Take Root and Write

Making the Most of Our Time

The clock ticks and bedtime arrives before we know it. Many of us have so much to do that we wish there were more hours in the day. Effective time management will help us better juggle a multitude of responsibilities. In Time Is of the Essence, Melissa Smallwood shared the benefits of managing time wisely. Today, she is back to offer practical ways to be frugal with our time.

Karen:  Welcome back, Melissa. Last week, you shared a little about yourself as well as the benefits of managing time well. Are there some key principals for effective time management?

Melissa:  The first principle is spending our time wisely. Just like any other resource the Lord provides, we need to be good stewards of our time. I encourage people to prayerfully take their calendar to God and ask Him to reveal what should be there and what shouldn't.

The next is what I call the "I am not my calendar" principle. So often we define ourselves by what we do and not by who we are in Christ. Because we will never feel fulfilled when we find our worth anywhere other than through Jesus, we just end up filling our calendar with things to do. Then we end up wondering where all the time has gone.

Finally, there is the priority principle. There are things in life that need to take precedent over other things. Being able to discern what those are and be purposeful about making the right things your priority, makes managing your time so much easier.

Time Is of the Essence

Have you ever had days where you wondered...where did the time go? Some days it feels like we haven't accomplished much. Other days we bounce from one activity to the next without much time to even catch our breath! We know time is of the essence. Yet it seems like it flies by like a blur. Many of us juggle our endless activities and never-ending chores until it feels like there is not enough time in the day. Melissa Smallwood, from Organized Life By Design, is here to talk about how to be frugal with our time. She is a professional organizer who is passionate about teaching others how to manage their time more effectively.

Karen:  Welcome Melissa! Would you share with us what led you to become a professional organizer?

Melissa:  God would be the short answer! Actually, I have always been an organized person. I consider myself a recovering Type A personality. Educationally, I have a social work background. When I worked in a health care setting with the elderly, I noted that many of them could use assistance downsizing (when they need to move into a retirement facility or in with family). That is how my business started. And it evolved from there.

People began to see the assistance I offered to the elderly and wondered if I could apply the same skills to their kitchen or home office. I worked hands on with clients for a year and a half before devoting more time to growing my business and online ministry. I love helping people create order from chaos and cut through the clutter of life to be able to get to what is truly important...relationship with God and others.

Eating Healthy On a Budget

There was a time when I thought you couldn't eat very healthy on a slim budget. Money had been extremely tight and it seemed cheaper to buy items that were what I deemed "not so healthy." I remember having conversations with a friend about how it was so expensive to buy fresh fruits and vegetables. Quite frankly, meat was not too cheap either. Surely there had to be some way to incorporate healthier choices with limited money.

Months later, even though our finances had improved, we were still working with a narrow grocery budget. Still, I decided to try and plan a whole foods style menu for one week. I wanted to see if I could get all that was needed without going over our allotted grocery amount. Imagine my surprise when not only did I not go over the specified amount, but I actually had about $25.00 left over! Oh happy day! I COULD buy healthy items to feed my family for an entire week on a tight budget! Are you wondering how I did it? Let me share with you a few things that made eating healthy on a budget a reality in our home.

Frugal Homeschooling Is Possible

When I began homeschooling, I quickly became aware of the plethora of materials available. The options were plentiful and ranged from pre-packaged curriculum to computer programs. The same is true today; numerous resources with a variety of price tags. I soon discovered that homeschooling could get quite expensive!

If you buy materials for several children, money can disappear in the blink of an eye; and for those on a tight budget, the cost can sometimes be downright discouraging. Take heart . . . frugal homeschooling is possible.

With the availability of Internet, economical options abound. However, with many free online resources, the expense of printing needs to be compared to the cost of purchasing actual material. If reading things on the computer doesn't bother you or your child, many items can be read online without printing them out. Below is a list of different frugal options for homeschool material.

The Art of Couponing

When some hear the word couponing, they picture hours of time spent clipping and shopping. It seems overwhelming and leaves one wondering it it's really worth the time invested. Lindy Abbott, columnist for Take Root and Write, felt that way at one time. However, she changed her mind. Lindy joins us today to share the art of couponing.

Karen:  Lindy, what changed your mind about couponing?

Lindy:  I heard about my friends going couponing crazy. I saw their big binders and tables full of coupons that they would bring to monthly gatherings for swapping and I was totally overwhelmed. I told people over and over, "Couponing is not for me." I tried it years ago. It took too much time and I barely saved anything. I was doing good getting to the grocery store much less trying to coupon.

Finally, one day I was at a friend's house and very sheepishly asked to see her coupon book. Seeing it made all the difference. The concept that revolutionized the ease of couponing for me was that binder method.

Karen: Lindy, you mentioned to me how you knew many of your friends were saving a LOT of money using this method. They were also building a large stock of items in their pantries. Those two reasons alone captured your attention. However, the binder method sealed the deal. You have been couponing now for almost a year. How much do you save per month on an average?

A Recipe for the New Year

Several days ago, our little toddler sat on the floor of my office playing with a recipe box. The next thing I knew, she had turned the container upside down and dumped the entire contents on the floor. Whether I wanted it or not, I was given the perfect opportunity to do some sifting and sorting. I figured that right then was as good a time as any to evaluate which ones to keep, toss, and try. So, to the table I went with my jumbled pile of cards and papers to categorize them. When I finished, not only was everything organized but I had also rediscovered long forgotten recipes, as well as ones I still wanted to try.

Just as I spent time going through my recipes, we can look at different areas in our lives (such as finances or time) in order to see where we can be more frugal. Sometimes we just need to tip the box over and start again. We may discover that there are new ideas and old habits we need to keep, toss, and try. In fact, we may find that resources have been overlooked. This year, let's try a new recipe for frugal living that involves three primary ingredients:  evaluation, collaboration, and activation.

Evaluation

Evaluation is the first ingredient in our recipe. It involves observing how we succeeded and what needs improved. It is vital that we consider both. If we fail to recognize the places we have succeeded in, giving up becomes easy. I don't know about you, but I need to see my efforts making a difference. Recognizing that motivates me to keep focused on my goal of frugal living. At the same time, if we can also understand the problematic issues, then we are better able to create a strategy for overcoming those obstacles that may get in our way.

Homemade for the Holidays - Part 2

In my last article, I discussed how one way we can bypass some of the commercialism of the season is by making homemade gifts. Not only can it be a more frugal option, but it also can be a blessing to the recipients. I have fond memories of the goodie boxes my mother-in-law prepared for family at Christmas time. They were filled with various treats to feast our eyes and taste buds on. She would try to include items that she knew were well liked. There just seems to be something special about a person taking the time to thoughtfully put together a basket of goodies just for you. This is exactly what the Blessing Baskets are about that I discussed in the previous article.

Today, I'm sharing a couple of my holiday recipes that could be used in the Blessing Baskets. Others have also contributed some of their favorites as well. Feel free to give these a try. Enjoy!

Hot Cocoa Mix in a Jar
Marilyn Waddington

Ingredients:

• 8 cups powdered milk
• 2 1/2 cups non-dairy creamer
• 4 cups Nestle Quik
• 1 1/2 cup powdered sugar

To make a cup of hot cocoa, add 4 tbsps. OR 1/4 - 1/3 cup of mix to 1 cup water.

Homemade for the Holidays - Part 1

"And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow,
Stood puzzling and puzzling: 'How could it be so?
'It came without ribbons! It came without tags!
'It came without packages, boxes or bags!'
And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.
'Maybe Christmas,' he thought, 'doesn't come from a store.
'Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!'"
(How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Dr. Suess)

As the years have passed, the Christmas season has increasingly become the retail industry's season of delight. It is their time to cash in on people's desire to give gifts to their family and friends. In fact, this holiday has become so commercialized that, unfortunately, it seems many have turned their focus more on the presents than anything else. As a result, this time of year has become fraught with stress for a myriad of people.

The Grinch thought that Christmas was all about the presents, along with Christmas trees and decorations. However, the residents of Who-ville knew a little something about the spirit of the holiday. In the classic children's story, the Grinch found out that for the residents of Who-ville, Christmas wasn't just about all the gifts. He pondered, "'Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!'" Indeed it does, Mr. Grinch. Indeed it does.

This year, if you'd like to get away from some of the commercialism of the season, why not prepare something homemade? Not only can it save money, but it also can be a way to bless those you care about by investing your time in putting together something personally for them. In addition, doing so presents an opportunity for your family to spend time together as you design and craft each present.

Here a few really easy ideas you could try. Some even combine the art of homemade gift making with a few store bought items as well.

Not Turkey Again?!

Turkey, turkey, and more turkey...will there ever be an end to the turkey? We look forward to the Thanksgiving meal. Yet sometimes we're not as enthusiastic about what's left. However, leftovers present a perfect opportunity to exercise frugality. They can be used in a variety of recipes. Many chicken recipes can be adapted with turkey, from salad to pot pie. This year why not beat the turkey humdrum by gobbling up these delicious recipes.

Turkey Salad
Instead of chicken salad, substitute turkey for the chicken in your favorite recipe. Here are two different recipes you can try.

Recipe #1:

This is my husband's favorite way to have chicken or turkey salad. It's great served up on some toasted bread!

• leftover turkey
• mayonnaise (just enough to make it creamy)
• 1/2 - 1 onion, diced finely
• 3-5 baby dill pickles, diced finely
• salt and pepper to taste

Combine all the above ingredients. This can be served immediately. However, I find that if you let it sit in the refrigerator for several hours before serving, it gives the ingredients time to blend together for enhanced flavor.

A Back to Basics Thanksgiving Celebration

The year was 1621. The winter proved long and arduous for the Pilgrims. Yet together they overcame great adversity. Thanks to God and the help of Native Americans, they reaped a good harvest. They had much to celebrate and therefore set aside a day for giving thanks. The decorations were simple, the food satisfying, and the gratitude sincere. It was this very gathering that many have come to refer to as the first Thanksgiving.

You can be sure that the first thanksgiving participants knew how to be frugal. After all, they created a colony from practically nothing! All those that took part in this celebration made due with the things they had and what was harvested. Times were tough back then. And times are difficult now; even if it may be in a different way. Many are learning to survive and thrive on less. Yet a wonderful thanksgiving celebration can still be had where the decorations are simple, the food satisfying, and the gratitude sincere. For when there is less, gratitude for what is present grows. This year, why not get back to the basics, keep it simple, and focus on the true reason for Thankgiving:  gratitude.

Back to Basics Decor
Frugality doesn't have to mean boring. A simple yet elegant table can be set. A pretty centerpiece coupled with candles and decorative napkins can be extremely attractive. Add in glass stemware and your best dishes to finish the look.

Here's an idea for a basic centerpiece. Gather the following material:

• decorative bowl or dinner plate
• one bag of fall colored potpourri mix
• strand of flowers
• gourd or miniature pumpkin

The Benefits of Budgeting

As a young child, I might have associated the word frugal with a breakfast food like bagel. I can just see it now, "Mom, may I have a little butter on my frugal please?" Back then, I didn't think much about money. I took it for granted that everything I needed would be provided, like breakfast. And it was. However, as I grew up I began to learn that money indeed did NOT grow on trees and was not served up on a plate in the morning!

I began my first "real" job when I was in high school. For awhile, I drove one of my parent's cars. But like most teenagers, the time came when I wanted my own set of wheels. My parents were wise and knew that the ability to budget and handle the obligation of paying bills was important for me to learn. They gave me the responsibility of paying for my own vehicle as well as purchasing whatever gas I needed. Even though I may not have realized it at the time, I learned how budgeting my money would help meet my financial obligations and have extra money to spend.

Setting up a well-planned budget is extremely beneficial. What makes it so useful? Simply put, it provides a valuable strategy for when and how to utilize money. Having a plan creates some distinct benefits that can be summed up in the following words:

• Reveal 
• Redistribute 
• Realize

These actions can enable us to be economical with our money. This, in turn, brings about greater opportunity to increase spending power while enjoying our resources more.

Keeping It Balanced

"The door of Scrooge's counting-house was open that he might keep his eye upon his clerk, who in a dismal little cell beyond, a sort of tank, was copying letters. Scrooge had a very small fire, but the clerk's fire was so very much smaller that it looked like one coal. But he couldn't replenish it, for Scrooge kept the coal-box in his own room; and so surely as the clerk came in with the shovel, the master predicted that it would be necessary for them to part. Wherefore the clerk put on his white comforter, and tried to warm himself at the candle; in which effort, not being a man of a strong imagination, he failed." (A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens)

Many of us can recall the extreme measures Ebenezer Scrooge took to save a penny. In fact, the narrator in the beloved novel A Christmas Carol described Scrooge as, "...a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone..." (Dickens) Picture it with me: there in the coldness of the office sat Scrooge perched in a chair at his desk making marks in his book. He kept a close eye on his clerk whose efforts to keep warm were in vain.

Scrooge was a miserly, old man who was stingy with his money and his kindness. In the end, Scrooge indeed changed. But we can still learn something from his former estate. How you may wonder? Let me ask this question: Would you say Scrooge was frugal? Sure he was. However, he practiced frugality to such an extreme that he eventually became a miser. He turned into a mean, cold-hearted, calloused man who had to be jolted in order to realize he was way off balance. Even though Ebenezer Scrooge was a wealthy man, his extreme measures at saving money drained every ounce of joy and freedom from his life. And it can do the same to us. That's why balance is crucial. It's vital that we understand what a frugal approach really is and then learn how to practice it in balance.

The Frugal Life

 

The term frugal has characterized my life for many years. Having been a single mom in the past, I learned how to stretch my money. Now as a stay-at-home wife and mom, the need for frugality has not changed. Being a one income family in our society is not easy. Over the years I've researched and learned different ways I could make my husband's income stretch.

We've had some lean years where extra money was a luxury we just didn't have. And I have had moments in the past where I wanted to pinch pennies so tightly that every expenditure became a battle. I was fighting for financial freedom but found financial frustration. I needed to find balance. I have since learned that balance is indeed possible in a budgeted life. Not only is it possible, but it's also paramount in maintaining a frugal life successfully.

In this column, I will be sharing various tips and ideas on how to save. Yet I also hope to show how to keep it balanced. In doing so, we will have a greater opportunity to be successful in living the frugal life.