We are living in very tough times. It takes great ingenuity to make our household budgets work. I read about the Great Depression, and how professors were paid monthly. Their wives would make that money last as long as they could. But by the last few days of the month, they had no money left and ate very little. However, because everyone was in the same situation, it was considered normal. They had a positive attitude and enjoyed their days, despite the end-of-the- month poverty.
We all have our good and bad months, and even our good and bad years, financially speaking. Yet this is nothing new to our country or to our world. In History, we read about the very plain and seemingly boring foods families ate. They had things like porridge, bread and milk and a little meat. Nothing like the feasting we modern Americans enjoy today. This indulgence can get out of control. When money is always tight, and we expect to have cookies and cakes and meat and potatoes on a daily basis, we may suffer from a self-perceived misery.
One of the hardest things a housewife has to do, is create interesting, nutritious foods that cost very little. She needs to make sure the family has that feeling of "plenty" or "enough," and keep their spirits up. There are two ways that might help motivate her in this:
1. Remember that God has the power to give and withhold wealth. He has good reasons for this. We must have faith that as long as we are doing our part, he will provide for our needs. (For a housewife, this does not necessarily mean she has to earn money. - It means she has to faithfully do her household tasks, and be careful with the funds she is given.)
2. Look like a million! What I mean is to dress up in nice clothes when you are out shopping. Historically, when a housewife went into town for her marketing or errands, she would put on her gloves, hat, heels and jewelry. She would do her best to look nice. During the late 1930's and 1940's, while this country was suffering from an epidemic of poverty, the majority of women still looked nice on a daily basis. They made the effort and this helped provide a happy mood for them, and for those around them.
Can you smile throughout the day, despite financial worries? Can you spend several hours a day, cleaning, cooking and "slaving" to make sure your home and kitchen run smoothly, so money is not wasted?
When payday comes, instead of despairing over your household allowance, look at it as your weekly challenge! Dress up for the job and get to work making everything last! This is your adventure. Make it look like fun, just like Mark Twain painting that old fence.
Blessings
Mrs. White
What do you think? - Only Rich People Have Clean Houses.
How Precious - The Old Sunday Dinner.
The example of Ruth Bell Graham - I want to be Like the Mothers Before Me.
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