Home Sweet Simple Home

Being frugal, going green & good stewardship

Are you frugal because you want to be or because you have to be?
If you didn’t have the financial strains you have now would you continue to live such a frugal life?
Hmmm.
Good questions.
I was raised frugal. I know frugal and have lived in that land forever. Sure there are days when I daydream of going to the grocery store and buying whatever I want without thought to the cost . . . . . doesn’t everyone? LOL
Of doing more than just window shopping . . . . .
But its more than just that- to me it’s a matter of stewardship. We need to be a good steward of all that God has given to us- be it money, our home, our food, our clothes- it all comes from Him. Good stewardship leads to being “green”- a term popping up everywhere- meaning being ecologically aware. Stewardship is about taking care of what you have- making it last as long as you can—which leads to a favorite phrase- Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without! That’s good stewardship!
In the past my “good stewardship” led to clutter- keeping things with the thought that someday they would be useful for something or other. Cluttering up our homes is not good stewardship. I found I needed to define it for myself and give myself permission to “pitch” some stuff. Pitching has included giving away and throwing away.
Then there is repurposing- can an object be used in a different way and continue to be effective? Such as washed out peanut butter jars for nails/screws/small objects in the workshop or a chipped dish standing on its side in the garden and a re-glued tea cup for a little bird bath. An old sheet becomes a painter’s drop cloth and the legs from an old chair become garden stakes. Empty ice cream buckets used for holding garbage for the compost bin or holding misc. art supplies and treasures.
My de-cluttering started with FlyLady and from her I made my first Home Manual (many call this a home management binder). I found that in setting daily routines I was becoming a better steward of my time and resources. In making weekly meal plans I again was becoming a better steward for time, resources and money. All good things.
To continue with our stewardship we made it a family rule that for every “thing” brought in one “thing” must go out. Buy a new pair of jeans? Out with one old pair (or repurpose a girl’s pair with holes in the knees into a nifty skirt like a dear friend of mine has done). This rule of thumb works for toys too (but alas not DVDs or CDs- although I’ve gotten rid of quite a few VHS tapes) and serves our family quite well. I will admit though that I’m not one for a one book in- one book out policy but we do enjoy utilizing our library.
So as many are ramping up to “go green”, I’m not feeling like I am that band wagon as much as I am working at practicing good stewardship. Yes the two do align rather well but I believe there is more to being a good steward than just taking care of God’s earth.

I love being frugal:-)

8:21 PM, 2008-Apr-14 .. Posted by meadow

When we started being really frugal it was out of necessity. The Tightwad gazette was my friend...lol! Things are better for us now, but we still love to shop garage sales and goodwill, or hold out for the lowest clearance sales when buying clothing, etc. We also still heat our home for free with wood, and many other things like that. It's hard work but worth it!

WOW...

12:00 PM, 2008-Apr-16 .. Posted by wannabeone

...Enjoy your day today knowing that God used you to confirm an internal conversation I woke up having w/myself today! This morning I woke "giving myself permission" to do a massive clean up/throw away through my home! I espeically have GOT to get rid of old clothes and saved papers!

Thanks for being my confirmation!

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><