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Written by Erin Odom, Contributing Writer
My family operates on a tight budget. And since having children, there hasn't been much--if any--room in that budget for adding to mine or my husband's wardrobe.
But just over a year ago I discovered a way to increase my wardrobe--without spending any money: a women's clothing exchange.
My Sister's Closet
A local church where I attend a weekly Bible study has hosted a women's clothing exchange called My Sister's Closet for several years. Although I never would have voiced that I didn't have the extra money for new clothes, the idea of the exchange excited me. It wasn't a program for a certain income level. My Sister's Closet is open to all women involved in the church's women's ministry--whether they be church members or Bible study attendees.
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If you haven't yet read my initial post, What I Would Feed my Family on a Monthly Budget of $250, I would suggest going there first, and then coming back to this post.
First, Some Answers to Your Questions
1. No, this isn't how we regularly eat. I did mention that in the other post, but I want to say it again for clarity. This is make-believe. Our usual grocery budget (which includes about $30-40 of household and toiletries) is $450, NOT $250. The point of doing this was to see IF I could do it and to figure out HOW I would do it, to challenge myself and to encourage and help those who are at a point where they don't have the luxury of upping their budget. In the past, we did eat very similarly to this, but our budget has since been raised now that we are not as strapped as we were.
2. Does our family actually consume this little dairy? No. We would and could (and used to), but we don't anymore. We drink or eat more like the equivalent of 1 gallon of dairy per week (in the form of raw milk, yogurt or kefir), not 1/2 a gallon as outlined in my budget. This is an option that we now have due to a higher budget, and we thoroughly enjoy it, plus I think it's good for us. We also eat more cheese than the other budget contained (we eat 5-6 lbs per month, not 4), probably about the same amount of butter (4 lbs), and then also some extras like sour cream and cream.
3. What is flaxseed egg replacer and how do you use it? See this post for more details.
4. How would you do this when you have food allergies (like wheat or gluten), or when you're on a special diet, like GAPS?
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By Contributing Writer, Brandy Ferguson
As a homeschooling mom of seven, and now getting ready to meet our eighth son in a matter of days, I've never been busier in my life!
With so much on my to-do list added to my already full schedule, I admit to having moments of brief panic in which I think to myself, "what if I don't get it all done before I go into labor?" or..."what if the boys' rooms look like THAT when the baby arrives!?!" or..."what if I don't get the freezer filled with homemade food in time?"
I have to stop myself, almost on a daily basis and just...
breathe.
Because while I do have a lot that I would like to have accomplished, things that would definitely be a blessing to me and my family, the reality is that it is going to be okay. Most likely, I'll carry this baby all the way to 40 weeks PLUS like I usually do, which means I still have three more weeks to achieve my goals, but if the baby comes earlier and I don't get to all these tasks, then it's alright.
I don't know about you, but the nesting thing is a very, very real and intense thing that I experience toward the end of pregnancy. Mother Bird knows her Baby is about to hatch and that nest must be pristine and perfect. It must, at all costs, be in order. No clutter, nothing in disarray, all rooms organized and ready.
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I had way too much fun writing this post.
I hinted on Facebook last week that I was working on a post detailing what I would buy if I could only spend $250 a month for our family of 5 (we currently spend $450, although that does include some household goods/toiletries, which my $250 budget doesn't).
My goal? To prove that you can still eat real, whole, nourishing foods even on a tight budget and while living in an expensive area.
A few caveats to help you explain what I've done here:
- I used Canadian prices. I realize most of you live in the US. These prices should be encouraging, because they are generally more expensive than what you would pay in most US grocery stores.
- I did this based on an average, popular grocery store chain where I live (Extra Foods/Superstore). Not a discount chain, mind you, but just an average store with decent prices.
- I didn't use all of the tricks that are usually a part of my repertoire. First, I wanted to see if I could do it with only careful planning and from-scratch cooking. No gardening, backyard chickens, food co-op, preserving, coupons, discounted/near-expiry items, shopping multiple stores for sales, etc. I didn't even use my beloved produce market's prices. I wanted this to relate to anyone.
- I didn't include any food allergies or special substitutions, but I'll address that a little bit in the next post.
- I did include eggs from a local hobby farm for $3 a dozen (these are the eggs I actually buy), as well as ground beef and beef bones from a local meat store that offers mostly grass-fed (grain-finished, but otherwise very clean meat) for reasonable prices. I considered using only grocery store meat offerings, but wanted to see if I could keep all of the meat sources (because it's at the top of the food chain) a bit cleaner and most people could find a similar source of meat locally if they were to really look/ask around.
The gist of it is, anyone could eat like this. You don't have to live on acreage, or have access to special stores, or be a master gardener or food preserver. You simply have to be willing to plan carefully, eat a bit less meat, and cook from scratch.
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Written by Natalie Klejwa, Contributing Writer
I'm not a child expert or anything. I've had a few babies. I've learned over the years that there is a lot of paraphernalia out there you could purchase or register for to get ready for your new family member, but most of it is completely unnecessary and a total waste of money.
This is my list of the good stuff that I have not regretted purchasing, and some of it I have only recently discovered. I wish I had read a list like this when I was starting out. I'm certain it would have saved me money, headache, and clutter.
Getting Ready for Mama
You need a few things to get through those first few weeks of nurturing a newborn! Here are the basic necessities for Mama:
- Lansinoh Lanolin This is the only thing that solves the cracked, bleeding nipples problem of a nursing mama in those first couple of weeks. The nurses will tell you that you won't have cracked, bleeding nipples if you "nurse right". I'm fairly certain that's a lie. You very likely will, and for two weeks it will be toe-curling pain. But...just because it hurts to nurse the first couple weeks doesn't mean your nipples have to crack and bleed too. Just apply it to your nipples after every feeding. When I faithfully use lanolin, I avoid a lot of extra trouble. You really don't need it after the first month...but save it for the next baby!
- Wool Nursing Pads Don't bother with disposables. They are crackly and uncomfortable. (Who wants to put paper next to their breasts?) I used cotton pads for several babies, and it was better than disposable...but now I'm turned on to all wool pads. They are expensive, but you only need two pair, one to wear and one to wash, and they will last for all your babies. They soak up a lot of milk, are warm, naturally anti-bacterial, and very comfortable.
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Erin@TheHumbledHomemaker on Increase Your Wardrobe — Without Spending Any Money {Developing a Women’s Clothing Exchange}
Holly @ Faithful Womanhood on Increase Your Wardrobe — Without Spending Any Money {Developing a Women’s Clothing Exchange}
Erin@TheHumbledHomemaker on Increase Your Wardrobe — Without Spending Any Money {Developing a Women’s Clothing Exchange}
Beth Ann Schad on Increase Your Wardrobe — Without Spending Any Money {Developing a Women’s Clothing Exchange}
Farm Mom Corinne on How I Would Improve my $250 Grocery Budget Even More
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