Wonderful Ways to save Money. Part One

 

It is hard for people to grasp this truth, but the amount of money the housewife and homemaker can save is staggering. 

And Yes, I do believe it is possible to become a full time wife and homemaker in a modest income household, even today. Stay tuned.

I would like to make a whole series of posts, giving tips and ideas on this subject. In my experience it is much easier to get the most out of these if there are not too many suggested at once. All these suggestions will be pleasant and rewarding. The idea is that we get a sense of joy and contentment and also a sense of satisfaction as we begin to reap the rewards.

I am fortunate enough to remember how life was before the Internet. There were lots of housewives back then. They enjoyed their homes and their family life.  They didn’t work at the pace of today where there is no time to think or sit down with a cup of tea and a bit of knitting or to write a real letter to a real friend (as opposed to a quick text or posting a selfie to your Instagram page).

1. Get good at what you do by getting off the internet 

We all know deep down that the internet, particularly social media is now engineered towards getting you addicted. That’s why we can’t get off it. Notifications and toxic news especially are giving us high levels of anxiety and stress. We are so frazzled that it’s hard to think straight. We begin to react to everything instead of pausing, before deciding the best way to respond sensibly to a particular situation.

But as we have observed, getting off the internet is not a simple matter  The anxiety stays with us for a quite a while when we switch off from all the fast stuff on our screens. We have to think first about what everyone did when there was no internet at all. When there were no mobile phones. 

So my first suggestion is to think about things you enjoy, or might like to try, that are mainly home-based, and don’t involve screen time. 

Could it be baking or cooking and making simple but delicious meals or cookies for the family?

Perhaps, reading a real, physical book from your bookshelf.

Taking up crochet, knitting, a bit of sewing, making cards, drawing, or other craft you can do at home. 

Could you start a little bit of a garden?

Listen to relaxing classical music or learn about the great composers.

(Have you noticed a problem about these suggestions? Hmmm. How can you learn to get good at any of these if you don’t go on the internet? )

I suggest that you don’t have to get immediate answers. Don’t go straight to Google or YouTube for your answers. Think a bit about how pre-internet society learned these things. One extremely popular way they learned things was to go to the local library. They are usually free, and they can order books from other libraries for you too. Libraries can be addictive but in such a nice way! 

Be intentional about what you go online for. For instance, once a week I go  onto YouTube specifically to watch the new video by the channel Frugal Money saver. The link to this channel is at the top right on this blog. Or go to YouTube directly and type Frugal Money Saver Channel into the search bar. Have your notebook and pen ready to note down ideas and recipes you like and check out the wonderful comments under the videos posted by viewers 

Trot along to a thrift store or charity shop. Here you can often discover helpful books. (Vintage are usually better than modern). Old style cookery books especially the hardbacks are illustrated so beautifully and you can browse them at home like magazines. You can also often find craft supplies like yarn and fabric.

Get to know your neighbours. Many neighbours already have experience of the pre-internet activities that you want to learn, and would be happy to talk and show you about them. 

Another way to learn is almost lost art. And that is to think it out yourself. Try out ideas, and make notes about what works and what you want to tweak for next time. This is the way many people learned to do things in the past and it gives tremendous confidence over time. For instance, many mothers and homemakers could sew clothes and bake cakes without using a pattern or recipe book.

Most of the things listed above will be very inexpensive. By doing these things you will be less likely to go internet shopping, or impulse buy, of run out for entertainment outside the home. You will already begin to save a lot of money.

Until next time, thank you for joining me today. 

Please leave a comment. I would love to hear from you. 

 

Simple Sewing. Couple of small projects and a surprise for me!

 Thank you for joining me today,

I am continuing to find ways to use up the small pieces of fabric in my box. 

I had a dark blue strip of cotton and wondered what to do with it. A while ago I had knitted a cosy for our cafetière. It had begun to stretch slightly, so I decided to line the inside of the cosy with the fabric. This would give it strength and help insulate the coffee better.

First, I pressed the fabric under a damp cloth to get any creases out. N

Next, I folded over a quarter of an inch on all sides, and then folded them over again a quarter of an inch. I gave another press with the iron for nice crisply folded edges. 

Then I lay the Fabric on top of the wrong side of the cafetière. The  hems are facing the cosy so you won’t see them. I carefully hand stitched the fabric to the cosy.

This little bag/purse is for my granddaughter. I had some small bits of bee printed fabric to give a bit more interest. It was a case of folding the fabric in different ways to see what style I could come up with. I folded in a section as you can see to curve the edges at the bottom.

I think my little granddaughter will love her bag. Next time I would remove some of the bulky edges as they were difficult for my machine to get through. I overstitched the curved edges by hand and that came out nicely.

The surprise 

Just as I was almost out of fabric in my box, A friend emailed me to say she was having a clear out of her fabrics and hopefully I wouldn’t mind, but she has sent me three packages of fat quarters, and various offcuts of cotton fabric, large and small!

It looks like I am going to be sewing again very soon.

Knitting. Jean Greenhowe Free Toy Knitting Patterns

 

Here is my William the Snowman, finished today. He will be a Christmas Present for my grandson.

If you enjoy knitting toys, here is the free pattern you can download from Jean Greenhowe. There are quite a few others too.

 The late Jean Greenhowe designed the most delightful, simple, easy to use toy patterns. She was beloved by many knitters, and her famous booklets are still available to purchase also.

https://jeangreenhowe.com/patterns.html 

Simple sewing. Hemmed table mat

Recently I have been wanting to use up the little pieces of fabric I have. I don’t have much fabric at all, but am planning to sew some simple dresses and maybe a skirt or two in the future. I will be buying fabric for each project as I go, which is a nice calm way to go about things.

A housewife’s fabrics are resources, to be enjoyed - and used. Otherwise they can cease to be a resource, and morph into burdens, that will not benefit us.

I began to look at my unused or half used fat quarters, one at a time. There was an attractive green floral FQ in the box which seemed a good place to start

The above planning sketch was not intended to be a work of art 😊 

I used a hot iron on the steam setting,  to press all the creases out, then folded over about a quarter of an inch on all sides once. Then folded  over again and pressed to get a nice crisp fold

At this point I could have hand stitched along the hems, but decided to use my old Bernina mini-matic sewing machine to sew them, on the straight stitch setting. Then I pressed all around again to “set the stitches”. 

I hope to post more simple projects if you find them interesting 

You Don’t Need a Schedule

You Don't Need a Schedule.

Do you need a schedule to observe a flower's bloom?
To rest your eyes on soft blue skies,  or hum a happy tune?
Is a grand plan necessary to read that cheering book?
Or at a golden setting sun , to stop and have a look?
Or wear that lovely floral skirt  that makes you feel so pretty?
- You only need a schedule for the boring and the gritty!

The world of work must use them, along with motivation
to knuckle down (and pray that it's soon time for your vacation),
The world of work demands  we work at such relentless pace
No time to think of life and love, no respite and no grace.

But housewife dear, the thing is clear
Our natural way is not
to rush and push and stress ourselves
until we're super hot!

Slow down and smell the coffee! The home-made cakes and pies
And see a pretty, tidy home, appear before your eyes.
Read stories to the children and listen to their worry
Mummy makes it better when she isn't in a hurry,
Greet dear hubby at the door, the man you love and married,
You cannot do these things at work, or if you're rushed and harried.

You do not need a schedule to love your housewife day,
There is no rush - it does get done, and you'll have time to play,
Many joys await you and contented moments too,
But don't expect the world to understand the things you do.
Turn off the computer, and the mobile and TV,
Take time, enjoy and potter round - and have a cup of tea! 

ⓒ Lesley Bambridge 2018

If you would like to use my poetry please ask me first and attribute me
You may save and print out all posts on this blog for your own personal homemaking use only. Thank you.

Strange Perceptions

Strange Perceptions

Years ago, you would often hear or read of people saying things like 'When I was a child, I thought we were rich, until I grew up and realised that we had had very little money'


Soon, I think we will begin to hear and read the opposite from our grown children. They will say 'I always assumed that we were  poor when I was young, until I grew up and realised we had had quite a lot of money'



And right now, adults seem to have very strange perceptions of what is rich and what is poor...

Time to dig the snow

Is it poor to be able to be at home and spend quality time with your own children?

Little rich kid?

  Will he look back with fondness on his expensive games and videos and cupboards full of toys - and parents absent, or simply too busy?

Is this a poor family sitting around the table together?

Would it be richer to dash into a busy fast food outlet, and feast on their 'wholesome' fare?

Is having the time to think about dinner and do the shopping an impoverishing experience?

 Poverty? - having to hang the washing on the line on this lovely day, with baby out here in the fresh air.

 Perhaps 40+ hours a week of this is rich and contenting?

 Will she feel that she was poor because mummy was there when she was ill?

Or perhaps she would feel richer in the day care?

 No expenses spared holiday?

 Or a peaceful romantic walk that costs hugely less?






A wife at home, enjoying her home, spending time with the one she loves, can have a richer life.

Banish the. Morning Kitchen Blues

Housewife Tips: Banish the Morning Kitchen Blues

A kitchen you like to spend time in.

You don't have to face this kind of kitchen.





 The Housewifely Haven is all about enjoying the wonderful, peaceful world of contented homemaking. Here you will find tips that cost nothing and that will make a big difference in your day. The only requirement to this kind of contentment is that you do not rush things, and that you spend time pottering in your home.

The way to banish the morning kitchen blues is to gradually build tiny routines and habits into your life at home. They are so small as to be easily managed, but will reap big rewards.

Begin by making small preparations the afternoon or evening before (not too late). These preparations can be:

I don't know what you have for breakfast, but let us imagine that you begin with cooked porridge (oats). While you are cooking the tea/dinner the evening before, put a saucepan on the hob, and place the amount of oats you will need inside the pan. Put the lid on top to keep it clean and dry. Place your morning cutlery and bowls ready. Think about what food will be eaten. Is there food in the fridge that needs using up? Eggs, bacon or those few last mushrooms? While you sip your after dinner coffee, have a think about what you will do. Anything you can prepare earlier will make your morning easier. As you get more practiced, you will find new ideas pop into your mind that you can try.

In the evening after tea, put the things for your morning drink on a tray, ready to take upstairs . 
A husband going off to work, will have a calm morning and unhurried breakfast which will set him up for the day. What a difference that will make for the one you love : )

As you cook the breakfast, use a brush and rinse out any pans as soon as you have used them. Make a routine of rinsing off dirty dishes as soon as they are used. Put them in hot soapy water or in the dishwasher in a rinsed condition. Also, give a swipe over the hob and counters with a soapy cloth, and then wipe the sink with a dry cloth. Rinse the soapy cloths before pegging onto a small washing line to blow dry. Wipe over your toaster and kettle with your dry cloth.

Give your husband a kiss as he leaves, and maybe even a quick brush over his jacket with a handy clothes brush, kept by the door.
Whether you have children at home or not, make a routine of coffee or tea for yourself with a snack, at least by mid-morning; maybe using this as a time to think about your plan for the day.

Remember - do not rush. Pottering pace is the more efficient and contenting in the long run. Enjoy the peace and health of the contented housewife. Instead of feeling the blues, you'll be tickled pink with your morning kitchen.

A Case of the “What Ifs”

 

A Case of the 'What if's'

Welcome to The Housewifely Haven

I am a full-time wife and housewife. To me, it is the most fulfilling, satisfying and happy thing in the world. I know that many women feel the same way - but you won't read that on the internet - I believe there is a nasty agenda out there. But 'in here', you are safe and free to relax, to learn how to be a housewife, and all the benefits that await you if you do.

If you are a 'seasoned' housewife (sounds like you are to be a casserole?) maybe you don't need to read this post. But for anyone whose heart is saying 'How I wish I could stay home and be a housewife' or something along those lines, below is a quick list of 'What if's' that might be worrying you. I hope they may help.

Before I post the list, I want you to remember - this blog is to be a gentle, peaceful haven for housewives, or those wanting to explore the world of the housewife. Comments are moderated, and I will simply not publish anything that will spoil our fun. 

What if's (short list - short answers -)

What if I don't have much money?
You don't need much money. You don't need land. You don't need to own your own home. You don't need anything more than a very modest income to manage as a happy housewife. Resourcefulness is truly fun. I will show you how.


 What if I don't have children?  Then you will have more time to:Build a deep and abidingly romantic relationship with your husband - a regular lunch date; gathering up quick supplies for a picnic when he has an unexpected afternoon off; always being able to take a holiday when he has his leave from work; creating a warm welcoming atmosphere at home where he loves to be after the madness of his day. You will have the time to learn new skills that will be satisfying and fun. If you have a garden of some kind, you can learn to grow bright flowers, or maybe you would like to start with growing tomatoes or salad leaves for the table. Perhaps you want to learn how to sew your own clothes or knit, draw or papercraft.  If you don't know other housewives, invite an elderly person for tea once a week. How they would love to visit in a real, relaxed home atmosphere. These things are what our society is sorely lacking today.


What if people think I am stupid by not having a job or career?
Your job and career as a wife, housewife (and mother, if you have children) is more important and fulfilling by far. You will be more relaxed , organised and looking after those you love the most of all. Personally, I think it is a very clever choice to have these priorities.



What if I am not a natural housewife, and I can't clean and organise?
Most women would say the same to begin with. How much time was invested in showing you how to do these things? As long as your heart desires it, that is all you need. Cleaning and organising only feel overwhelming because we have not been taught how to do it at a natural, gentle pace. I will show you how easy it is to run a home when you are not squeezing it into impossibly tight schedules


What if I am bored?
You won't be. After a period of adjustment (be kind to yourself over this) you will discover how rich life at home will be. It will amaze you.


What if I am treated like a doormat and have to be a slave to the family?
If you understand that you are the 'queen of the home', and your role of guiding it, you won't be treated like a doormat. You are not a martyr either. I remember seeing a video of Queen Elizabeth when she was a young woman. She was on a picnic with her family in Scotland I believe. There she was, the Queen of England, happily serving out the tea and sandwiches. Serving is a thing that builds confidence and richness in life - if you value yourself and those you love. 


What if I feel unfeminine, or I am not glamorous?
If you don't feel feminine, you soon will do. Being a housewife, away from the harsh working world, gradually allows you to soften. Free from the pressures of making money or career, your features and your voice begin to soften - your husband and family see this and they will love it. Don't take my word for it - see for yourself.
It is not about being glamorous! Men don't see beauty the same as us - truly! To a husband, a women who has a gentle manner, a softness and a sweet smile, is a beautiful woman. Try it for yourself.


What if I don't have a husband?
A man of integrity, who wants to serve his wife by leading,  providing for and protecting her, is not attracted to a 'manly' type of female, or a self-obssessed,  bossy, overtly 'sexy' woman. He wants to love and cherish a sweet, gentle and feminine woman whom he can safely trust in. If you wish to be one of these treasured ladies, you can easily learn to become one. You will be prepared and confident when the right man comes along - and you will have a lot of good men from which to choose. As always, don't take my word for it, try it and see for yourself. 

I hope you will enjoy these posts, and find them helpful. I hope to inspire you on your housewifely adventures, organising, meals, cleaning, creativity and resourcefulness and on becoming more feminine. Anyone can do this! The schedule is not gruelling.  My first priority is my own husband, home and family, so I won't post a huge amount.


I welcome polite, respectful and genuine comments from housewives or those who want to be housewives.  

Treasure hunting at home. Your Home is your Thrift Shop

 

People have so much stuff, so why do they keep amassing more? Part of the reason is that they have an impulse, which is born of a deep anxiety about lack. Partly, those companies selling 'stuff' have spent billions on working out how to push people's buttons.

Most people exist in a state of chaos because there is nowhere to put all their possessions:

They have so much clothing! And yet, they wear a fraction of it and return to the same few items at the front of their wardrobes and closets. 

They have so much food! Yet it rots in the fridge and cupboards, and they do not even know it is there. Then they run out for a takeaway 'treat'.

They are over-run with toys for the children! But the children are unhappy, dissatisfied and overwhelmed by the sheer amount of stimulation around them.

They have boxes and boxes of craft materials and it all stays in the boxes unused; while they get another fix of retail therapy.


They spend as little time as they can in their homes because the clutter and disorder claws at their peace when they are there. 

One could go on, but you get the picture. It is all very sad, because these poor overstretched, overmarketed people are making themselves sick and anxious every day. They are not enjoying their daily life - or anything they have purchased (for more than a momentary high - followed by the inevitable let-down) 

Life-coaches will encourage them to grit their teeth and get organised. But... there is no need to be so hard on yourself. For the housewife there is a happier solution.

I call it 'Treasure-Hunting at Home'.

You don't have to make a schedule, remember. Just make spending time in your home a priority. If you treasure-hunt at home, you will soon want to spend so much time at home, it will be hard to coax you away!

You can begin where your desire takes you. It is not a question of scrubbing out, chucking the lot, and having a massive spring clean until you are exhausted and want to run away again. This is a NEW way that actually works.

Maybe you want to start with the food in the kitchen. That is where I would choose, I think. Would you like to treasure-hunt in your baking things, or the pots and pans cupboard? Take your time and don't give yourself a guilt-trip. You are going to be gradually getting to know what you have and how to use it. Each small area you deal with will give you more peace, contentment and the feeling that you have accomplished something for the long-term.

You will almost certainly find treaure in whichever area you choose to hunt. A saucepan or crockpot hidden away at the back. A long-lost pudding basin which will make you some steamed puddings - you don't need to buy a steamer just use what you have. I can tell you how to steam a pudding if you don't know how. What will you find?

Baking cupboard: Throw out the very old packets, but there is probably something that you will enjoy using now that you have found it. Make a jelly with that gelatine. Make a soup with the pearl barley you had forgotten about. Put on your shopping list the fresh vegetables that you will need to go with it. A great idea is to use 1940s rationing cookbook recipes. In Britain, during the years of rationing, they were extremely healthy, and despite what you might hear, most meals were delicious and there was no waste. We have the advantage now of not having to grow our own herbs and seasonings.

Clothing is a great place to treasure hunt too. One drawer or cupboard at a time - find those hidden treasures. Pull out those long-lost shoes and give them a lovely shine-up. Then they can go in a box with their identity written in large letters on the front. Each shoebox will stack nicely on top of the other with the label facing you if they are not see through.How nice it will be to easily identify them and choose which to wear. You don't need to go and buy a shoe 'system' or clear plastic boxes if you prefer to keep the shoebox in which they came.

Of course, you can treasure-hunt anywhere now you see how much fun it is. The main thing is that the longer you spend in an area, the more you will become comfortable and familiar in it. Try not to rush therefore. Soon enough you will find yourself actually enjoying the things you have bought and forgotten about - and if not, you can give them to the charity shop. Organisation is a kind of by-product of the treasure-hunting. It will begin to fall into place (no pun intended), and new ideas will come to you over time too. When you see how much you have already, and begin using it, the desire to buy more will diminish. You will be looking after and enjoying what you have.

What treasure hunting you have done today in your home, and how much you have saved?

The Richer Life of a Housewife. Savings

 It's great news!

A housewife on a very modest income can have a richer life.

What the housewife can save without batting an eyelid:



Transport and petrol/gas costs. Your trips can be leisurely and well-planned and you may not need to run another vehicle.

Meal costs  You will be staggered at what you will save on meals! Expensive takeaways (because you have no time and are exhausted from work) will be replaced by inexpensive, healthy foods, that take 5  minutes to plan in the week. Food won't be wasted, and you won't run out and have to dash to the shops to buy more. 



Clothing costs  Business clothes can be replaced by pretty day dresses and skirts. You can learn to make them at home and have fun. An inexpensive pattern can be reused often, every scrap of the fabrics can be used to make unique gifts, items for the home, and accessories. The housewife has time to treat her and her family's clothing carefully and they will last much longer.



Electricity costs No more expensive drier. The washing line can be used when it is not wet. Meals can be planned for the oven and items batch-cooked. Just having the time to think will give you easy routines that save on costs around the home.



Maintenance  Taking your time, and incorporating little habits and routines will mean less accidents and breakages. Appliances and furniture will be cared for and maintained; they will last for years longer.



Shopping  When a housewife learns to potter around her home, changing, arranging and making pretty little touches here and there; things that lift her heart and calm her restlessness; she will find a deep sense of contentment begins to appear. That compulsion to keep buying new 'stuff' is mostly caused by a continual sense of dis-satisfaction with what one has. The truth is, that what we already have, when we have time to care for and enjoy it, will give us more peace and contentment than buying more stuff will.


'Me' time  Me-time costs pretty much nothing for the happy housewife. Her schedule is her own, to plan and organise according to her preferences. Inviting a friend for tea and home-made scones; reading her book in the garden after lunch, or listening to some peaceful music, for instance. Or she can pick up her knitting, or take a walk in the sunshine (or snow!). She can teach herself all sorts of skills to enrich her homemaking. These will be happy times - and much more relaxing and rewarding for herself and her family, than scrolling FaceBook or social media.



Child-care Instead of paying through the nose to have your children cared for by strangers, the housewife can care for them at home. She can guide them and give them the security of a mother's presence. As they grow, she will learn how to create order, and routines so that life will be richer for her and them. She will be the one to see and encourage their first steps, or put a blanket over a table to make a little play house. She will be the one to fill the doll's tea-pot with water for the teddy-bear's picnic...  while her friend enjoys real tea and a chat. A trusted friend  can arrange that each have an afternoon off by looking after the other mother's child once a week if wished.