Small ways to save money…

Saving money can sometimes mean you have to put on your creative thinking cap. Think about what you already have to work with. Think about what’s already been provided and create from there.

Entertainment:

First think of your intent as well as outcome. If you’re planning a vacation, let it be just that. Some folks end up needing a vacation from their vacation; the same goes for finding ways of entertaining yourself. Entertainment doesn’t necessarily mean tiring yourself out. I think of it almost as a form of recreation. This way, you’ll find many more ways of using what’s already out there, and not having to purchase items or give others money to entertain you.

Hiking in nature is free for the taking. Try going on short hikes at first and pack your own food. Don’t fall for all of the equipment some backpacking places tell you you’ll need. You’ll find you don’t need as much after all. If you do need more travel gear, as your hikes get longer, go for simple secondhand stuff. Think of things you’ll basically need for your own protection and survival. Check out books at your local library or go on line for simple hiking tips. Some community centers as well as backpacking retailers offer instructional classes for free. You’ll be healthier and find it to be incredibly enjoyable and educational as well. Make sure you take a camera along and create memories that’ll last a life- time. You could even put holiday cards together that include your hiking family photos and there you’ll have a simple, personal and inexpensive gift. Keep a hiking journal and draw some nature pictures.

Sometimes, your own hobbies can be a basis to developing ideas for family fun. Activities like collecting seashells, camping, or even volunteer work, like saving sea turtles, can be both rewarding and entertaining. Stay at home or close to home whenever possible. Find ways of staying at home and come up with fun and free ideas.

Use your local library:

Your library offers free rentals on tapes, dvd’s, cd’s and some really cool movies. I’ve introduced my daughter to some of my favorite movies from checking them out at the library. I hardly ever purchase new books, instead, you’d be surprised how quickly the library system brings in the latest publications from newspapers, magazines and books. As soon as the novel Pillars of the Earth came out, the library already had it and I even had to get on the waiting list. It only took a couple of days before one came available, and I finally got to enjoy this extraordinary novel for free.

Take the kids out for library night and check out some books or movies. Afterwards, pick up a few cheap snacks and enjoy your free movie at home together.

The library also has some really great free programs all year round and especially throughout the summer time. Sign you and your kids up and some presentations even offer free food and drinks. This is also good to get you connected to other free and educational activities throughout your community. Sometimes, they’ll even offer coupons at my library. It’s really a catalyst for all kinds of free entertainment!

Here are some cheap meal alternatives. These are only but a few…I can get very creative when times are tough or I can’t get to the store.

Ramen noodle soup with added fresh vegetables
Egg noodles, your choice of meat and undiluted mushroom soup
Pasta and sauce with homemade garlic bread. Just take some cheap sliced white bread and spread margarine and sprinkle garlic powder.
Rice, potatoes and hardboiled eggs
Rice, potatoes and canned sardines
Fried eggs and rice
Fried bananas, fried eggs and rice
Rice and canned pork and beans
Rice and canned vegetables
Toasted cheese sandwich and canned tomato soup
Corn chips and homemade salsa
Fried hotdogs and rice
Instant mashed potatoes with canned beef stew over top
Instant macaroni and cheese with sliced hotdogs
Vegetarian canned baked beans with cut up hot dogs added over rice or potatoes
Fried bologne and eggs with toast
Try breakfast for dinner
Try dinner leftovers for breakfast
Rice with ketchup packets you picked up at a convenient store for free (bachelor recipe)
If I’ve run out of economy grade bacon I use left over sliced deli ham and fry that up for breakfast or add to my pasta sauce.
Macaroni salad with mayonnaise and salt and pepper
Cook one- pot meals for dinner
Sweet plantain omelets
Potato omelets

I could go on and on but the message here is to use pantry food and add the few cheap staples to create a more balanced meal.

I save my dish liquid bottles and make homemade cleansers. Here are just a few.

Pour 20 drops of concentrated Tea Tree Oil into rinsed out dish liquid bottle and fill with tap water. Shake it and use it to clean counter tops, toilets, tubs, sinks, floors and walls. Tea Tree Oil is extremely concentrated and strong but works excellent as a deodorizer, cleanser and carries with it known anti fungal as well as antibiotic properties.

There are Tea Tree Oil oral products out in the market that also work well in the treatment of oral thrush, gum infections and toothaches. Tea Tree Oil is a natural product but keep away from children and never swallow the concentrated oil. Wash your hands after use. I’ve also used Tea Tree Oil for the treatment of lice and to prevent lice altogether and works great in the treatment of foot and nail fungus. Keep away from eyes. You can also use warm salt water as a gargle for sore throat or irritated gums and minor mouth infections. Salt also has many uses as a cleaning product for your home.

Here’s what I also keep around for cleaning and treating.

Baking soda – whitens teeth, prevents underarm smell, mild cleansing abrasive, removes laundry smells cheap deodorizer for toilet, refrigerator and carpets.
Salt – mild cleaning abrasive, oral cleanser, deodorizer, cheap
Hydrogen peroxide – oral cleanser, whitens teeth, whitens surfaces and coffee pots, whitens laundry, cheap,

Rubbing alcohol – wiping surfaces, wiping down toilet seats, door knobs and light switches, wiping down phones and computer keyboards, cheap
Epsom salts – relieves muscle pain and minor abrasions, relaxes, dries out minor skin infections and abrasions, cheap
Lemons – deodorizer, cleaner, use on counters, sinks, tubs, keep a sliced lemon in your refrigerator to keep it fresh smelling – ground coffee works well also. I always keep a little ground coffee in the back of my frig and keeps it smelling fresh. cheap
White distilled vinegar -  whitens whites, removes strong smelling odors from carpets and laundry, helps soften your clothes wash, great on glass or any surface you want shined and works excellent as a coffee pot and coffee maker cleanser, leave in a small bowl as air freshener and helps heal pimples; also great as a hair rinse along with lemons.
Ground coffee – instant coffee works well as wood polisher, keeps frig smelling fresh
Baby wipes – I pour a little cleaner of my choice and use them all over the house and we all use them in the bathroom to feel extra fresh. You can wipe down anything with a baby wipe. They still contain a form of mild soap and they’re safer on skin and surfaces than conventional cleaning wipes. You can have your little ones help with house cleaning and know it’s safe for them to handle. I get the unscented ones. I’m sure I have more kitchen tips but not tonight. I’m in the middle of a great book and I’m really tired.

Later,g

Halloween ideas…

Well here we are. The year has gone by so fast I can’t believe that Christmas is right around the corner. This is the time I start thinking of money saving ideas for up coming holidays. I also think about being just a little bit more environmentally sound. I love saving money and helping the environment as well.

Halloween produces lots of trash for our already spilling over landfills. I try to avoid as much trash as possible when handing out both goodies and candy. I also try to think of alternative environmentally safe ways when participating in Halloween. You can apply this method of thought to every holiday throughout the year.

One way is not to shop for your costume. If you happen to have purchased one second hand or maybe found one for free, I guess you’re on your way to a money saving Halloween. Look around your home and closets and try putting a costume together from what you already have or use bits and pieces of last year’s costume. Another idea might be to get together with the neighborhood kids and have a ‘costume trading’ get together. Make it fun by watching scary movies and getting together some simple snacks. You’ll be surprised at what others are willing to get rid of for trade.

Get your school involved setting up a Halloween costume donation box and look through it for needed items or entire costumes. These same rules also apply for adults as well.

Of course, the best way to get the precise costume you really want is to have someone in your family sew it according to your own specifications and size. You’ll still end up spending less, especially if you already own some freaky fabrics.

Instead of purchasing costumes for your kids, let them do some housework or mow a neighbor’s yard and let them pay for their own costumes.

Re use last year’s decorations. I’ve had the same decorations for years and find new ones at the Church Clothes Closet every year for free. The only thing I might purchase is a big pumpkin and I always make sure to use every last bit of it in different ways. Try making homemade decorations from what you already have sitting around the house or in your closet or have a ‘decoration making’ get together and have everyone bring boxes of scraps that can be turned into interesting things. Try going out in nature for some supplies. We make ‘scary stick people’ out of tree branches and sticks as well as ‘scary faced people’ out of pieces of palm trees.

At times, I’ll even hang the children’s school made Halloween art around the house and on the door. If you hang some on your widows or any place others can see, make sure you child’s name is not visible.

If you live in a small neighborhood or in the country where you may tend to have very few visitors, hand out non-treat items such as used books, natural lip balms(www.beenaturallipbalm.com) , natural art supplies- buy in bulk(www.hazelnutkids.com) , homemade yarn bracelets or even small amounts of money. Make sure you don’t hand out beads or beaded bracelets to children 3 or under. Also, do not hand out treats containing honey to children 1 year or under. One year, our neighbor handed out travel toothpaste and toothbrushes. I thought that was really great. Just make sure weather it’s candy or not, kids are really going to use it or eat it. You don’t want their household to accumulate trash in drawers.

Pencils and pens are also a good idea.

Treats:

Dried fruit
Breakfast bars
Raisin boxes
Purchase candy in bulk and put candies in fabric tied with ribbon, rubber bands or pretty hair ties.
Bake homemade cookies and treats
Make your own candy at home

My basic money saving rules for Halloween are – re use or make your own costume, don’t purchase new decorations unless they’re free, make your own non candy items and finally buy cheap candy in bulk. If you throw a Halloween party, make sure every single guest brings a covered dish, decoration or treats.

And finally, don’t drive. Always walk or use your bicycle if houses are far apart from one another. Carry a flashlight or light body rings and make sure an adult is with you at all times. If you’re a teenager, go in groups. Don’t keep or eat anything that may look suspicious once you get home and check through your bag.

Use pillow- cases, cloth grocery bags or book bags. Use last year’s bag if it’s still in good condition and is appropriately themed. My son always uses a plastic green pumpkin carrier year after year. My daughter uses a pillow -case or plastic grocery bag. Make sure to double or triple up your plastic grocery bags. I think she even used a trash bag one year.

And finally, if your pumpkin meat is still fresh, use it in a pie or homemade cookies. Bake the seeds in the oven and use the shell as a candle porch light cover. If you grow your own food, put the pumpkin in the compost pile.

Be safe and get lots of treats!
Later-g

The kitchen is truly the heart of the home. From here flows comforting smells, healing and fond memories. My kitchen is plain and simple with only the necessary items to produce some tasty treats. Most of my childhood memories originate in the kitchen. This is a place to connect and learn. Children find ways to create and simply hang out and watch mom cook. They learn to cook whether they want to or not. This is the place to create cheap gifts from homemade muffins to holiday cookies.

There are several things I constantly keep in my kitchen as far as food goes.

Rice, beans, lots of pantry food (especially here where hurricanes occur), boxed milk, powdered milk, concentrated juice mix that doesn’t have to be refrigerated, pasta and sauce, simple tomato sauce when jarred sauce is not available, cereals and oatmeal, all purpose flour or economy sized muffin mix, bread and eggs. I also make sure I keep up the bottled water supply -I live in a very old house and I don’t trust the pipes.

Stuff like spices and cooking oils and butter last longer for some reason. Spices are rarely replaced as I try to keep the taste of food more natural and low salt. I don’t care for very spicy foods. If it was up to me, I’d eat with no added flavors what so ever. I do have a little secret I want to share with you though, I keep a box of Sazon Goya with Safron and use it in almost everything.  The unique formulation makes everything taste even better. I especially use it in Spanish cooking (when money is good), pasta sauces, egg noodle sauces, soups and stews and even scrambled eggs and omelets. I never add anything to canned or already prepared foods as they are already high in salt. I try to buy low salt items whenever possible.

One thing that saves me money and turns out to be a healthier alternative is, I always think of replacements for conventional snacking and sweets. We eat cereal and milk for sweet snacking or homemade muffins from my restaurant economy sized bag. Canned fruit is also a cheap alternative. Buy the big cans and save what’s left in a covered container in the refrigerator. Avoid individually packaged fruit chunks. They’re really expensive and it’s easier to recycle the cans.

I take my cans to the recycle bin behind the Baptist church at the same time I visit the clothes closet every Saturday morning. They also have a paper and plastic recycling bin. There are lots of companies out there charging to have your recycled trash picked up. Don’t fall for that. They’re there to make money and they charge quite a bit. Look for places where you live that will take your recycling trash. Sometimes schools and libraries offer recycling services. My son’s school recycles paper and electronics. My daughter’s school takes your old cell phones. You don’t end up filling the dump and the schools get money for needed items. We all win.

If you cook big meals on the weekend, store individual leftovers and use that for snacking the next day. We do that a lot with hardboiled eggs. By the way, if you eat the white and yolk of a hard boiled egg, the cholesterol is counteracted, according to a nurse I know. Any other way of cooking eggs will give you unwanted cholesterol.

Buy fresh fruits and vegetables in season and try co-ops or local outdoor markets for best prices. I shop at discount grocery stores and take my own canvas bags. They won’t offer bags unless you pay for them and the food is half the cost of other big name grocers.

If you feel your tap water is safe, powdered milk is the way to go. Even if you have to use bottled water, you’ll still save over half the price of fresh milk. Mix up a couple of quarts in the evening and let cool over night. My daughter drinks soymilk but my son loves the powdered milk and doesn’t taste the difference. I buy the economy can and use it for cooking and baking. I always have milk on hand.

Concentrated frozen juice is also more than half the price less then prepared bottled juices. Again, if you use tap water it’s even cheaper. When I do buy prepared bottled juice, I wait till it goes down half way and fill it up again to the top with water. It still tastes just as good and lasts longer.

I do the same with liquid soaps, shampoo, dish liquid and laundry detergent. Diluted dish liquid has come in handy as an emergency alternative to laundry soap.

More to Come-

I want to tell you about the time my husband lost his job. It couldn’t have happened at a worst time. School had just begun and it was my son’s first year. I have to admit we were nervous wrecks. I had to keep it together though in order to think things through and make strategic plans.

By the way, I have some wonderful children. I really appreciate them putting up with the way I’ve chosen to live my life; especially my daughter. She is my best friend and truly understands me. I am so grateful to have her in my life. She puts up with my old car and the noise it makes; but I also know that the legacy I leave my children will not only make them kind and considerate human beings but free thinkers and more self sufficient.

My daughter reads all of my work and gives me honest feedback. Her father, my ex-husband is my publisher and editor etc…my daughter is from my first marriage and I have a son from my current marriage. I’m very lucky that both fathers are extremely supportive and just all around great dads.

Anyway, here are some of the things I did in order to keep us going through the difficult financial times that came our way after having lost the home’s main income. We first calculated the amount of emergency money we had saved up. We have an emergency savings account that can’t be touched unless all else fails. We figured we had a couple of months but I didn’t want to dip into it, so I started working on alternative means of survival.

I first called the county help line. Every state and county should have one. Because I am disabled, I first spoke to social services and the office of disability. They in turn directed me to the help line number. This general information line covers everything from help with paying your rent to transportation if you can’t afford to get your car fixed .The way it primarily works is, different agencies as well as church groups join together and offer help.

A religious charity paid for our immediate bills such as electric and water. We then got help with the rent. This, in turn, allowed us to cover other smaller bills ourselves, such as phone, cable and car insurance. These agencies will only help pay for needs so don’t think you’re going to show up with a cell phone bill or cable bill and expect help. They will let you know the information you need to bring with you by phone before actually meeting with them. Don’t think of this as a handout but a hand up.

Through these help connections, I was able to travel to new places and meet new people that are actually part of my monthly money saving routine. I found connections for children’s school clothes at no cost, free school supplies, free pantry food and supplies, free holiday gift and food baskets, free dental care or dental care involving a 9.00 co-pay, help with job searches, and free entertainment, coupons and even vouchers to pick up toiletries for free at local grocery stores.

I was even able to sign my children up for free school lunches as a result of my being legally disabled. Free school lunches have extended benefits including free or reduced daycare and free school supplies, clothing and footwear.

With all the help we received we were able to avoid dipping into our emergency savings and I was still able to keep the family fed with nutritious simple meals; not to mention plenty of gas money. I only went to the grocery store for needed items I didn’t receive at the food pantries; my kids never new the difference.

We were able to bounce back right away after my husband finally found another job, which by the way, pays more, offers a retirement plan and investment choices and medical and dental insurance coverage for himself. My children and myself have free state insurance covered through my disability status.

I do have to say that my daughter’s father helped out quite a bit by giving extra child support and initially supplying my daughter with school clothes and supplies. I really thank him and appreciate him for that…and here we are, pretty much normalized again.

Things are looking up and life is good again. Don’t wait till you’re homeless or destitute to start looking for help. Make sure you try and build up an emergency savings for those hard times.

By being self sufficient and thinking ahead of time, my extended family and friends didn’t worry, I didn’t have to ask them for money or help and my savings was not lost…and most important of all, we didn’t end up homeless. This only made us stronger to take on life’s next big challenge. As long as my children are healthy and happy, I can get through anything. Till next time, remember…don’t stress about the holiday mess-later-g

Saving money at home-part 2, Regifting

I want to make some things clear to you as I continue with this section. What I do on the side in order to save money is not always easy. There are always several factors I’ve needed to consider. With gas prices these days, I have to think about driving distance as well as the time it takes once I get to the location itself.

Sometimes I have to wait longer than expected. You should always make allowances for the unexpected. We humans run around this life of ours thinking we’re in total control and don’t realize it’s quite the opposite. I guess we wouldn’t be able to function and carry on knowing we’re not really in control…ok, I digress. I also don’t want you guys to think I drive around all day and try to fill my trunk with free food and free toiletries, etc… I always make sure that in every one of my endeavors and or transactions I try to show appreciation through small donations or kind gestures.

I keep a calendar hanging in my kitchen and mark down days for certain events, give-aways and weekly or monthly visits to places and people that already know me and expect me; like the clothes closet on Saturday mornings. You have to be quite organized and carry pen and paper at all times to write down any new events you might see or hear about along the way. Inviting friends to join in also makes the time spent more enjoyable.

The next thing I’d like to mention is to make sure your family and friends know and understand the way of life you have chosen. Not all family members and friends will understand. Don’t let this stand in your way, it then becomes their issue, not yours, if they choose to be judgmental. This is also a good way to find out who your real friends are!

You do have to have a pretty thick skin to follow through with this frugality way of living; just maintain your focus and center yourself each day knowing you’re reaching your goal to a much more liberating way of life. My family and friends have known for a while now and totally accept it. My way of life is a learning tool for them. They’ll sometimes call me up for some home-remedy for a sore throat or how to clean their tub naturally.

Some of them have actually become thriftier and happier along the way…like my sister in law. We just had a conversation the other day (after months of not speaking on the phone) about how much more liberating and happy she feels. She doesn’t feel as though life owns her. She made quite a few changes too, like removing her children from expensive private schools and finding good public schools. They even take the bus and she saves on gas. We can all do this with a little time and effort.

With the holiday season right around the corner, I’d like to touch on the subject of re-gifting. I rarely purchase new things for family and friends. For example, after I get to know the person’s likes and dislikes, I take time to put a little care package together and they always seem to really enjoy and appreciate it.

It’s so much more personal than going into a store and picking something up. It’s a lot more meaningful for all involved and they always end up with an assortment of gifts rather than just one or two items. It’s fun going through a package of stuff not knowing what comes next!

Recently, my son’s art teacher’s daughter had her 7th birthday. I went into my shoebox collection in the hall closet and decorated the boxes. I filled the boxes with lots of little things I know she’d like; books and movies we no longer used, a bracelet I never wear, a little purse I never use and some tops my daughter can no longer fit into.

I always make sure things are in good condition and clean. I also wrapped up a separate gift containing a beautiful knitted blanket I no longer use. I made a homemade card and wrapped it creatively using last year’s holiday wrapping paper and tied a pretty scarf around the outside as a bow.

The scarf itself was yet another gift. Another touch you might want to try is putting in a sheet of fabric softener inside your packages. When they open up the gift they immediately get a fresh nice smell and makes the gift even better. I also washed and sprayed the knitted blanket with some fabric refresher.

This way of gifting is very beneficial not only to the environment because you are recycling, keeps your surroundings clutter free and saves you loads of money and travel time and gas. You’re also making continuous room for more items you find for free or next to free.

Well, I’ll get back with you sometime later in the day. I want to talk to you about what I did when my husband lost his job several months ago as well as what I do to get help with my own children’s holiday presents. And now, I have to get ready to meet a friend at the clothes closet .I find some really great gifts there all year round which I save for holidays and birthdays. Don’t let the holidays stress you out. Liberate yourself and realize the real meaning of the season.
Later-g

Save money at home

Plain living is the thought that helps me focus on what’s really important. In order to attain certain goals I try to keep it all plain and simple. Having a cluttered home clutters my mind and I’m not free to focus on what I need to accomplish. The more stuff you have, the more you have to take care of. It’s really all about freedom for me. I only take about 15 minutes every morning to clean up and my cleared surroundings give me the energy I need to reach my goals for the day-which usually have to do with finding ways to save money for the family.

I have seven main topics I work with and keep updated on a daily basis. Within these topics are what I call subtopics…for example, HOME can involve anything from saving on groceries to getting free clothing and ENTERTAINMENT can involve a night out verses staying in. I constantly ask myself “is this cheap and necessary?” This helps me to evaluate whether I can get it cheaper elsewhere, do without it altogether or find an alternative.

It’s taken a number of years for me to reach this point and I found the more you live in this constant thought of frugality, the more you want to do it and enjoy it. If I walk into a clothing shop, for example, I actually think of ways I can get clothes for free. Some of my favorite outfits came to me free for the taking or real cheap at second hand stores. So, with that having been said, I’ll just start off with letting you know some of the ways I save money on clothes and food.

In my area, we have lots of second hand stores, consignment shops, help agencies (free clothing offered) as well as church basement shops and even a garage sale store. Garage sales and or estate sales are good too. A local church up my street holds a monthly rummage sale at a separate location they rent out next to the island market and I got 4 next to new lawn chairs for 25 cents a piece.

If you can’t afford something, they’ll either lower the price or give it to you for free. I find dealing with most of the church folks is quite beneficial. Sometimes, if you bring in a bag of donations, they’ll trade.

I use the FREE CLOTHES CLOSET (a home set up behind a local Baptist church that gives everything away for free) as my clothing recycle post for the entire family. I bring in clothing that doesn’t fit anymore and get free clothes in return. Everyone wins and you’re helping the less fortunate in the community. That’s a double whammy for me when I can help others in need and save at the same time! When I bring in larger donations, the ladies stuff my bag with everything from toilet paper to toothpaste and shampoo.

Around the holidays, I usually give a small money donation or some coffee and donuts. I also barter for a lot of goods and services. There are new sites on the net popping up all over the place that deal with bartered goods. You can even get a car through bartering.

These are extremely hard economic times and I have found that for me having kept my life simple is actually better. I don’t have investments, I own both my cars, my children attend the best public schools in the area and I rent a home in an exclusive neighborhood.

The house was originally 2 bedroom 2 bath, but I realized after seeing the home for the first time, that the large back sunroom was actually enclosed with central air and made that my son’s bedroom. I live among millionaires in the safest neighborhood. My rent is extremely low compared to other rentals because I turned a room into a bedroom and fixed the place up in trade for lower rent.

We mow our own yard…that saves us about 100.00 dollars a month or more and get the benefit of exercise. If something breaks, my husband will try to fix it himself-and that goes for the cars as well. My dryer stopped working several months ago and after taking it apart, my husband found it was a 20.00 stable roller. The time before that it was a 5.00 piece That saved us the cost of initially having a technician come and check it out (that’s the first initial cost…like paying some one to put your car on a machine just to find out what’s wrong with it) and then pay for time and labor… not to mention THIER parts are usually more expensive.

If you have the mindset that everything is about money and you can do it yourself if you really tried…you’ll find you accomplish a whole lot more, save money and feel self sufficient and in control. I’ve just grown tired of giving money away. I don’t make much and can’t stand the rat race. It’s all about getting free. You don’t have to own land, grow your own food and build your own log cabin to be self-sufficient and save money. I know there are ways to do it anywhere you are.

I don’t want to set rules or offer guidelines. Some of the simplicity and frugality books out there can actually be more confusing and ridiculous. This is common sense stuff that has actually worked for me. I’m not going to have you separating toilet roll squares or reuse every single plastic baggie. I want my time, freedom and money. I am in the world but not necessarily of the world. Well, it’s getting late and I’m exhausted. I will continue with more on home life and savings tomorrow.
Later,G

Some thoughts on money and frugality

Economics comes from the Greek word meaning ‘household.’ We have to come to the realization that frugality and plain living originates in the home, and should focus on the well being of the family, and raising our children as well as influencing other members of extended families and households to practice positive ways of obtaining and saving money.

For the most part, we have not yet accepted the fact that the United States is interwoven with the whole world. To concentrate on protecting one’s own house or apartment is like thinking that we are the super power and all knowing, We need to create transactions of goodwill and good faith in order to promote a more meaningful economic structure where the importance of human need and responsible stewardship of our earth is the goal.

When you are honest in your transactions, whether you’re bartering, trading, or exchanging your services for goods, show signs of appreciation and goodwill and you’ll find, more connections than ever before will come your way.

We are lots if times driven by greed, and that is why, I believe our nation justifies wars based on economic interests and for some reason feel overthrowing governments is acceptable due to similar reasons.

We are all interconnected from home to our government and we should know that both should accomplish money and business ventures with the notion that the bottom line is the reciprocal satisfaction. Simple and plain frugal living creates a planet where starvation can easily be eliminated and everyone can have needs met and peace shall rein among all nations.

The economic decisions you make in your own home can so change our world simply by becoming more self-sufficient and dramatically reducing your consumption of unnecessary items.

Money has unfortunately become a great God. It’s interesting how money just can’t stay where it belongs. It should be a means of supporting life to meet our needs and has taken over the meaning of real security such as self-sufficiency, family and friends. Although money can affect our freedoms and give us power or even happiness, it should only be the catalyst to a better life and should never signify happiness and well being itself.

By giving money great importance, you easily remove the important meaning in your life where money is merely one way of reaching certain goals rather than holding money as the great deity in your life.

I can’t understand why there is still growing anxiety regarding scarcity in this nation. This anxiety about scarcity affects our lives at both a psychological and sociological level. We listen to what others tell us we should strive for in order to obtain abundance of material goods that somehow leads us to great happiness.

Simplicity can take you down the road to freedom and true happiness;  affecting your immediate surroundings and extending to the world itself by not taking more than you need. which in turn assures others less fortunate the ability to obtain their needs as well.

By realizing the abundance of what we already have and putting it to good use, generosity is born and with it can only arise true freedom and unconditional love and acceptance of the world around us.

When John D. Rockefeller was once interviewed on the subject of wealth and how much more did he think he needed to attain true happiness and satisfaction, he replied he needed just a little bit more. That just goes to show you the affects of counting on money for true happiness rather than opt for simplicity and frugality in order to attain real freedom and never feeling you need more. Let your needs and wants be leveled and you’ll never feel as though you need more and more.

Thoughts on simplicity and stewardship:

To live a frugal and simple life automatically involves stewardship. Simplicity involves what we own and how much we choose to own and be responsible to take care of.

Stewardship is the use we make of what we already have that has not been attained through our own doing.

Simplicity dictates we should not live beyond our needs and learn to truly realize the differences between our needs and wants, thereby, never having more than what we really need.

Stewardship, on the other hand, somehow teaches us to take care of what we already have or were given through good fortune.

This all comes down, in my opinion, to deciding what we should and should not keep. Items which tend to weigh us down, get rid of; these are items that do not allow us to move forward thereby not permitting us to take total control and care of what is really important.

We need to realize that having great amounts of money should only lead us in the ways of doing good with that money and not glorify yourself because you feel the attainment of such great wealth was somehow a gift to you for having been so good.

Money earned through dishonesty or even wars can’t possibly be distributed for the common good and needs of man. It carries within it the seeds of it’s own destruction. The more we have the more we feel we need and therefore sharing simply does not enter one’s mind.

BY THE CURIOUS ARITHMETIC OF LOVE,
THE MORE WE SHARE, THE MORE WE POSSESS;
THE MORE WE WILLINGLY GIVE,
THE MORE WE MULTIPLY.

By: Lowell Wright

Later,g