tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post214902645976249415..comments2024-03-27T03:25:08.267-07:00Comments on Life in the Shoe: Post 7--Poverty and Wealth--My Frugal TipsDorcashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07050605764466835485noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-83624250948876028102018-03-26T19:04:09.727-07:002018-03-26T19:04:09.727-07:00Creativity is unlimited and the sense of accomplis...Creativity is unlimited and the sense of accomplishment you receive from learning new things is invaluable. Just yesterday I figured out how to twine grape vine clippings from a neighbor into beautiful wreaths. Being can do is rewarding.Deb Laymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06075198348103465982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-57865703624827036552018-03-26T12:08:23.305-07:002018-03-26T12:08:23.305-07:00My tip, invest in a 5 quart pressure cooker. Use i...My tip, invest in a 5 quart pressure cooker. Use it to cook cheap, but tough, cuts of meat. Also use it to cook dried beans. Takes a fraction of the time, thus gas/electric on the stove top or energy for the crockpot. Some for potatoes. Just a few minutes of pressure and they are ready to be consumed!Plainlady's Ponderingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09526327124561246570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-69144059963399205102018-03-25T15:07:21.159-07:002018-03-25T15:07:21.159-07:00Also, fasting one day a week has wonderful spiritu...Also, fasting one day a week has wonderful spiritual, physical, and economic benefits. And does wonders for the flavor of beans!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-87581717731166279002018-03-25T11:10:34.677-07:002018-03-25T11:10:34.677-07:00My husband and I were both working low paying jobs...My husband and I were both working low paying jobs with no family insurance when we started talking about getting married. We thought about the military, and went to see the recruiter. Two weeks after we were married, my husband left for basic training. Housing, utilities, and medical are all included in his benefits. No, we aren't rich, but we aren't struggling for daily necessities either. Plus, we only have one daughter. I'm able to stay home with her and homeschool her .The Army pays for us to travel and see the world. In another 11 years, we are hoping my husband can retire after serving 20 years and have retirement money and medical to help when he moves on to another job. I realize the military isn't for everybody, but it can be a good option for some.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-14895554729262946072018-03-25T06:24:45.044-07:002018-03-25T06:24:45.044-07:00I love this. My mom (Edith Schlabach) sent it to m...I love this. My mom (Edith Schlabach) sent it to me yesterday. I love all your wisdom and advice regarding finances. My husband and I are very much learning and we do LOTS of surplus store shopping & thrift shopping! Thanks for sharing!Alyssa Freyhttp://alyssafrey.squarespace.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-86416411440176143782018-03-24T21:47:36.516-07:002018-03-24T21:47:36.516-07:00These are great tips. My husband and I and our tee...These are great tips. My husband and I and our teenagers, went through the Dave Ramsey seminar about 5 or 6 yrs ago and it completely changed our financial lives. No more panicking when bills were due, always tithing, etc. We wish we would have heard that kind of teaching when we were first married.Susie Schrockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14210797681309442200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-75134204851733612982018-03-24T15:56:32.809-07:002018-03-24T15:56:32.809-07:00I went back and clicked on the links included in m...I went back and clicked on the links included in my post about Ramsey (written 5 years ago). Apparently, he removed the objectionable "20 things" list, because the link leads to a different article entirely. As I said in the post, I was not aware of Dave Ramsey before the hubbub about the 20 things list, but that list, and his handling of the reaction to it, did not entice me to learn more about him or his methods. What I DID learn about him looked a little too much like poor-bashing to me. Lisa :-]https://www.blogger.com/profile/02237889098638895390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-31476012761931861642018-03-24T12:42:38.858-07:002018-03-24T12:42:38.858-07:00I totally agree that the welfare system is serious...I totally agree that the welfare system is seriously flawed and doesn't do well with long-term solutions and change.<br />As for Dave Ramsey--our 19-year-old son took the course and afterwards was discussing IRAs and savings accounts with his dad. For real. With any course/teacher, you have to be discerning and careful. I didn't take the course but my husband did, and learned a lot, and felt like it put our son on a good footing financially. But it might not be right for everyone.Dorcashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07050605764466835485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-73666982122744130742018-03-24T11:15:41.655-07:002018-03-24T11:15:41.655-07:00I've always felt that classes in money managem...I've always felt that classes in money management and frugal living should go along with getting help from the government or any other entity. Your tips are some of the ones that should be taught! It's like the difference between giving a man a fish, and teaching him to fish. Without education and training a person will never learn a different life. Mentors among family, whether biological, church or other groupings, can do the same kind of teaching. If we don't learn how to earn money and manage it successfully from our own parents then we need to be led to someone or some resource from whom we can learn. Other than teaching me to tithe, I didn't learn much about money management from my parents. Trial and error got me in debt; marrying a man who didn't know anything about it either and was deeply in debt, didn't help. My first learning came from Amy Dacyczyn and her Tightwad Gazette. From there I read every book I could get my hands on about being frugal and managing money. Without the mentoring of those writers we'd be in a world of hurt today. Because of them we are in a good position and watching another generation safely navigate the temptations and hazards of adult life.Rozy Lasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06019413665136390175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-52142997857609354362018-03-24T11:04:40.236-07:002018-03-24T11:04:40.236-07:00Perhaps you should bite the bullet and actually re...Perhaps you should bite the bullet and actually read Dave Ramsey's books. I don't trust writers who criticize without studying the original documents. He may have one or two things that could be better, but his teachings about how to handle money have helped thousands of people get out of debt and go on to live better lives. Not all his readers/followers become gazillionaires. Most just live normal (the new debt-free normal) lives filled with the joy of not having to be so stressed about debt.Rozy Lasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06019413665136390175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-77704099779189363202018-03-24T10:57:55.589-07:002018-03-24T10:57:55.589-07:00Putting beans in a crockpot before going to work t...Putting beans in a crockpot before going to work takes the same amount of time whether you're single or married with children. Shopping second-hand takes about the same time as shopping at the mall and is a whole lot more fun! Mending in the evening while catching up on your favorite TV show is relaxing. It's all a matter of perspective and wanting to be more creative, or more in debt.Rozy Lasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06019413665136390175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-45102380226389258542018-03-24T09:49:01.668-07:002018-03-24T09:49:01.668-07:00Just being a housewife doesn't translate in oh...Just being a housewife doesn't translate in oh my goodness I have so much time on my hands what shall I create next. While it is true that it is our priority to feed our families sometimes we just slap something onto the table because everyone is hungry and I just did sooo much laundry and the house is turned upside down by the cute children ECT ECT. My sister is single and she doesn't have time to cook all the gourmet meals, but she does have time to cook rice and beans. I find even for myself that I'm not always content to eat rice and beans and really would enjoy going out to eat instead of eating what I cook.<br /><br />I guess what I'm saying is that neither married or single we don't have any excuse not to live frugally. My dad always said, you always have the time to do what you want and it is so very true although it didn't always sit well with me to have it said to me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-64690709240142114332018-03-24T08:43:25.278-07:002018-03-24T08:43:25.278-07:00We did it all when we were raising our five but we...We did it all when we were raising our five but we were blessed to have a church family who cared for each other. We were all just as poor but we were so rich in friends and support. Then we moved 500 miles away from that wonderful group of people and that is when we felt poor. I did bring cheese for the occasional McD's burger because I would not pay 50 cents for a slice of cheese! We never felt sorry for ourselves because we were too busy just getting it all done and over and over God opened the windows of heaven and blessed us beyond anything we could have imagined.Lanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09380649410508372279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-30193105249081605852018-03-24T08:15:05.156-07:002018-03-24T08:15:05.156-07:00Dorcas--I have enjoyed this series. If nothing el...Dorcas--I have enjoyed this series. If nothing else, it has clarified for me the stark differences in life view between someone who has been poor, but had the backing of a practical and generous community, and someone who has just been dirt, on the street, homeless poor. I have been neither of those things...though we have never been more than middle class, I realize that I am just an observer when it comes to real poverty. <br /><br />I think you make a number of valid points...the one that particularly struck me was the concept of not giving money to people in need. It got me to thinking about our nation's welfare system...and how the money could be better spent on training and small business set-ups and good housing, basically setting people up to provide for themselves, rather than desperately trying to figure out how to take the (not enough) welfare $$$ they are given and stretch them to cover living expenses AND bettering their situation. I am a firm believer that there NEEDS to be a social safety net; but perhaps handing out money has been exactly the wrong way to go about it. <br /><br />I want you to know I have really appreciated this series, and you're going to think I'm nitpicking here, but the minute you mentioned Dave Ramsey, I cringed. I think the guy leaves a LOT to be desired...I blogged about him several years ago--here is the link if you want to read the post--https://betterterms.blogspot.com/2013/12/understanding-dave-ramsey.html Lisa :-]https://www.blogger.com/profile/02237889098638895390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-9441275259566601082018-03-24T07:03:23.423-07:002018-03-24T07:03:23.423-07:00Many museums have a free or reduced price admissio...Many museums have a free or reduced price admissions day. Find out when that is and you can have world culture for nothing. The public library is the best! If you are a student, you may be able to get discounted services, but don't fall into the trap of thinking "oh, I'll get this and save lots of money" because if you don't need it, you're not saving any money by buying it on sale.Beth Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01763035243003194097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-1415439527387545022018-03-24T06:09:55.588-07:002018-03-24T06:09:55.588-07:00My husband and I made it through the early years o...My husband and I made it through the early years of our marriage by doing many of your points. Number 12 is a must. We are at a place financially now that following all your points doesn't seem necessary, but more of a challenge. If we took the challenge we would certainly have more to give to the church, worthy causes or charities and also our retirement account. We are not big spenders and don't go in debt for things but your list shows there are ways we could live more frugally. <br /><br />I have appreciated this series and thank you for sharing. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09476311241678847357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-47030298262143955692018-03-24T05:28:11.168-07:002018-03-24T05:28:11.168-07:00Perhaps as a house wife with lots of time to do al...Perhaps as a house wife with lots of time to do all those things! Being single and paying a mortgage requires spending more because we spend our time at work, not cooking beans, mending or second hand shopping. <br /><br />Not disagreeing with you exactly,just saying the assumption "time is free" for a single person is just not true. Our lives just are more expensive by default. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-91500331026751390012018-03-24T04:47:40.672-07:002018-03-24T04:47:40.672-07:00I feel sorry for wealthy people. By being able to ...I feel sorry for wealthy people. By being able to satisfy their every whim with available money, they are depriving themselves of the ability to become creative. Creativity can be developed by thinking outside the box and that gets to be fun because you are not hampered by trying to keep up with the "Jones". Create, standing back and looking at your creation and wondering how I can improve on it...now this is what is fun. Yes, frugality feeds creativity. Love your points on how to be frugal.Sandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16129959861294843100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11022879.post-73017366157138144052018-03-23T22:37:40.567-07:002018-03-23T22:37:40.567-07:00As a humorous reply to point #6, I recently ran ac...As a humorous reply to point #6, I recently ran across a picture of a mug of coffee that said:<br />"Instead of going to Starbucks, I make my coffee at home, yell my name out incorrectly, then light a $5 bill on fire."<br />(And yes, I admit that I do occasionally go to coffee shops) :-) The Baritonenoreply@blogger.com