Desperately Seeking Frugality - Comments Please!

Hear my plea, oh blogging world.

We are a one income family by choice. We believe that God has called me to stay at home and to homeschool the kiddos. I have a degree, I have abilities, I know I could get a job - but i have no desire to because of a calling God has placed on MY life. Not on every one's life, MY life. God brought us through a time where I was going to work every day for a while and leaving my children with someone else during the day and it was further confirmation that I am supposed to be at home.

This does pose a few challenges. My husband is a minister, and while we are SO thankful for his job, we are on a tight budget. So, I feel like my contribution to the family finances is to figure out ways to be as frugal as we can. I am not a couponer, I figured out a long time ago that coupons only work if you buy name brand products, and I rarely do that. I grocery shop at Aldi, they are always cheaper and have virtually no name brands.


I make my own laundry soap, fabric softener, dryer sheets, wrinkle spray, all-purpose cleaner and stain remover. I don't need help in this area, but I'm looking for ideas for all other areas!!!



I read a lot of blogs and websites about homemaking stuff (because I'm weird that way), but I'm looking for real-world, works for your family - advice. What do YOU do. I'm asking for wisdom from my readers, things that your family does to help you be wise with your finances.

COMMENTS PLEASE!!!! Leave advice, recipes, websites, whatever works for you!!!! I promise to give you the credit when we're millionaires, ha!

Same song, 754th verse.

The sucking vortex has returned. Our catastrophe-laden life has finally culminated in what I was trying to avoid for years.

Medication.

See, when I was diagnosed with a panic disorder 4 years ago I refused medication because it was only happening once every six months or so. Who wants to be constantly medicated for something that happens twice a year? But when it starts happening every other day for several months....you listen to your doctor.

Now for my soapbox about Christians and medication. I'm sure there are people out there with depression/anxiety issues that are fully Spiritual. I'm sure there are people who can pray, and memorize, and fast and the heavens open and it is wiped away. God is a healing God. I fully believe that. I also know that when these issues hit me many years ago I thought that EVERY Christian with these problems could prescribe to the above and get out of it. Result: two years of going mentally insane. Really, ask my husband. Medication was the grace of God in my life. And now, God' grace has yet again come to me in the form of a little blue pill.

If you would like to debate me on this subject, go ahead. BUT, be fully warned, I will probably retort with something akin to "Your Dad must be far from the Lord to rely on Lipitor instead of prayer to keep his heart from exploding".

So, why do I tell you this? I'm seriously unsure. I think it's because I like to be real on this blog, and unless you know that I'm a struggling person just like you are, then how real can it be?

But, no worries friends. I am getting better every day. Medication, cutting out caffeine (UGH) and plans to change my diet right after this LAST TRIP are really going to help. And, in case you are wondering, that is all in addition to prayer, seeking God for the underlying issues, fasting and such. But, prayers are ALWAYS appreciated (it would be silly not to ask...) and comments are lovely as well!