Financial Separation of the Social Classes

Throughout the ages, there have always been different "classes" in society. We have the wealthy, the middle class, the lower class, and those in complete poverty.   In our current day, we have an illusion which masks our social status.   Obviously this is because we are able to carry debts to live at a higher standard of living. 

What I want to do today, is briefly examine the different classes. My hope is that once we see which class we are in, we can either be content and live accordingly, or we can work hard and responsibly to move to a higher financial class over a reasonable period of time.

The Wealthy

These are the financially independent. They have passive incomes. Passive - meaning without any effort. No labor required.  This income could be from a trust, an inheritance that was invested giving them continual payouts, stock income, or other investment income. Another possibility - generally for the young -  they receive an income from family as long as they do as they are told. (You've heard the threats of the ultra rich saying they will "cut off" all support if they don't do as they are asked?)

 Most commonly, the ultra - rich have wealth that has been carefully accumulated and passed down from generation to generation.

Characteristics -  They tend to own multiple homes, vacation properties, have a full staff of servants, own multiple businesses, own yachts, travel the world, have expensive cars and spend their time at charitable events, visiting, and carefully overseeing the family fortune.

If you have plenty of money to do whatever you wish, without any need to work whatsoever, you are in the wealthy class.  Very Few will ever move up to this rank.

 (Just in case you were wondering, I don't personally know anyone who is in this class. Also, if it wasn't obvious - I am not in this group :)


The Middle Class

Generally, this is the professional class. These tend to be college educated, white-collar workers.  This class has to labor to earn their income.   Many have been brought up in similar homes, by college educated parents and come from some sort of privileged background.  Privileged - meaning by white collar parents who have financially subsidised their children's growing up years and have helped them get established as adults.  

The key to surviving in this group, it seems to me, is the education.  These people are highly educated.

Characteristics - They own at least one very nice home in a beautiful neighborhood.   They may or may not have dual income couples. Many have only one parent working. The other parent tends to the affairs of the home, their social obligations, and community events.  This group has at least one domestic staff member. Either one full time maid, or a weekly maid service. Some have nannies and cooks.  This group goes on vacations and has a generously budgeted amount of spending money.  Their children tend to get an allowance, have plenty of new clothes, and can shop as needed.  This group has medical and dental insurance, and other benefits from work - like stock options, pensions and retirement plans.   This group has no financial  trouble getting on a plane when necessary.

This group is not wealthy since they have limited resources, which are dependent on working and getting paid in order to maintain their status.  

This group can, over generations of careful investments and a savings plan, move up to a budgeted state of financial independence. (This would be from passive income, built up and invested over time).  They would remain on a budget to make the money last, but they would be comfortable.

It is very difficult to  move up to this class, but can happen with help, encouragement, and possibly a generation or two of very hard study and work.   ( I personally know several people in this group. Some are even related to me.)

Can this group drop to a lower class? Are they in danger of this? Most definitely.   Two possible problems could come up - a lifetime of financial mistakes, or a collapsed economy.


The Lower Class

This is the blue-collar group who labor for their money. They may or may not live from paycheck-to paycheck.  Generally speaking, this group is NOT college educated. Or, at least does not have a college degree.  In my observation, there are two types of the lower class:


1. The Strugglers
[Those who struggle constantly to get to a higher class, and who are often in debt and have constant financial trials.]

Characteristics - This group may own or rent a home. They might finance a car. They might finance all manner of things and begin to require consumer debt just to survive. This group is often trying out the latest "get rich quick" program, hoping it will make their lives better. They are on a quest for money, but don't understand the concept of money. This group tends to have very little financial education. They may bounce checks at the bank, cannot balance their books and argue with bankers about overdrawn accounts. They have trouble paying their bills and misspend much of their earnings. They blame others and the economy for their woes.

This group cannot move to a higher class and will not even more to the class of "the content" [below] in their level because they cannot slow down long enough to change the way they live. In most cases, their children will repeat the same patterns.

2.   The Content
[Those who tend to avoid debt, and manage to generally be content with their lot.]

Characteristics - This group may rent a home, or own an inexpensive house. Very few of them ever finance a car, furniture or anything else that would cause debt. Not because they are necessarily averse to it (they are) but because they do not want to put other things in danger by promising over future money that they aren't sure they can consistently keep up with.  These people tend to be content with inherited furniture (or things bought at second-hand stores), and few possessions.   Once this group has enough chairs, and other furniture, they rarely ever buy more (or new) their entire lives.

They are very diligent at saving and careful spending. Their home expenses are kept to a minimum by very frugal endeavors.  This group will have to work their entire lives in order to keep to their standard of living.  They have no funds for a domestic staff. They generally do all their own home repairs, housework and car repairs. Or they trade out with friends, by helping each other.  In some cases, they do hire help for emergency situations but these expenses put a tremendous burden on their finances and could put them in danger of going hungry or having an electric bill shut off, or lose their winter heat, until they can get their bills caught up.  Some will find odd jobs (if they are lucky) and work a horrific amount of hours just to keep food on the table during this time. But these people have great characters, and a tremendous work ethic. 

It is possible, however, that their children can move to a higher class. Through sacrifice and hard work, their children can become educated in high paying trades, and carefully taught skills (both hands-on skills and book learning) to be able to earn a high and steady paycheck.  In must be noted here that the children themselves have to be hard working in order for this to work.

This group is highly educated in frugality and thrift. This is what helps them survive. They are also fully aware of the stock market, investments and money management, but are not able to use those skills with their limited earning potential.

Those In Poverty

This group can include those who are homeless, or those who are completely dependent on others for basic needs.  Anyone from any class can fall into this category, and it is devastating.   This group is not necessarily a "class" but a part of society where help is greatly needed, and always will be.  Those in the upper classes must find a way to be charitable, through organziations or their local food pantries, etc. to help on a regular basis.

Conclusion


They key to surviving in each class is financial education.  We need to constantly learn and understand the latest developments in our modern world - relating to money.   Even the ultra rich could possibly lose their wealth if a generation of their offspring spent away their money and made poor investment decisions. 

My recommendations to financially survive:

To Get Out of Debt

- Anything Dave Ramsey (He is the only one I recommend for debt elimination because he understands the difficulty of the "now," when one is struggling financially. He is also realistic and an incredible motivator.)

To Learn to Live on Very Little and Be Content

- Anything from The Good Old Days publications (with Ken Tate). Looking back in history to the Great Depression, will help us understand how they got by through incredibly rough times.  There are also a treasure trove of ideas for fun, happiness and inspiration that doesn't require any money.

To Learn To Live on Very Little

 - Your Money or Your Life will help put this all in perspective.  This book may also help you get off the crazy "Money Quest" that is ravaging our culture.

To Learn to Invest and Build Wealth

You will get many ideas and inspiration from Rich Dad Poor Dad.  

Learn how to Budget and Handle money wisely

Anything from Crown Financial Ministries, and the late Larry Burkett,  is amazing for this!


Being Content in your Class

Now that we've talked about the characteristics of each class, have you figured out where you stand?  I  know exactly which spot our family belongs in. But now the question is, are you content there? Or would you rather work your way up to the ultra rich?

The most important thing about the distinction of the classes, is learning to live as that class must live.  This includes studying money, staying within a budget and finding ways to build the education and skills of your family.  There are only 3 ways of moving up in a class:  1. An inheritance.  2. Winning the lottery. or 3. Hard work, tremendous study and patience!

One of the greatest books written for the lower class (which is the group a great many Americans are in) is The American Frugal Housewife.  Her introductory pages in the beginning are inspiring and sobering. She is also very clear that one should not "dress above their station in life," (which is a beneficial thought relating to the classes. We can't spend more money to live, than we can realistically afford.)

May I just say this? Don't be ashamed of the class you are in. Be grateful. Take pride in your lot in life.  It is amazing that we have so much freedom in this country that we can work our way up if we choose to.  We have the Immigrants as examples. Their hard work and determination helped build the wealth that generations of children now enjoy today.  Take pride in your class, just as the Immigrants took pride in theirs.

Blessings
Mrs. White


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This post is part of The Christian Home Magazine in the Financial category. To see more articles in different aspects of Home life, please visit the latest issue, hosted at Day by Day in our World.

Living Without Credit Cards

I don't think we realize the extreme poverty that is hiding behind the modern credit industry.   American culture is under the illusion of wealth because of our growing consumer debt.   

There has always been 'credit' and 'debt', but not the dependence on credit cards to survive.  This is what frightens me.

In the early years of my marriage, credit cards were rare. We all waited for the next paycheck, or the next month, before we bought items that weren't essential.  We had our budget for food and rent. But things like clothes, home decor, or gifts were not part of the financial plan.  We had to save and wait to buy those things.   I remember waiting an entire year before we finally got curtains for our apartment.   If we didn't have a bed, we slept on cushions on the floor.

 If we needed shoes for the children, and didn't have the money, we would go to the local thrift store and see what we could buy, using some scrounged-up change.  (I remember taking a nice new looking pair of shoes, and trading them for a smaller pair, in my pre-schooler's size, at the local thrift store.)  Sometimes, this got us through a month or two before we could buy the necessary new pair of shoes our little ones needed. 

Our family is from a wealthy town in suburban Massachusetts. We are used to all the shops and malls and restaurants. Going to "Brighams" for ice cream after a movie was part of life for the young people.  Spending money was the way we  lived.  We all worked hard and earned what we spent. We teenagers did not borrow money from our parents or even have an allowance. We all had ways to earn a small income - through jobs, babysitting, yard care or whatever we could do.  The idea of credit cards or borrowing money never entered our minds.  I didn't know this kind of thing even happened until many years into my marriage.

The only consumer debt I was aware of was a layaway plan at the local K-Mart or Ames department stores.  We mothers would wait for a good sale, and buy the items we needed for our families, including gifts and clothes. We would pay a little each week, without interest or obligation, until our items were paid for.  THEN we would receive the merchandise. Or, if we decided we couldn't afford our things, (perhaps a problem came up) we would cancel the layaway.

There is a common type of debt that occurs in life, which includes emergency car or house repairs.  For us, these kinds of things are rare, but every company has worked with us to come up with a payment plan.  We did not need credit cards for this kind of debt.   These bills were always paid off within a few months.  However, it always put a strain on our budget. We would cut back on other things to make the payments.  It is impossible to get ahead in life when we overextend ourselves financially. 

Patience and going without are crucial for the working class.

There are many times in my marriage that we have lived in utter poverty.  These struggles taught us valuable financial lessons. We appreciate everything we have. We know how  to live with very little.  We have never raised our standard of living, even when Mr. White's income has increased over the years. We have only lived in cheap apartments or bought homes with a tiny mortgage.  We live simply so we can survive the rough times.

Have I ever used credit cards? Of course.  I hate them. They are dangerous and devastating.  Currently we have no debt (other than our mortgage). We don't own a single credit card.  We don't want anything to do with them. They enslave us.  They train us to depend on them for our existence. By having everything NOW, and not waiting for it, we slowly build up a burden of debt and misery that very few can ever escape from.

I would rather go without.  I would rather wait for the treats and the seeming necessities.  I would rather have this historical, working class approach to spending, than live with the illusion of having what I want now.

 Even though it may seem harder to live without credit cards, it is the most freeing, amazing, peaceful financial experience you could ever imagine!

Blessings
Mrs. White

The Complete Tightwad Gazette is one of the best tools for frugal living.



When Mother is Poor - To Encourage the Downcast Housewife.

A Very Precise way to Conserve Food - Kitchen Inventory - The Pantry.

Essential Virtue - A Wife Who Does Not Complain.



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Life Without a Telephone

For the past few days, we have been without phone service.   It is amazing to hear an empty silence, which replaced a constant ringing phone.   Life seems more gentle without all the interruptions.  Things are  more slow - paced.

 If people need to reach us, they wait until we see them (on an outing) the following day.   Supposed "urgent" conversations are no longer necessary. 

The calls I need to make have become almost non-existent.    What used to be important to me, no longer feels essential.

I realize a phone has become almost required for everyone.  We certainly need them for emergencies.  But I wonder if phone use (and it's expense) has gotten out of hand.

Today, most people have cell phones. They are texting and calling each other several times a day.   We all have far too much instant access to each other. It makes it difficult to have quiet moments for creativity, family interaction in the home, and productivity.  (The expense alone, of cell phones, is staggering!)

It used to be that no one ever called during the dinner hour. That was family time.  Calls were made earlier in the day, or later in the evening. It was like a social respect of someone else's time, and privacy.   Sadly, this custom is no longer relevant in modern life.

 I wonder if phones have taken over our lives?  I realize we can use voice mail and answering machines to take messages, and we can return calls at a regular time each day.   But most of us don't do that.  We feel that, since the phone rang, we must answer it. We are programed to answer it!  If we don't, our imagination goes wild with worry about the missed call.

 But what we don't realize is that this cultural pressure to use the phone all the time, is taking away massive amounts of our life and money.

Will I get my phone back? Of course. But I am thinking of ways to keep it more simple.  There has to be a way to make the phone a tool, rather than a master.  Why does the telephone have such a stronghold on society?

 Could this be why parlours are generally empty and vacant of hospitality? Because we are too busy tied to the phone, or other types of technology?  

What about the money we are paying for this convenience.  Could, at least, some of it be better used for charity or the basic needs of those in our own homes?

Blessings
Mrs. White


Ideas to Help -  Financial Survival in Hard Times.

Making Him Happy - Cooking for Mister.

Just like Grandmother's day - Rising While it is Yet Night.

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Families Investing in the United States

During rough times in our country, citizens were encouraged to buy US treasury bonds.   In the movie, For Me and My Gal (starring Gene Kelly and Judy Garland), rallies were held, and the people would buy the bonds with pride.

My Grandfather was a laborer and worked hard his entire life. He was Italian and had a tremendous work ethic.  He raised his family near the coast in Massachusetts.  Every payday, he would cash his check at the local supermarket and buy a bond.   Not only was he investing in our country, he was investing, very carefully, to provide an estate for his family. 

When I first got married, I was given a Treasury Bond, which had been bought in my name when I was born.  This was another way to invest in the country, and in the family.

There are many corporations that are employee - owned because of stocks. Those people take great pride in their work and in their companies. I wonder what would happen if a resurgence of investing in America happened.  What would happen if US Citizens started buying bonds again.  What if we started investing in our own country?

There needs to be a revival of investing in our nation.   We need a nation that is in the habit of saving money.  Buying Treasury Bonds is like buying a piece of our country. It is like buying our history and taking possession of it. 

Yet, there is more at stake than just money here. We need to focus on raising our families who take pride in being United States citizens. We need our children to be taught to honor their elders, work hard, help the poor, and to be grateful for currency that says, "In God We Trust." 

Blessings
Mrs. White

Remembering the Old Days - Mrs. or Miss and Other Titles of Respect.

Having a Precious Attitude - The Gentle Art of Home Keeping.

The Fun of Home Life - Mother's Dinner Bell.

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This post is part of The Christian Home Magazine in the Financial category. To see more articles in different aspects of Home life, please visit the latest issue, hosted at Day by Day in our World.

Tempted to Spend Money for Father's Day

With Father's day coming up,  most of us think about shopping. This has seriously tempted me to spend, or I should say . . .  waste. . . money.

Why is it so easy to go into any mall, or department store, and buy a present? Yet, at the same time, it siphons hard earned cash out of the home's funds. 

When I was growing up, we children bought our father his favorite snack foods.  One of us was elected to head to the corner store, and buy "Dad's Root Beer" and "Circus Peanuts."  Every single year, we gave him those items as a rare treat.   We would never have imagined going into a big store and buying him an expensive gift.  Father's day wasn't like Christmas. We didn't think that way. It was a special day to honor our Dad. It was not about money or gifts.  We used that day to be extra nice to Dad. (smiles)  We might watch his favorite program with him. But mostly we were well-behaved and let him rest. We would try to treat him like the King of the house.    We children didn't have much  money, and we never thought money could be used to honor Him. Money didn't bring honor.  It was our thoughtfulness, and kind words, and affection that honored Dad.

This year, we have a new tradition.  I am planning to make a homemade lemon meringue pie for my Dad.  This is a rare Treat!  It is Dad's favorite kind of pie.    We will also spend part of the afternoon watching a western with him on television.   This was something we children grew up doing. When Dad rested on a Saturday afternoon, we would sit and watch a western with him, just to be together.  This year we will eat lemon meringue pie, like it was a thanksgiving afternoon, and watch Shane.

Being together, and being thoughtful, on Father's Day is far more important than what money could ever buy.

Blessings
Mrs. White

A Culture that Forgot the Importance of - Mother's Labors.

What My Aunt Taught Me - Manners Learned at the Finishing School.

Lessons from the Old Days - Building our Homes with Little Money.

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Commercial - Free Days

Advertising is designed to be catchy, to get into our memory. Most of us still remember decades-old slogans from companies like "Oscar Mayer," "Burger King," and "Coca - Cola."  We often remember them fondly.   Through commercials, organizations become familiar to us, and we begin to trust them. We end up choosing their products more often and even become loyal to their brand.

However, it is not necessary for us to hear or see commercials on a daily basis. We see ads in print publications, on the Internet, and in store displays. We hear them on television and on the radio. I don't think a single day has gone by that I haven't heard or been exposed to some kind of commercial.

The other day I realized how I am allowing this to happen, and it is interfering with my own creativity and plans. So what did I do? If I was in the car listening to the radio, and a commercial came on, I turned it off or changed the station. Why? Because most of the ads are not important to me. Why would I let myself listen to company pitches that I can't relate to, or that don't have anything to do with my shopping needs? It becomes junk to the mind, just like junk mail only worse - because it tends to stay in my thoughts!

Spring and Summer are easy seasons to avoid a great many commercials. Many of us are out camping, gardening, swimming and doing all kinds of quiet activities that don't require artificial items (like TV) for recreation.   We are certainly shopping in department and grocery stores, but we tend to be quick not wanting to waste our outdoor hours.   This will help limit our exposure to an abundance of advertising distractions.

Having hours, or days, of commercial - free living will keep life more simple.  Our focus should never be about what we should buy or what company we should be loyal to. It should be about church, family, creativity and daily living.  Why would we need to have a commercial break for that?

Blessings
Mrs. White

* P.S. - As much as I cringe not to have an affiliate link in this post, due to the content, I had to avoid it. (gentle smiles). *

For those who wonder - How Can I Quit My Job and Stay Home?

Are You Overworked? - When Mother Feels Unappreciated.

How The Blue Laws took away a beloved custom - The Old Sunday Dinner.



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This post is part of The Christian Home Magazine in the Financial category. To see more articles in different aspects of Home life, please visit the latest issue, hosted at Day by Day in our World.

The Excitement of One New Dress

In my Mother's day, children normally had three outfits. The saying was: "One in the drawer. One in the wash. And One on your back." There were seasonal shopping trips to get a new dress (or outfit) at various times of the year. But it was nothing like today's shopping frenzy, in the modern home.

Before the "requirement" of walk-in closets, people generally had few outfits.  They had what was necessary along with one or two special (dress-up) garments.   There was no need for large closets. It was not a standard feature when building a home.

When young girls were learning to sew, they were excited at the idea of shopping for material, notions and a basic dress pattern. They would spend hours cutting pattern pieces and fabric. They would carefully sew, and try on portions of the dress. A tremendous amount of effort went into making such a dress! There was also much pride in the finished product.  Those dresses may not have cost very much, but they were treasured by each amateur seamstress. 

I still remember how much time went into making my very first dress.  I also remember selecting a pattern for a baby dress when my first child was only a few months old. I loved sewing a dress for her, and trimming the collar in lace!  I have made many girls' dresses over the years and those dresses have been cared for and enjoyed more than any store bought item. Why? Because so much time was spent on their creation.  Most of the dresses were made for a specific event or holiday, but worn many times, over many years.

Of course, in this present day, it is very inexpensive to buy a new dress. Sales at local department stores and the quality of items available at consignment and thrift shops make it very easy to find affordable clothes.   But sometimes I wonder if we buy too many dresses?  

What if we carefully sought out only one dress at a time. What if we bought one dress each season, or made one dress? Would we take our time and make a deliberate selection, rather than just buying whatever was available (or easy)?

Imagine how exciting it would be if we shopped for one pretty dress just like girls of yesteryear searched for a pattern and fabric?  Not only would we save a tremendous amount of money, but we would slowly build a lovely wardrobe of charming clothing!

Blessings
Mrs. White

Is Mother Required to Offer Daily Desserts? - The Thrifty Kitchen.

How Clean is your House? - Beware of Random Kitchen Inspections.

For those Very Busy Days - Cooking while Holding a Bible.

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Electricity as an Entertainment Expense

Many things we use today for recreation are run with electricity. We watch television, DVDs, play video games, listen to stereos, and use computers. In many homes, there is more than one television set in use at the same time!

We also tend to (unknowingly) be more wasteful. We leave too many lights on, overuse the clothes dryer, and use far more water than necessary.

There was a time when electricity was only considered possible for those who had money to spare. Air conditioners, fans and even electric refrigeration was foreign to many struggling families up until the mid 1940's.

There were other ways to entertain oneself before the days of excess electricity consumption.  My childhood home had a large piano in the living room.  We children had such fun with it, even though none of us had formal lessons.  We also spent many hours outdoors - playing, running, riding bikes, having get-togethers, doing yard work, dreaming, visiting and enjoying the fresh air.

When someone, in my childhood home, was ill, a small portable television set was brought in for their use while they were bedridden for a day or two. This helped keep them comfortable and entertained while they recovered.  But it was not normal to watch lots of television, or have more than one unit running, in everyday life.

Something that might contribute to overuse of electricity is the lack of hard work being done in, and around, the home. Years ago, we would see mother sweeping the porch, hanging laundry on the line, gardening and cleaning, or decorating the home. She would wash windows (both inside and out), polish patio furniture and clean out the car. Dad would be seen playing ball with the kids, mowing the lawn, doing house repairs, and taking pride in the way his house and yard looked.   Parents found joy in taking care of the house, which made the short time of evening recreation more valuable.

I wonder what would happen if we limited the use of electricity during daylight hours.  We could use those hours to be productive and creative.  When the sun sets, we could use the unnecessary types of electricity that we all enjoy - for computers, television and the like.  This would seriously reduce our electric bills!  But most of all, it would simplify our lives and make it more rewarding.

Blessings
Mrs. White


For Mother - The Comfort of a Dressing Room.

Nostalgia - Mother's Dinner Bell.

Stand Strong! - The Mother Who Will Not Accept Reality.



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The Thrifty Kitchen

Must the cookie jar always be full?  Do Mothers have to keep a steady supply of cake, brownies and other treats in the kitchen?  Must she provide her family with gourmet dinners each night, or special meals that taste delightful?

Or is it okay to have a thrifty kitchen? This kind of kitchen produces things like oatmeal in the morning, or whole grain apple muffins. Lunches might be sandwiches or leftovers.  Supper might be the main meal of the day, served around 5 or 6 in the evening.  This could be pasta, meatloaf, or one of our frugal favorites, southern cornbread, home fried potatoes and baked beans.

It is not required that Mother buy soda, candy or chips. It is completely unnecessary for her to serve dessert every single day.  It is also extremely expensive.

Simple, homemade foods from the kitchen help keep household expenses low.

It has been said that we must not be fashionably dressed above our means. It is also true that we must not grocery shop and cook beyond what we can afford.

One of the biggest leaks in the family budget is an abundance of food.

Here are some ideas for keeping costs down:

------

1. Have meals at specific times, whenever possible. This way everyone knows what to expect.  It also helps Mother plan her day. (For example - Breakfast at 8 a.m.  Lunch at noon. Dinner at 5 p.m.)

2. Have basic foods in the pantry - like potatoes, vegetables, fruit, flour, sugar, cornmeal, and meat. This way you can quickly come up with something to make, without worrying about rushing off to the store.

3.  I know many people write up weekly menus and meal plans, but it is not always necessary if you have basic ingredients available.  You should also have some basic family recipes handy that are easy, quick and frugal.

4. Make special foods, like cookies, once a week. This is something the family will look forward to and appreciate. It could be a Friday night treat. Or, plan on making a cake or nice dessert for Sunday afternoons.   The less often treats are offered, the less likely money will be wasted.

5. Offer children basic beverages like juice, tea, water or milk.  If the older ones want soda, or some name brand drink, have them use their own money. (Mother is not obligated to provide the children with commercially prepared, designer beverages.)  This goes the same for candy bars and other processed snacks.

6. Serve whole grains and fresh foods. This is nutritious and helps keep everyone feeling full.

7. In restaurants, patrons are served ice water before their meal. This helps fill them up. Try this at home! Why? Because in this current day, people tend to eat much larger portions than they really need. If they have some water first, they will eat a more appropriate amount of food.

8. Some nutritious snacks include: crackers with peanut butter; celery with cream cheese; sliced apples; carrot sticks; or wheat crackers with cheese.  (Not donuts, danishes, or cupcakes.)
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I realize it takes a tremendous amount of work to have a thrifty kitchen. It is much easier to buy convenience foods. However, there is more at stake than just saving time or money. We need to save our health.

Blessings
Mrs. White

What To Do - When There Isn't Much.

Idle Moments - How a Housewife Passes the Time.

The Essential Childhood Question - Is Mother at Home?


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Why The High Cost of Food?

We have become a nation who eats recreationally. It is part of our "entertainment" expense. We have snacks and processed food and junk, because we like the taste of it. We are kidding ourselves if we think snacks are good nutrition.

In my childhood home, grandmother* would have a fit if we kids were offered ice cream before dinner.  That wasn't allowed. Grandma made simple homemade meals, with little meat, all week long.  Sunday dinner included meat as the main dish. This was common in those days.

When Grandma passed on, my mother continued with the common tradition of making sure we ate nutritionally.  We had a home- cooked dinner every night at the same time.  There were no snacks to  hold us over until the meal was ready.  We greatly appreciated the food when it was served because we had time to become genuinely hungry.

The only time we had snacks was on Friday nights. We children all looked forward to the homemade popcorn and a little soda. We would watch a program with Mother and Dad on that night and enjoy a special time together.  If there was soda in the house, on the weekends, we were allowed only one glass. After that we had to drink water.

Mother always had orange juice and milk in the house. We drank the milk with meals and the juice in the morning. These were not all-day-long beverages to enjoy. They provided a certain amount of nourishment that we needed. But overdoing the nutrients was a waste, because the body could not use it.

We had plenty of tea and water available throughout the day. If we children wanted soda (other than on Friday night) we bought our own, from the local corner store, with money we had earned ourselves.

If we wanted extra snacks, candy, or junky convenience foods, we bought it on our own. I still remember my pink, homemade bookcase that My Father made me. It was in my bedroom and that is where I kept pop tarts and the occasional treats I would buy from the store myself.  This kind of junk was never in our kitchen cabinets. Mother knew it did not satisfy hunger. She knew it did not provide basic nutrition, so she didn't buy it.

I remember babysitting, as a young teenager, and finding cabinets full of hostess snacks, chips and cupcakes! I couldn't believe it! It was exciting! (smiles) One family, in particular, was a mother and father who had a baby. I was the babysitter. When the parents left, I checked the kitchen for snacks and couldn't believe how much junk food they had! It was only two adults and not even any children, and they were eating all those treats themselves!  This was obviously for entertainment. It was for enjoyment. I knew it did not provide any nutrition.

In other countries, throughout the world, people eat basic foods like whole grains, potatoes and locally grown produce. If we gave them a box of highly processed American snacks, what do you think that would do? How do you think they would feel?

In the old days, Mother would serve oatmeal, or porridge in the  morning. She would serve homemade cornbread, biscuits or bread. She would cook with homegrown potatoes, carrots and onions. Her seasonings came from the garden.  I don't think her fruit trees produced bbq potato chips or candy bars.

We have become a nation who expects junk on a daily basis as if it were a necessity.  This kind of eating makes us unhealthy, broke and unsatisfied.   It reminds me of birthdays. When we give our children presents all year long, buying them some of the things they want, rather than waiting for their birthday, they become selfish, and think people "owe" them things. They don't learn to wait. They don't learn to delay gratification. They don't learn to work for things. Every single one of us will appreciate things more if we have to wait for them.. . To earn them. .  Like ice cream (smiles). . . I remember watching my father make homemade ice cream outside. He had a large bucket and had to crank the handle for a long time. He worked to make the ice cream that we got to enjoy. We appreciated it very much! But I don't think I appreciate buying a carton of ice cream from the supermarket.

Now I must say, if you looked into my shopping cart today, you would find junk. . . (sigh). . We are all going to struggle with this because it is such a normal, expected part of our diet! But this is something we all have to fight. This is something we will all struggle with.  Because if we keep giving-in to buying and eating the garbage, we will be broke and diseased.

Blessings
Mrs. White

* Grandmother - Our family lived in the same house with  my grandparents, just like my parents now live here in my home with my family.

Mother's Prayers - Who Will Weep For You Now?

Playpens are essential! - Keeping House with Small Children.

Please keep passing it on -  Homemaking Links the Generations.




For Home-keeping Inspiration, order my book - For The Love of Christian Homemaking. 


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How Can I Quit My Job and Stay Home?

I frequently hear from readers who want to stop working and stay home with their families.  They wonder how it works? They say it is financially impossible, and want help. (This is for two-income couples.)

Obviously each situation is going to be different. Some mothers might be able to make a few adjustments and quit right away. Others are caught in so many financial obligations that it might take them months (or longer) to get everything in order before going home for good.

I want to recommend a couple of books, make a few suggestions and then ask the readers to share their own testimonies or ideas.

1. Essential Books

The Complete Tightwad Gazette. This is a manual for home economy, which is priceless. There are also sections to help the working mom who wants to stay home.  I wish a copy of this book was given to every new bride!

Aunt Jane's Hero. This beautiful story was written in the 1800's. It depicts the life of a humble family who live on very limited means.  You will be inspired, encouraged and motivated to have such a life.

2. Suggestions

- Write down every single penny you spend for a month. Then analyze this to see what you can cut out if you are no longer working.

- Make a budget based on your husband's income only.  See what you need to do to live on those means.

- Make a list of all the things you are willing to do to save money. Will you cook foods from scratch? Will you carefully watch over the utilities to keep the bills down? Will you stay home more to save gas money?

- If you are no longer working, you should be able to lower your insurance rate because your car won't be used for "commuting."  (Find other little ways to cut expenses. Each one will add up to a large annual savings.)

3. From the Readers

Readers, have you worked outside the home and found a way to quit?  Will you share some of your experiences with us in the comments section? We'd love to hear from you!   (You are also welcome to write a blog post and link back here.) 

I realize this is a very serious subject for those who truly do not want to work outside the home. I know many  mothers would love to be home full time with their husband and children. I hope the advice from readers will help!

If you are one of the mothers who wants to quit your job to stay home, please share some of the difficulties. Perhaps the readers can answer some of your specific questions in the comments.

Blessings
Mrs. White


What Happens when a Poor Family Gets into debt? - The Richest Man in Walnut Grove.

Such wonderful Wisdom - I Remember Mama - lessons from a Norwegian Family in 1910.

Is this true? - Only Rich People Have Clean Houses.

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This post is part of The Christian Home Magazine in the Financial category. To see more articles in different aspects of Home life, please visit the latest issue, hosted at Day by Day in our World.

The Humble Home

I've seen so many lovely homes, beautifully decorated. . .  I see families with money for gifts, nice clothes and expensive food. More and more families are expecting larger homes with more conveniences. They want more than one bathroom, double sinks, and plenty of small appliances to do all the hard labor in the kitchen. Many homes today have dishwashers, bread machines and food processors. But none of these items were in Grandmother's home. None of these items were in my childhood home. None of these items are in my current home.

There can be simplicity and joy in a humble home. Families with very little can still have a nice life. They can have happy homes, with a small purse and few possessions.

Inside their basic dwelling should be diligence, hard work, love, and service. . .

Sometimes I wonder if the humblest of homes, with loving hearts of great faith in God, are the sweetest homes of all.

Blessings
Mrs. White

This post is part of The Christian Home Magazine in the Financial category. To see more articles in different aspects of Home life, please visit the latest issue, hosted at Day by Day in our World.


Has This Ever Happened to You? - A Dangerous Mood for a Housewife.

A Sweet Way to Get them to Work - Chore Letters for My Children.

Chronically Ill -  When Mama is an Invalid.

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Do Your Own Taxes

Many years ago, when my husband and I had only two little girls (ages 2 and 3), I remember him going to H & R Block to get our taxes done. He brought the paperwork home for me to sign. I don't know what made me really read it over this time. Perhaps money was extra tight and I resented the high fee it cost to have them prepared? Well, I told him I could probably do the taxes next year. He thought that would be fine.

I went on a quest to study income taxes. I ordered forms and publications from the IRS and just learned as much as I could. By the time our third child was born, I had become a certified tax professional and was a member of a national tax organization.  I actually enjoyed taxation and loved doing our own, and the returns of others.

This became a very small home business over the years. Each year, my husband would bring home paperwork from co-workers for me to do their taxes. I also did returns of family and friends.
Two years ago, I got very tired of all the work. Sometimes when you know too much, too much is expected! (smiles) After 17 years, I no longer wanted to be a public tax professional. So I "retired."  Last year was a new one for me. I had to find a way to file our taxes online, like a regular person.  It was a tremendous adjustment, that I didn't particularly like. But I am getting used to it.

I went to the IRS website and found a company that offered free online tax preparation.  I chose H and R Block and that worked well. However, this year, I tried to go back there but found the experience a little harder to deal with.  As I began entering data into their software, things kept popping up saying there would be an additional fee. This included things like:

1. To have last year's information come up. (I think this was $19.99) I chose to do it manually for no additional fee, but was annoyed.

2. When it came time to fill in our income, and the system learned we had self-employed income (like we do every single year), it actually required an additional $19.99.  We were not charged this last year, so I abandoned the return and found a different company.

We ended up using TaxAct (which we found through the IRS website). This worked perfectly and I even liked their process far better than H & R Block, because it was quicker and easier. There were also no additional fees involved.

As far as I know, each company allows you to do your Federal return for FREE, but charges something like $14.95 to do your state return, which is perfectly reasonable.

Some advice for doing your own taxes online:

1. Gather all you documents together (mortgage interest payments, W-2, self employed income data, last year's tax return, etc.)

2. Have a paper and pen for notes and a calculator handy, just in case.

3. If you want to have your refund directly deposited into your bank account (the fastest way to get your money), have your savings or checking account number handy. Always triple check your numbers when you enter them in the software. You will need both the routing transit number and your bank account number.

4. Make sure your printer works and print 2 copies of your return. These are for your own files and it's good to have a back-up copy. Of course, since you are e-filing, you won't need to mail these in, but it's good to have them on hand.

5. Sign and date them right away, so you don't forget.


Blessings
Mrs. White

This post is part of The Christian Home Magazine in the Financial category. To see more articles in different aspects of Home life, please visit the latest issue, hosted at Day by Day in our World.


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The Christian Home Issue 28 - 29 - and 30

The latest issues of The Christian Home Magazine have been published:

Issue 30 - At Angie's - Petra School. She has some lovely pictures to go with all the articles!

Issue 29 - At Laura's - Day  by Day in Our World.  She has this set up so pretty!

Issue 28 - At Kristen's - A Day in the Life. Lots of great articles here. This issue looks lovely!

I hope you have a little time to visit these blogs and read all the articles. Everyone has such a good time putting together their submissions for this magazine.

Blessings
Mrs. White

The Christian Home Magazine - issue 27

Dear Readers,

Monday's The Christian Home weekly blog magazine ran for 7 months. Recently, when I lost my home computer, I had to stop producing each issue. After several weeks, 3 of the regular writers graciously offered to take turns hosting future editions on their own blogs.  The newest issue is hosted by Angie at Petra School. I hope you will take a few minutes to visit and read the articles.

We also added a new feature. If you remember my Vintage Healthy Home link-up (part of the Fit Mommy program) on Friday's, you'll notice it has now become part of the Christian Home Magazine. We have a host-writer for this, and you are invited to visit her site and share your fitness check-ins! This will start within the next week.

New issues will be published every Monday Morning. Thank you so much for reading!

Blessings
Mrs. White

The Chrisitan Home - Issue 26

Welcome to the 26th edition of The Christian Home, a weekly Blog Magazine posted every Monday morning.

Each article was submitted by various Christian Blog Authors. I am grateful for their participation. I hope you enjoy visiting them, reading their work and spending some time getting to know them at their own blogs.  If you would like to write for us, please see the instructions at the end of this post. For your enjoyment, there is a selection of music at the end of this issue. Please feel welcome to play the song while reading this magazine.

Blessings,
Mrs. White

[Edited update - August 24, 2011 - A new Issue will be coming soon. Stay tuned and thank you for your patience!]



Design and Decorate




Featured Columnist -Deanna presents Decorating on the Prairie and Shuffling Furniture posted at Home Haven Ministry.



Finances




Featured Columnist - Kristen Hamilton presents Teaching Our Children About God’s Provision  posted at A Day in the Life.




Gardening and Flowers




Featured Columnist -  Briana from  I Can't Decide, will be back with us again next week.



Home Business



Featured Columnist -  Kathy Brodock from  Teaching Good Things, will be back with us again next week.



Modest Fashion





[I am looking for a columnist for this section.]


Hospitality 



Featured Columnist - Heather from Marine Corps Nomads, will be back with us again next week.







Homekeeping




Featured Columnist - Angie Wright from Petra School will be back with us again next week.



Parenting 



Tamara Simmons presents Little Handprints On My Fridge  posted at Crafting A Legacy.

Julie Coney presents Growing Up posted at ~ a teaching heart ~.

Annie Kate presents Holiday Memories posted at Tea Time with Annie Kate.


 
Movies and Music



Featured Columnist -  Laura O in AK presents Letters to Juliet posted at  Day By Day in Our World. 


 


The Godly Home 



Featured Columnist - Molly presents Are You Still Afraid? posted at Dancing in the Light of His Glory.




Young Adults



[I am looking for a columnist for this section. It must be a young adult who is an established blogger.]


Gentle Humor




Featured Columnist - April E.  presents Did she just say that?   from ElCloud Homeschool: Busy Minds, Busy Hands, Busy Feet.




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Thank you so much for reading!


To submit your work for consideration, or to find out more about The Christian Home magazine, just visit the about page.






The Entire Christian Home Series.

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