My grandfather did odd jobs after he retired and since I was not yet of school age, he took me with him. I learned very young how to fix toilets, faucets, dry wall and fences. I learned how to use "spit and glue" to fix most anything.
As an adult I discovered Thrift Stores. I haven't bought ANYTHING brand new in decades. Even though my partner and I were making good incomes, we still shopped at thrift stores and garage sales. Once the kids came along, it was the only way to go!! Why pay retail for kids clothes that they out grow in a month and can't keep unstained?
The kids are 10 and 8 now and love shopping at the thrit store. They like the clothes better because they are "broken in" and soft.
As a family we camp alot because it's the cheapest way to vacation. Most of our camping equipment was found at ARC and garage sales in almost new condition.
Right before Christmas 2008, during the biggest financial disaster ever, I lost my job!! I had the higher income of the two of us. We kept the faith and tightened our belts a little. It really wasn't so bad. Then, in May of 2009, my partners job was lost. Two of us unemployed was hard to imagine. We tightened our belts even tighter and prayed the kids wouldn't grow too quickly. We took the advices and government incentives and both went back to school thinking our future's were bright. Low and behold the two of us like many that also did the same STILL can not find jobs in fields that we trained for.
I had learned to can jams and jellies years before so I got back into that with my neighbors apples and our plums. We hung a string of white christmas lights in each room instead of using expensive higher watt bulbs. I got serious about couponing and we got rid of the lawn service and mowed and weed wacked ourselves. We did alot of trial and error when it came to gardening and learn more each year. All of this has helped to save about 25% of what we used to pay out.
My other half is working now, but not even close to the income of old. I stay at home and hold down the home front. I have learned to can meat, wax cheese and store eggs for months at a time. (Thank you Preparedness Pro). We make our own home repairs, mow our own lawn and buy alittle extra each shopping trip. Our storage is enough for the four of us and two cats for about 9 months.
Now matter what the circomstances, you can prepare for the future. Go to the thrift stores for everything from clothing to bandages! Buy an extra bottle of aspirin, antibiotic cream, or TP on every shopping trip. Learn to can, dehydrate and garden. Teach the kids and it will be second nature for them. DON'T ever think that you don't have enough money!! Take it from a couple that were both unemployed for 2 1/2 yrs and now only one is working 6 months a year. You can do it!!
Have faith in God and in yourself. You can learn how to do anything and those feelings you get are God guiding your steps!!
D. P. CO
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Comments
Thanks for your story!!!
Thank you for appreiciating my circomstances Jeffrey, and for your thanks!!
Sadly what has happened to you is all over the world.
you did the right thing in prepareing your family wish you all the luck
Making your own laundry detergent helps to save money too!! The kids enjoy measuring and especially enjoy grating the soap! It helps them feel like they too are a huge help in saving our family money!!!
Enjoyed your article. DID YOU GEt a reCEIPE For MAking soap? That sounds like a great addition to home storage.
Nancy I do use a recipe for laundry detergent. It is 1/2 cup Borax, 1/2 cup Washing Soda, and 1 cup grated Castile Soap (or your favorite bath soap), and 1/4 cup grated Fels Naptha soap. Use 2 table spoons per large load and 1 table spoon for regular load of laundry.
To remove stains keep some grated Fels Naptha in a container with a nail brush. Wet the nail brush dip it into Fels and scrub stain. It works GREAT and costs about 3 cents per load!!
We have been working on home storage for a long time also. We have had to delve into it several times in the past 1 1/2 years as the economy has turned down. Most of ours is dehydrated and we find it a little difficult, but it has saved us and when your hungry it is a great alternative and easy to store.
Great story DP. We all can learn to do more with less. Even in great economic times, reducing, reusing and recycling puts less stress on the our planet and its resources. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing your story DP. Keep your head up high and take care of your family!
Thank you for your encouragement!! I will keep my family wrapped in warm thoughts for people like you!
Thank you for your encouragement!! I will keep my family wrapped in warm thoughts from people like you!
You AMAZE me with all canning and thrifting....You always were and continue to be a Survivor. We can all learn alot and look into some ways that would benefit our own families.
I know how hard it is when one bread winner loses their job. Things are tighter and you do need to become very careful about every little thing. Couponing is a great and easy way to save money. Once you start and see how easy it is you won't be able to shop without them
Your story really moved me. I am Sooo PROUD of the way you are taking care of your family. Thanks for sharing the ways you are able to help yourself. It would be so much easier to just run to the store and purchase laundry detergent and jam but you go through a process that takes alot of time and labor and you reap the benefits when you sit down with your kids and eat and enjoy the things you made together. Not only are you saving money but you are eating healthier and spending QUALITY time with your kids and teaching them life lessons. And by the way your Apple Butter was AWESOME!!
Your right Dawn!! DP really seems to have it goin on with getting the kids involved!! I think I'm going to give some of her wonderful ideas a try!!
I think my kids might like making homemade things! I know that I would enjoy saving money to use to by xtra's with each shopping order to bolster my own storage.
Couponing is more than just grocerys. I clip coupons every week, but you can also go online and print free ones(there are some sites you don't have to join). If you go to a companies website and email them about how much you love their product and ask if they would be willing to send you coupons you may get some that way as well.
Also, online couponing for stores and restaurants is also a great idea. I have printed out coupons for % off right b/4 I go out for a particular item and tell the kids these are the stores we are shopping in, this is where i have coupons for. Why pay full price for anything??
Dawn,
I think you and D.P should get together!! With your couponing skills and her canning and detergent making skills, you two could be unstopable!!
You have all given me great ideas on how to prep and get the kids involved!!
Thank you D.P., you started all of this!!
I know of alot of folks walking a similar path as you D.P.!! Keep the faith and God Bless.
I like the sound of your recipe for laundry soap, I think I'll give it a try!!
Family is the most important asset that you can have in this world. Teaching them to survive in this day and age is a skill that they can take with them, anywhere that their lives may go!!
I agree with you Jo. DP is doing her children a wonderful service in educating them young. Some day when they are older, they will thank her for it.
You and your family are an inspiration for self-reliance; I am amazed and humbled by how you've taken not-exactly-ideal circumstances and not only survived but thrived. You're pretty darn awesome!
Great story. Thx! Betty
My family was similarly frugal when I was growing up. My father was a fire fighter, so we weren't exactly rich, but I think I had a richer childhood than most despite (or perhaps because of) that. We camped every year for vacation, I learned to fish and hunt and gather, and we had a huge garden that I helped weed in the summer, and can, dry, and jam the bounty of in the fall. Your kids are awesome, the love you all share is obvious, and when you mix in a little pragmatic planning too, that puts you far ahead of the game.
Deanna, good job sounds like I need to get prepared. Everyone else in the family is but me. That should be telling me something.
love you guys
She is tellling YOU and eveyone else reading this that they better get prepa
ired!! Any one of us could loose our jobs in a heartbeat.
I don't know about you, but I know that I am not prepared enough.
Great story! seems like you have learned how to do a lot on your own. couponing is always good. i learned that from my mom! just keep your head up. God doesnt give you anything you cant handle. things will get better!
xoxo
You may just have inspired me to be prepared for anything!
Love the story and ideas....You should run a "how to" class...maybe you can make a little money that way
You are so right about Thrift stores and growing children
Great story! Thanks for sharing....JD
What's that saying "if you give a man a fish he'll eat for a day, but, if you teach him how to fish he'll never go hungry" That's exactly what you are teaching your children. Bravo!
Besides helping yourselves, the things you do are helping OUR Environment. If we all swapped one store bought detergent or cancelled the lawn service, etc imagine how much better our planet would be and in what better shape it would be left in for our children....Thanks DP
You deserve a break your way. I hope something comes out of this for you. You are an inspiration to all of us.....
I agree with the others, Family is key. Not money(although it does help) or material things. Your kids will be so much more enriched and have memories of good times spent together, not of how "poor" you may have been. They will be more economical and frugal. Most adults don't know how to do half the things your kids are learning to do. All the best!
You really should write a book about this you know...
...And I'd be happy to edit for you!
Also, I'm stealing your detergent recipe!
Also also, you should come up in the fall and take some of our apples home with you; our trees fruit like mad and there's no way we could ever use them all ourselves!
I believe that God guided my steps to your article. I can understand most of what you have been through as I too have. God Bless you and yours!!
That is so strange Symbio!! I too was drawn to the title of this article.
!?!
God does work in mysterious ways!?!
keep the faith in God and in your self!!
I noticed that alot of your commentors are trying out your laundry detergent recipe!! I think that I may as well!! Thanks for the info.
My God shine on your future!
No matter what happens in this world, your faith in God is your best weapon!
Great story!
Your a winner in our eyes!!
Keep up the prepping!
You make it fun! It doesn't seem hard at all!!
You do us all proud with your efforts!! Best of Luck!!
Again...great story! things will get better!
its great that you get the kids involved! i think making your own detergent would be so funn! xoxo
take care of those kids! cant wait to see them again! love you guys :)
you have some amazing ideas! the kids will be so prepared when they get older. good luck with everything!
amazing story!
youre such an inspiration to all! xoxox
keep your head up!
those kids are very lucky to have you in their lives. they will learn a lot!
be strong! dont think about the future too much! xoxo
Your article was so touching and informative. Sorry you have to go through this but you have just gotten the word out to others that you can't give up. You have to be creative and ingenious and you are both!
Camping is a GREAT vacation. We have so much fun when we go. Sitting around the campfire at night is the BEST.
How do you store your homemade detergent? Does it really make your clothes feel clean?
Yard sales are another good place to pick up inexpensive clothes. If it's embarrassing to look through someone else's clothes, hit a yard sale outside of your gen'l area. That way no one knows you or your kids(you'd hate to come across a kid your kid goes to school with)
Keep your chin up....Believe it or not there is always someone out there worse off than you.
Great article....Thanks for sharing your story!
I hope something comes your way real soon. You deserve a break
My wife is a couponer and she does save a good chunk of change each week. I don't think she can shop anymore without coupons(which is ok by me).
Jerry I need a wife like yours who can coupon. That would save me lots of money. But I'm not married so I'll look for frugalness in the girl of my dreams.
I am impressed with the way you handled your situation. I will keep some of your ideas in the back of my mind
You are prepared for anything....Keep it up. You go Girl!
yea you go girll love you guys
i think your letter might have inspired me maybe
you have some great comments
maybe you should teach me how to can
Keep your chin up, you're doing a great job for your family!
Great stuff to teach the kids!
always good to be prepared for anything!
great article
Thanks for sharin
good article!
very good skills to teach the kids.
Growing up, we canned alot, I still like to!
DP - very informative article
Thanks for sharing
How is it that you make laundry detergent??
keep your chin up and keep up the good work!
You can never be too prepared to a situation, thanks for sharing
Thanks for sharing your story DP!
Our grandparents from back in the Depression days would be proud of you!
I have to agree with Lisa that our grand parents would be proud of you and your effort.
I'm sure the kids enjoy helping you
It's the tough times that bring familes closer together
Loved reading your article
Liked your article!
Good to hear you're on the right path.
Nice to know that you don't need alot of money to prepare for your family.
Hope to learn some of the skills that you have.
We can all learn a thing or two from you D.P. Good luck!
Hope you win!!
Your a winner in my eyes!!
Great Job!!
I had no idea you could can your own meats!?! I am so not there yet.
Hop to be able to do half of what you are doing!
Nicd Job!
You should be proud of yourself.
I give my five votes all to you.
Hope you get what you want out of this contest.
I wish I had more votes to give to you. Thanks for taking the time to share with all of us.
I got up early just to vote for you.
I'm coming to your house if the world goes bad ya know.
Proud of you Auntie.
Dad can shoot the deer and you can can it for us.
I agree that any meat from hunting would be well taken care of in DP's hands.
I vote for you.
WOW! AWESOME STORY
HOPE THINGS GET BETTER FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, BUT YOU SEEM TO BE DOING ALL THAT YOU CAN AND THEN SOME WITH WHAT YOU HAVE.
I AM NOT AS PREPARED OR AS KNOWLEDGEABLE AS YOU ARE IN MATTERS SUCH AS THIS. I NEED TO GET MYSELF IN GEAR AND START LEARNING SOME OF THE SKILLS THAT YOU TALK ABOUT.
I VOTE FOR YOU STORY.
I VOTE AGAIN FOR THIS STORY.
Good article.
nice to hear form a former east coaster.
I wish I had more votes to give you. Good luck.
Wow! Sorry I waited until the last minute to comment. Great job DP. I can't believe all of the comments that you've gotten. Thats so great. You did a really good job telling your story.
Don't feel bad Kat, I too waited until the last day. I think DP has done very well without us so far., I wish I could vote 100 times for this story,
The hubby and I need to better prepare ourselves as you and your family have done.
I need to learn how to can. My grandmother used too. I do garden in pots on our deck. Being able to can up my yeild would be wonderful.
I think that getting the kids involved would be fun. It would also prepare them for when they become adults.
I would love to try your laundry det. . I guess a little hard work making it will quickly pay itself offf in the end. Thanks
Nice article
Sounds like you have the right idea.
Keep the faith and you will prevail
You are saving your family from hard times ahead.
We need more people thinking ahead to a future that we can't even imagine. Those that can help themselves will prosper. Believe.
Good story. I enjoyed learning from you.
We should all learn some new "old time" skills.
We should try to learn to live without so much techno stuff and get back to basics.
There is much to be said for being as self reliant as possible.
Good luck in all of your prepping.
You go DP! Colorado is lucky to have at least 1 prepared family.
Voting a 4th time for entry!
voting a 5th and final time for this article. Good Luck!
Wow I can't believe how well you did. About time all the things you do in life are finally paying off and helping others as well. It looks like you have reached a ton of people.
The more people who gain knowledge from you, the better off we will all be when something happens.
Keep reaching and striving towards your goal. The stars are within your reach. Keep the kids interested. They are the future.
We can all learn something new in life. I guess our ancesters would be very proud of the way you've gone back in time to simpler living.
This story gets all of my votes. I wish you the best of luck with this contest and in your life. God Bless.
I almost forgot to finish voting for you!! Great Job!
I can't believe all of the votes you have. You diD a gReat thing hear.
I will bake you bread if you Will maKe the jellie. Very proud of you
the kids don't know how lucky they are to have you taking care of them and teaching them.