429358524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051110165755611111.post-38944409012199548662011-01-29T05:13:53.851-08:002011-01-29T05:13:53.851-08:00Well put, Jane!!! Plan ahead or for the worst cas...Well put, Jane!!! Plan ahead or for the worst case scenario is one plan that is used way too infrequently these days. Even when you read of a sad story of family out of work, most of their problems are not so much with the loss of a job but with a failure to have planned ahead. We are a culture that subscribes to "live for the moment". And then expects help from society in the future.Sandyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09852985202199173748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051110165755611111.post-43858668461653921952011-01-28T16:35:28.075-08:002011-01-28T16:35:28.075-08:00Wow! I am going to post this at work and HOPE they...Wow! I am going to post this at work and HOPE they will get a clue about THIFT. All I hear is how great their vacation was or the cool thing they bought and then without skipping a beat, they tell me they need a raise or promotion because they are in bad financial shape. With the way they handle money, maybe they shouldn't be working for me! Thanks for the thoughts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com