Am I alone here?

I am almost convinced frugality is a dying art! Frugal...Ew, that sounds so gross! It sounds so much better (to others) if you sound like your being "green" right? I'm "re-purposing" or I'm being "eco-friendly". Whatever. I just wanna say it like it is- cheap! But it gets a little discouraging when you are the only one on the block, who knows maybe a few blocks, that doesn't get everything pre-packaged, or dare I say it...re-uses, to save money.
I understand there is a load of people out there on the net that will agree with me. But I want to see some face to face. I want to look someone in the eye and say I reuse margarine containers, and that person say "SO DO I!!". Am I from another planet because I use hankies? You should see the looks I get.
I guess I just get so frustrated because this generation's culture has been teaching, through the media that whatever is different from what is displayed in the media is not OK. Oh of course there is the misconception that's being shoved at everyone that we need to accept everyones doings or beliefs. But this only means tolerance in ones choice to do what ever "feels right". No, I'm talking about: social status, clothing style, earnings bracket, home and vehicle purchases, hobbies, slang, Face Book friend tally, and hot list merchandise purchases, (etc).
So I am just gonna let it rip, and here I am waving my hankie in the face of the opposition...
I wont buy paper towels - use a rag.
Hello hand-me-downs - Never scarred me as a child.
Bake my own...everything- Way healthier. 
Easy to make laundry detergent- Its actually pretty cool to use homemade laundry detergent!
Re-use backpacks, duo tangs, crayons and pencils, it they are still decent- Its just so obvious to me...why not. (I told my kids to even use the excuse at school that they are just helping the environment:)
Use the second hand store as your go to, first stop before the retail store- Get over the fact that someone else used it. People spend loads of money on antiques, come on, whats the difference?!?BTW you can use the word "vintage" or "retro" you could probably even fit the word "epic" in there some how, when it comes to talking about used things. It sounds so much cooler that way :)
The elastics around fresh veggies- Save them.
Milk bags, and cereal bags- Rinse them.
Used clothing with defects (stains, small holes)- Use for small sewing projects.
Shoe boxes- Storage boxes, also useful in drawers for dividers.
Those pretty little ribbons attached to the inside of a shirt for hanging on store hangers- I snip them out and save for different projects and such.
Cracked or chipped mugs, that make you sad to throw out- Cute little planter.
Expensive canned cream soup- 1/4 cup margarine, melted in pot. Whisk in 1/4 cup flour. Immediately whisk in 1 cup milk, and 2tb. soup base. Simmer until thickened.
Scrap paper- Staple into booklets for the superfluous artist!
Mountains of Laundry- Probably could be whittled down if the clothes that were only actually dirty were in there... kids need supervision when throwing stuff in there. Briefly worn sweatshirts don't necessarily always need a washing.
Reduce shelf at the grocery store has lots of bargains- Think: over ripe bananas for bread, bruised apples for pie, various veggies for stews or soup.
I could go on, and there are so many cool, creative ideas for re-using but I'm just thinking practical here. I just don't see the point in wasting money on things that will not make a difference 5, 10, 20, etc.. years from now. Will I get points for sticking with some expensive name brand? Will I be remembered for being a loyal customer of ________? Will it make a world of difference what I wipe a mess up with or will it change my future if I didn't wash my bed sheets every week? NO! But I am doing my part in saving the world. Just funning with you! No, but this does do your wallet good. And using your noggin and not giving as much $ to the big time merchandisers.
Please don't mistake me for Caroline Ingalls though! I am constantly being persuaded by the cool new things that c o n s t a n t l y come out. (And I don't even have satellite/cable to see all the commercials) And tasty new things at the food businesses. So after I've given into temptation, like with, lets just say...Starbucks (gasp) I know, its a wack of money for a darn latte or scone! I will not allow myself to constantly be swayed and giving into temptation. I will make a knock off. Maybe even better than the snazzy, scrumptious pumpkin scones they have been luring weak scone cravers with- at Starbucks this time of year. And now, I can save some moola, and out do the coffee shop, thank you.

check out the "retro" tin!!



::::::Pumpkin Scones::::::

 

Preheat oven 425

Stir together:

2 cups flour,  3/4 cup sugar,  1 tb. baking powder,  1/2 t. each: salt, cinnamon, nutmeg,  1/4 t. each cloves, ginger

Cut in 1/4 cup + 2 tb. butter. Using a pastry blender, cut in until there is coarse crumbs.

In a separate bowl, blend 1/2 cup canned pumpkin, 1 egg, and 3 tb. whipping cream.

Stir this into the flour mixture. Use your hands to press it into one form. Not over working the dough though. Shape into a 9x3 inch rectangle. Cut into 3 squares. Then cut each square into a triangle to make 6 scones. Place on prepared baking pan and bake for 15 min.

When they have cooled, spread a glaze over each, made from 1/2 cup of icing sugar and a tablespoon or 2 of milk.

 

So there Starbucks. I don't need you. But I want you. But now I don't have to.

 

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. James 1:5

Some times its hard to make the wise choice in everyday domestic decisions. But all the small wise choices add up. When your outlook is in the right direction, the greater good is more likely to turn out well.

"The master said, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let's celebrate together!' Matt.25-23

 

Hay! Where is the Spring Weather?

I must admit, I'm getting really anxious for the spring weather and growth. Just this morning it was snowing. Get this- school was even cancelled because of snow and freezing rain on Friday! I know that it will come. I just read this quote "The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time" -Abraham Lincoln. And so I am reminded that though things aren't appearing how I'd like or expect, I can choose to enjoy what the present holds. And the sky that was before me, full of huge clouds and white dusted hay fields were a gift that made me pull over to capture with a picture...be content with what you have; for God himself has said, “I will never leave you; never will I forsake you.”Hebrews 13:4-6. The beginning of this verse says...Your conduct must be free from the love of money, and... and makes me think on this blog post I added half a year ago. It was a plan to get out of debt by ceasing unnecessary spending for the period of time until we got debt free. Well...it lasted all of a month and a half. Christmas came and then the direction changed. I found it was an incredibly insightful month and a half. I found I became very much more aware of my spending, I still do find I am more careful and selective about what I spend my money on. As well we make the times we do go out to eat (which is very few and far between) more special because it is rare. Therefore truly enjoyed and appreciated by all. Beside the children's few gifts at Christmas time, getting and receiving things is not a regular occurrence. I am happy to say though that we are 75% out of debt since this started, which leaves a small portion for us to reach our goal. So were we too extreme, gungho? Probably, my husband and I are well know to be that way. Or quitters, bailing out? Could be, Its hard to hang in there for 360's! But I do know that balance is the key. Buying a coffee isn't a sin. Letting desires compromise priorities begs to be challenged. So what can I say? For now we are happy with keeping unnecessary spending to a minimum, because I truly do believe being in debt is not OK. Accumulating a mass of stuff is not what life is about, you cant take it with you. Life is about who you are living for and that is what brings true JOY in your life. Jesus, Others, lastly Yourself. Priorities, is when I am taking a step forward not backward, and every single step (choice) in life will do that: forward -or- backward.

Readjusting our view of Blessings

 Here we are already more than a month has passed since my husband and I had decided to take up the spending fast challenge, that I mentioned back in... the beginning of October. Oh, here is that post. And it really feels life, no - mind altering. My life really doesn't seem all that different besides the fact that I spend a bit less time in stores. Not just because I buy less, but I don't want to spend any extra time gazing upon the things I have no intention to buy, plus then there is less temptation, right? But I feel so aware in my mind of the all the times I want to buy things. I also see how often I can improvise. Honestly I enjoy the challenge. But... not always, like in the moment, when I am trying to justify a good book I've wanted that has gone on sale or a cheap pair of cute little earrings. And this is sad but I was kinda excited with the thought of looking for winter boots for my son. Now what does that say about me? I just love spending money, Or is it the shopping around? I want to strive to always put wisdom into all my spending. And be CONTENT with what I have. Like food, shopping is a necessity of life. Sometimes this feels like an unfortunate thing when it is a struggle to keep it within its healthy boundaries. So how does one find a balance? To enjoy shopping is not a sin but to overindulge, is not healthy.
 1Timothy 6:6 Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth...v.8: So if we have enough food and clothing let us be content.
 Lord I pray you will continue to guide me in your ways with how I need to view and deal with shopping. Thank you.

 So here is the low down on how we are doing Our Spending Fast:
Got a note book and some paper clips.
On the first pages we Wrote down
*1 Our debts and their interest rates
*2 Why we are doing a spending fast/what we hope to accomplish
*3 Our commitment statement and signatures
Here is our example:
We are committed to fast from spending any money on wants only spending money on needs, with the Lords help... Signature
*4 How long we will do the spending fast for
*5 Write out the conditions. Our example:
*Write down every penny we spend
*Save receipts
*Improvise to save money
*Use up what we have before we buy new (no 3 bottles of shampoo in the shower, or lets buy some chicken when we have pork, beef, or I'm tired of this kinda cereal)
*In most cases buy the best deal, or the cheaper version, when it best applies. (we all have a couple things we wont skimp on, i.e. coffee, but do your best to be more frugal)
*6 Write out a list of Needs and Wants to really decipher what is important.
And so what is most vital in being able to save our money is that there is NO unnecessary spending. All wants like: eating out, drive thru coffees, corner store purchases, snack foods, clothing-unless it is a need. These are not purchased. Because there are so many things we are blessed enough with in spending money on our needs like: mortgage, food, phones, hydro, insurance, gas. We are blessed with just being able to spend money on these things, aren't we?

 Then after the foundation was laid out we use the rest of the pages to write out what we buy. Each page divided into 3. Date / Purchase Amount / Store and Purchase Category (i.e. Gas, Groceries). I clip the months receipts to the inside cover and I stashed all last months receipts in an envelope and filed it.
It is amazing how aware I am now of the spending that goes on. There is NO--"Where did all the money go?!"
I am so thankful that this was pressed upon my husband and my heart.