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To My BasicFrugality Life
I grew up in a poor family, so did my Mother and my Father. I watched how my Mother and Grandmothers did things and were never wasteful. I watched my Mom when she got done making her biscuits, take the flour that coated the counter and carefully rake it back into her sifter and then sift it back into the flour bin. I watched her carry in rain water to pour into the washing machine to wash our clothes, or carry it to water the garden. I watched her use every single leftover we had and make "Must Goes Soup" or "Must Goes Casserole". I watched one Grandmother save every drop of bacon grease or sausage dripping to use to fry my Grandpa's eggs or to grease the pan for cornbread. I watched her make homemade dye for Easter eggs. I watched her save every cold biscuit she made and make biscuit pudding. I watched the other Grandmother save every piece of ratted clothing to use for cleaning clothes. I watched her save every bread bag to use again. I watched her save every scrap of material, peice of yarn, button and bauble to use in something else. Even after seeing all of this, all of my life I didn't choose to go this path right away. I HAD to have better than they did. I didn't want to scrimp and save and NOT enjoy life. Then I realized that the reason that they had what they did was FRUGALITY!!
Then I started saving I looked for ways to save money, time, and things. I remember one Grandmother with a great fondness as she has gone on to be with Jesus, I observe my Mother and Grandmother that are still with me with new sight. I know that they loved their family so much that they made those sacrifices so that we could have more. I want the same for my family. I thank frugality for allowing me to stay at home, allowing me to homeschool, allowing us to have a home, enough food to eat, and enough money to pay our bills. I also know that once we get out of debt that frugality will also help us to buy/build our house.
Okay, now why did I go through all of that? Because I want you to know that even though I found frugality again after leaving it I also have backslid and came back again. Funny thing is I always come back to it because I KNOW it is best for this family. I love the frugal life. We are happier this way and are happier with what we have when we are pinching pennies. Even my boys try to reuse things in their play. I can see another generation go on and be frugal. And then I know that the generations before me would be pleased to see it.
I think now about the things I do and realize I will never be as good as the women before me but I am proud of where I came from and what I do now. I think of them as I carefully dip my rinse water from my dishes out of the sink and pour it into my washer, or as I wash my zipper bags out and let them dry, or even as I crumble the biscuits for the biscuit pudding and I smile. I am not as good as they were but I did learn and take notes. I thank each of you.
The pages following this one will have tips and idea that I use and want to share. Don't think that they all will be mushy because they won't. I just had to write what I felt led to. *Thank you Tina for making me remember.*
I also run an e-list at smartgroups. We would be happy to have you if you would like to join.
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