Living more with less by Doris Janzen Longacre
and
More-with-Less Cookbook (by the same author)
I know that many of you have the cookbook in your personal libraries and the companion book is very thought-provoking. From the book jacket:
"a pattern for living with less
and a wealth of practical suggestions
from the worldwide experiences
of Mennonites"
It puts our lives here, in this amazing country with all its riches (and excesses) into perspective and makes you realize how better life can be with less.
To enter into this giveaway, just leave a thought on how we can live with less in the comment section below. I know that I am preaching to the choir here, but there is always more that we can learn from each other. I will choose the winner Sunday night, March 25, and announce them on Monday's Musings. Bon chance!
25 comments:
I think living simply and respecting your money helps you live with less. You aren't always coveting the newest gadget or trading in your car or wanting a bigger house every two years. I know people like this with huge credit card debt because they go shopping every weekend, and they wonder how they are going to make their mortgage payment each month. I think that answered your question?
Susan,
You know that I want in on this! I have not seen the books before and would like very much to add them to my collection.
As you are a lone Homesteader, like myself, You know that we can use all the help we can get! And learning to do with less can be a big boost to the life we live and work we do on our Homesteads!
And you also know that I like too EAT! And any cook book that will help with food preps is a must for my limited know how!
Soon, no more money spent on EGGS, as the chicks got here today!
Tom
WH - Right on the nose! That can be the biggest detriment to living simply. I think that "living within one's means" has taken on a warped dimension. P.S. I love your blog!
Tom - Congrats! You will love having chickens! I have amassed quite a homesteading resource library, that's for sure. It's comforting to know you can find answers quickly.
Congrats on the 100 followers!!! Very exciting.
I find that one way to help me (and my family) live with less is to ask, is this a want or a need? I may want to buy something, but do I really need it? This doesn't mean I never buy anything that I simply want, but it is a much more intentional decision. I also look at the cost of something and how much time it'll take me to work to pay for it, and what else I could use that money for. So while it might be nice to go out for dinner, there will be less money for other things that last longer and have more meaning (such as fencing for my farm). Finally, savouring the simple thing really helps us live with less. Using the dinner example, while going out for dinner used to be a treat, staying home and eating our own homegrown food is much more of a treat now!
Congratulations on the big 100!
The easiest way, at least for me, is to not even GO INTO the store. And make a LIST and STICK to it.
Another thing that I'll do if I do manage to go shopping just for the heck of it, is if I find an item I think I must have, I CARRY that item with me while I'm shopping...not in the buggy, but in my hands. And by the time I'm ready to go up to the check out line, I've already decided that I don't, in fact, really want or need that particular item.
Okay - I just became 101! But I'm trying real hard to live with less, and that includes books, so please don't throw my name in the hat. Not that I wouldn't want to read either one of them, but I just don't want to own any more books. (Remind me of the karma I just invoked when I'm ready to market the book I'm currently writing. LOL!)
Good job! The big one zero zero!!!! Now your hitting the big times! Lol. Anyway, I live with less simply by asking myself if I NEED it or do I WANT it. After thinking that, it usually comes up a want. So I dont get it.
Fiona - I so agree with you! When you have invested the time and work to grow your own food, it tastes so much better than some jazzed up 'fusion' stuff!
CR - That is an excellent idea! I'll have to try it.
Charade - You don't look 101~ LOL. I hear you on not bringing things into the house - but thanks for commenting just the same!
SFG - Simple, good advice.
Used, used, used. We try to always buy things used and then use them for multiple purposes, so you need less *things* because the ones you have can do so much! Like with sheets, I'm always on the look out for sheets at yard sales. If they are in good shape I bring them home and wash them and they are used on the beds. Once the elastic is gone or they get a rip they become covers for plants during frosts, kid 'tents,' paint drop cloths, arts and crafts mats, etc. After that they may get cut up for rags or cut into strips for more crafts..which may mean that they end up as a gift eventually.
Congrats on 100 followers! :) I like to live simply (except for books- I'll always take more high quality books- I get rid of lots of low quality ones though) and one way we do that is by staying out of stores at all... I usually find that if I don't run to the store to fill a need I get creative and use something I already have or don't really need it. :) If I'm still desperate a week or so later I'll work it into the budget. :) We've also been getting rid of lots of things!
I have a "gobbler" box for kids stuff that gets left out- if something ends up in the gobbler box more than twice it goes to consignment or donation- take care of it or lose it. :) The funny side benefit is that at one point we had 2 full "gobbler" boxes and I put them away in a back room, they haven't missed the things and their room is staying cleaner- and they are getting the point. :)
Chara @ Stitching Hearts Together
www.stitchingheartstogether.com
I've gotten to the age where I have very few (if any) needs, so no reason to buy any non-perishables. When I'm tempted, I tell myself to go use something I have and love already.
I always try and ask myself do I really need this, whatever? I don't do "collections", or try to look trendy. I buy, mnay used, durable, well made clothes and make/borrow what I can...
Probably growing our own food saves us the most money. Of course, you can't figure in your time and effort in the cost of that food. But since I enjoy gardening to the utmost and love the exercise and fresh air it gives for me, I think it's a win-win situation.
We buy all we can used. In all our years of marriage we've never had a new car or new house. We have one living room chair we bought new . . . on sale, of course. The rest of our furniture was used when we got it. Our kitchen chairs are over 100 years old and were passed down in the family to us when we got married.
Don't put my name in the hat but I can definitely recommend the books as excellent ones. A wonderful give-a-way!
i've already got the cookbook but I'll put my name in anyway. If I manage to get it, I can give it to my daughter who will soon be heading out on her own (EEEK!!).
As for the simple living tips... We definitely try (not always successfully) to do the want vs need question. And reuse, repurpose and don't be afraid of hand-me-downs or even dumpster finds. We live in a college town and I'm eternally amazed at the things that students throw out when they move. Our TV stand (beautiful oak with drawer base), my sewing table, Justine's desk, the entertainment center and our queen sized bookshelf headboard all came from the apartment complex dumpster that was across the street when we lived in town. Vernon once compiled a list of all the things in our house that came from other people's garbage. I even once pulled out a Longaberger magazine basket and a hand stitched, lace applique quilt. Amazing! Of course, none of our furniture matches- but I don't care. We call it the eclectic look .
Judy
Wow, you breezed right on by 100!! Way to go! :)
One of the ways I'm trying to live on less is to actually eat what is in the freezer and pantry. It does, however, call for some creativity occasionally! ;-) Thanks to the dairy goat and the chickens, I think I can go all next week without buying groceries!
100 congrat. I am new to this. We are doing a lot more things home made. My husband does hunt. We have a freezer full of meat . This will be the second year of having a garden for our own food supply. And I can't forget my chickens. This summer we are getting a milking goat, so we are on our way. I would love the books. Thank you for the chance to win.
I think a great way to live more with less is to have your priorities in order and realize that possessions do not bring people happiness. Think about what you really use and what just sorta sits there and get rid of what you do't need by donating it.
I tell you, you guys/gals are such a wonderful source of inspiration! I see that we are all on the same page here! I know that whomever wins these books will give them a good, proper home! Thanks for all your comments.
I have the cookbook too. It's great! I agree that we all learn from one another, I get some of my best ideas from other bloggers. And congratulations on 104 followers!
I've been enjoying your blog for a while now - lot's of great ideas and a few chuckles along the way. I was raised with very little in the way of money and have lived most of my life with just about enough to get by. If you can't find at least 4 or 5 uses for anything in your home then you just aren't thinking hard enough. I start my seedlings each year in egg trays that I recycle. I use the tops of water bottles to protect them after they're transplanted. My drip watering system is an old garden hose with nail holes spaced down one side of it. And I wouldn't want it any other way....:)
Congrats! Oddly enough I don't have either of these books, but they sound like good ones and I'd love to enter your giveaway!
So many tips have already been offered that I'm just repeating here but we find that knowing the difference between a want and a need is a huge thing. If you "want" to buy something, wait awhile to see if you actually "need" it. (Some things are obvious.) And if you do "need" something, do what you can to get it used or make it yourself. :) Or at least that's what we shoot for around here!
Would love to read the "Living More with Less" - if your competition is open to those of us outside the Us, please won't you consider me :)
Thanks.
And well done on reaching 100! (105 now LOL)
Living simply makes me think of my grandparents who were farmers. Their priorities were God and family. Everything else seemed to fall into place with much hard work. Pa's animals provided meat, milk, and eggs. Ma was busy working beside him.
Raising a garden and "putting up" meant eating through the winter. Also they were happy living within their means.
My family buys used things as much as possible...except for my new Tattler canning lids I'm anxious to try soon. I would love the books - I don't have either one.
Pay off your debt.
Use a clothesline -I save $40 to $60 a month not using my dryer
Plant a garden
Use coupons
Be prepared for emergencies. They will come and if they don't, you will have extra.
Post a Comment