Homemaking Organized Blog

Archive for April 7th, 2011

I received an email in my inbox today from Tawra at Living on a Dime. In it she answers a question from one of her subscribers who questioned her frugal living but yet having a nice house. I love Tawra’s answer to this because it is so true.

Frugal living does not mean that you live in a hut with threadbare clothes and nothing new in your life. Living frugally does not mean living poor. It means you know where to cut costs and save so that you do have the money to buy quality items and NOT on credit. It means being good stewards of what God has entrusted to you.

We lived frugal waaaay before it was in. My mother brought us up frugal. As a single mother she had to cut costs and after having lived in a third world country she knew how to do it. We had lovely clothes but they were bought second hand. And I shouldn’t say ‘but’. Just they were bought second hand. They were beautiful clothes. Back then you could usually attach a designer name to well made clothing. Not so today. Designer name does not mean that you will get quality clothing. Paying the most does not always mean paying for the best.

The title of my post is a quote from a long time friend of the family. Her mother told her asthey were growing up that because they were poor they could only afford to buy the best. Not the most expensive, the best. When it came to certain items she had to buy the best to ensure longevity and that she would get what she paid for.

We live like that today. We try and buy the best we can afford to ensure longevity, and a quality item that does what we need it to do. From vitamins to household goods.

I bought quality bed linens and bath towels because I’ve seen too many of the cheap ones become threadbare in a year. And I use the past tense because they are lasting. This past year was the first time I purchased new bed linens for us in 13 years of marriage. And only because I poufed the bed up with a feather bed and we needed those deep sheets.

When it comes to clothes we purchase them at an outlet store in our city. It’s a well known brand that I couldn’t afford full price of. The quality of the clothes is one you don’t see in stores anymore and as such I have not had to buy new clothing in quite some time. I buy classic styles that stand the test of time.

When it comes to grocery shopping I use coupons and buy items on sale. But because of food allergies and general health concerns much of what we buy is not found in the coupon flyer. I make a lot from scratch originally from necessity and now for the health and enjoyment of it.

We don’t eat out. First because of food allergies and now because we tend to cook better at home. We cook as a family watching cooking shows, reading cookbooks, and trying new things. We call it Chez Quinn.

I’ve picked sewing back up. I don’t think sewing is frugal because fabric costs an arm and a leg. But I was getting very discouraged by the clothing to be found for my 6 year old. Luckily my mother had some fabric she put away for such a time as this. And I have found a few sales on some nice fabric for her. But some call it frugal so I list it.

I’m not a perfect frugal person.  In fact many say I’m not frugal because we don’t live poor. We give first to God and then try to live wisely…and well, on the rest.

Share some of your frugal tips with me.