God Provides!

Have you ever noticed how when you really need something you get it? I'm not talking about those shoes that would look so good with that outfit hanging in your closet. I'm talking about living on a budget, you have no extra money and your washer quits. What are you going to do? I used to just go out and charge what I needed or more often than not what I wanted. Today however I would call around to different family members and ask if anyone knew of anyone with an old washer for sell. I would put in a call to my uncle who always helps with the finding of things like this and then instead of sitting around complaining that my washer doesn't work I would load the laundry and the kids in the car and go visit family and do laundry there. I would pray that the Lord make me accept this and bless me in some way or show me the lesson I should be learning. It always works, when this happened to me my father in law happened to have a washer that he no longer needed, and even though it only washed a small load at a time it was in my home at my convience to wash my family's clothes. After a couple of months of using that washer my mother commented on it not holding alot of clothes. I agreed but hey it was free and one less thing in the landfill. Would you believe she called the next day to tell me that my uncle had talked to her the night before and wanted to know if she knew anyone who needed a washing machine. He had bought a new washer to match his new dryer and if she knew of anyone they were free to have it. I got it and then passed the smaller one on to someone else who didn't need a full size washer. This is just an example on one of the millions of times God has provided. So much stuff has been given to me when I really needed it, everything from clothes to food to giftcards. I believe you have to know what you can live without and what you can't and learn how to make do, which I'll write about later. As usual thanks for reading and thank God for all the small blessing he gives us.

OUT OF DRYER SHEETS!!!!!

Well as you can tell by the title I ran out of dryer sheets. I decided to go crazy and live in the moment!!! Just kidding the reality of it is that I didn't want to load three kids in the car and drive to the store in the rain late in the afternoon when dinner needs to be cooked and kids need to be bathed and put to bed. So I decided I would go with a tip I had read somewhere. You put two bars of soap in a tube sock and tie the end up. That's it!!! To simple right. I put one bar of irish spring into the sock and tied a knot then another bar and tied the end up. It worked like a charm. The clothes all smell like my husband and the soap seems to melt a little but still using the same bars after a week. It seems to be keeping the static down in everything except towels but I just shook them when I folded them up. It actually worked better than some of the store brand dryer sheets. Good Luck and I hope it helps someone out in a pinch.

Green Beans

Well I have been up to my ears in greenbeans. I've been picking, snapping, cooking, and canning. There is nothing greater than looking at you fresh beans just draining in the dish drainer after being washed and knowing that your husband grew them with the sweat of his labor (and our very hot summer days). I love to look at home canned foods. You know that alot of work and love went into them and NO chemicals or dyes. My only problem is getting the boys to eat them as much as they love to grow things in the garden if it ain't a raw veggie served with ranch dressing then it ain't makin it's way down the hatch. I remember when I was a kid I hated greenbeans. I actually didn't start eating them until I got pregnant with my first child. Love them now though. Well happy canning to you all.

How to make biscuits

1. The first thing you do is preheat your oven to 450 degrees
2. Take a good sized bowl and add 2 cups of selfrising flour.
3. Add 1/2 cup of shortening and take a fork and work it in until the shortening chunks are about the size of a pea.
4. Slowly add milk until mixture is sticking together, it will be wet lookining but thick enough to form a ball.
5. Shake some flour out on the counter and plop you dough on it. flour your hands and smash dough flat till it's about 1/2 inch thick.
6. Take a can ringer or glass and cut your biscuits.
7. Place on a baking sheet or pan and bake for 10 minutes then check on them and if not done give more time, they will be done when golden brown on top.

I have substituted margarine or butter or even mayo for the shortening. You can also add sourcream which makes it super yummy and crumbly. You will get better and better at this the more times you make them and then you'll be an official biscuit baker. Don't forget to serve with butter and jam. Also it's great if you can use buttermilk, (I usually use powdered milk for all of out cooking and baking)

Cloth Diapers

I want you all to know how easy cloth diapers can be. When my baby was about 6 months old I realized that I would not be going back to work. I just couldn't leave my baby girl and I had already missed too much with my boys. It was like I blinked my eyes and now my first born is ready to start school. I was trying to cut cost everywhere. I started buying cheap diapers and checking into the cost of clothe diapers. I was totally schocked how expensive they were. I thought how on earth do they expect normal stay at home moms afford these? I then found a website called best buy baby and they rock. I ordered some diapers and covers and liners. I then went to ebay and ordered some from a lady there. I have used them like crazy, however I don't have enough to last more than a day so I always do a load in the evening to be ready for the next day. I like the little rubber pants the best for around the house. I have even put the liners in a small pair of my middle sons underwear and put them on the baby with the rubber pants on top of those. I know it doesn't sound to great but it catches the pee and easy on and off and washable. (not to mention free) I still use store bought diapers when I'm out and at night but I'm not even sure I am going to continue doing that. I think the main thing when trying to save money is learning to make do, before getting rid of something take a good look at it and see if you can use it for anything else. Not only would you save money but you'd also help the enviroment. Hope you all are have a great weekend. If anyone has any other helpfull info on the cloth diapering I'd love to hear it.

Go moms everwhere!!!!

Sometimes I think you have to blow your own horn. If you've ever sat up all night listening to your child cough, or cleaning up vomit. If you've ever spent the night playing musical beds because all your kids track you down in the middle of the night with the accuracy of a bloodhound, or you spend all day with a teething baby fussing and nursing, and biting. You spend most days doing the same tasks over and over and at the end of the day you wonder how you can be so tired and your house so messy? If you've ever spent 2 hours cooking dinner and making everyones favorites just so they all can eat and run back outside and husband can sit down to watch t.v. while you're sitting at the table looking at the mess you now have to clean up. I say TOOT TOOT ladies. Go ahead and lay on the horn with a great bid HOOOONNNNKKKK!!!!!! I know that it takes guts and patience. It takes intelegence, strength, humor, and alot of motrin. good luck to all you mommys and don't for get to be proud of yourself.

SUPER QUICK MEAL

1. WHEN TIMES ARE TIGHT AND YOU LOOK IN THE CABINET AND ALL YOU HAVE A BLACK BEANS AND RICE WELL THEN THAT'S WHAT YOU COOK. HOLD ON JUST A SEC. MY LITTLE ONE HAS A STINKY. SORRY YOU DIDN'T NEED TO KNOW THAT BUT IF YOU'RE READING THIS BLOG YOU KNOW IT IS TYPED UP BY A SAHM AND IF YOU ARE A MOTHER YOUR DAYS ARE SOMETIMES FULL OF STINK. SO ANYWAY BACK TO THE RECIPE.
2. YOU WILL NEED 2 CUPS OF COOKED RICE. I PREFER LONG GRAIN.
3. 1 CAN OF BLACK BEANS DRAINED AND RINSED
4. 1 CAN OF TOMATOES AND CHILI PEPPERS. THE SPICY KIND, BUT I HAVE ALSO DONE THIS WITH JUST DICED TOMATOES.
5. 1 CAN OF TUNA, OR 1 POUND OF GROUND MEAT WITH A PACK OF TACO SEASONING ROCKS, OR CUBED CHICKEN. THIS WORKS WITH ANYTHING.
6. THE GREAT THING IS YOU CAN ADD TO IT OR JUST HAVE THE BEANS AND RICE. SUPER EASY AND VERY FILLING. GREAT IF YOU ADD A CAN OF CORN, CHEESE, AND ONIONS.
7. YOU CAN GET ALL THESE INGREDIENTS A DOLLAR GENERAL. I USUALLY GET THE BEANS ONSALE AT KROGER AND STOCK UP. HOWEVER I JUST BOUGHT DRIED BEANS AND I'M GOING TO TRY THAT.
8. THIS WOULD BE GREAT WRAPPED UP IN A TORTILLA. YOU CAN CHECK OUT THE HILLBILLY HOUSEWIFE ONLINE IT ROCKS WITH A RECIPE FOR TORTILLA. HOPE THIS TURNS OUT FOR SOME OF YOU. LET ME KNOW. THANKS

DOES ANYONE NEED A BREAK?

SOME DAYS ARE SO LONG THAT IT SEEMS I JUST KEEP DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN. OUR BEANS ARE READY IN MY HUSBANDS GARDEN SO THE PAST TWO DAYS I'VE BEEN UP TO MY CHIN IN GREEN BEANS. HOWEVER NOW I CAN LOOK AT MY BEAUTIFUL HOME CANNED JARS OF BEANS AND FEEL A GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT. I KNOW THAT MY HUSBAND GREW THEM AND I KNOW THEY WILL ME MUCH BETTER FOR MY FAMILY BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT BE STORED SWIMMING IN PRESERVATIVES AND CHEMICALS. ON THE OTHER HAND IT LOOKS LIKE A TRASH TRUCK HAS BACKED INTO MY LIVINGROOM AND DUMPED TOYS, DIRTY CLOTHES, AND LITTLE URCHINS WHO HAVE BEEN PLAYING IN THE MUDDY GARDEN. I KEEP TELLING MYSELF THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER. I GUESS IN TEN YEARS IT WON'T. GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE AND IF YOU HAVE ANY GOOD CANNING RECIPES I'D LOVE FOR YOU TO SHARE. GOD BLESS.

HOW TO EAT ON A VERY LOW BUDGET!!!!

I WILL BE QUITE HONEST WITH YOU. I AS IN MY WHOLE FAMILY OF FIVE LIVES ON 30K PER YEAR. OUT OF THAT COMES A HOUSE NOTE, CAR INSURANCE, LIGHT BILL, PHONE BILL, TRASH PICKUP, T.V./INTERNET, AND A SMALL LOAN AT THE BANK. OUT OF MY HUSBANDS CHECK ALSO COMES 100.00 PER MONTH FOR RETIREMENT AND 430.00 PER MONTH FOR INSURANCE. HOW ON THIS PLANET DOES THAT LEAVE MUCH FOR FOOD? THAT WAS THE PROBLEM I WAS FACING WHEN I DECIDED NOT TO RETURN TO WORK. WE HAD LOTS OF HELP. MY PARENTS AND MY HUSBANDS PARENTS WERE MOST HELPFULL WHEN IT COMES TO FOOD AND ANY OTHER THINGS WE REALLY NEED. HOWEVER I HAD WORKED IT ALL OUT BY EATING VERY FRUGALLY. FOR INTANCE BEANS AND TATERS. YOU CAN'T GET MUCH CHEAPER THAN THAT. I'VE FOUND OUT THAT THE KIDS DON'T ALWAYS NEED CHICKEN NUGGETS AND FRENCH FRIES, OR LITTLE DEBBIES. NOT THAT I WOULDN'T RIP RIGHT INTO A SWISS CAKE ROLL RIGHT NOW IF I HAD ONE, I KNOW THAT IT IS A WANT AND NOT A NEED. IT'S AMAZING WHAT KIND OF RECIPES YOU CAN COME UP WITH JUST USING WHAT'S IN THE PANTRY. I'VE COME UP WITH SOME WINNERS AND SOME NOT SO MUCH. THE MORE DETERMINED I'VE GOTTEN TO STAYING HOME THE MORE WAYS TO SAVE I'VE COME UP WITH. I FOUND A GREAT SIGHT CALLED MONEY SAVING MOM. THANKS TO THAT I'VE STARTED USING COUPONS AND GETTING THINGS LIKE TOOTHPASTE FOR AROUND FIFTY CENTS. I'VE ALSO FOUND THAT YOU CAN SUBSTITUTE POWDERED MILK IN MOST RECIPES INSTEAD OF REGULAR. IT'S MORE THAN HALF THE PRICE OF A GALLON. SO IF YOU MAKE THE KIDS GRAVY AND BISCUITS IT CAN REALLY SAVE ON YOU GOOD WHOLE MILK. WE'VE TRIED THE DRINKING OF THE POWDERED BUT I REALLY DON'T LIKE IT. WE LIKE WHOLE MILK IN THIS HOUSE. COLD AND A LITTLE THICK COMPARED TO 2%. I CAN MAKE THE KIDS HOME MADE COOKIES ALOT CHEAPER THAN NABISCO AND ALOT HEALTHIER TOO. I RECENTLY BOUGHT A BAG OF WHEAT FLOUR AND I'M GOING TO BAKE SOMETHING WITH IT. WISH ME LUCK. GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS TO YOU ALL.

LIVING ON ONE INCOME

HELLO THIS IS MY VERY FIRST BLOG AND I WANT TO TRY AND HELP OTHERS OUT THERE WHO WANT TO STAY HOME. WHETHER YOU WANT TO BE A STAY AT HOME PARENT OR JUST WANT TO LIVE A MUCH SIMPLER LIFE IN THIS VERY HECTIC WORLD. I WOULD LIKE TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT I AM HAPPILY MARRIED AND HAVE 3 HEALTHY AND SMART KIDS. I WORKED PART TIME AFTER MY FIRST WAS BORN, THEN WENT BACK FULL TIME AFTER MY SECOND, I'M STILL HOME AFTER MY THIRD AND SHE IS 10 MONTHS OLD. SOME WEEKS ARE TIGHT, SOME WEEKS ARE BEANS AND TATERS. I ALWAYS SAID I COULDN'T AFFORD IT. IN TRUTH I COULDN'T AFFORD IT WITH THE SPENDING HABITS I WAS USE TO. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT MY KIDS JUST DON'T NEED ALL THE HOOPLA THEY WERE USED TO GETTING. WHAT THEY NEED IS ME. IT SUPRISES ME HOW MUCH I MISSED WITH MY BOYS BECAUSE I WAS AWAY AT WORK, AND THEN IN SUCH A RUSH TO COOK DINNER, GIVE BATHS, CLEAN, AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT HAD TO BE DONE AFTER WORK HOURS. ON AVERAGE I REALLY ONLY SPENT MAYBE AN HOUR A DAY WITH MY KIDS. THIS IS HOW MOST CHILDREN ARE BEING RAISED. I'M ASHAMED OF MYSELF. I SHOULD HAVE PUT MY CHILDREN FIRST AND I DIDN'T I THOUGHT ONLY OF MYSELF AND THOUGHT I COULD JUGGLE IT ALL. I'VE CHANGED AND I AM SURE THERE IS ALOT OF YOU OUT THERE WHO FEEL THE GUILT THAT I TO HAVE FELT AND DON'T THINK IT'S POSSIBLE. I'M HERE TO TELL YOU IT IS. YOU CAN SUCCEED AT LIVEING ON ONE INCOME YOU JUST HAVE TO GET YOUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT. I WOULD LOVE TO HERE BACK FROM SOME OF YOU AND SEE WHAT YOU THINK. I'LL BE BACK MAYBE TOMARROW WITH INFO ON HOW TO CUT COST.