Been Dreaming Again

It's about that time of the year again.  We've been in "taxing season" for what seems like a long time, but really not when I think of those who have husbands in much more demanding careers.  (((Hugs to you Jeannie!)

I hesitate to even write this as I have nothing to complain about.  I think it is a bit of spring fever that starts to well up inside of me. (I want to go camping!  It's been six whole months!  And the weather has been awesome, adding to the fever.  And we cannot go camping until "taxing season" is over, just a few more weeks!)  There is the problem, and the solution is patience.  *sigh*

So, all that said... 


I took my beloved on a little wild goose chase this past weekend, trying to find this house that I saw listed that was supposed to be only 16 miles up the road.  Why?  I don't really know, perhaps all that I wrote  above?  I needed an outlet for my frustrations?  Or perhaps it is spring and I am feeling the itch to move to the country again?  Or it was a pretty day for a drive despite the fact that gas is $4 a gallon! 

Thankfully, the wild goose chase helped me to see that this is not the house for me.  It's 30 miles from church!  We'd have to seriously give up some weekly trips.  Plus, it is an extra 30 miles (each way) for Jeff to drive to work. 

But, it is 30 miles closer to the lake!  :-)  And it is my dream house, a little white farm house with a porch, barn, and detached garage!  Still, not really enough to pull me from this current home situated so perfectly to our church, work, library, friends, family, etc., I am mature enough to see that the dream can wait a little while longer.

I guess I had to see it to believe it and get it out of my system.  No more looking at those ads.  I promise!   Time to put that energy into good things around here like our garden boxes and cleaning baseboards! 

Unexpected Blessings

If someone would have told me that (for no money involved) my satisfaction level with my home would be on the rise this weekend, I would have thought it impossible.  I am completely content with my home sweet home.  Or so I thought!

On Friday, we were given a lovely small end table from Bombay & Co. and some lamps!  We put the table in the living room with a lamp we already had.  Now when our small group comes, we will have a spot to put glasses and there will be proper lighting.  Just amazing!

One lamp is on the gaudy side, probably from the 50's, but it works and is helping a great deal in the family room as that room had only one lamp as well.
 

Another of the lamps, we put into Trevor's room.  I had forgotten that when we moved in, we only got him a small low watt lamp from Good Will and that is the only light the poor boy has read by for almost two years, as there are no overhead lights in the bedrooms!  But that is all changed now.  He has a regular sized lamp next to his bed.  

Now onto the big ticket item, the hutch!  Remember that lovely table I had in the kitchen?  The one that seemed to have a sign on it indicating it as a spot in which to dump things and run?  Remember how I wanted a hutch?  Well, it has been provided and it was also FREE!

I can now even display a few of my Grandma's dishes and have a spot to put some other things we need handy.  Until now, I've been stashing extra food way up high in the hall closet as our kitchen is very cabinet challenged.  It was so in convenient!  (See, I did not know how unhappy I really was, until I had something better!) 

Now, I am on the look-out for a small kitchen cart with a counter so that I can use it as another work station.  As I have lost a little "counter" space.   Although it really did not function as counter space very well.

Something like this...

How To Be Happy

For the most part, I consider myself a happy person with many blessings.  I decided to write a little about how I achieve this state of being as a record perhaps for my children one day. 

1. Wake up every morning with a grateful heart.  Spend time in the Word of God.  Ask Him to help you navigate through your day in a way that pleases Him.  
2. Exercise for 20 to 30 minutes a day.  Even if you are not training for an Olympic sport, you will reap many benefits from this simple step.  You can be proud of yourself for one thing.  You will have more energy.  You will sleep better. 
3. Eat less, avoid sugar, regular or diet soda, and refined foods.  Be moderate.  
4. Purpose to work hard for the glory of God whatever you do.  No grumbling.  Look for ways to bless others.
5. Be the first to say you are sorry.  
6. Look people in the eyes when speaking to them.  Smile!  
7. Go to bed at a decent hour.  Get up early enough to do #1 &#2 on this list.  Get up before your children.  
8. Do not spend money you do not have, EVER!!!  
9. Save for a rainy day, even if this means you have to say no to yourself now.  
10. Spend time marveling God's creation whenever you are able.  

**Bonus:  if you want to grow old gracefully, never stop moving,  reading / learning, and don't watch a lot of TV !  (From personal observation of my elders) 

Ways I Am Saving Money

Happy Independence Day! 

I'm declaring independence from consumerism today! Here's how I did it this past week:

• Got a Kohl's 30% off coupon in the mail.  Asked myself,"What do we need?"  The answer was, "Nothing!"  So, I did not use it.  Probably saved $100!  That is usually what I spend when we get one of those 30% off deals.  
• Signed up for Direct TV with a DVR. Changed our 2 at a time Netflix to the monthly $5 plan with free unlimited instant streaming.  Waited a few days, decided to cancel the Direct TV order before they came out.  (Thankfully it was a couple weeks before they could work us in.) Now I am saving not only my children's brains, but we are ahead with the Netflix!  I feel brilliant!  (Sorry about ESPN, Honey.) **We did purchase a better quality digital antennae hoping to come out ahead in the end. 
• Swimming with friends at their neighborhood pool.  Free & get socialization for my homeschool kids, a bonus.  *wink*  
• My husband is working at a client's office this week and next.  It's only 10 minutes from our house.  He is saving money on gas!  Money we can use to buy gas going up north this weekend.  
• Reading my favorite magazines at the library this week saved me a little money and I don't have to feel guilty about magazines laying around.  
• Put the Duggar's new book on hold at the library and it is in!  I really fought the urge to buy this book sight unseen.  If it turns out to be a good one, I will add it to my wish list.  

So, how are you saving money this week?

Magic Jack ... Not!

Not feeling the love, Magic Jack.  You made so many promises.  You promised to fulfill my basic need to communicate economically.  You promised to be easy.  You promised!  Now it has been more than a month and I am so disappointed in you. 

You only work part of the time.  Garbling words, I hear the rest of the time.  Then, you don't work at all.  One day you just stopped recognizing me as me.  And, we've made such accommodations for you!  We have learned that you don't like to work when someone is on the computer.  You just get all fussy.  And you don't work unless MY account is signed in.  It is not enough to have the computer on as the website promises. 

When I think of the expense, money to buy you, money to buy the first year, money to buy a phone, I get angry.  My life would be so much better if I had never met you, Magic Jack.  So, what can I do?  I'm going to tell all my friends.  Be aware, friends!  If something claims to be "magic", it probably is NOT! 

More Than Just a Grill

Coleman Sierra cleaned & ready to go. 

An exciting thing happened this weekend.  We were gifted a used gas grill, one that we'd never be able to afford new.  One I turned down last year!  All it needed was a little elbow grease and a tank of propane.  Simple.  Easy.  Right?

Wait just a moment!  We put in over 2 hours of sweat equity into that grill.  Made a huge mess.  Made three trips to the hardware store.  Consulted an elder because it was not working right.  Experienced defeat, joy and befuddlement all in two days. 

Consultation in progress. 

But you know what?  Now, we have a grill!  What makes me laugh a little is that this grill reminded me of a longing I had more than a few years back.  You know, during "the basement longing days."  I also had a longing for a "real" grill.  I even told others about this. It was an unfulfilled longing and then I just gave up.  For the last several years I did not even think about it.  And now, I have a real grill!  I actually have 2.  One for home and one for camping. 

Another side note.  This is more than just a grill.  It's a gateway to fellowship.  One that had been closed to me.  I did not fret about this.  We just made do.  And then last week we offered to have our flock group fellowship here at our house, but were turned down because we did not have a grill.  We ended up going to a great water park and the kids probably had a much better time than if they had been here.  And now I have a grill! 

Time for a fellowship! 

The Simpler the Life the Greater the Peace

"The willingness to be and to have just what God wants us to be and to have, nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else, would set our hearts at rest, and we would discover that the simpler the life the greater the peace."
Elisabeth Elliot


"Be on your guard against all kind of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
Luke 12:15

Am I truly willing to be and to have just what God wants me to be and to have?  The older I get, the closer I get to this state of being.  I remember a time when I was out of control with my wants.  I was also jealous of anyone who seemed to have the very thing I wanted.  Thankfully, I have learned to be content with what I have.

If there is something that I think I want and I do not have it, I can rest easy knowing that there is some reason that the Lord does not wish me to have it.  Perhaps this "thing" might become an idol and take my heart from Him.  Certainly I do not want that.

I remember a time when I had a longing for a house with a basement.  It seemed all  my friends had one.  (They still do.)  What I did have was a house that my husband could afford.  Grumble, grumble, grumble went my little discontent heart.  And then, a few years later, I had no house to grumble about!  Talk about learning a lesson the hard way!  By the grace of God, I learned that lesson well.

I learned not to be greedy for gain.  I learned to be content.  I learned that having a house on this earth is not my right.  It is a privilege.  Thank you, Lord for being a gentle, yet firm teacher. And, as it turns out, I have a sunken family room that is kind of like a basement.  I am getting closer! 

Therefore, I do believe that my heart is at rest with my circumstances.  I may never own another home.  If I do, it will be a gift from Him and I will appreciate it as such. It certainly would take a miracle to be able to buy a house in the next few years. And it is not something I long for, either.  What I long for is to be in the will of the Lord, having nothing more or nothing less than what He wants me to have.

Elisabeth Elliot also says, "Heaven is not here, it's There.  If we were given all we wanted here, our hearts would settle for this world rather than the next.  God is forever luring us up and away from this one, wooing us to Himself and His still invisible Kingdom, where we will certainly find what we so keenly long for."


"In keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness."  2 Peter 3:13

Making Yogurt in a Crock Pot

Good Monday morning to you!  I hope you had a great weekend. I am on the mend, although, I think it is going to take another week to get rid of this cough, if I follow the same course as my husband.  You remember him?  He is the one who gave this rotten cold to me!  He is also the one who gave me flowers, did laundry, ran out and got me more tissues, and took over for me at Sunday school.  So, it's hard to be mad at such a kind and caring guy. 

Anyhow, the point of this post is not to chit chat.  I want to talk about yogurt. 
I've always wanted to try making yogurt in a crock pot.  What could be more wonderful?  What could be more wholesome?  So, I did some searching and found this supposedly easy  recipe. 

My main concern was that my crock pot is a lot bigger than 4 quarts and it can get pretty hot on low.  I also did not want to double the recipe since I had never tried it before.  I wondered if I should use the low setting or the warm setting.  Since I could not know without trying, I decided to give it a whirl on low.  Although, I did it with some fear and trembling.  How I hate to waste good milk!

This is all you need?

Well,when it was all over, I am sad to say all I got was yogurt soup!   I am so bummed that it did not turn out.  I don't know what happened. But here are some of my suspicions.   It might have been the crock pot being too big and too hot.  Or maybe the yogurt I buy is not good enough with the cultures?  

I can say that I am not going to try again right now because I will have to see about borrowing a smaller crock pot and then get more precious milk.  I really did think that I followed the simple directions faithfully.

Oh well, you live and learn.  And, I really love my Trader Joe's big containers of yogurt, so...  maybe I won't bother to try again at all.  But if you find a good recipe to try and have success, please come back and tell me. I still think it is a neat idea.  

Habitaflex Homes

In my spare time, I sometimes find myself looking at unique home ideas.  I have it in mind to one day have a place debt free, by the grace of God. This dream is going to take some creativity to make it happen.  So, I look around for ideas. Here is one such creative option, indeed! I have no idea how much they cost. But the people who came up with these are very creative.


After I watched it, I wondered where all the furniture goes when it is folded down? Hm. I guess you have to get a Uhaul too? Well, it is still a pretty ingenious idea. I am all for it! It might just beat the grain bin home or yurt I was thinking about earlier. Now, I just need a little plot of land.

How I Survive The Budget

Hold on tight!

It's all a matter of mind-over-matter, keeping on budget, that is.  When it comes right down to it, if you have shelter, food, water, and electricity, you have what you need to survive.  (Perhaps electricity is a luxury to some, but not to me!)  With those things, you have much, much more than many people in the rest of this world.  I try to remind myself of this often.  It helps keep my wants in check. 

First of all, we have our budget on the computer.  My husband keeps track of it, although we worked together as a team setting it up.  I prefer to have a smaller set amount that I am in control of each week.  It helps me to know that I have "x' amount of money for the week.  When it is gone, I am done. Simple. Or at least that is the way it is supposed to work.  I am not always perfect.  (Don't ask me about feeding the birds.  *blush*  They are my one weakness.)

Our biggest expense weekly is food.  What money that is leftover is what we have for the week for non-food things we need.  If any is left, which is not normal, it goes towards the next week. 

For many years, while we were paying off debt, there would be fumes to live on for the rest of the week.  Now we usually end up even.  For awhile, ending up even would really bother me.  I'd think,"How are we ever going to get ahead this way?"  Reality is that we are not going to get ahead as long as we have kids! :-) 

One of the best pieces of advice I ever heard was simply,"If you don't have the money, don't go shopping!"  Wow, has that ever made the difference.  Truly, there is nothing that I need that can't wait until my budget starts over again the next week.  Oh sure, we might run out of things, but what is really so important going over my budget that I cannot wait a day or two or find an alternative already at home?   I've learned to get creative.  How many times do you run to the store for one thing and just get that one thing?  Also, going shopping just to look is looking for trouble.  Don't do it.  It is often better for my husband to stop on his way home for one item so that I don't go and find more things we "need" that are on sale. 

I remember being so depressed about our money situation, when we first got serious about our debt.  The budget was impossible, I thought. The only money I was allowed to spend was for groceries. That was no fun.  Once I got used to our budget, shopping became less of a thing I did for fun and more something I did so we had food and other things we needed on hand. It was not therapy! 

These days I have the opposite problem, I get grumpy when I have to part with money! I love the old saying of "Use it up, wear it out, make do, or do without."   


I think I've said every thing that I can think of about living debt free for now.  I hope this helps someone.  Like I said before, it was a long process, but worth it.  Of course, it would have been great if we had been wise and avoided debt in the first place.  Unfortunately, experience is the best teacher and we probably would not have learned as much if we did not go down this hard road.  Hopefully our kids will learn from our mistakes.

~Jenn

Write it Down

One of the best ways I've found to cope with feeling "poor" is what I call the Write it Down Technique.  

I don't know if this happens to you or not, but sometimes my thoughts go so fast that I get overwhelmed trying to keep track of everything, mostly things I think that we need.

For example, let's say I am moving through my house and as I see things that we need to update or have run out of, I start to compile a mental list.  Then I start to think of things that I want to do that cost money like start a garden, sign the kids up for archery at the park, and buy curriculum.  Oh, don't forget the Jeep needs tires and the kids need to see a dentist and the cat could use a vet visit!  Do the kids have any clothes that will fit this summer?

Now at this point, I have a jumbled mess in my head with confusing priorities.  And I start to feel poor because there is no way on earth we can pay for all of this.  Credit card debt is not an option, so I start to feel poor.  Poor me.

This way of thinking is not very helpful, nor is it true!  Thankfully, I've learned to calm myself down by simply writing it all down on paper.  Then, I mark each item as either a want, a wish, or a need and how important it is.

It is so freeing to see this list.  I pray over it for the next several months.  I watch it change.  I see things marked off because they've been provided for.  I see things marked off because they were not really needed.  All the while my mind is clear, a burden has been lifted.  My heart is fixed on the things I need to think on.  I see provision.  I have hope.  I am content because I know that my Father knows what I need before I even ask him. 

Philippians 4:8 (ESV)

 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Delayed Gratification

Delayed gratification is not so very popular in mainstream America.  I am sure it is one of our biggest faults as a nation.  We want it now.  We want it how we want it.  We don't care if we cannot afford it.

I had been a slave to this kind of thinking, myself.  It caused a lot of problems.  I can remember thinking I needed a NEW car every two years.  Since I could not afford one, I leased.

I can remember thinking I needed a BIGGER house.  We bought one thinking my husband's paycheck would keep going up and up as it had before.  Then came recession.  We had to move.  I learned to never make a financial decision based on hopes.

I've learned a new kind of thinking over the last 5 years it took us to get debt free.  It was not really new, but new to me.  I learned to say no to myself.  I learned to make do with what I had, not rushing out to a store without trying to make do or just do without until I could afford whatever it was I thought I needed.  I learned to delay my gratification.

I've been thinking about how to encourage someone who is deep in debt and wants to change.  It is so very hard, but not impossible.  The first thing you have to do is face the fact that you have a problem.  Add up those numbers and be brave.  Take a good look at the total.  You promised to pay this money to someone who trusted you to pay them back.  It doesn't matter that they are an impersonal bank in some other city.  You owe them the money.  Debt is a serious matter. 

After you face the total, tear up your credit cards and write a real budget.  Stick to that budget no matter what.  Because there really is no alternative.   Start paying back the money you owe.  You might have to get some help here and set up a payment plan.  It might take you 5 years.  That's really OK.  In those five years you will learn many lessons that only time can teach you! 

I remember thinking it would be impossible to live without credit cards.  What would we do in an emergency?  It forced us to spend more carefully.  We started saving for an emergency fund.  We prayed!  When we hit bottom, it was very scary.  We lived on "fumes" for four years.

Emergencies do happen.  One of the reasons we choose to rent at this time is to manage our risk while we regroup.  Part of this regrouping time is working on saving for 2 months living expenses. Houses can be money pits.  We figured we can save more if we don't have the risk at this time. 

If you are serous about getting out of debt, it will happen.  It will take time.  It will not be fun.  But when you are debt free, it will have all been worth it.  I know that most people who read my blog are frugal and debt free already.  And I applaud you.  I also know there are some people in debt through no fault of their own reading this.  Know that I am not writing this to discourage you.  I am talking to people like me who were spending money they had no right to spend. 

But, if you need some encouragement in this area, I am here to offer some. It is still easy for me to be discouraged in this area.  It is one step forward, two steps backwards at times.  I wonder if we are trying to do too much.  We are living within our means, but we need to be saving more.  There is no end to the ways I can be overwhelmed when I think about all we need to do.  That's where my faith in God helps.  I know if I am doing my best, He can do the rest.  

~Jenn

Hair Update

I keep meaning to write a follow up post to my other post about going "No Poo".  So far, I am very happy.  It did take three weeks to adjust, but the adjustment was very mild.  Now on the second day, my hair is no longer oily.  I have found that it helps to rinse my hair with water on the days between the washings with soda.  I also read that you can let those washing go farther between as your hair adjusts.

One day I skipped the vinegar rinse because I forgot to make more before I was already in the shower.  Boy, was I surprised at how tangled my hair was afterwards.  The vinegar rinse really does work.

I only have one other family member joining me on this journey, so far.  The others might have to join by default, as they are soon to need shampoo and I just might not buy any! 

Again, I am just so pleased with my hair.  I have no reason to go back. 
~Jenn

"No Poo" & a New Doo

6 inches gone! 

Hello Dear Friends,

Six inches of my locks are gone!  What a relief!  It was getting so tangled and taking a lot of time to comb it after I washed it and used 2 different products to get the comb through.

I made another change regarding my hair.  I decided to go "no poo."  I have been reading about this craze for a long time.  I did not think much of it until I started to think about the cheap shampoo I use and how many chemicals are in there.  I won't be saving much money, by switching to this method, but I will be avoiding those unwanted chemicals, no longer using a detergent on my hair, and stop stripping the natural oils in my hair.  

So what is "no poo?"  It certainly doesn't mean not washing your hair, as I had thought.  It is very simple, actually.  You wash your hair with a baking soda and water mixture, then you rinse it in an apple cider and water mixture.  I am amazed at how great my hair feels after using this method for the last few washes.

To learn more and read a better blog about this method, go here.

Have any of you gone this route?  Are there other personal care products you've switched from to a more natural product?

It's Monday!

I just had to post an update today.  I am feeling so much better!  I did not go anywhere or do anything this weekend.  It must have been just the thing I needed.  Thank you for your prayers. 

It felt so good to be out today.  The sun is shining, making the 30F temperature feel lovely.  It occurred to me that I had not been away from home since last Monday.  What a blessing! 

Oh, and I just finished another fantastic book, Cobwebs and Cables by Hesba Stetton.  You have to read it too!  (My poor husband was thinking he needs to get me my own Nook, after I hogged it all weekend.)   

Here is what Lamplighter says about the book.

" It is a story of man's decision to get caught up in sin out of desperation to serve the one he loves. But it soon becomes clear that one lie from a "truthful" man is more hurtful than all the lies of a liar. Those who yield to its power engage in an intricate path of falsehood-an entangling maze-that ever deepens as one lie builds upon another. As you wrestle with the characters in this engaging drama, rest assured that your confidence will grow, not in man, but in our loving, forgiving God."

How can you pass on this one?  And there are so many more!  For free!   

Now, I promised my husband that I would not start another book for awhile so that he can have HIS Nook with him at work.  At least until he finishes the book he bought for Christmas.  And since I am committed to debt free living, I will not press him to buy me my own Nook.  (Perhaps for my birthday in October.  Which is so far away!!!  *sigh*)  For now, I must learn to like reading from my PC.  Or rent my son's laptop!  He only charges a dollar an hour. 

~Jenn

Our Christmas Surprise!!!

The dream began three summers ago as we were driving home from our vacation visiting family in Arkansas.  We kept noticing RV's, so many that we started to count them all.  As the long drive home gave us plenty of time to talk, naturally, we discussed how nice it would be to have one of our own.

Not being willing to go into debt to get our own, we decided to buy a tent or two and all the trimmings for camping.  That was two summers ago.  That year we fell in love with camping.  We still wanted an RV.  We went on dreaming, sometimes getting a advertisement booklet or actually going to a RV dealer.

Last year we were tested.   We actually put money down and signed loan papers to get a new popup.  Thankfully, we came to our senses and canceled the deal in time.  What were we thinking?  We would have had a camper and been unable to go camping because we could not afford the campsites and gas!

Then, out of a pure selfless act of a dear family member, we were blessed with a gift of money for Christmas to buy the object of our heart's desire!  This family member said she had hoped to make sure we were able to do all the things we wanted to especially in the summertime.  She said that the kids are at the perfect age when we want to get that together time and experiences in.  She would rather see us doing things now while she can enjoy them with us instead of waiting until she is gone.  I am still amazed at her generosity!  Amazing!!!  


And as it happens, we found this ad in Craig's List:  

This pop up is in excellent condition. Camper opens up to be 25' 9". The canvas's are flawless. Used very few times and looks almost new. It has AC (new this year), 3 way fridge, 3 burner stove, sink, lots of storage, and electric heater. It will sleep 6-8 people. It has 2 king beds, a U-shaped couch that makes into a double bed and the dinette makes into a full size bed. It has the bump out galley for more floor room inside. It has the privacy bunk end curtains, and window curtains. The cushions and mattresses are in perfect shape. The tires are in great shape with a new spare. It also has electric trailer brakes. 12 foot box. Its a 1999 popup, but looks like it is a 2009.

We went to see it tonight. It is even better in person.  And it is ours!!!  We go pick it up tomorrow evening.  Now, to wait for camping season again.  Someone pinch me!!!

Pretty Over the Kitchen Sink

It's a Linky Party hosted by Leila at Like Mother, Like Daughter!  Leila has been teaching us how to have a reasonably clean house for awhile now.  Her recent focus has been on the kitchen.  The assignment at hand is to make your kitchen sink area pretty.

The above photo is my after picture.  Here is the before.  Not too much has changed, just put away some of the clutter.

But, what a difference it makes!  My only concern is that I really do need those items.  And I don't have a lot of cabinet space, as this is a 1960's tiny kitchen.  I like my dish drainer for drying those plastic things that won't get dry in the dish washer.  Maybe it is laziness?  I could hand dry them.  Or better yet, assign that job to a child.  It does become an unsightly mess...  *sigh*

The basket of dish clothes in the corner is going to move out this weekend.  This assignment inspired me to once again ask my darling to caulk around the sink so that we could use the two drawers.  I have not used them as water leaks in and it is a mess.  I really need those drawers, so the caulking has been done.  I now just need to wait for it to dry.  *smile*

My window decor is pretty simple, but pretty to me.  The lovely crochet bird that hangs in my window is a gift from a bloggy friend.

The Bluebird of Happiness is a gift from my grandmother and makes me smile.  The little plastic square is from my daughter.  She said it is my sunshine, as this window faces north.  The cross is another gift from Him.

I really liked Leila's idea about not having the soap container out in the open, so I hunted in my stash and found this one. It is not a match for the colors in the kitchen, but it is better than that soap container!  Maybe I will find a red one at a thrift store one of these days.

My kitchen is old and outdated and not so big, but I don't let that worry me.  It would be useless to fret about such things.  I like being debt free more than having a fancy kitchen.  I would like to make some curtains this coming summer when I will have more time.  Until then, I will enjoy the less cluttered look and look forward to what Leila writes about next.  Thank you, Leila!

Simple Housing

We jumped off the "have a big mortgage" lifestyle a few years ago, when we decided to get debt free.  Since then, renting has been the only option.  Not that that is going to change anytime soon, but I keep finding hope while reading about others who have found creative solutions to their housing needs.

I am very interested in projects like the one above.  (click here to read the full story.)    I am also interested in people who live in modern Yurts or reclaimed grain bins.  Perhaps part of me knows that deep down I don't ever want another mortgage.  I'd rather live in a whole in the ground!

Note of Praise

I have been contemplating finances this morning.  I don't think we've had a raise in more than 5 years, yet the big corporations have kept up their cost of living increases all this time!  I see increases in every thing I buy.  I am forced to do more with less and less.  I am not upset.  This gives me the opportunity to give all the glory to God in this area.  It has to be a God thing, for sure.  Makes me feel like the widow and her endless jug of olive oil sometimes.  I just don't know how else we are still able to spend less than we earn.
~Jenn :-)

How to Survive on One Income

The amusing answer would be to make sure that one income is really BIG!  However, for most of us surviving on one income, the real world doesn't work like that.

When we jumped off the two income bandwagon, we had no clue how to manage money, even with one of us being a CPA.  Looking back, we would have been so much better off if we started living as if we had one income from the start before kids.

We made some errors along the way, too. We thought we could get the bigger house, nicer van, weekly trips to stuff mart, a yearly trip away too.  All that led up to was being in deep debt.  Four years later, all that debt is paid for.  It was the hard way that has taught us a thing or two!

I am happy to be debt free, but at the same time it is no picnic.  Without sounding like too much of a complainer, I am always feeling as if I need something that I can't have.  I feel poor.  I know this is not a true fact.  I am certainly blessed.  We have two vehicles in working order. We are healthy.  We have food in the pantry.  We still take trips, but ones we can save for.  I must combat those lies with truth at all times.

My wise husband always says it is not how much money you make, but how much you spend.  (Maybe he got that from Dave Ramsey?)  Keeping our spending in line is a full time effort.  I make lists of things I think we need and try to prioritize them.  I pray over these lists.  Sometimes it takes a long time to mark an item off.  Recently we were able to buy tires, a battery and brake pads for the van.  The next biggest item on my list is dental care for the whole family.  My prescription sunglasses broke on our anniversary trip.  I need clothes!  The kids need clothes and will need shoes soon.  And Christmas is coming.  I dread Christmas.

So, how does one survive on one humble income?  It takes prayer, sacrifice and a hatred of debt!  It takes courage, too.  Lots of courage!